Transatlantic Sessions 2026

The Celtic roots celebration returns for its 31^st 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 

 

Transatlantic Sessions 2024 Review II

This was a concert of memories, escapism and also expectations – as well as the fun banter, expert musicianship, quality vocals and top songs. Session bands don’t come any better than this TS band.

Young Irish folk singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside gave a strong performance with his thoughtful songs Louis Mercer and 26^th Street. He is influenced from contemporary electronica and traditional Irish songs, evoking lush landscapes, bad dreams and wistful vistas. His debut album Ephrata was awarded the Northern Ireland Music Prize for Best Album.

Joshua Burnside

We were then treated to Scots singer songwriter, Kim Carnie engrossing and pure Gaelic voice. She is also lead singer of Mànran and Staran and winner of the Scots Trad Music Awards Gaelic singer of the year.  While American singer songwriter Lindsay Lou’s silky smooth and rhythmic voice mixes bluegrass with modern Americana. Her performance was magnetic as she danced along to her emotive songs, Nothings Working and Love Calls. New album Queen of Time released 2023.

Kim Carnie

Lindsay Lou

Canadian duo Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves returned on banjo and fiddle with their jaunty tunes!. They are winners Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards. And we enjoyed hearing the talents on double bass of Daniel Kimbro, on the humorous song Michael Collins.

A highlight was Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Carlene Carter­ - daughter of music legends June Carter and Carl Smith, and Johnny Cash’s stepdaughter – who performed her songs, Every Little Thing, Wildwood Flower - as well as June Carter’s Ring of Fire, for a rousing sing along finale.

Lindsay Lou

The two music directors with their fun chat kept the show and the band grounded – Jerry Douglas with his expressive dubro and Aly Bain with his moving Shetland fiddle. Alongside the other excellent players. The packed audience appreciated Phil Cunningham’s tune Melody for Eve and Aly Bain’s Smuggler’s Set

This concert stirs so many emotions, with both the thoughtful songs and joyful playing. This kind of vibrant playing take us out of those everyday struggles for a while. Its all about how good the collaborative vibe is between all the artists, from youthful exuberance to the experienced traditional players. I’ve attended the Transatlantic Sessions since 2008 and while they are always an excellent standard, tonight’s was one of the best! Tremendous fun!

The house band, is led by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, features renowned Celtic roots musicians Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro. 

 

Photos & Review Pauline Keightley -  https://pkimage.co.uk

 

Transatlantic Sessions 2021 concert

Celebrates the rich and ever present exchange between the old world and the new. 

“Playing music together always feel natural with the old time States and the Scots Irish music”, artistic director Donald Shaw. And the power of quality live music to bring us all together. 

 

The TS band opened on the Scottish stage Concert hall Glasgow with upbeat tunes – 

Led by Shetland fiddler Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick, James Mackintosh and Donald Shaw along with guests Euan Burton, Julie Fowlis & Kris Drever. They wereoined by master dubro player Jerry Douglas remotely from America.

Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis charmed with her pure dulcet tones. Plus popular Orkney singer songwriter, Kris Drever performed his own compositions. 

 

On the American stage Nashville Tennessee : A welcome return of Tim O’Brien’s bluegrass songs. Plus Molly Tuttle, Allison Brown, Stuart Duncan and fun Irish guitarist John Doyle, sang to their friends across the ocean.

 

 I’ve been reading up recently on the Scots Americans. Americans often reference the Scotch-Irish and view this as a close connection. From the 1700s Scots Americans came in 3 Main Groups - The Highlander Scots, Lowlander Scots and the Scotch Irish. 

I lived ten years over in Ohio and Chicago Illinois. In Cincinnati at a German restaurant with singing waiters, they said they’d sing an Irish song 'Danny Boy' for my parents who were visiting from Scotland! I thought this odd at the time, but after reading this it makes sense. The connections between Ireland and Scotland are very strong ones! 

Bonny and braw Transatlantic Sessions concert, with the excellent, warm energy of Celtic and bluegrass tunes, and poignant moments too with an Irish piper lament, Gaelic song,  

 

Transatlantic Sessions 2019

My last live concert was at the Transatlantic Sessions 2020. As I left into the cold winter evening not knowing it would be my last for such a long time….. So a massive thanks to Celtic Connections and Glasgow Life for bringing all the musicians together to enrich our lives with these online concerts! 

 I’ve taken photos at the festival since 2008 and have a large archive of images on my website  - https://pkimage.co.uk/celticconnections

 

Transatlantic Sessions 2020

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Transatlantic Sessions Celtic Connections 2018

Golden highlights of another memorable festival Transatlantic Sessions, the jewel in the Celtic Connections crown, and led by musical maestros Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and US Dubro master Jerry Douglas. In 2017 the Transatlantic Sessions did both a UK and US tour. For singers it must be a treat to be backed by the quality of this TS band.  

We were treated to top tunes from - Phil Cunnigham, Russ Berenberg, John McCusker and Michael McGoldrick, backed up with the piano of Donald Shaw and the rhythm sections of John Doyle, Danny Thompson and James Mackintosh.

And alongside classy songs from tonight’s top line up of singers. From the States we had sublime harmonies from the Secret Sisters who sang bluegrass and swing; plus award winning songwriter Shawn Camp and multi-instrumentalist from Arkansas (who has worked with Garth Brooks).

US country queen singer Suzy Bogguss stood out with her commanding performance. She also commented on the quality of Doyle’s rhythm guitar, he certainly is the engine room of this band! Irish folk singer Daoiri Farrell treated us to his individual voice. From Scotland favourite songstress Julie Fowlis charmed with her Gaelic songs and also a folk song called Go Your Own Way, when she said, some songs we simply have to sing. The ever popular Phil Cunningham performed his tune Eternal Fling.

Fiddler Aly Bain commented, ‘Music is the real connections, for our special relationship to the States is in music. While Dubro master Jerry Douglas spoke of his long term work of 40 years with guitarist Russ Barenberg. 

Always the fitting finale!

Julie Fowlis

Shawn Camp

Secret Sisters