Transatlantic Sessions 2013

The Transatlantic Sessions concert is about the collective spirit of music with some of the cream of Scottish and American Celtic music. Both musical directors Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain are outstanding musicians. The musicians were joined on stage this year by the singers - Teddy Thompson, Emily Smith, Eric Bibb, Aoife O'Donovan and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The Transatlantic Sessions now tours the UK after its Celtic concerts and they also played over in the US last year as part of Celtic Connections' showcase for the Ryder Cup Chicago, ahead of the contest's coming to Scotland in 2014. It is also the main event at Celtic Connections festival Glasgow each year.

The Transatlantic concert began with the tune Waiting for the Federals played by all the players in the Transatlantic band. Douglas introduced singer Teddy Thompson (son of Richard Thompson) who sang Delilah and Dear Mary. Next Emily Smith sang a Robert Burns song Silver Tassie and her own song A Day Like Today. Bluegrass banjo player Dirk Powell sang the Cajun two-step French song Step de Bonne café.

Dubro player and the most recorded artist ever, Jerry Douglas played Gone to Fortingal. He really is a very striking musician; he also plays with Alison Krauss and Union Street Station. Jerry made the comment that Scotland had romantic tunes but that the US had the titles!  Next blues singer Eric Bibb sang New Home and Goin Down This Road Feelin Bad. 

Aoife O’Donovan and Bruce Molsky

Aoife O’Donovan of the band Crooked Still, sang Hallowell backed simply by piano, and along with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Elaine Smith created some beautiful female harmonies when they sang the song Bright Sunny South. The band played the tune The Helvic Head and then Grammy award winning Mary Chapin Carpenter sang Chasing What’s Already Gone and I Have a Need. She used moving expression and interpretation with her songs of heartbreak and longings.

Second Set: Bruce Molsky and Aoife O’Donovan preformed Pretty Saro. Teddy Thompson sang What Was I Thinking. Mary Chapman Carpenter sang Transcendental Reunion. Aoife O’Donovan sang O Mamma backed by fiddler John McCusker, after which Eric Bibb sang Champagne Habits. Accomplished guitarist Russ Barenberg played the tune Through the Gates. Dirk Powell played Waterbound and Scottish accordion player Phil Cunningham played one his own popular compositions.

Jerry Douglas

Emily Smith

Emily Smith sang The final Trawl and Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and Michael McGoldrick played Phil’s Air - a tune written about Sir Walter Scott. The finale was an uplifting Down at the Twist and Shout with all the singers and band on stage.

There is nothing much that can beat having such a top quality gathering of musicians and Teddy Thompson, Emily Smith and Aoife O'Donovan are all very gifted singers. I enjoy watching Aly Bain play, he has a relaxed, easy style that makes it look effortless and he’s a master of his craft. As someone remarked this concert is extremely good value considering the number of quality artists that perform! 

Eric Bibb

Aly bain

I did miss Jerry Douglas’s solo performance at the start of the second set which allows us to hear his skill and musicianship to great effect and provides a contrast with only one player on stage. We also missed both American Tim O’Brien and well loved Scottish singer Eddi Reader this year.

Thanks to Festival music director Donald Shaw for all his hard work to make the festival such a successful event.  And a thanks to the Celtic press team for a nice list of the artists set list and songs, this helps greatly with writing up these reviews! Cheers. 

Michael McGoldrick

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.