Edinburgh Festivals 2023!

 

Warm and muggy today. There’s a long queue at the Jazz Bar, for a Joni Mitchell tribute. I’m at Biblos restaurant at the corner of Chambers st – another year, I’m not sure I am any wiser though. Biblos has its own music playlist and is off the main beaten tourist track. 

 

Climate emergency. A letter suggests it should be the scientists who need to be in charge and not hedge fund managemers. Can we keep our planet safe, for our children and grandchildren? Can we have hope? We are running out of time now…. The most urgent issue of our times. And some, even with all the wild fires and floods, still don’t take it seriously. 

 

Where Do We Go From here?

 

It’s good to be back on the high street to savour the excited buzz, the expectant crowds…. There are the handsome young men in kilts, bemused Koreans, retired Edinburgh residents, excited tourists and young families, lively students and the outlandish performers. 

 

First day I enjoyed a walk around the Scottish Portrait galleries - in the central atrium Robert Burns statue enjoys pride of place. There’s also a bust of Elsie Inglis. Here there are contemporary portraits, as well as the historical portraits on the top floor (Jacobites, Stuarts, Hanoverians) all tell of the varied and rich histories of Scotland. Later I recharged my phone at the central Library & enjoyed the High st.

Edinburgh festivals suffered during Covid and ticket sales have inevitably fallen. But this year things are more back to normal. 

Public funding for the festivals is 11m.

For the cycling world championships, 36m. 

 

There are small gems to be found – classical music concerts at St Andrews church George st or at the Scottish Portrait galleries. Alongside the renowned cultural events sits the gaudy, tacky side – overdone, raucously wild. And the unexpected comedy. 

At Edinburgh International book festival, #edbookfest23

now at the Edinburgh Art College location for its third year there. Since the lockdown years things are now more back to normal. I went to talks with the poet Don Paterson, autobiography Toy Fights; novelist Denise Mina, book Three Fires on Florence culture wars and the bonfire of the vanities;  

 

And a lively political talk on Scotland’s future - Moving Forward:  with Kezia Dugdale  Lesley Riddoch and Ruth Wishart. If we agree on the destination, how can we then agree on the road to reach it?  We must find a middle ground – otherwise we in Scotland are stuck. Riddoch’s new book Thrive – asks what is the road, now its ONLY about the road (currency, borders etc) and not the destination or our common bonds; while Wishart provided excellent sound bites and humour on these critical issues. 

EIBF is a good place to recharge batteries, consider reflections. 

 

“I can’t think of anywhere in the world that is more full of belief and joy than Edinburgh at this time.”  Andrew O’Hagan

 

Jokha Alharthi1

Kamila Shamsie

Alexander Moffat & Alan Riach 

Main Venues – Pleasance, Assembly Rooms, Gilded Balloon, Traverse, 

 

The fringe festival programme held more than 3,000 shows, in 288 venues hosting a diverse selection of work from Scotland, the UK and worldwide. Artists, arts industry representatives, media and audiences from 170 countries and with 2,445,609 tickets issued. The themes and issues tackled by artists in the 2023 programme included mental health and wellbeing, disability, queer lives, working-class representation and the climate crisis. Affordability was a big issue, with sky-high hotel prices, 

 

 

 

Dundee Poet Don Paterson Edinburgh book festival 2023

 

Paterson is an award-winning poet

Music is his first passion – he went from musician to poet in the 90s. Paterson used music to access his memories. memories of memories

His new autobiography Toy Fights is from 1963 – 1983, which received top reviews. 

 

The Tay Bridge was built, shopping centre and industries shutting down – the rage against poverty.

His father was a musician and ran the Dundee folk club. His grandfather was a minister in the United Free church.

DC Thompson high school – invisible cities, on top of each other. 

 

He had a breakdown and was in hospital – ‘destruction of yourself in your core, thousands of fragments/ loss of self.'

Obsessive, addictive personalities. First inspired poetry by Tony Harrison on BBC.

 

Scotland’s cultural identity – there’s been an increase in confidence and more international. Plus the Kailyard school. 

 

 

We don’t have full devolution and we don’t know who we are.’

 

“Poetry is more of a diagnostic way of thinking about language.”

 

 

Brexit Cancellations for UK Musicians & the Arts

Costs of Brexit –

The UK music industry WAS worth 6 billion before Brexit!

 

NOW

There is a 5 stops rule for British musicians touring Europe

Touring is down 32%,coampared to 2017 – 2019 figures.

The Serial number of very cymbal must be recorded for tours Eyrope.

 

Truckers and Roadies - Britain used to run 85% of this business across Europe before Brexit.

Now the trucking business KB Events ltd, which has a fleet of 20 lorries, has set up in Ireland. 

The costs to retrain their drivers to EU certificate is 20 million.

 

Sound engineers and Lighting crews are relocating.

Orchestras require extra staff for paper work, for work permits and can no longer use UK tour buses.

 

Tours require -

Carnets – custom passes 

The cost of £1500 for one truck.

 

 

Merchandise – British lands can no longer sell T shirts and other merchandise, due to costs of import duties and export duties.

 

Brexit has caused arts and music festivals to be cancelled, as well as affecting the income of major UK arts festivals such as Edinburgh International festivals. There's been a loss of around 50,000 music related jobs.

 

Brexit also hinders cross collaborations and prevents and discourages European artists and musicians from touring in the UK.

 

Its especially damaging for emerging talent to be able to tour and gain experience of the different audiences in Europe. This comes on top of the Covid crisis and now the rising cost of living /inflation crisis UK.

 

80% of musicians income comes from touring.

 

 

Edinburgh festival returns for 2023!

To offer new horizons

 

Edinburgh International festival 2023 now with new director Nicola Benedetti – firsts women and first Scot – this August with 2,000 artists, from 48 countries. 

of theatre, music, dance and drama. How can our institutions embolden and make people’s lives better.’

 

This years theme of ‘IDENITITY, COMMUNITY AND RESILIENCE.”

 

Nicola wants the festival to offer something mystical, magical, community and resilience. 

 

This year the festival will host the BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA – their motto  is “To serve the people”

Nicola discussed concerns over recent cuts to the Arts. “We must work together to put arts as a must. We must go out to the community. Once you’ve felt it, you want to feel it again. How can we make progress in a different way? It’s a complete picture. The Arts are not an added extra. “

Nicola spoke of positive ways we can make the arts matter.

Where do We Go From Here?

Aly Bain’s soaring Shetland fiddle

I’ve been taking photos at Celtic Connections Transatlantic Sessions since 2008, and one of the highlights is the soaring fiddle of Aly Bian. He plays with an ease and grace that makes it all look effortless -  which is genius in itself.

As a child Aly liked the shape of the violin and started lessons at age eleven when he sat on the knee of his teacher. He was a protégé of Tom Anderson and of the passing on the heritage of Shetlands.

 

Eventually he left for Glasgow and where he played radio Glasgow and played little clubs

He uses a driven bow. Aly play a Scandinavian fiddle made by Adolf springer – which is “sweet and more like a voice”.

 

Aly has recorded 11 albums with Phil Cunningham, with whom he continues to tour extensively. In 2023, he has been recording with Eric Clapton at Abbey Road - 

The Transatlantic Sessions – Since 2008, Aly, along with Dubro master Jerry Douglas, has led the ever more popular Transatlantic sessions as the finale of the major winter festival, Glasgow’s Celtic connections. Hosting many iconic musicians as well as popular Scots Gaelic singers, and American country singers.

 

1960s Aly played with several bands and was in great demand – The HUMBELBUMS, MIKE WHELLANS, BOYS of THE LOUGH. 

Martha Wainwright at Celtic Connections 2023

 

This year’s Transatlantic Sessions 2023 at the CELTIC CONNECTIONS music festival Glasgow,  

hosted its eclectic and diverse line-up with firstly Canadian folk royalty, singer songwriter Martha Wainwright who recently released her fifth album ‘Love Will Be Reborn, as well as her autobiography No Regrets: She sang a poignant Love Will Be Reborn and later more joyous songs with her guitar. She is an accomplished and engrossing performer, with her contemplative vocal nuance. The session then went on tour to six venues across the UK.

I saw Martha back in 2009 at the Old Fruitmarket venue during Celtic Connections and she held the audience with only her guitar, she was impressive with her seasoned performance. I got some fun photos there too! Stage lighting has improved since then.

Celtic Connections Review 2023

 

2023 marked a welcome return. with long queues at the Danny Kyle open mic stage, packed venues and an excitement to have the popular festival back, after the restricted lockdown years of the Covid. (2021, 2022): and showcasing performances from some of the world’s most celebrated artists  Europe’s premier folk, roots and world music festival Celtic Connections drew to a close after 18 days of spectacular concerts, unique and powerful collaborations and captivating screenings. 

Celtic Connections, one of the world’s largest winter music festivals and this year saw its 30^th year, celebrated with an exciting line-up for its Opening concert – The Big Band plus -  Sierra Hull’s mandolin, Hebridean Peat and Diesel folk rock; Maeve Gilchrist harp melodies; Mali’s duo Dre Cali, Liam O Maonial’s band Hot House Flowers, singers Karine Polwart, Kim Carnie, Rachel Sermann, and Fergus McCreadie’s jazz piano.  

 

The concert included musicians who have been involve since its beginning, as well as providing a platform for future talent, everything from contemporary dance to punk-inspired folk rock.

The world-renowned festival,19th January to 5th February, was held without restrictions for the first time since 2020, staging more than 300 events with more than 100,000 attendances at 25 venues across Glasgow, from the famous Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to the Mackintosh Church in the west end and Tramway in the southside.(There was also over 10,000 attendances at free events). 

Irish Celtic Music. Róisín Reimagined with award-winning Irish singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Irish Chamber Orchestra teamed up for a new project that combined exceptional vocals with fresh orchestral arrangements of sean nós songs, breathing new life into the noble, classical music of 16th-19th century Gaelic Ireland. 

Another notable performance was Rise Kagona, lead guitarist and only remaining member of the mega-successful Zimbabwean rock band The Bhundu Boys. One of the most successful contemporary folk musicians from Finland, Maija Kauhanen, combined her expressive voice with Finnish kantele when she performed with composer Andrew Waite. Rozi Plain performed tracks from her upcoming fifth LP, Prize and local musician Terra Kin presented their debut EP Too Far Gone.

Other highlights - Malian duo Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, with their rich and radiant blend of desert blues, Afro-pop, rock and hip-hop. Hen Hoose, a songwriting collective, brought together artists with ground-breaking music. Man of the Minch, at the forefront of Scottish folk music performed tracks from his debut album, The Tide is at the Turning. One of Mali’s most dynamic artists Rokia Koné  gave her first live performance in the UK of her debut album Bamanan, which was named one of the New York Times Best Albums of 2022.

The popular Cherish the Ladies, all-female American supergroup, champions of Celtic music, captivated with soulful singing, uplifting traditional Irish tunes and energetic dancing, as they celebrated 38 years. 

The sold out Transatlantic sessions brought together accomplished musicians and talented solo performers and went on tour to six UK venues. My personal highlights were Danny Kyle open stage, Vent du Nord, Duncan Chisholm, Kim Carnie and TS concerts

**Showcase Scotland, highlighted international partners Brittany and Wales during the six-day programme. The music industry event, which returned for the first time in two years, introduced delegates from across the world to the Scottish music sector, featuring this year’s partners Spectacle vivant en Bretagne - EPCC, and Wales Arts International - Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru.

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “It has been incredible to celebrate the 30th edition of Celtic Connections and showcase folk, roots and world music, bringing communities from across the globe together in Glasgow. This year’s festival was a huge success and the calibre of the artists was incredible.

“We are honoured to have brought Europe's largest winter music festival to audiences from all over the world for the last 30 years. This year, we paid homage to all the musicians and artists who have contributed to Celtic Connections over the past three decades. We can’t wait to return in 2024 and once again bring music from around the world to the heart of Glasgow.”

Vent du Nord

Fergus McCreadie

Sierra Hull

**New Talent at Celtic Connections -  Lewis McLaughlin, who won the Glastonbury emerging talent

Kim Carnie, award winning Gaelic singer and composer, Mercury nominated Fergus McCreadie jazz pianist, 

*Danny Kyle Stage, 24^th year – Binky Blue – Carnan – Chloe Matharu – Falasgair – Tem and Will Boyd-Wallis

*Winner Young Trad Musician 2023 – pianist Amy Laurence, who mixes traditions from Shetland

This year’s winner of the prestigious award joins a list which recently has included amongst others the 2022 winner fiddler Eryn Rae, pianist Michael Biggins, piper Ali Levack, fiddler Benedict Morris and singer Hannah Rarity.  Amy said: “I am stunned and delighted to be the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician for 2023 and to follow in the footsteps of past winners, who are such an inspiration.”

Originally from Shetland, Amy began her journey through traditional music at the age of 16 when she began attending lessons from Violet Tulloch, who she still considers a large influence.   In 2017 she made the move to Glasgow to study Classical Piano at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before making the switch, in 2019, to the traditional department where she was awarded a first-class honours degree in traditional music.  As part of the 2023 award, Amy wins a recording session with BBC Scotland, an opportunity to perform at the Scots Trad Music Awards later in the year, plus a one-year membership to the Musicians Union.