Roots and Shoots Celtic Connections 2017

Scotland’s north east boasts a fine musical tradition.

At this Roots and Shoots concert at Celtic Connections 2017, musicians from the north east performed a highly entertaining evening of both traditional and new songs –  Old Blind Dogs, Rick Redbeard, Iona Fyfe, Jenny Sturgeon,

Indie folk starlet Best Girl Athlete, Jonny Hardie, Simon Gall, and hip-hop artists from the granite city of Aberdeen.

Best Girl Athlete    

Jenny Sturgeon

Iona Fyfe

Exhibition My Celtic Connections Photos

I have an Exhibition of some of my Celtic Connections Music Photos at the Old Fruitmarket this year! I can't believe this is my 10th year taking Photos there! Thanks to the media team at Celtic. : )

This was my 10th year shooting at Celtic Connections festival! Over the years I have attended some of the best concerts and taken some of my top portfolio images at Celtic Connections. I enjoy the buzz, the unique collaborations, the friendly banter, the top quality instruments and musicianship, the late sessions and the exciting young artists, the moving Gaelic songs and perfect singers, the fun and foot-tapping ceilidh bands at the Fruitmarket, the musicians that come from many other countries. I meet so many interesting music fans, photographers and folk musicians there. so Big Thanks to the Celtic Connections team for all their hard work each January!) 

My extensive CELTIC CONNECTIONS PHOTO GALLERIES - http://pkimage.co.uk/celticconnections

Danny Kyle open stage at Celtic Connections 2017

One of the highlights of Celtic festival is the open mic stage every day at 5.  I enjoyed the Danny Kyle open stage at Celtic Connections 2017 - two stand outs this year were beautiful ballad singer Iona Fyfe and the ceilidh band Trip.  The stage attracts top folk musicians world wide. I’ve heard many top musicians here and sometimes those artists who have gone on to win.  Celtic is not only about the concerts - its about the buzz, the arts, the instruments an enjoying music that is not mainstream.

Iona Skye

Trip

Mary Chapin Carpenter at Celtic Connections 2017

Mary Chapin Carpenter

A positive energy and message in her songs, Carpenter sang resilience songs.

This was a concert in three sets - First up was the beautiful voice of Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. She sang the Beatle’s ‘Blackbird’ and her set was far too short!  

Julie Fowlis

Next was the fun accomplished folk band the Altan from Donegal, who played energizing reels and jigs. Their lead singer and violinist Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh sang movingly in the Irish Gaelic. The group has collaborated with Dolly Parton, The Chieftains, Bonnie Raitt and others.

Altan

The main event was with the Grammy-winning Mary Chapin Carpenter who performed songs from her 2014 ‘The Things That we are Made Of’, such as the well crafted song ‘Something Tame, Something Wild.’ She hoped she might offer some balance to the freak show happening in America, which drew a loud clap!

She spoke of walking in the Blue Ridge mountains near her home and of how she was inspired to write a song ‘Oh Rosetta’, by the spirit of the celebrated gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was the godmother of rock n roll and played rings around others. She also enjoyed being inside a perfect song with a intimate interpretation of Lucinda William’s ‘Passionate Kisses’.

We had only MCC’s husky, honey-toned voice and guitar for a tender ‘This Shirt’. Then she took the tempo and her voice up several notches with a rocky, blues songs – ‘Shut Up and Kiss Me’, ‘I Feel Lucky’ and ‘I Took my Chances’ backed by the full luxurious musicality of her band of grand piano, electric guitar and drums. The words of her songs often reach out and reflect on life’s extremes. MCC is also a talented guitarist.

The theme of Celtic Connections this year is women musicians and tonight certainly celebrated their contributions!  For a grand finale we had Julie, the Altans and a surprise appearance of dubro player Jerry Douglas on stage for ‘He Thinks He’ll Keep Her’. Certainly one of the treats of the festival!