The Celtic roots celebration returns for its 31st year at Glasgow's Celtic Connections music festival. Transatlantic Sessions is one of the highlights of Celtic Connections music festival, with both the familiar tunes and the new. TS brings together the deep connections between Irish, Scots and American music. Its a special blend of the churning rhythms of bluegrass, country, the fine Scots melodies, jigs and reels and the haunting Irish Gaelic song. This year we were treated to a quality range of performers – from America, Kathy Mattea, and Darrell Scott: from Scotland Karine Polwart and from Ireland Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.
To set the tone the concert began with the familiar refrains of Aly Bain’s tune Waiting for the Federals. America dubro master, Jerry Douglas was our musical director and compare for tonight’s concert and he provided his dynamic steel guitar melodies, along with Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison de Groot on banjo and fiddle - counterbalancing the Scots fiddles, pipes and accordion of John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, Michael McGoldrick and strongly backed by John Doyle’s energetic rhythm guitar and Kimbro on double bass.
Irish singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, transported us with her Irish Gaelic song - An Rabhais ac an Carraig which was heart wrenching and haunting. She spoke of how ‘Irish Catholics were repressed, to wipe out their language and music ‘ Through music, messages were sent back and forth. She is a musician from Country Kerry and was the lead singer for the traditional music group Danu
American award-winning musician and songwriter, Darrell Scott, was a highlight with his songs Great Day to be Alive and Wandering Johnny. Fellow American, country singer Kathy Mattea and Scott were moving with their stirring duet of his song, You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Mattea also sang a poignant Dougie MacLean song, Ready for the Storm.
Karine Polwart is a popular stalwart of Scottish folk music - renowned for her solo albums and for her collaborative work. Tonight she performed her impassioned song Liberty Tree, inspired by Tom Paine (whose pamphlets on the rights of man helped to start the American wars of independence).
Aly Bain drives deep into the emotions, as he played his subtle and expressive Shetland fiddle with his expert ease on Hector the Hero set. Polwart then led us all in rousing singing of the well kent Scots classic, Wild Mountain Thyme. Followed by energetic uplifting tunes for their encore. The quality TS band are always tight and impressive, the glue for this concert. As we leave to brave the cold January night air, we are heartened by the jovial warmth and musical energy of this ever popular concert!
Like a musical river from Tennessee to Nashville to west Kerry, than to Shetland and to Pathhead Midlothian. As Mattea described, the colourful, one off collaborating at Celtic Connections lead to arteries “like the roots of a tree that lead to different accents – and make the collaborating more sweet.” Like a fascinating patchwork quilt with the variety and range of musical styles and genres that challenge and add musical colour to our lives.
The show's seasoned house band, guided as ever by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, features renowned Celtic and Americana roots musicians John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, and Daniel Kimbro.
(Darrell Scott has written American country hits, such as Dixie Chicks Long Time gone, and is a leading Nashville season instrumentalist. Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Kate Rusby, Robert Plant. His songs have been covered by Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Suzy Bogguss and more. His album, Crooked Road, 2010, won the award for the Country Album category from The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.)
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley – www.pkimage.co.uk
**SET LIST
Tune. Waiting For The Federals
Darrell Scott Great Day To Be Alive Wandering Johnny
Muireann Si Bheag Si Mhor Nead Na Lachan
Tunes: My Lily
Karine Polwart Rebecca Liberty Tree
John Doyle Little Bird
Tune For Danny/ Michael McGoldrick
Kathy Mattea- - Love at the Five and Dime/ Come From The Heart
Tunes: Far From Home
Second Set: Jerry tune The Last Wild Moor
Tati and Allison
Daniel Kimbro My Common Law Mexican Step-Dad
Muireann An Rabhais ac an Carraig
Kathy Mattea - Ready For The Storm
Tunes: Charlie Hunter
Darrell and Kathy - You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive
Tunes: Hector the Hero set
Karine - Wild Mountain Thyme
Encore: Tunes Jiggy/Helvic
