Blog Thoughts February

I'm enjoying my read of Neil Young's Waging Heavy Peace' - what a character!

And 'hippydom' in California... Those were such free, idealistic times.. 

I had a lovely evening of music on Friday. I saw English folk band Bellowhead who were exhilarating and I got some fun shots. Processing after the show I was treated to my favourite music on BBC 4 (I had sent in a request!?) - George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh, and after Mozart concerto for clarinet. Thanks Channel 4. Harrison, Clapton, Dylan, Mozart - some of my best loved artists and tunes. Perfect.  

Do we speak to each other through music - to other cultures and others ways of life - more vividly? 

Examples - George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh. Paul Simon's Graceland; Lennon's imagine..

Those were such dynamic and new times for music. Renewal.  

ALSO - Howard Goodall's 'History of Music' BBC -

I highly recommend composer Howard Goodall's 'History of Music' BBC - last week Haydn (the dapper gentleman), Mozart (freelance star turn), Beethoven (tormented diva), Chopin - interesting learning about these composers I've played and loved for so many years. These composers used the pleasure principle for elegance and beauty. Last weeks program on composers Bach and Handel was wonderful too - spiritual and compassionate.    

The symphony, Circle of Fifths and Equal temprement.
... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qrnkh/Howard_Goodalls_Story_of_Music_The_Age_of_Elegance_and_Sensibility/

Bellowhead Celtic Connections 2013.

Bellowhead were great fun and exhilarating and great for photos. They are a ten-piece English contemporary folk band who did a show at the ABC 02 Glasgow during Celtic Connections 2013. The band includes a four-piece brass section and play many instruments between them. 

I met another photographer there who was shooting for the EFDS, the English Folk Dance and Song, an organization which was set up to promote English folk music. He said that Bellowhead started with the duo of Jon Boden and John Spiers. Speirs plays melodeon and concertina and Boden plays fiddle and guitar while he also stamps the rhythm on a stomp box. They brought in the other musicians to form a full band to help fill the gap in the market for a top quality English folk band. Their line up includes - Benji Kirkpatrick, Rachael McShane, Paul Sartin, Pete Flood, Brendan Kelly, Justin Thurgur, Andy Mellon and Giles Lewin.

They sang vocal harmonies on traditional folk songs as well as playing many jigs and reels of traditional country dance tunes and sea shanties. Their sound draws on a diversity of musical styles and influences – from the old English tunes Greensleeves and ‘Can You Dance the Polka’ and to a sound similar to the popular in the 70s English folk band, Steeleye Span. 

Jon Boden proved a naturally theatrical front man as he waved his arms wide and brought the audience with him. They were polished and energetic on stage and the band have won awards as the Best Live Act. The packed crowd of all ages were clearly up for a good night! I highly recommend the band for a fun night out and it was good to see a band making folk accessible for a younger audience. 
I did wonder why they weren’t playing at the more atmospheric and old world charm of the Old Fruitmarket venue Glasgow, which would have fitted their sound perfectly.  

Bellowhead have gathered several awards and recently the BBC Radio folk award for their 2012 album, Broadside, which made No.16 UK official album charts and number 1 in the UK independent album charts. Their previous album Hedonism went silver (selling over 60,000 copies) and is the highest selling independently released folk album ever.  The band developed a new ale to go along with their album release!  

Aimee Mann Celtic Connections 2013

American singer songwriter Aimee Mann, who is known for her insightful songs and well received albums, released her eighth studio album Charmer in 2012. She performed at Celtic Connections 2013 at the ABC O2 Glasgow.

She sang relaxing country rock with a honey-toned and expressive voice. She performed songs from her recent 2012 album - Living The Lie, Soon Enough, Charmer, Disappear, Labrador, Slip and Roll. Mann performed her song Save Me which she wrote for the film Magnolia and which was nominated for a Golden Globe.  She also sang some songs from her extensive back catalogue  - Wise Up, 4th of July, I Should Have Known. She also did a cover of Harry Neilson’s song One. For a bit of fun she sang a Thin Lizzy song for her encore. Her band were very tight and accompanied her songs well.

Her voice and songs drew us in with subtle messages and careful thoughts. Her songs sound subtle and sincere, but underneath lies an under current of uncertainties.  As she said herself, she rocked in melody and rocked in a soft rock kind of a way… 
She is married to songwriter Michael Penn (brother of actors Sean Penn and Chris Penn).

Mann was well supported by Amelia Curran and Ted Leo, who also joined her on stage later and he performed a couple of songs with Mann. Leo is an American punk rock/indie rock songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has played in the bands Citizens Arrest, Chisel, The Sin-Eaters, The Spinanes, and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists.  Amelia Curran is from Newfoundland and has followed her Juno Award-winning Hunter, Hunter album with her 2012 album Spectators.

Danny Kyle OPEN Stage Celtic Connections 2013

I saw Genesee at the Danny Kyle open stage Celtic connections 2013 - lovely voice. I seem to be very lucky hearing the new voices - a few years back I caught Rachel Sermanni open mic and she's gone on to do very well.. Genesee was one of the five winners this year! Congratulations! :))

17^th January – 3^rd February Celtic Connections runs the Danny Kyle Open Stage 2013 Every year at Celtic Connections the cream of new musical talent perform at Danny Kyle’s Open Stage. A diverse panel of judges – from industry stalwarts to members of the general public – then have the unenviable task of picking just six winners from the seventy three acts who took part. The winners of this year’s Open Stage, which is supported by the Evening Times, will perform in the finale concert this evening (Saturday 2^nd February) at Adelaides on Bath Street, before being presented with their awards.The level of talent on show at all concerts, which was also held at Adelaides, was extremely high. The six winners of the Danny Kyle Open Stage 2013 - 

Genesse
Beldina Odenyo singer songwriter, originally from Kenya now resident in Glasgow goes under the name of Genesse and brings her culture and travels to us in her poems and songs.

Gria - Hailing from Shetland, Orkney, Lewis & Northumberland this recently formed band – have a cultural musical inspiration combining Gaelic and Scots and English traditions/ www.facebook.com/GriaBand

 Graham Lowand Jack Kirkpatrick - These accomplished young musicians from Orkney wowed everyone on the Open Stage at the Orkney Folk Festival , Graham also takes part in ‘The Gathering’. www.facebook.com/graham.low.1

Taylor & Leigh – From Edinburgh  - A blend of Nu-Folk-Country Blues play across the UK, their music has also been used to promote Ken Loch’s film ‘Aye Fond Kiss.’ www.soundcloud.com/Talorandleigh

Elliot Morris - The 23 year-old singer-songwriter from Lincolnshire began playing electric guitar when he was 11, but launched his solo set at 17, just a year after starting to explore the possibilities of the acoustic instrument. www.elliottmorris.co.uk/