Glasgow named as City of Music

Laura Marling

Cara Dillon and the RSNO

Hiam

Glasgow is a vibrant and exciting city of music, with the diversity and range of music venues. It has a slightly wild, irreverent and challenging side. Many musicians also say Glasgow audiences are the best!

 

From the concert hall to the modern 14K seater Ovo Hydro; iconic mid-size venues and the large number of small venues. World renowned venues include – the Barrowlands, King Tuts, Oran Mor and the Old Fruitmarket. These venues offer a close up and intimate live music experience.

 

There is also the unusual and historic venues – the Tall Ship, on the Clyde, the Macintosh church, Nice n Sleazys, St Lukes, Brel. All this matters in terms of building a healthy and active grassroots music scene for the future. Plus a number of busy folk clubs, jazz bars and more.

 

Over the past years I’ve been to many memorable concerts and taken photos of my musical heroes. I saw my music and lyrics hero Bob Dylan on the Braehead arena - I have to assume he found the large SECC arena impersonal and remote for his previous gig here. I went with my teenage son and his audience is certainly a broad church – from the dedicated disciples who go to every concert, to the curious. At 70 Dylan is a proliferate as ever with a new album release in 2020, with his stunning, immersive songs.

Rab Noakes

Karine Polwart

 

Another icon was Paul Simon, Clyde Auditorium, which was uplifting and joyous. Plus Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Neil Young. Paul McCartney.

On the smaller stages – Arcade Fire, Barrowlands; Admiral Fallow, King Tuts; Hiam, 

Oran Mor, Emeli Sande; Karine Polwart, Tall ship.

 

Blue Rose Code

Emeli Sande

 

I’ve seen other folk heroes at both Celtic Connections and Milngavie folk club - notably the legends Dick Gaughan. Dougie Maclean, Rab Noakes, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. And Blue Rose Code (Ross Wilson) was another favourite.

 

Plus the excitement of taking photos at the Royal Albert hall London for Emeli Sande!  2012.

I’ve taken photos at many top class gigs – its often been a thrill and an honour with the buzz of the pit and the adrenalin rush to try to capture the right image, that not only tells the story but the artist expressing their innermost reflections.. 

Music photography expresses my passion of both art and music.

The Arts and music is a huge industry for the UK and for Scotland. 

 

Glasgow boasts lively Trad sessions, decades of history, iconic venues, intimate gigs,

 

 Outstanding festivals, passionate audiences, record shops, 

 

Proclaimers

Mogwai

Kathryn Joseph

Admiral Fallow

CELTIC CONNECTIONS highlights 2022

 

Covid has given us time and also new appreciation of those crucial human connections. 

In-person performances at Europe’s premier winter music festival Celtic Connections came to a close last night (Sunday 6 February) after almost three weeks of world-class concerts, exhibitions and screenings.

The 29th edition of the UK’s premiere celebration of roots music was hybrid this year with both in-person and online concerts.  For the 18-day festival and staged around 60 in-person concerts, a number of intimate filming sessions and a quality digital offering.

More than 500 artists were involved across the festival in shows that brought in more than 23,000 attendees to 18 venues right across Glasgow - from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and The Old Fruitmarket, the Mackintosh Church, Tramway.

The online programme, which runs until 16th February, has enjoyed thousands of viewers from 31 countries - Japan, South Africa and Israel, with more than 700 minutes of exclusive programming to be enjoyed.

The Showcase Scotland international partner for Celtic Connections 2022 was Wales, with leading musicians performances over the closing weekend. Showcase Scotland took place online for a second year, so Wales will return in 2023 for a full in-person partnership, alongside Brittany. Both leading and emerging talents. 

Old Fruitmarket

Rura

Siobhan Miller

Anoushka Shankar 

The 2022 highlights included a torch-lit Shetland viking march through the streets of Glasgow, a spell-binding performance from Anoushka Shankar accompanied by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, several foot-stomping sell-out trad gigs and a unique strand of shows celebrating Scotland’s Year of Stories.

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “Having been faced with such uncertainty at the turn of the year, we feel very fortunate to have preserved an 18-day festival and to have met disruption with innovation and creative solutions at every turn. It’s been a joy to provide a global platform for musicians and performers and to share our love and passion for performance with the world, while keeping those involved safe.  “We have showcased uplifting performances from some of folk’s brightest talent and brought that hugely sought after live-gig experience to thousands of festival attendees - all with a renewed sense of optimism and vigour. Thank you to everyone who stuck with us to make this year’s festival possible. We look forward to returning bigger and better again for our 30th year in 2023.”

John McCusker, Phil Cunningham, Ali Bain

N’famady Kouyaté

Paul Brady

Sarah Jarosz

**Selected Celtic Connection shows are available to enjoy as part of an online pass until Wednesday 16 February.

Rescheduled concerts – Niteworks  Isle of Skye electronic Celtic fusion band - 22nd June / Scottish folk favourites Capercaillie - 23rd June, plus the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Celtic Connections will return for its 30th anniversary  - 19th January to 5th February 2023.  

Celtic Connections began in 1994 when it offered 66 events at one venue. It has since grown more adventurous, experimental and diverse each year, with an unwavering ambition to showcase the very best traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul, indie and world music and nurture unique local, national and international cultural partnerships.

 www.celticconnections.com.

Viking Torchlit parade to open Celtic Connections

MUSIC in Pandemic times

Music in the UK is a 5 billion industry, with 1 billion in live music. Music supports 200K jobs – who will need longer term support.

For concerts to return – we must protect the workforce along with medical advice. There is a risk of loosing small venues. If we loose small venues, we will loose the talent pipelines. Glasgow boast world beating small venues, I hope they can survive – King Tuts, Barrowlands, Oran Mor, more.

Yet we are listening to more and more music.

Online concerts, sometimes from venues are happening.

Also drive in concerts!

Music Broth -  Is delivering musical instruments and repairing instruments: to give access to music for many who would no be able to afford to. Plus repairing second hand instruments. 

PLEASE SUPPORT - 

Music Broth is Scotland’s Musical Instrument and Equipment Library. Our mission is to make music more accessible to all. We do this through sharing our 1000+ item library of musical instruments and equipment accessible to anyone seeking support for your musical ventures and adventures! We support individuals, bands, families, and organisations. 

musicbroth.org

Music is an act of self-care. To keep in touch with creative abilities and skills. To express ourselves and communicate.

" People expressing themselves will be there long after the Covid crisis is over."