Irish musician Mairtin O’Connor with SCO

 

Julie Fowlis was very well supported by renowned Irish accordion player Mairtin O’Connor, also backed by the orchestra on some powerful tunes. O’Connor has performed with Boys of the Lough and Riverdance. 

Tonight at Celtic Connections music festival 2026, we were treated to two celebrated musicians and composers – Julie Fowlis and Mairtin O’Connor, both brilliantly backed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. O’Connor performed his composition The Mighty Ocean: a musical dialogue between mankind and the sea, with his band, Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Seamie O’Dowd (guitar), Matthew Berrill (clarinet), Jimmy Higgins (percussion), Ciara O’Connor (cello), Sinead O’Connor (fiddle). 

He has composed music for TV and theatrical productions. In 2013 he was commissioned to compose a suite of music for the European Conference on Dolphins and Whales held in Galway. This resulted in “The Mighty Ocean”, a musical dialogue between mankind and the sea. 

As a studio session musician he’s contributed to many recordings for artists including The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Liam Clancy, Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, Moya Brennan, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Tim & Neil Finn, Tanita Tikaram and many more.

 

Julie Fowlis with SCO at Celtic Connections 2026

 

The touching, mystical and lyrical beauty of these well-crafted Gaelic songs surrounded by live trad folk music  Julie Fowlis with the Scottish Chamber orchestra - Celtic Scots and Irish traditional folk voices enhanced by the depth of sound of the classical orchestra. As well as her crystal clear voice – Julie has a clear, deeply felt, musicality, along with her husband Irish bouzouki (Greek mandolin) player Eamon Doorley and now partnered with Irish fiddler and Gaelic singer Zoe Conway and Irish musician John McIntyre. 

 

The quartet’s 2024 ALLT albums captures their authentic traditional music with that impactful live vibe and cohesive sound: with soaring pipes, fiddles, melodies, dynamic rhythm guitar, the emotional solo voice, and the collective and caressing soothing vocal harmonies. 

They played the range and depth of traditional music – and the long roots between Irish and Scottish music. Both intimate and powerful. All performers were clearly thrilled to have the impact and range of the SCO behind them, to enrich their music with strings, percussions, wind instruments. Creatively conducted by David Brophy.

 

They began with tunes with Fowlis on small pipes. As well as their toe-tapping, uplifting tunes, there were several stand out ballads, namely the memorable Puthrag Nom Puth’r (Sister o sister, about love and loss), the haunting Cuimhne, the melodic Caim chaluim chille chaoimh specially commissioned for Ireland. And the expressive Theid Mi Do Loch Alainn. 

 

The live trad folk music worked so well along side the live orchestra settings, perfectly back by Doorley’s counter-melodies on bouzouki and withMcIntyre’s dramatic melodic and rhythmic guitar, floated over with the perfect calming Gaelic voices. This was a quality collaboration of kindred musical voices, with Fowlis and Conway’s interwoven harmonies. These Gaelic songs were given heart-stirring, joyful, lyrical and uplifting musical settings. 

 

Their song Faoiseamh was dedicated to the people of Ukraine. Conway spoke of how their music and songs were based on their personal inspirations of Gaelic poems, both old and new. Songs of the natural world, homelands: open hearted story-telling, with songs of place and time, love and loss. 

 

They finished their set with speys and reels and a couple of Polka tunes. For their encore they performed beautiful harmony singing on La Rouil. Followed by lively tunes, when they were joined on stage by Mairtin O’Connor on accordion. 

 

Fowlis’s voice is a delight and her performances always have her audiences entranced. Her music expresses her Hebridean Uist roots, with her intimate and pure voice. Perfectly matched by the Irish voices of Conway and McIntyre’s counterbalancing Gaelic harmonies. A high quality, sublime, engrossing and enriching concert. 

 

*Fowlis was very well supported by renowned Irish accordion player and composer Mairtin O’Connor, also backed by the orchestra on some powerful tunes. O’Connor has performed with Boys of the Lough and Riverdance. 

 

I’m personally a massive fan of the live album and I highly recommend both volumes of ALLT. Fowlis plays the Scottish small pipes, oboe, bagpipes  and a melodeon shruti box, which provided a graceful surround to her voice. Mairttn O’Connor, as a session musician has played with the Chieftains, Dubliners, Moga Brennan, Christy Moore, Mark Knopler, Rad Stewart, Elvis Costello, Tim and Neil Finn more. 

 

** Julie Fowlis is an acclaimed Scots Gaelic singer and is well known for her vocals on films – recently on Outlander’s Blood of my Blood and on Disney’s Brave film. She has performed with James Taylor, KT Tunstall, Chris Thile, Graham Coxon (Blur), Nicola Benedetti, Le Vent du Nord, Carlos Nuñez and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Plus a TV and radio presenter (BBC, SKY ARTS, TG4), a voice artist, for The Lost Spells, and on the worldwide best-selling video game Assassins Creed Valhalla, with renowned Norwegian composer Einar Selvik.

 

REVIEW AND PHOTOS PAULINE KEIGHTLEY – www.pkimage.co.uk

 

**ALLT album is a beautiful collection of newly crafted songs and tunes by Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre.   Recorded live in the round, ‘Allt’ is the culmination of a composition project inspired by old and new Gaelic poetry from Scotland and Ireland. Emotive and powerful melodies coupled with thoughtful and understanding accompaniment, this album captures the spirit and the energy of a live performance.  ‘Allt’ is a truly collaborative venture which artfully and sensitively threads together words and music from their home countries, and reaffirms the ancient musical connection between Ireland and Scotland.  

 Irish musician Mairtin O’Connor

Fowlis was very well supported by renowned Irish accordion player Mairtin O’Connor, also backed by the orchestra on some powerful tunes. O’Connor has performed with Boys of the Lough and Riverdance. 

Tonight we were treated to two celebrated musicians and composers – Julie Fowlis and Mairtin O’Connor, both brilliantly backed by the SCO. O’Connor performed his composition The Mighty Ocean: a musical dialogue between mankind and the sea, with his band, Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Seamie O’Dowd (guitar), Matthew Berrill (clarinet), Jimmy Higgins (percussion), Ciara O’Connor (cello), Sinead O’Connor (fiddle). 

 

Beyond the Tradition at Celtic Connections 2026

Its usually hard to decide, as there are so meny concerts on over the festivals weekends, which concerts to attend. The opening night this year celebrated the over 200 artists form Europe and worldwide who will perform at Celtic Connections. Through diverse, contmepoary, traiditonal, electic, national and roots music. The festival brings people together people from different places, cultures, backgorunds, tarditions – to explore and expand our musical horioznes. 

 

This year I decided to attend Friday’s concert which brought together the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and outstanding singers with new orchestral commissions by Pippa Murphy, Kate st John and conductor-arranger Greg Lawson. For a celebration of Scots traditional ballads, brought to a deeper resonance.

 

Tonight the singers of traditional ballads were acclaimed Scots folk singers - Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Lori Watson, Janice Burns with Jon Doran, Emily Smith, Fiona Hunter.  Backed by House band – Duncan Lyall (double bass), David Mulligan (piano), Calum MacCrimmon (whistles & pipes), Anna Massie (guitar).

 

Drever performed two of Dick Gaughan’s favourite Burns songs – Westlin Winds (written when Burns was only fifteen) and Parcel of Rogues. One is about nature and love, while the other is about deceit and betrayal. Celebrating Burns many varied writings – from satire, humour, reform, political, nature, equality and rights for all. And he also sang his own story telling song Scapa Flow.

 

Emily Smith sang with her clear, intimate voice the ballads Clerk Saunders and King Orfeo. Janice Burns impressed along with guitarist Jon Doran, the dramatic bothy ballad, Johnny My Man, and the popular song She Moved Through The Fair.  

Lori Watson sang two older ballads: Thomas the Rhymer and Flooers O the Forrest, about Flodden and the loss of James IV’s army. Fiona Hunter sang Maccrimmons Lament, about the loss of a piper during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Karine Polwart sang her own poignant song, Let Earth and Stone Still Witness Bear. 

 

To finish their set all five singers sang the well kent song Wild Mountain Thyme and the Final Trawl. For their finale they sang the heartening In Friendship’s Name and the poet Hamish Henderson’s Freedom Come all Ye.  The ballads ranged from poignant haunting traditional songs, to songs of protest, and ballads of renewals and friendship. While I would have enjoyed more stories around the choice of these ballads. 

 

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra added a broader depth to these traditional ballads. This was a hugely enjoyable evening of quality performances, musicianship and top song choices. The traditional ballads taken to a new level.

 

(The BBC SSO, Scotland’s national broadcasting orchestra, is celebrating its 90^th anniversary season – testament to its pioneering spirit.) 

 

Set List

1st half

Westlin Winds – Kris Drever

Clerk Saunders – Emily Smith

King Orfeo

Johnny My Man – Janice Burns

Let earth and stone still witness bear – Karine Polwart 

Winter cheer  - Lori Watson

Flooers o' the forest 

Sailors life – Fiona Hunter

Maccrimmon’s lament 

 

2nd half

Thomas the Rhymer – Lori Watson

Song of the Fishgutters – Janice Burns & Jon Doran 

She moved through the fair 

The Cruel Mother – Fiona Hunter

Parcel of Rogues – Kris Drever

Scapa flow 

Craigie hall – Karine Polwart

Wild mountain Thyme - ALL

Final Trawl 

 

Encore  

In Friendship’s Name - ALL

Freedom come all ye 

Venues, Glasgow Music

Glasgow Hydro audience

Glasgow named as City of Music

 

Glasgow is a vibrant and exciting city of music, with the diversity and range of music venues. It has a slightly wild, irreverent and challenging side. Many musicians also say Glasgow audiences are the best!

 

From the concert hall to the modern 14K seater Hydro; iconic mid-size venues and the large number of small venues. World renowned venues include – the Barrowlands, King Tuts, Oran Mor and the Old Fruitmarket. These venues offer a close up and intimate live music experience.

 

There is also the unusual and historic venues – the Tall Ship, on the Clyde, the Macintosh church, Nice n Sleazys, St Lukes, Brel. All this matters in terms of building a healthy and active grassroots music scene for the future. Plus a number of busy folk clubs, jazz bars and more.

 

The Arts and music is a huge industry for the UK and for Scotland. 

 

Glasgow boasts lively Trad sessions, decades of history, iconic venues, intimate gigs,

 

 Outstanding festivals, passionate audiences, record shops, 

 

 

Mary Chapman Carpenter and Friends

Del Imitri Hydro

MY MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Over the past years I’ve been to many memorable concerts and taken photos of my musical heroes. I saw my music and lyrics hero Bob Dylan on the Braehead arena - I have to assume he found the large SECC arena impersonal and remote for his previous gig here. I went with my teenage son and his audience is certainly a broad church – from the dedicated disciples who go every concert to the curious. At 70 Dylan is a proliferate as ever with a new album release in 2020, with his stunning, immersive songs.

 

Another icon was Paul Simon, Clyde Auditorium, which was uplifting and joyous. Plus Fleetwood Mac, Elton john, Neil Young. Paul McCartney.

 

On the smaller stages – Arcade Fire, Barrowlands, Admiral Fallow, King Tuts, Hiam, swg6, 

Oran Mor, Emeli Sande. Karine Polwart, Tall ship.

 

I’ve seen other folk heroes at both Celtic Connections and Milngavie folk club - notably the legends Dick Gaughan. Dougie Maclean, Rab Noakes, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. And Blue Rose Code (Ross Wilson) was another favourite.

 

Plus the excitement of taking photos at the Royal Albert hall London for Emeli Sande!  2012. I’ve taken photos at many top class gigs – its often been a thrill and an honour with the buzz of the pit and the adrenalin rush to try to capture the right image, that not only tells the story but the artist expressing their innermost reflections..

Music photography expresses my passion of both art and music.

King Tuts famous steps!

Celtic Connections 2024 ANNOUNCED!

Tim O'Brien

Eddi Reader

CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival 2024  set for expansive programme of unmissable music!   Images copyright Pauline Keightley

World-renowned Glasgow festival Celtic Connections returns January 2024 with a full program and many international visitors – to brighten our winter nights!

Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February 2024, 

 

With one of its biggest-ever capacity festivals Celtic Connections is known as Europe’s premier folk, roots and world music festival, and the home of  spectacular musical collaborations. Celtic Connections has continued to expand into a multitude of genres over its 30-year history. 

 

In 2024 the festival will stage an ambitious  genre-defying programme of acoustic, traditional, indie, Americana, Jazz, blues, orchestral, experimental and more. Glasgow, UNESCO City of Music will host over 300 events across 25 venues  over 18 days.  Venues include Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Barrowland, Pavilion Theatre, Barony Hall, Old fruitmarket.  

 

From high-energy rhythms fusing contemporary sounds with traditional music, to intimate and soulful acoustic performances. Along with the anticipated 110,000 attendees, musicians will descend on Glasgow from Scotland, North America, West Africa, India, Australia, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, France and Ireland, more!

General tickets on sale at 10am, Wednesday 11^th October at www.celticconnections.com. Celtic Connections 2024. 

Celtic Connections 2024 will take place from Thursday 18th January to Sunday 4th February. General tickets go on sale 10am, Wednesday 11th October 2023, with advance tickets on sale now for Celtic Rovers festival supporters. The programme can be viewed in full and tickets purchased at www.celticconnections.com.

Images copyright Pauline Keightley

Highlights include:- 

●     Celtic Connections Opening Concert, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stages the European premiere ATTENTION! New symphonic work from American Grammy winner Chris Thile - “the best mandolin player in the world” - with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

●     100 years on since the death of Scottish iconic revolutionary socialist John MacLean, a centenary concert  to recognise the significance of the Red Clydeside era – with music, poetry on his legacy, will be led by Karine Polwart, Eddi Reader, Billy Bragg and Siobhan Miller

       Scotland burgeoning traditional music scene is celebrated with Dallahan, RANT, Breabach, Mec Lir, Heisk, Session A9 and The Canny Band alongside emerging artists like Beth Malcolm, TRIP, Lauren Collier, Tarran and Amy Laurenson

●     Another special international collaboration Citadels of the Sun, in tandem with Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Irish and Rajasthani musicians come together Barony Hall to share common themes that connect the two cultures. The show will feature Martin Coyle, Paul Cutliffe, Sarah E Cullen, Asin Khan Langa and Sawai Khan Manganiyar

●     A wealth of transatlantic talent at the 2024 festival includes country royalty with Carlene Carter (daughter of June Carter Cash), 15-time Grammy Award winner and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, beloved singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby, and festival favourites Sarah Jarosz, Teddy Thompson, The Milk Carton Kids, Tommy Emmanuel, Darlingside and bluegrass star Tim O’Brien,who with his seminal album The Crossing.

●     50th anniversary of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra , with unique arrangements and guest performances from Scotland’s Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile), American singer Aoife O’Donovan, visionary folk band Lau and harpist Maeve Gilchrist

●      Beloved Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean will mark five decades of extraordinary music making with a special show entitled Songmaker 2024 - Celebrating 50 Years of Music

●     Roddy Hart’s Roaming Roots Revue 12th year, Songs of Modern Scotland. modern classics along with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Symphony Orchestra, and Scottish talent Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones, Del Amitri’s Justin Currie, Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell, King Creosote, and more

●     Contemporary Scottish Celtic outfits with RURA and Talisk iconic Barrowlands; Skerryvore expansive sound, UK top 40 album Tempus; Skipinnish celebrate 25 years, renowned folk groups Blazin’ Fiddles celebrate 25th years, Kinnaris Quintet headline show Old Fruitmarket with Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart, and Skye’s Valtos celebrate Gaelic song SWG3

●      Showcase Scotland - a part of the festival which facilitates international collaboration - will this year partner with the country of Norway to showcase Scandinavian talent, while other festival favourites including Transatlantic Sessions will return

Festival-goers can also look forward to the usual mix of screenings, workshops, dementia-friendly concerts, late night sessions and pop-up performances at the Festival Club, as well as a thriving education programme that will benefit thousands of children across Glasgow.

Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Tim O'Brien, John Doyle- Late Sessions

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “It’s that time of year where we lift the lid on the incredible shows and events we have in the works for Celtic Connections. Celebration and collaboration are at the heart of the festival and once again we will bring the world’s music to Glasgow audiences this winter. I’m very excited that our 2024 edition will welcome a huge portion of international talent back to our stages, particularly our transatlantic cousins in America, and that we will be back to staging one of our biggest ever capacity festivals. We would encourage audiences old and new with a love of music to discover all that this diverse programme has to offer and spend the dark winter nights with us.”

Creative Scotland Head of Music, Alan Morrison said: “The 2024 Celtic Connections programme puts Scotland at the heart of a musical map of the world. This is arguably the festival’s strongest-ever international line-up, opening our ears to the inspirational sounds of artists from so many different countries and cultures. Running through it all, of course, is Scotland’s own musical lifeblood, the traditional tunes and contemporary twists that continue to thrill audiences and brighten up our winter days and nights.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “I’m greatly looking forward to this year’s Celtic Connections and the warmth it always brings to the colder months with leading Scottish and international musicians across a variety of genres set to descend on Glasgow for what looks to be another fantastic showcase of talent. 

 

Brexit Cancellations for UK Musicians & the Arts

Costs of Brexit –

The UK music industry WAS worth 6 billion before Brexit!

 

NOW

There is a 5 stops rule for British musicians touring Europe

Touring is down 32%,coampared to 2017 – 2019 figures.

The Serial number of very cymbal must be recorded for tours Eyrope.

 

Truckers and Roadies - Britain used to run 85% of this business across Europe before Brexit.

Now the trucking business KB Events ltd, which has a fleet of 20 lorries, has set up in Ireland. 

The costs to retrain their drivers to EU certificate is 20 million.

 

Sound engineers and Lighting crews are relocating.

Orchestras require extra staff for paper work, for work permits and can no longer use UK tour buses.

 

Tours require -

Carnets – custom passes 

The cost of £1500 for one truck.

 

 

Merchandise – British lands can no longer sell T shirts and other merchandise, due to costs of import duties and export duties.

 

Brexit has caused arts and music festivals to be cancelled, as well as affecting the income of major UK arts festivals such as Edinburgh International festivals. There's been a loss of around 50,000 music related jobs.

 

Brexit also hinders cross collaborations and prevents and discourages European artists and musicians from touring in the UK.

 

Its especially damaging for emerging talent to be able to tour and gain experience of the different audiences in Europe. This comes on top of the Covid crisis and now the rising cost of living /inflation crisis UK.

 

80% of musicians income comes from touring.

 

 

Edinburgh festival returns for 2023!

To offer new horizons

 

Edinburgh International festival 2023 now with new director Nicola Benedetti – firsts women and first Scot – this August with 2,000 artists, from 48 countries. 

of theatre, music, dance and drama. How can our institutions embolden and make people’s lives better.’

 

This years theme of ‘IDENITITY, COMMUNITY AND RESILIENCE.”

 

Nicola wants the festival to offer something mystical, magical, community and resilience. 

 

This year the festival will host the BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA – their motto  is “To serve the people”

Nicola discussed concerns over recent cuts to the Arts. “We must work together to put arts as a must. We must go out to the community. Once you’ve felt it, you want to feel it again. How can we make progress in a different way? It’s a complete picture. The Arts are not an added extra. “

Nicola spoke of positive ways we can make the arts matter.

Where do We Go From Here?