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

Rura at Celtic Connections 2022

 

For RURA’s Celtic Connections gig on the final Celtic weekend it was clear the band were glad to be back performing to a live and packed theatre audience. Their past gig in 2020 at their sold-out Old Fruitmarket gig was a rousing and energetic affair, when the band celebrated their ten years together.

Rura are multi-instrumentalists and play keys, pipes, guitar, bass, bohran, flute and drums. The band – Steven Blake (Pipes & Keys), Adam Brown (Acoustic Guitar), David Foley (Bodhran & Flute) and Jack Smedley (Fiddle) – and were joined by James Lindsay (Bass), Mark Scobbie (Kit), Sorren Maclean (Electric Guitar). Plus tonight a String section of Seonaidh Aitken, Megan Henderson (Violins), Pasty Reid (Viola) Alice Allen (Cello); 

Tonight there was a expectant hum in the packed venue. This concert was the launch gig for the band’s new 2022 EP Our Voices Echo, in which they have collaborated with several top talents of the Scottish folk world – Duncan Chisholm, Julie Fowlis, Ross Ainslie, Michael McGoldick, and Hannah Rarity. 

Rura electrified the Theatre Royal Glasgow with their full wall of sound and lively performance led by fiddle player Jack Smedley and dynamic rhythm guitarist Adam Brown. The band began with a set of their tunes from their 2018 In Praise of Home. 

Fiddle-player Duncan Chisholm who has been popular for offering  his tunes in idyllic settings during Covid, praised the band, saying he had listened to Rura’s Praise of Home during the lockdown and that it had helped him when the going was tough. Chisholm played on the haunting A’ Mhairead Og, followed by a Runrig song Chi Mi’n Geamhradh and Running the Cross, composed by Chisholm. 

Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis sang a poignant Dh’èirich Mi Moch Madainn Cheòthar, backed by soaring flute and fiddle. Michael McGoldrick performed on flute a joyful Famous Last Words (Donald Shaw). Ross Ainslie was upbeat on whistle on Floyd To Ke Anlong and on pipes for Peel Pier Fear, followed by The Wrangler. 

While rising talent Hannah Rarity brought the cast and audience together for an uplifting grand finale of Take This Heart Of Gold (Andrew Marlin). For the encore the band played Horizons.  

The band are multi-layered and enriching, with fast-paced fiddle, pipes and rhythm guitar, both refined and dynamic, no easy task! Rura is an award-winning, ceilidh band and join the ranks of those top Scottish touring bands. They have appeared on the BBC’s Hogmanay Live and played the main stage at many festivals.  

Transatlantic Sessions at Celtic Connections 2022

 

The Transatlantic Sessions concert celebrates the important connections between Scots, Irish and American traditional music. Those sometimes forgotten stories of emigration across the rough seas in often small wooden sailing ships, with so many hopes and dreams of building a better life and enjoying democratic freedoms – and they took their old ballads and tunes with them. Sometimes they had no choice. 

And it’s important to remember. 

 

Fiddler Ali Bain toured in the States, decades back, and after he enjoyed his special collaborations there, he was a part of setting up Celtic Connections 29 years ago in 1994. Normally Celtic Connections welcomes 80 musicians from America – festival director Donald Shaw said, “but due to all the Covid restrictions for this year only five Americans were able to make it across and they are all on stage tonight!” 

Paul Brady

The TS 2022 included veteran, long standing members along with new faces, From the States and US roots music we were treated to the talent of is a Grammy-award winning American singer songwriter Sarah Jarosz. She has a quiet stillness and one of those hypnotic voices that pulls you in. She sang Orange and Blue, Blue Heron, Hometown and Dylan’s Ring them Bell. 

Siobhan Miller

Sarah Jarosz

New faces also included, Haitian-American musician Leyla McCaila sang Merci Mon Dieu with her cello and is an earthy and soulful singer (previously with the band The Carolina Chocolate Drops)  Award-winning and talented Scots singer songwriter Siobhan Miller sang traditional songs May Morning Dew, Honest Man and her own song Drifting and was clearly thrilled to have joined this elite band!

 

Long standing member Dirk Powell from Kentucky, he is a leading expert of Appalachian music. He performed songs of his family’s inspiring history; Bright Light of Day, Waterdown and Walking Through Clay, He said its important to tell our stories and spoke of his grandfather carving his name on an old tree with his young hopes. 

 

Popular Irish musician Paul Brady was another highlight and performed a top class show finale when he sang Concert Going, and Harvest time. Followed by a grand finale which was as always of exhilarating Scots tunes. A special mention for the talents of the band’s outstanding musicianship, they don’t come any better than this!

 

Highlights from the wide variety of styles – Dirk Powell’s Waterdown, Sara Jarosz’s vocals along side Douglas’s dubro and Daniel Kimdro on double bass. And of course Ali Bain’s accomplished Shetland fiddle – Phil told how his musical partner Ali, after 35 years playing together, told him how talented he was!

Long may we be treated to such accomplished musicians! I hope there will be some recordings of the Transatlantic sessions to enjoy on YouTube! I highly recommend checking out.  

 

**The Transatlantic Sessions band is led by musical directors of Shetland fiddle legend Aly Bain, accordion legend Phil Cunningham and dobro genius Jerry Douglas, the line-up includes John Doyle, Daniel Kimbro, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw and James Mackintosh. 

 

“Part melting pot, part jam band. .  spinetingling and rollicking” (The Guardian)

 

 Dirk Powell is an American fiddler, banjo player from Kentucky and a leading expert of Appalachian music. He has won several Grammys.   

N’famady Kouyaté, Celtic Connections festival 2022

N’famady Kouyaté, performed at the Theatre Royal as part of Celtic Connections festival 2022, to support Rura. 

Kouyate from Guinea (Conakry) provided an energetic support for Rura. He played a traditional wooden xylophone from westAfrica called a balaton, stoking the keys with strong dynamism! He plays modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs and rhythms. Kouyate is a multi-instrumentalist and has toured as support to Gruff Rhys on the Pang! album tour. He now lives in Wales - and next year for the 2023 festival, cc will partner with our Celtic cousins in Wales.

Neath the Gloamin Sky Opening Concert at Celtic Connections 2022

 

Hannah Rarity

The opening concert was hosted by the charismatic singer Hannah Rarity and Innes White, this wonderful concert included exciting Imar, and singers Jenny Strugeon, Fiona Hunter, Paul McKenna, Ellie Beaton, and Cameron Nixon. 

 

Alongside arrangements by the Alligin String Octet, which features Katrina Lee, Kana Kawashima, Seonaid Aitken, Kristan Harvey (violins), Patsy Reid, Rhoslyn Lawton (violas), Alice Allen and Julia Wagner (Cellos), and a house band that included the talents of Anna Massie and Megan MacDonald.

 

The concerts aim was for the young folk artists to celebrate the folk revival with their perfect harmonies, on both new and old songs. And Hannah Rarity on Bonny Glen Shee - with their honest heart and soul. Bring it on!

 

 

Celtic Connections welcome return!

 

Alligan String Octet

 Celtic Connections brought light and joy to Glasgow’s iconic venues

Glasgow came to life over the weekend with the welcome return of the winter Celtic Connections festival. Audiences enjoyed a busy weekend of performances as part of the 29th offering of Europe’s premiere winter festival took place at the Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, Tramway, the Mackintosh Church, Old Fruitmarket, and St Luke’s.

Stand-out events included the renowned British-Indian sitar player Anoushka Shankar performing her father Ravi Shankar’s iconic Concerto No.3 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, foot-stomping gigs from festival favourites Mànran and Mec Lir and a sell out show with the energy of Talisk. 

Scottish singer songwriter Kathryn Joseph was joined by the 20-strong Tinderbox Collective - an exciting cross-genre line-up of young musical talent with professional collaborators, 

 

While the festival’s partnership with BEMIS Scotland culminated in a stunning 

Tramway show, headlined by young energetic Guinean artist N’famady Kouyaté.

Hannah Rarity

I'm looking forward to the second Celtic Connections weekend!

- 3^rd February at St Luke’s the ever popular Blue Rose Code and at the historic Macintosh church Gnoss

- 4th February, Adam Holmes at Drygate and Sharon Shannon New Auditorium Concert hall.

- 5th February, Rura Theatre Royal, Old Blind Dogs at St Lukes.

- 6th February, Transatlantic Sessions, Royal Concert hall

Anoushka Shankar

 

Celtic Connections favourite PHOTOS

 

Celtic Connections PHOTOS

Some of my favourite Photos from the past years taking photos, from 2008, at Glasgow’s world leading folk and roots festival. 

The extended gatherings of those who celebrate live traditional music – that warm special folk magic –with its musical intimacy, the surprise of unexpected collaborations, the joy of a larger collective all appreciating musical traditions  and heritage, the bringing together of all ages, all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe, the appreciation of the common language and connections and the intense joy live music brings us. Music is our first and last memory and is in inherently, deeply instinctive.

Abiding memories. The release and hopes. Live folk music makes me see warm wood and golden glows. With the range and quality of the artists.

*Celtic Connections 2022 both in-person and ONLINE!

For the second consecutive year Celtic Connections has had to cancel concerts due to the Coivd pandemic, while some of the festival has been able to go ahead. At the last minute I’ve had messages to tell me that 2 concerts have been re-scheduled for June, I’ve also had tickets refunded, for the opening concert and Vent du Nord, and Rura and Transatlantic Sessions (Feb. 5^th and 6^th) concerts are going ahead!

Every January its always such a boost to look forward to CC, and gets me through those chill winter nights with concerts full of warmth and joy, poignant ballads, energetic accomplished musicianship and unique collaborations!

 

Its good some concerts have been rescheduled for June though. 

CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival Pass - 

 - https://www.glasgowlifetv.com/products/celtic-connections-2022-festival-pass

 

Celtic Connections is Europe’s biggest winter festival and as well as celebrating Scotland’s rich music traditions, also welcomes international musicians and the strong Celtic links between Breton, Nova Scotia, Ireland, Tennessee, Scandinavia. 

In todays mono-culture of globalization its more important than ever to celebrate our diversities and uniqueness while also enjoying our interconnections. 

Music is our most powerful universal language. 

 

 

Vikings welcome festival with torch lit parade

 

A horde of Shetland Vikings led a warm welcome to the festival with a torch lit parade. To celebrate the opening weekend. with Up Helly Aa songs. 

The festival is staging 2 Shetland concerts for the 550 years since Shetland joined Scotland.

 

This year’s hybrid festival will be both in person and online – with around 60 in-person concerts, a number of intimate filmed and a digital offering with 500 artists beginning 26^th January. The festival will include Scots singers Iona Fyfe, Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart as well as ceilidh bands and more. 

 

Tickets for the newly confirmed shows are now on sale and organisers are encouraging “everyone who is able to support the festival” by joining them over the next three weeks.

Digital tickets are priced at £25 and will go on sale this Friday. A digital ticket will allow music fans access to at least 12 hours of exclusive filmed live content from across the festival for a three-week period starting Wednesday 26^th January.

 

Celtic connections said – “We warmly welcome confirmation that live indoor performance can proceed without the capacity limits in Scotland form Monday 24^th January. We have more than 50 shows still programmed between then and Sunday , February 6^th. The safety of audiences , artists and suppliers is central to all our plans and we are working with the Scottish government and venues to ensure we put all necessary public health measures in place of Celtic Connections 2022.”

FOLK music & Sandy Bells

The extended gatherings of those who celebrate live traditional music – that warm special folk magic –with its

musical intimacy, the surprise of unexpected collaborations, the joy of a larger collective all appreciating musical traditions  and heritage, the bringing together of all ages, all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe, the appreciation of the common language and connections and the intense joy live music brings us. 

 

Music is our first and last memory and is in inherently, deeply instinctive.

Abiding memories. The release and hopes. Live folk music makes me see warm wood and golden glows. With the range and quality of the artists.

 

I first came across live folk music, in my early twenties, in the folk clubs of Edinburgh and at Sandy Bells bar. I’ll never forget that experience and the impact of live traditional instruments and the poignant, expression of  a live ballad singer. Up to then I had enjoyed playing piano and listening to recorded cassettes – the Beatles, the Stones, Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan and Mozart!. But the live traditional music was on a different level altogether with the impact of its vibrant immediacy, its heart and soul.

And for anyone who thinks folk music is our-dated or dull - there are many top names in music today who began with the folk song - Gerry Rafferty, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Proclaimers, Laura Marling, Neil Young, Eagles and many many more.

The melody and song is the heart.

 

I sincerely hope the live traditions will live on for many reasons. The folk song has so many deeper meanings an depth, tell stories across the divides. 

Julie Fowlis

Edinburgh is now full of international students. In fact I read that both St Andrews and Edinburgh universities are only 30% are now scots. And with Air B&Bs and globalization and tourism, it is crucial Scotland’s rich musical heritage can survive.

 

This is a reason people today are fighting for their sense of identity. A fight between individuality, independence, diversity, uniqueness, - and the mono-culture of blandness of global culture? Who wants a MacDonald’s on every street corner? I want to visit Italy for its art, it special and unique stories. 

Sandy Bells Bar Edinburgh

**Sandy Bells bar on Forrest road. Back in the 60s folklorists Hamish Henderson and Margaret Bennet used to attend the bar. Many musicians have been inspired by playing at Sandy Bells. 

**MY PHOTOS include fiddle player Alasdair White at Sandy Bells. 

Celtic Connection folk and roots festival hosts live Sessions at the Festival club and at the Late night sessions (although not in 2022 due to the Covid restrictions)