Blue Rose Code Martyn tributes at Celtic Connections 2025

Blue Rose Code is led by Ross Wilson who was on top form and gave an assured and joyous performance of his heartfelt and rhythmic songs. They are a top quality band and tonight were celebrating their sixth studio album. Their influences include folk, Americana, jazz, soul and contemporary. 

The concert was a tribute to Wilson's musical hero John Martyn. Fifteen years after Martyn’s Glasgow gig to start his 2010 tour, his concert inspired Wilson to head for London to pursue music. He grew up in Leith Edinburgh and he talks of his troubled time growing up. For those of us who have known difficulties, music can offer a life line and Wilson’s soothing soul voice often hits the right notes and tone.  

Wilson sang his popular songs - ‘Grateful’, ‘Love a Little’, ‘Red Kites’ ‘Love is Action' and ‘Stardust.” He performed an expressive Jackson Browne cover ‘Something Fine’ and a moving, poignant and soulful ‘Amazing Grace’. 

He wished us peace in our hearts with an encore song, his colourful interpretation of Martyn’s ‘Over the Hill’.

He was well supported by Rhona McFarlane, on piano and guitar and with her excellent band.  Her debut album “As the Chaos Unfolds’ out 25^th January 2025.  

Rhona McFarlane

 

Opening concert Celtic connections 2025 Glasgow 850

Tonight’s welcome return Opening Concert of Celtic Connections the world leading folk and roots music festival, began with the dramatic horn blowing of an ancient Celtic instrument the  Carnyx, (a wind instrument used by the Celts during the Iron Age, between c. 200 BCE and c. 200 CE), brought over the heads of the venue. 

 

Glasgow 850 Opening concert, heralded the start of the city’s year-long 850th birthday celebration. ‘Let Glasgow Flourish’ is the motto on the city’s coat of arms, and this special concert paid tribute to the city’s rich artistic heritage and flourishing future through a concert incorporating music, spoken-word, dance and film. 

 

This concert was hosted by Siobhan Miller and Roddy Hart, and celebrated the breadth and talent of musicians, artists and poets Glasgow has produced and how this has fed into the very heart of Celtic Connections. Glasgow is a diverse, multi-cultural and vibrant city.

Glasgow Trad Collective

First there was energetic reels and jigs from the Glasgow’s Trad Collective (of Ben Nevis bar). We had nostalgia with the Bluebell’s 80s song 'Young at Heart'. Behind the stage were projected black and white images of Glasgow by photographer – Oscar Marzaroli.

 

Glasgow was celebrated with performances by the Joyous choir of Maryhill, While the Indian collective Qawali Project raised the energy levels with warm applause. The talented pipers Ross Ainslie and Finlay Macdonald impressed as did the string ensemble who performed world-renowned Glasgow composer Craig Armstrong’s Immer (Forever). 

 

Grammy award-winning American singer songwriter Madison Cunningham impressed with her haunting vocals on her song ‘Home’.Glaswegian James Grant, performed several Glasgow songs – and along with Siobhan Miller and Paul McKenna delighted us with their rendition of Michael Marra’s song “Mither Glasgow.” After which we were treated to a grand finale of multi-instrumentalists and uplifting tunes. 

James Grant

Glasgow has world class art galleries, and an ancient and leading university. Glasgow is the city of music and boasts world famous venues including the Barrowlands  King Tuts, Oran Mor, Old Fruitmarket. 

  

Image: 'Playing Ring, Gorbals, School Playground’ 1963, © Oscar Marzaroli Collection, courtesy of Street Level Photoworks.

 From the permanent exhibition ‘Oscar Marzaroli’s Gorbals’ at Gorbals Library.

 CELTIC CONNECTIONS - https://www.celticconnections.com

Change Forward Scotland Needs for 2025

 

Education is the key and foundation. Without a solid, well educated workforce how can any country move forward? Many new independent countries recognised this – specifically Ireland and Estonia. Apart from funding, there are several ways to achieve solid education for all

1. All teachers should have a masters degree.

2. Teach to the higher average, not the lower average, to raise standards. Yes slower learners and late starters need to be encouraged and a good start at kindergarten or pre-schools is the key to giving ALL children the right start in education - with a focus on personal development and structural play. 

With many 4 year olds now held back to start P1 until they are ta least five and a half - this can make the more formal learning of reading books mean children are more emotionally and developmentally ready to learn having developed concentration skills, an interest in books, number and size skills, oral language etc. 

 

3. Eliminate private schools. Private schools mean a secure network and privileged bubble. They mean a two tier society. Those educated privately have only limited understanding of the rest of society that they have often never met or worked with. They believe they are a “cut above” the rest. 

 

4. A good start. Without a good start to education, the rest of the 10 years of school can be wasted.

The focus must be on quality early years. 

 

 ‘The Age of disruption needs a different kind of Scotland’ Gerry Hassan writes we needs radical ideas to move Scotland forward with independence, Sunday National 29^th December 2024. He writes of the unequal opportunities and expectations. While I agree we need new ideas – why vote for independence if it will only be more of the same failing economic models. He doesn’t offer concrete details of priorities, but mostly theoretical views. 

 

Its important to set priorities to move forward. But a sound economy needs to underpin this – otherwise where is the money to fund public service? While Scotland is rich in resources, we also need to harness our potential for innovation, business education, opportunities for all, immigration (we need young workers), and prioritise education for all. Finland decided to abolish private education, as they felt this system was holding the country back. 

 

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