Blue Rose Code, (aka Ross Wilson) Scottish singer-songwriter, performed a
concert at Celtic Connections 2018 to support Beth Orton. Ross commanded the ABC
stage as he sang with a full band line up.
His band consisted of Lyle Watt on guitar, Ian Sloan on Pedal Steel, Angus
Lyon on keys, Graham
Coe on Cello, Nico
Bruce on bass and with drums and brass, trumpet and sax. He
played dynamic guitar and the kind of set to get lost in. He performed songs
from his new 2017 album ‘Water of Leith’, as well as other fan favourites.
In some memorable
songs he has connected to his Scottish roots (thankfully) – and brought in the
lovely Gaelic voices of Kathleen McInnes and Julie Fowlis on some of his best
songs – Sandaig, Passing Places, Where the Westlin Winds Do Carry Me, Edina - more of this please! He also performed
the soothing Nashville Blues (minus guitar), followed by the optimism of
Grateful.
I would
have enjoyed to hear Ross on a couple of songs solo to take the tempo down a
little. The ABC audience was here to hear the headliner - subtle songstress
Beth Orton - and sometimes less can be more too. I
first heard Ross on his previous sold out visit to the folk club for more
intimate gigs and was highly impressed with both his strong performance and
music and also with the enthusiasm of the fans.
Ross is an exciting young talent and I look forward to his future songs. He was great fun to shoot, with the engrossed fun energy he puts into his set! https://bluerosecode.com
He sang of the cries of freedom all along the west coast
