A Night for Dick Gaughan at Celtic Connections 2026

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. 

Mike Harding

**The CONCERT

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 20^th 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.  

Karen Matheson

Ross and Lorraine Macintosh 

Karine Polwart

This was followed by the song Erin Go Brach sung by Paul McKenna. There were performances by accomplished guitarists – Martin Simpson, Kris Drever, Brian McNeill, Paul McKenna and Seamie O’Dowd.  And moving singers - Karen Matheson with the song Language of the Gaels, Karine Polwart sang an intimate Craigie Hill. While Ricky Ross and Lorraine Macintosh of Deacon Blue, sang Wages Day.

Lisa O'Neil

Seamie O'Dowd

The Irish folk artists impressed – Lisa O’Neil sang two of her own songs: Rock the Machine, and The Wind Doesn’t Blow This Far Right.Karen Casey who performed The haunting The Snows they melt the Soonest.

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. 

Martyn McCarthy & Eliza McCarthy

Dick Gaughan

Billy Bragg

Siobhan Miller

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. 

**SONGS – Erin Go Bragh, Workers Song, The Snows they Melt the Soonest, No Gods, Wages Day, Language of the Gaels, Song for Ireland, Westlin winds, Daughters and Sons, Craigie Hill, What you do with what you’ve got,  Both Sides the Tweed.

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.)

Alice Marra tribute Chain Up the Swings

Scottish singer Alice Marra has recorded a moving tribute to the great Scottish songwriter – her dad Michael Marra, Chain Up the Swings. She performed the songs at the impressive St Andrews in the Square at Celtic Connections 2017 with the Gaels band.

I first heard Marra’s deep gravelly voice and songs at the small theatre Mugdock music festival which was perfect for his songs and I wrote then – “he paints with words.”

I was struck with the vivid escapism and stories of his songs. Michael liked to journey from American dreams and back home to Dundee in his song lyrics. He finshed with one of the best cover of Burn’s ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’. Possibly the most moving intimate concert I have ever been fortunate to be at. Wonderful.  

Marra’s daughter Alice has put together a thoughtful and tenderly collected recordings of his songs to show his unique diversity, strength and characterful stories - including the Marra favourites, such as Mother Glasgow, Frida Kahlo’s Visit to the Taybridge Bar and also including some new previously unheard songs.

An archive (of sorts) of home demos on cassette has yielded new material including the album’s opening track Soldier Boy.” Alice remembered “playing Kylie Minogue loudly in my bedroom when I was about seven years old. He was horrified. But he did say ‘one day you’ll find Joni Mitchell and everything will be OK’ and he was right.”

Alice was involved in several tribute concerts to Michael, most notably at Celtic Connections 2013. My photos here are from this concert, which was lead by Rab Noakes and was a wonderful and memorable night – and included Dougie MacLean, Eddi Raeder, John Spillane, Kris Drver and more. With the profits going to the charity Optimistic Sound, which was formed to fulfil Michael’s wish to see a Sistema Big Noise Orchestra in Dundee.

In an interview Alice said she was encouraged by Gordon MacLean at An Tobar on Mull when he said ‘you should do an album of your dad’s songs’ that it occurred to me. I didn’t really think of doing anything on my own.”

Alice went back into the songbook and discovered previously unheard material.

She collaborated with the musicians who took part in the original recordings – Michael’s brother guitarist Chris Marra, Derek Thomson and Allan McGlone. “Allan had just built a new studio so we began experimenting. There were some songs that I was sure I wanted to record, but through the suggestions of others I tried others. It wouldn’t have crossed my mind to do Mother Glasgow for example, but it worked so well.”

The emotional aspect for those making the album can’t be underestimated. The loss of a father, a brother, a close friend and an attachment to the material that needs to be treated with care, but not reverence. “Some songs stayed faithful to the recordings. Taking The Last Train Home as a 1980’s pop tune.. and we have moved away from the originals elsewhere. A Wee Home From Home is my favourite collection of songs, and my brother Matthew’s. Just genius.” 
FULL interview at the List - https://www.list.co.uk/article/88178-alice-marra-celebrates-her-fathers-legacy/