Burns International Concert The Hydro Glasgow Celtic Connections 2014

This was the festivals first weekend of Hydro events and tonight’s concert was colourful and diverse with top quality music - both Burn’s songs and artist’s own compositions.  When other big concerts were being held on the same night, it said a lot that the festival can also draw a crowd to the new Hydro venue. The RSNO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra) provided a wonderful backing for the songs.  

The concert showcased some of Scotland’s best loved folk artists that included singer songwriters – Dougie MacLean, Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, and bands Capercaillie and Salsa Celtica.  

Dougie MacLean sang Burn’s Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes and his own song This Love will Carry Me. Karine Polwart performed beautifully one of Rabbie's best loved ladies love song Green Grow The Rashes O.  I'm a big fan of both Dougie and Karine's music.

International artists included - India’s Ragu Dixit Project who played a lively set along with colourful Indian dancers  and The Mae Trio from Melbourne, who sang perfect harmonies the Burns song John Anderson My Jo.

A highlight of the night with Greece's answer to Dougie MacLean with Alkinoos Ioannidis's expressive voice - he performed 

one of his own compositions which was sung as a duet with Polwart. The young ensemble Fèis Rois finished the first half 

with a fine set of tunes. 

Rachel Sermanni, who won the Danny Kyle stage a few years ago, sang Burn's best known love song My Love is Like a 

Red Red Rose and it is wonderful when a voice and guitar can hold a large audience spellbound - another perfect voice. 

She appeared puzzled by the depth of the orchestra behind her and this was likely her first time performing with an 

orchestra.    

Capercaillie performed Donald Shaw award wining composition for the BBC tv series, Hebrides: Life on the Edge and Karen Matheson sang a favourite Burns love song Ae Fond Kiss. They were celebrating thirty years together and are led by festival director and composer Donald Shaw and his beautiful wife singer Karen Matheson.  

South Africa's Mahotella Queens who sing a close-harmony version of jazzy mbaqanga township music, headlined the night with colourful dancing and songs and had the audience dance along to their sunshine rhythms!  I might have wished for more upbeat ceildih music from the folk bands, then again this was an evening for  Burns songs.   
  

There were mentions of inspirational poets and Irishman John Spillane read the poem A Birl for Burns, by the celebrated Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who died last year. Bongani Tembe gave a moving tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Participants spoke of how Burns had influenced them. Alkinoos Ioannidis said it was by knowing each others poets that we might better understand other places.

Perfect folk voices along with the orchestra and ceilidh folk instruments wove music magic at this concert and were interspersed with Burns poetic words. A night Burns would have been proud of!    

The evening was supported by Homecoming Scotland.
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley  -  http://pkimage.co.uk/

 Burns wrote for everyman and believed that all men were created equal. Today his words ring as true as ever as his message continues to cross boundaries - both social and racial divides.  Quote: 'And man to man the world over shall brothers be for all that.'  

The Big Dish supported Del Amitri

Another cool support slot was The Big Dish who supported Del Amitri at The Hydro Glasgow Celtic Connections 2014. 
I can't find anything online for this band though !

 

Guitarist RM Hubbert

Sometimes the support artists are as interesting as the main artist at a gig. Such was the case for last night’s concert when guitarist and singer RM Hubbert took to the concert hall stage in support of Glasgow band Mogwai, Celtic Connections 2014,  (full review to follow)

Del Amitri Reunion Gig The Hydro Glasgow

This reunion gig after a twelve year break, with one of Glasgow's favourite bands was Celtic Connections biggest show so far and it’s first at the shiny new Glasgow Hydro. The show was the start of a 12 date UK tour for the band and drew a crowd of over 8,000. In fact Curran seemed somewhat surprised by the size of his audience and he said one of his mates had bought seven tickets! 

The excitement in the air for this return gig was palpable as the band took to the Hydro stage. Successful Scottish 80s band Del Amitri delighted fans with a return to their 80s favourites and with the entire floor of the vast Hydro on its feet, the audience sang along with gusto and with calls of 'brilliant' and 'We've missed you!! 

They started the show with some of their best known - The Last To Know, Kiss This Thing Goodbye and then the driving rhythms of The Ones That Lead You Nowhere. Curran and Harvie's songs are full of both optimism and regrets.  

Other songs - Driving With the Brakes on, Being Drunk in a Band, Not Where It's At and Hammering Heart,  In The Frame. 

 

Fiddler player extraordinaire Aidan O'Rourke (from Lau) joined them on stage for several songs adding that extra Celtic magic for a lovely take on the songs - This Side Of The Morning, Sleep Instead of Teardrops and Be My Downfall. 

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Tell Her This was sung acoustically which gave the enthusiastic crowd a chance to vent their vocal energy and resulted in some of the biggest cheers of the night.

There was also singing for their other hits such as - Nothing Ever Happens, Roll To Me (top ten UK Billboard), Driving With the Brakes on and Spit In The Rain - which is apparently a Glasgow taxi drivers favourite song! 

The band played rockier numbers and also took the pace down for the insightful poignancy of their acoustic songs in the folk idiom, with Be My Downfall, What She Sees and Driving With the Brakes on. 

Encore Songs -  In The Meantime, Here and Now, Just before you Leave, Move Away Johnny Blue,

The band were on top form as Currie's rich vocals and their tight harmonies rang out over the vast arena. Del Amitri's songs have emotional rhythm and country soul, with sensitive guitar and words that ring true.

The band centre on Justin Currie and Iain Harvie who are sensitive story tellers and have a way with words that leaves them hanging in the air. With words such as.... 

Freezes up from time to time. Lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow. Hard to say you love someone. My one girl once again tonight, till we find someone new.....

 

 

The marrying of rock and Scottish lyricisms gives Scottish bands an added uniqueness and honesty on their music.  I was over in the States when all these Scottish bands came to the fore - Deacon Blue and Simple Minds, and I remember Simple Minds on MTV. 
There was a revival of Scottish arts and music in the 80s after we lost the vote because not enough people voted, so some (not all) of their songs were new to me - and I am certainly now a newly converted fan!
This really was a great feel good concert! I loved it.

They were well supported by The Os from Dallas and The Big Dish, another first rate Scottish band reunited just last year.  

Del Amitri , Scottish alternative rock band, formed Glasgow 1983. Justin Currie (bass and vocals), Iain Harvie (lead guitar), Bryan Tolland (guitar) and Paul Tyagi (drums). Currie and Harvie are the only band members to remain and were the songwriters. The band had several top ten albums UK - . http://delamitri.com/