Venues, Glasgow Music

Glasgow Hydro audience

Glasgow named as City of Music

 

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 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.

 

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, 

 

 

Mary Chapman Carpenter and Friends

Del Imitri Hydro

MY MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

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 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.

 

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, swg6, 

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

 

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.

King Tuts famous steps!

Keeping the Celtic Traditions Alive

 

A decade ago I spent a few days in Montrose. My partner said there’s not a lot to do here. I went a walk to the library and to my surprise discovered that Montrose had been the centre of a Scottish Renaissance in the 1930s, led by the poet Hugh MacDiarmid. 

Nearly a century ago there was the Scottish Cultural Renaissance from Montrose – with figures such as poets Hugh MacDiarmid, Willaim Soutar, Edwin and Willa Muir, Plus novelists Neil Gunn, Lewis Grassic Gibbons, Catherine Carswell, Nan shepherd, Sorely Maclean, Iain Crichton Smith, RB Cunningham Graham, George Douglas Brown.

RB Cunningham Graham

Later in the 1960s there was the Scottish Folk Revival -  with poets, musicians and song collectors such as Hamish Henderson, Margaret Bennet, and Dick Gaughan - who worked to keep the Scots traditions alive.... Just as poets back in the 1700s – Allan Ramsey, Robert Fergusson, Robert Burns - wrote to keep the Scots language, culture, ballads and heritage alive after the union 1707 (and the suppressions of Scots musical instruments and highland dress after Culloden)

Twisted Pine

Julie Fowlis

Celtic Connections music festival has brought folk music (and indie, world, roots, Americana) onto the bigger stage. Back in the 70s I had little idea when I attended Sandy Bells bar Edinburgh, and folk festivals – that there was a revival happening. I feel so fortunate to have enjoyed this experiences of the wonderful live music. So odd looking back!  

Today there are Celtic musicians keeping Scotland’s musical traditions alive such as – Julie Fowlis, Kris Drever, Karine Polwart, Manran, Braebach, Capercaillie, Duncan Chisholm, Ross Ainslie, Glasgow Trad Collective and many more. My impression is that many younger musicians are highly aware of the traditions. 

Sadly troubadours such as the folk legends Dick Gaughan, Rab Noakes, Michael Marra, Gerry Rafferty, are no longer with us and performing. I remember Noakes saying – ‘A present with no past has no future.’ Scotland has a centuries old tradition of believing in the rights of all people. From the clan system, Declaration of Arbroath, scholars such a George Buchanan, Enlightenment, and Robert Burns humanity. 

 

The voices of the ordinary folks. In 1960s Hamish Henderson wrote, ‘Freedom Come All Ye’

 

Rab Noakes & Barbara Dickson

The Importance of Culture on our Lives and Keeping the Traditions Alive - Some might wonder, does all this matter, in a globalized world of mono culture, online social network algorithms, fast food outlets global chain stores, and even one track politics of click bait conspiracy theories and right wing closed off thinking. As empty rhetoric sweeps through online media – and its more important than ever before to retain our diversity, freedom of thought, to study our sense of place, culture and history. For diverse, informed thinking. Have we lost the craft of informed debates? 

 

I agree with George Kerevan in the National newspaper about the significance of culture over live, in his article, ‘Do not lose sight of the Scotland that we are all fighting for’. 

I believe people vote with their hearts not their heads. Then again there’s Bill Clintons quote, it’s the economy stupid. At least we’re persuaded by the press that we vote with our back pockets. The trouble is there’s not much to choose between the political parties right now – except the British ones are aim to protect the status quo that has been failing Scotland for decades. 

(I was sorry to read it was Kerevan’s last weekly column and hope he continues to contribute. I’ve enjoyed reading his articles in the national. The National has been one of the biggest positives to come our of the 2014 referendum.)

 

Concerts such as Transatlantic Sessions proves the size of the audience for this kind of traditional, acoustic music. Celtic Connections music festival has taken the closed off live local pub sessions on to the bigger stage. And also taken Celtic music forward, while respecting the traditions. In particular certain folk musicians aim to keep carrying the stream. 

 

In 1922 Lenin expelled the free thinkers, artists, poets on the Philosophy steamer from Russia. He was afraid of their creativity. The one thing free thinkers believe in is ‘uncertainty. ‘In the world of science or philosophy, nothing can be  proved totally, the only thing that is certain is that things change. (The Philosophy Steamer, Lesley Chamberlain)

Sometimes (if not often) culture leads the way for new visions. And new collaborations of how to view the world today and how our futures might be. Celtic Connections shines a light on this vision, after all music is the universal language. 

People remember best the songs, books, art and film that moved them or touched our hearts and not political leaders. Only a few politicians are even remembered. And often not in a good way!

CELTIC CONNECTIONS REVIEW 2025

Loudon Wainwright III

Julie Fowlis

Celtic Connections 2025 closed on a high note, presenting the world’s best trad, folk, world and roots music to Glasgow each winter. The 32nd edition of Scotland’s premier winter music festival reached attendances of 110,000, 125 sold out shows across 18 days. (Despite rescheduled events, the festival made a triumphant return after Storm Éowyn  to match 2023 festival attendance figures.)  For three weeks, Glasgow – a UNESCO City of Music – reflected the richness of Celtic traditions and demonstrated the power of global cultural exchange and innovation. From a spectacular birthday celebration to mark Glasgow 850 for the festival’s Opening Concert, to 300 community choir singers joining Karine Polwart on stage for an emotion-fuelled show. 

1,500 musicians from 40 nationalities took part in 300 events in 24 venues, celebrating the unifying power of live music and vibrancy of Scotland’s cultural scene. Over 7,000 pupils travelled to Glasgow Concert Hall for the festival’s Schools Concerts and music workshops were delivered to every primary 7 pupil across Glasgow. 900 people of all ages took part in ceilidhs and family events, and 1,500 took part in music and song workshops.

Lake Street Dive

Concerts such as Transatlantic Sessions proves the size of the audience for this kind of traditional, acoustic music. Celtic Connections music festival has taken the closed off live local pub sessions on to the bigger stage. And also taken Celtic music forward, while respecting the traditions. In particular certain folk musicians aim to keep carrying the stream. 

 

*Highlight concerts for me included - Dialogues Su a Lee, with Donald Shaw, Duncan Chisholm and Hamish Napier. Su a Lee celebrated her many collaborations. This wasn’t a concert about Lee’s classical musical roots (vie Julliard school) but about her journey through Scottish trad folk journeys and through it’s innovative new directions. 

 

Blue Rose Code gave an assured performance at the Pavilion with his emotive, soulful songs and backed by his accomplished band.  Lake street Dive from Boston at the Old Fruitmarket venue, got everyone in party mood with their upbeat soul, good times vibes. The 30^th Transatlantic Sessions was led by impressive artists – Niall McCabe from Ireland, accomplished Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams from Tennessee, Loudon Wainwright III who commanded the concert hall stage with his gritty character and story telling songs, plus the wonderful Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, with her latest album ‘Following the Thread.’ 

Another highlight was the diversity on display with the anticipation of the festival’s Opening Concert – with notably Madison Cunningham, James Grant, Siobhan Miller and Oswali Project. While I might have wished to hear from some of Glasgow’s outstanding poets.  

There is always also an accomplished international flavour at the festival. CC hosted q concert of a Palestinian/Scottish collaboration with Palestinian pipers. Unfortunately three pipers had their visas refused by the Home Office. Bethlehem Calling: An evening of stories, music and pipers from Palestine. Bethlehem Calling champions artists and young people from both nations to tell a vital story of our time; sharing the experiences of girls in Bethlehem during the 2nd Intifada (2000-05) alongside to present-day testimony from students 20 years on. Performance integrated with music.

 Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams 

Niall McCabe

Duncan Chisholm

The program remained concert based, with enough to satisfy the broadest of tastes, whether it’s the Hebridean punk of Peat and Diesel at the Emirates Arena, the inspired Gaelic pipe and song collaboration Canntaireachd, at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (GRCH), country hero Lyle Lovett at the same venue, or KT Tunstall reprising her Eye to the Telescope album 20 years on at both the Concert Hall and the Barrowland Ballroom.

Sometimes (if not often) culture leads the way for new visions. And new collaborations of how to view the world today and how our futures might be. Celtic Connections shines a light on this vision, after all music is the universal language.    CELTIC CONNECTIONS - https://www.celticconnections.com

Keeping the Celtic Traditions Alive! 

Sixty years ago the folk revival followed on from the Scottish Cultural Renaissance from Montrose in the 1930s – with figures such a Hugh MacDiarmid, Edwin Muir, William Soutar, Edwin Morgan, Neil Gunn, Eric Linklater, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Willa Muir, Nan Shepherd, Catherine Carswell, George Blake, Iain Chrichton Smith, Sorley MacLean, 

Later 1960s poets, writers, song smiths, song collectors, such as Hamish Henderson, Margaret Bennet, Dick Gaughan. Just as poets – Allan Ramsey, Robert Fergusson, Robert Burns - wrote to keep the Scots language, culture, ballads and heritage alive, in 1700s after the union 1707 (and the suppressions of Scots musical instruments and highland dress after Culloden)

 

Celtic Connections music festival has brought folk music (and indie, world, roots, Americana) onto the bigger stage. Back in the 70s I had little idea when I attended Sandy Bells bar Edinburgh, and folk festivals – that there was a revival happening. I feel so fortunate to have enjoyed this experiences of the wonderful live music. So odd looking back.  

 

Today there are Celtic musicians keeping Scotland’s musical traditions alive such as – Julie Fowlis, Kris Drever, Karine Polwart, Manran, Braebach, Duncan Chisholm, Ross Ainslie, Glasgow Trad Collective and many more. My impression is that many younger musicians are highly aware of the traditions. 

 

Sadly troubadours such as the folk legends Dick Gaughan, Rab Noakes, Michael Marra, Gerry Rafferty, are no longer with us or performing. I remember Noakes saying – ‘A present with no past has no future.’ Scotland has a centuries old tradition of believing in the rights of all people. From the clan system, Declaration of Arbroath, scholars such a George Buchanan, Enlightenment, and Robert Burns humanity. This matters for our views of the world. Music without any hinterland lacks substance, soul and depth. 

 

The voices of the ordinary folks. In 1960s Hamish Henderson wrote, ‘Freedom Come All Ye’

 

Glasgow 850

Del Amitri

Glasgow is a city of surprises. Dotted around the city centre are many impressive, architecturally interesting buildings. The city also boasts several unique areas that offer culturally fun walks. Glasgow is a vibrant city of the arts. Its a challenging, dynamic place. There are many historic Victorian buildings, art galleries and tenements.

 

Glasgow is the City of Music and boasts world famous venues including the Barrowlands  King Tuts, Oran Mor, old Fruitmarket. 

 

First there is Glasgow’s Westend. With its university spires atop Kelvingrove park, where there is the dominate Kelvingrove galleries. Close by is the up and coming Finnieston with its unique cafes and shops and close to the new Glasgow Hydro arena and SECC exhibition centre. Up the hill is the lively and picturesque Ashton Lane. Glasgow’s university is one of the UKs oldest and here its worth seeing the cloisters and the Huntarian art gallery. 

 

On the east side there is the Merchant city, with the Old Fruitmarket and City halls venues, and busy night life. There are reminders here of Glasgow’s links to the tobacco and sugar trade. Glasgow was once the engine room of the British empire.  

 

The city’s main street, Buchanan St has the Lighthouse and the concert hall with Donald Dewar’s statue looking on. Just across from this street is the modern art galleries and the cone atop the Duke of Wellington’s statue. Then along Sauchiehall St are Macintosh’s famous tea room. There’s also Glasgow’s cathedral further east and the Acropolis views. 

 

Glasgow is a city of steep hills and long skylines with its many bridges over the river Clyde to Govan, once the world’s ship building centre where the Queen Mary liner was launched in 1934. 

 

Elaine C Smith

Eddi Reader

*There are major artists, writer, scientists, innovators, actors and musicians from Glasgow. 

Most well known Rennie Macintosh, The Glasgow Boys, 

William Macgregor, James Guthrie, Arthur Melville,

Glasgow Girls – Margaret & Francis MacDonald, Bessie Macnicol,

 

Actors - James McAvoy, Robert Carlisle, Kelly Macdonald, Peter Mullan, Elaine C smith, Gary Lewis, Janey Godley, Billy Connolly, 

 

Lord Kelvin, professor or maths & Physics, kelvin temperature scale, important for thermo dynamics.

 

Writers – Alasdair Gray, James Kelman, Jackie Kay, peter may, Debi Gliori, Edwin Morgan, 

 

Musicians -  Simple Minds, Del Amitri, Texas, Deacon Blue, Blue Nile, Wet Wet Wet, 

Franz Ferdinand, Lulu, Mogwai, Mark Knopler, Dick Gaughan, Eddi Reader, Donovan, Emma Pollock,

 

(Gerry Rafferty - Paisley, John Martyn, grew up in Glasgow)

Dick Gaughan

Mogwai

 

CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2024 Review & PHOTOS

 

Kinnaris

 

One aspect of folk music  is its inclusive, open culture – its for everyone. Its not about a few musicians on stage. All can sing the choruses, dance, clap. This year traditional Scots musician Dick Gaughan made a surprise appearance at the concert for Red Clyde sider John MacLean. Gaughan had a stroke a few years back and has been unable to perform or play his guitar. 

 

I remember Dick Gaughan standing near the Celtic Connections press office. He was happy to chat, maybe he remembered me from his intimate Milngavie folk club gigs, where some musicians there said he was a Scots living legend. My younger son came to hear him and was impressed with his dramatic guitar playing, and the strength of his guttural voice on his highly memorable and meaningful folk songs. Dick Gaughan is a song collector, songwriter and traditional singer and musician. I remember Gaughan telling his stories while tuning his guitar -  The Yew Tree, What you do with what you’ve got, The Flowers of the Forrest, Westlin Winds. The first time I heard Robert Burns Parcel of Rogues was Gaughan’s interpretation at the festivals Auld Lang Syne concert in 2014? I had no idea before this that Burns was such a radical reformer and like many, I had thought he mostly wrote love songs and poems. 

 

Many of Gaughan’s generation are now getting older and I wonder who among the younger musicians can replace them? In 2012 we lost Dundonian character songwriter Michael Marra, in 2012 the iconic Scots songwriter Gerry Rafferty. (I took photos at a concert to his memory at Celtic Connections at which the Proclaimers and Rafferty’s family performed, and just last year 2023, we lost the wonderful Rab Noakes who I knew well from his concerts and taking his photos there. What an interesting gentleman and creative songwriter he was. I remember in my twenties in my folk days, we would often sing in harmonies his songs – Branch, Clear Day, Happy Days indeed! Another massive Bob Dylan fan. 

 

Brownbear

Roddy Hart

II   Celtic Connections music festival Glasgow

I spent time abroad, worked and had my family. Years later I returned to Scotland, after nine years in Cincinnati Ohio and Chicago Illinois. While its wonderful to travel its also good to return to our roots. Later , in 2008, I discovered Celtic Connections music festival. Begun in 1994, with the likes of Aly Bain – to fill the cold empty month of January – with 66 concerts at one venue. And I felt a return to the joy of the folk world, I had inhabited years before. That was the first time I heard people singing in a Scots accent and Scots words.  People travel from far and wide to enjoy this magic festival – I hear voices from Cornwall, Northern Ireland, Canada and many more. 

 

Ceiran Ryan

II  

World-renowned folk, roots and world music festival Celtic Connections  -  celebrated in January with 18 days of sold-out concerts, innovative musical sessions and collaborations - with 1,200 artists across 25 venues.

 

#ccfest is the biggest winter festival of its kind in Europe, known for its eclectic mix of genres and inclusive atmosphere, celebrated over 100 sold out shows across its 300 events alongside welcoming over 115,000 attendees.  Once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, rare performances from global sensations, moving tribute concerts and some of the biggest shows ever played by home grown talent were all showcased across the city for 31st edition of Celtic Connections. 

Concerts which celebrated the tradition, innovation and unifying power of music:

●      Opening Concert welcomed the genre-defying European premiere of ATTENTION! from American Grammy winner Chris Thile (Nickel Creek) and guests Rachel Sermanni, Dreamers’ Circus and Sarah Jarosz. 

●      Red Clydeside: John MacLean Centenary Concert, celebrated the music, poetry and legacy of Scottish schoolteacher and legendary revolutionary socialist John MacLean, with an evening of passion and talent. Led by Siobhan Miller, Eddi Reader, Billy Bragg and Karine Polwart, and with a surprise performance from Scottish social protest singer Dick Gaughan  a hugely emotional and iconic moment 

●      Roaming Roots Review, with Songs of Modern Scotland, celebrated some of the most phenomenal artists and iconic tracks. Joining host Roddy Hart were Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones, Del Amitri’s Justin Currie, Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell, singer-songwriter Emma Pollock, Hamish Hawk, Admiral Fallow’s Sarah Hayes and Louis Abbott and Brownbear  Accompanied by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Orchestra, conducted by John Logan

●      The Bothy Band, one of the most influential Irish ensembles to revolutionise the playing of traditional music, made their mark on Celtic Connections 2024 with a highly-anticipated performance. For the first time since 1979, Donal Lunny on bouzouki, Tríona ní Dhomhnaill on keyboards, Matt Molloy on flute, Paddy Keenan on Uilleann pipes and low whistle, and Paddy Glackin and Kevin Burke on fiddle came together to perform their first full-scale public concert, joined by Seán Óg Graham on guitar

●      Always a Celtic Connections highlight, Transatlantic Sessions celebrated the rich musical traditions that connect Scotland, Ireland and the US. Featuring a top line-up of the awesome TS band and artists -  AmericanaFest’s “Can’t Miss Act” Lindsay Lou,  Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Carlene Carter, Irish folk singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside, Scots Trad Music Awards Gaelic singer of the year Kim Carnie, the night saw audiences soak up an exceptional array of tunes, songs and genres.

●      Concert to celebrate legacy of Tiree accordionist Gordon Connell - A Ceilidh for Gordon at iconic Old   Fruitmarket. 

●      Grammy nominee and multi-award-winning musician Allison Russell wowed crowds at Òran Mór 

●      Traditional Music and Song Association revisited the landmark Scots Women concert from the 2001 festival. Scots Women - Generations o' Change with Musical Director Iona Fyfe and hosted by Scots Poet Len Pennie.

●      Showcase Scotland, highlighted partners Norway with international delegates from all over the UK, Europe, Australia, America and Canada to join in appreciation of the Scandinavian talent playing at the festival -  violinist Julie Alapnes, fiddle player Alexander Aga Røynstrand, traditional trios Erlend Viken and Ævestaden, Nordic folk five-piece Gangar, and Sámi band Gabba. 

●      Barony Hall proved a spectacular setting for the first time , with award-winning trad band Breabach, r folk musician John McCusker, Irish fiddler Martyn Hayes and multi-talented Damien O’Kane.

●      Music workshops and teaching sessions were also in full swing over the past 18 days. From composing, bagpipes and the ukulele, participants had the chance to fully immerse themselves in every facet of the festival, while the festival’s free school concerts programme shared the joy of live music of 8,000 school children from across Scotland over the course of four morning shows

Dougie MacLean 50th anniversary concert

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: "This year's Celtic Connections was a testament to the creative power and enduring importance of the arts and the music of the people. The richness of talent on display, the diverse range of genres and the infectious enthusiasm of the audiences made this year’s edition truly special. It's heartening to see the festival grow and evolve, bringing together artists and audiences from all walks of life, joined by a shared appreciation for music, art and cultural expression. “The continued success of Celtic Connections reflects the passion and commitment of everyone involved. My thanks goes to each person who bought a ticket, performed on our stages, volunteered their time, worked on or backed the event, and to the people of Glasgow who welcomed the world with open arms. Your support is the heartbeat of the festival, and it's your enthusiasm and dedication that make this celebration of music possible year after year.

“Scotland has a rich tapestry of musical traditions, and Celtic Connections is a platform that showcases the beauty and diversity of our own folk music, as well as that of other countries, and the expansive connections it has created. I am immensely proud of how well Scotland continues to champion folk music on the global stage, and feel truly excited about the path that lies ahead for what we’re proud to say has become a world-renowned event.”

Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie, said: “This 31^st edition of Celtic Connections has not only demonstrated how internationally renowned and much-loved this unique festival is, it has also emphasised how immeasurably important it is to Glasgow and to Scotland – and we look forward to building on its incredible legacy in future years.”

Transatlantic Sessions 2024

Kim Carnie

Lindsay Lou

Joshue Burnside

Charlene Carter