Imelda May Old Fruitmarket Celtic Connections 2014

May rocked the Old Fruitmarket.  

She sparkled on stage and moved and shimmied with a free energy as she bounced her mic, clapped and appeared to enjoy her set of upbeat dance tunes.

May has a fine set of vocal pipes, as well as loads of personality.   

She performed songs from her forthcoming new album due in 2014 and also older favourites - such as the songs Mayhem and Here Comes Johnny.  

For her encore she sang along to only a ukulele, a song Dreams Are Free, and then with full band she sang Breakdown.
 

 

 

There was lots of clapping along to the songs and the packed hall was full of both younger and aging rockers eager to relive fun times! 

Imelda Mary Higham, from Dublin has had amazing success and she clearly fills a niche for rockabilly and rock n roll nostalgia. 

RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014

Guitarist and singer songwriter RM Hubbert supported Glasgow band Mogwai at the Glasgow concert hall. I had read that Hubbert's 2013 album had won the SAY (Scottish Album of the Year Award) 2013, so I came with some expectations to this concert. Even so, some artists take you off guard and as I have followed music over many years it can be all too easy to become jaded hearing samey songs.

Hubbert appeared genuine and unassuming musician, whose music was all about his guitar.

He played mostly instrumental tunes. For his second song he played his own very good interpretation of I Once Loved a Lass, a favourite folk song of mine. His next tune had moody beating drums guitar and a husky voice. He showed a clear understanding that music is firstly about what moves us and secondly about techniques and using those skilled to best ability.

He played his tunes with unexpected subtleties, strong strumming, dancing fingers, slow pauses, hesitant steps guitar strings plucking and questioning notes. He also managed to hold the packed concert hall attention throughout with both his informal chat and well crafted tunes.

On one particularly emotional tune, entitle For Joe, he spoke first about his parents death and that he felt able to speak to an audience - and I guess he gets to speak through his music too. This tune had talking guitar and expressed the many complex feelings of grief and loss – from  missing you to happy memories and returned to missing you feelings.

 

The singer Aiden Moffat joined Hubbert on stage of Car Song which was another highlight.    

I was truly impress and even bought the CD - this doesn't happen a lot! 

Hubbert is a member Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, and also a member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.

Mogwai and RM Hubbert Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2014

 

Mogwai were the main event at this concert hall night. The band have recently released their studio album Rave Tapes to excellent reviews and with the album making the top ten UK.  I had heard of Scottish indie rockers or post rock band Mogwai but had never managed to see them live. 

It made a change to see a standing packed concert hall full of a younger crowd. Mogwai played a wall of blistering power driven guitar and synthesizer rock (or post rock).  The band played a few songs with vocals but mostly instrumental tracks.

Their music was heavily atmospheric with driving beats, long walls of sound alleyways, thunderous bass and strong dynamics - sometimes dark moody skies, forgotten places. They also took the tempo up for clearer skies too!.

It appeared that the band were lead by guitarist Stuart Braithwaite who played his guitar with a deep strength. They played energetic percussion and steady beats. They performed a slower song with only guitar, slow paced drums and hypnotic voice. For their encore set they added an electric violin.  

SET LIST here - http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mogwai/2014/royal-concert-hall-glasgow

Their sound reminded me of futuristic films such as the iconic Blade Runner. They also sounded somewhat like Icelandic band Sigor Ros who I saw live here a few years back. I went to look up what 'post rock' is and sure enough Sigor Ros are also post rock!   

This was the loudest gig I've ever been to at the concert hall!  I am certainly not sure the Celtic connections of their music except they are one of the biggest Scottish bands - so far removed from an acoustic singer songwriter or those fiddle reels!  I was also proud too of the evening, both of the high quality and diversity of music we have coming out of Scotland these days.   

RM Hubbert was the support for Mogwai - he was so good I am posting a separate review for him.  
Photos and Review Pauline Keightley - http://pkimage.co.uk/

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.'