Gaughan is a voice of deep humanity in our present dark world.
And a Message from Chicago, that spoke of playing Gaughan’s songs on the long drives to work to remind him of our shared humanity, in these dark times facing Americans today
Gaughan brought many of the traditional Irish and Scots Celtic songs to new life. I’d never heard Robert Burns Westlin Winds before Gaugan introduced this as one of the best songs ever written. Guaghan searched through the Scottish national archives for the best traditional ballads. Like Burns and Dylan before him Gaughan has been a genius song collector and remaker of the old songs. Gaughan drew on his Scots and Irish traditions to develop his song craft and performance.
I first heard Dick Gaughan in the 70s at the Police folk club Edinburgh. A musician friend raved about how incredible and distinctive his guitar playing was. Many years later (after being in America for nearly ten years) I heard Gaughan again at Milngavie Folk club in 2007. This was an intimate gig where his chat and stories between songs while he tuned his guitar, was worth going for alone. In his own distinctive voice, Gaughan hammers and speaks with his acoustic guitar.
Testament to Dick’s fame and widespread appeal among legends of the folk music scene, several had travelled far and wide to perform tonight from Ireland, England and Scotland, to perform Gaughan’s well loved songs.
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| Mike Harding |
What a joyful celebration of the legend that is Dick Gaughan – the most influential folk artist, musician and singer of the folk song of the 20th century.
The Dick Gaughan tribute concert was amazing! So emotional, so many folk icons. He’s the most respected Scots folk artist, song collector and awesome guitarist of the past century. The concert began with a black and white video of Gaughan performing at a folk singing session back in the 70s.
Tonight’s concert was hosted by presenter Mike Harding and comedian Stewart Lee. Harding read warm messages from fans and from several folk icons – Ralph McTell, Peggy Seeger and more. And a Message from Chicago, that spoke of playing Gaughan’s songs on the long drives to work to remind him of our shared humanity, in these dark times facing Americans today
There was a lot of love and camaraderie in the room tonight! The quality house band boasted Michael McGoldrick, Euan Burton, Innes White, Dave Milligan, Megan Henderson, Louis Abbott, They played an energetic opening performance of Workers’ Song, sung by Paul McKenna, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, and Siobhan Miller.
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| Karen Matheson |
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| Ross and Lorraine Macintosh |
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| Karine Polwart |
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| Lisa O'Neil |
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| Seamie O'Dowd |
There was a powerful performance by Billy Bragg, with the song The World Turned Upside Down. The second set began with Kris Dreversinging Gaughan’s most loved Burns song, Westlin Winds. The Irish guitarist Seamie O’Dowd who performed Song for Ireland was so good, one of those hushed silence moments…. And an emotional performance by Martyn McCarthy of the song Bonny Woodha carefully assisted by Eliza McCarthy, and given warm applause by the audience.
Dick Gaughan was there towards the end and sang a bit – the song The Shipyard’s Apprentice as a tribute to Archie Fisher. The passing of a generation. The concert finished with the rousing community singing of a Gaughan favourite Both Sides the Tweed, a song of unity and hope, led by Matheson, Casey, Bragg and Polwart. And after by Hamish Henderson’s social call Freedom Come all Ye.
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| Martyn McCarthy & Eliza McCarthy |
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| Dick Gaughan |
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| Billy Bragg |
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| Siobhan Miller |
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| Billy Bragg, Karen Matheson & Karen Casey |
Songs of social conscience and of contrast, quality and sincerity. Gaughan has became a legend on the Scottish and world folk circuits for more than 40 years. He is an interpreter of Scotland’s traditional folk ballads with his distinctive style of guitar playing, with open chords and timing that he learnt from guitarist Davey Graham.
Gaughan is Scots/ Irish and has spent his life in Leith Edinburgh. He’s a social protester, a profound storyteller who crosses boundaries, forges alliances through the depth of his story telling, song and dramatic guitar playing. His songs don’t flow easily to the shore and they also share the full range of emotions. Gaughan is plain spoken and holds firmly held beliefs on the rights of everyman.
Tonight was a wonderful tribute and celebration to Gaughan’s genuine authenticity. He cares about the truth of things and of digging below the surface for the stories behind the songs. What an excellent song list and cast of musicians, a veritable who’s who of the folk scene, for what proved a most memorable, poignant and quality concert. The joy and enthusiasm of the performers was palpable.
So glad to hope the younger generations are carrying the stream. (More so in Ireland perhaps?). I have to admit the most emotional Celtic concert I’ve been to. So many memories….You come away from his gigs questioning and renewed in the faith of our shared humanity.
Gaughan is plain spoken and holds firmly held beliefs on the rights of everyman. Gaughan had a stroke in 2016, which means he can no longer play the guitar. He’s not been able to play for nearly ten years. Gaughan’s album Handful of Earth became an iconic folk album.
· (R/evolution: 1969–83) was released in January 2026 along with
· Live at the BBC: 1972–79 (vinyl).
* The concert was recorded by BBC Radio Scotland. (Celtic concerts used to be recorded by the BBC Scotland tv.)
GUITAR Earthy, real and powerful guitar playing, an incredible presence and depth. Gaughan says his guitars is an integral part of his singing. The Song has a tempo all of its own. The guitar has to follow the song. His distinctive style of guitar playing, with open chords and timing that he learnt from guitarist Davey Graham which was tuned differently.
Karine Polwart,
Ricky Ross and Lorraine MacIntosh,
Billy Bragg,
Kris Drever,
Paul Mckenna,
Siobhan Miller,
Karen Matheson,
Martin and Eliza Carthy,
Michael McGoldrick,
Martin Simpson,
Tommy Sands,
Karan Casey,
Brian McNeil,
Seamie O'Dowd
Lisa O'Neil
From Ireland – Karen Casey, Tommy Sands, Lisa O’Neill, Seamie O’Dowd.
From England - Billy Bragg, Martyn Carthy, Martin Simpson, Michael McGoldrick
From Scotland – Ricky Ross, Lorraine Macintosh, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Karen Matheson, Siobhan Miller, Brian McNeill, Paul McKenna.
(Gaughan is challenging Celtic Music over the copyright ownership rights of of his music. Colin Harper has set up Go fund Campaign. Gaughan has never been paid any royalties. With Photography I allow people to ‘use’ to my photos, but I never loose copyright ownership. His music has been held back from streaming and Celtic Music claims ownership of eight albums from 1972. Other musicians have also battled over ownership of their music.)
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