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). 

 

Duncan Chisholm at Celtic Connections 2023

Transported us with his engaging playing

 Chisholm has performed at every Celtic Connections since 1993. Duncan Chisholm engaged us with beautiful videos of his violin during the isolation of Covid, often shot on perfect locations on the Western Isles. His music has range of tone and atmosphere, transcends time and space. He has composed music of the Western Isles – of the swift-changing skies of Scotland’s western coastlines and dramatic mountain ranges; often foreboding but illuminating and hopeful as light breaks through.

 

**Tonight he played compositions from his new 2022 album Black Cullins –  the ragged range of jagged rocky mountains on the Isle of Skye. He was backed by an impressive line-up of award-winning Trad musicians - Jalath Henderson on uilleann pipes, Ross Ainslie on low whistle, Hamish Napier on keyboards and piano, Innes Watson on rhythm guitar, and Ross Hamilton on electric bass and guitar. Along with a string section led by Greg Lawson.

 

He began with the tender and forlorn Black Cuillin Theme with accompanying strings; Born on the Wind of Chaos soared with the full band, bass and electric guitar. The band took the energy and vibe up further with piano, pipes, whistle, percussion and rhythm guitar for the tune, To the High Mountain. Beneath the Fortress about the Skye bridge was majestic, as was the intimacy of Donald Shaw’s A Precious Place, who played piano on this tune, and the drama of pipes on Islands on the Edge.

The tune The Blue Cuillins of the Islands was Inspired by a poem of Sorley McLean’s. Followed by a touching performance of Donald Shaw’s Constellations. Chisholm played Phil Cunningham’s subdued, haunting When the Snow Melts, with only piano for his finale. Heart-warming.    https://www.duncanchisholm.com

 

Music of Resolutions.

Chisholm was supported by the excellent Gaelic singer Kim Carnie - Review and Photos here - 

 

Black Cuillin’ tells of a dream journey through this landscape over a day and a night.” 

Duncan Chisholm, Scottish fiddle player and composer, has released six solo albums. He tours with the Scots Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis and has toured with the folk rock band Wolfstone and the band Runrig.

 

 

Famous at Celtic Connections

Famous at Celtic

Eddi Reader

Martha Wainwright

Richard Thompson

Tim O’Brien

Jerry Douglas

Laura Marling

And other well kent faces at the major festival. 

Jerry Douglas

Aly Bain

Dick Gaughan and Karine Polwart

Richard Thompson

Eddi Reader

Julie Fowlis

Laura Marling

Music 2014

Rab Noakes and Barbara Dickson

I continue as ever really excited about music, both new and old. My son sings in an aberpella choir, which he enjoys. He sings those bass rhythms and also solos. This year I saw some of my favourite Scottish folk artists - Barbara Dickson, Rab Noakes and Dick Gaughan.   

I enjoyed great musicianship at Celtic 2014 - Nicola Benedetti, Del Amitri, Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, Dougie McLean, Capercaillie, Mogwai and more.  I look forward to Celtic 2015, one of the highlights of my year. 

 I also enjoyed younger artists including Head and Heart and Lyla Foye There have been some fun new albums this year  - Mary Chapman Carpenter, Sarah McLachlan, White Denim, Head and Heart, King Creosote.  

Yet another strong female singer songwriter Ella, has secured big hits (oddly an X factor finalist how was voted off in the early rounds!).  

Eighties icon Kate Bush returned with 30 sell out shows in September at the Apollo Hammersmith London. She is one of the most celebrated English singer songwriters. Kate Bush has always followed her muse entirely and so to expect anything less from her first shows in three decades is to not really understand what motivates her as an artist. 

 'Don't you think art is a tremendous sensual-sexual expression? I feel that energy often.. the driving force! ' 'The most important thing for me is that its interesting from a creative point of view. Then I feel totally fulfilled as an artist and I can move on.'  

One Direction became one of the biggest bands ever worldwide. Pharrell Williams gave us the most popular song for a while with his upbeat Happy. Some memorable songs this year – Ghost (Ella), Royals (Lorde), Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay), No Place I’d Rather Be. 

Del Amitri

Lau

Some exciting new Scottish artists include – Chvrches, RM Hubbert, Lau, Frightened Rabbit, Aidan Moffat, King Creoste, Withered Hand, Paolo Nutini, Frightened Rabbit, Biffy Clyro, Belle and Sebastian. 

Independent Record Label Linn Records, Glasgow, have secured Grammy nominations for outstanding recording quality. Linn Records was started in 1982 - http://www.linnrecords.com

 Folk music is alive and very well in Scotland. Celtic Connections goes from strength to strength with both young and older artists – it’s a highlight of my year in cold January skies – with brilliant musicianship, dynamic collaborations, beautiful Gaelic singers, haunting pipes, strong guitars, melodic fiddles, energetic ceilidh bands, charged bass and percussion - the vibe is heart warming and uplifting.

 Many Celtic concerts goers attend every year for the weeks and weekend. I meet people from far away San Francisco, southern Ireland, north of England, cultured Paris and much more. The audiences at Celtic are packed with serious music fans – which creates an informed, generous and appreciative vibe at the concerts.

There is also a great deal behind the main stage, - music workshops, open mic stages for new comers, late sessions which are great fun, as well as the festival club itself. The festival days and nights are a welcome feast for music fans.

 IN 2010 GRAMOPHONE NAMED LINN LABEL OF THE YEAR

In October 2010 at the annual Gramophone Awards, Linn was named Label of the Year. For Linn, winning this prestigious award was the culmination of nearly three decades of work, and represents the dedication of a team striving to give the you the best music, with no compromises on quality or support of our artists. 

With a Studio Master, you get to hear more of the music. It's the closest we can get to capturing the artist's original performance. In fact, it's recorded with such accuracy that you'd think the artist was performing in your room

 PS  Concert Hall Steps

 The top of Buchanan Street offer striking vistas and important civic space for shoes photo shoots, for political gatherings, for sunny lunchtimes, happy buskers, concert goers, tourists and students and more. The Glasgow council in their ignorance, wants to take away the steps and instead put up a large glass atrium like you would see in any other nameless city or shopping mall. I was shocked and saddened when I heard this, Please protest against