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| Famous steps King Tuts |
The famous King Tuts venue in Glasgow celebrates women musicians along with emerging new talent
with their exciting January Revolution Program
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| Emeli Sande at her sound check King Tuts 2009 |
Monday 14 January 2019
King Tuts Revolution Program
Friday 11 January 2019
CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2019!
Looking forward to Celtic Connections 2019!
Famous Names 2019
Loudon Wainwirght III, Rhiannon Giddons, Graham Nash, Seth Lakeman, Judy Collins, Karen Matheson, composer Patrick Doyle, Kathy Mattea, Eddi Reader, Blazin Fiddles, Cherish the Ladies, John Grant, Elephant Sessions, Aiden Moffat and RM Hubbert.
Some of the great Scots writing – celebrating Hamish Henderson, John Martyn,
In this year of young people, the Opening Concert celebrates new talent and the passing of traditions between the generations and 15 years since Harvest 2004.
Other Concerts -
Other Concerts -
Little books of Scottish folk songs and TMSA Young Trad tour, Strathclyde suite 26th Jan,
Blue Rose Code, Caledonian Soul, City halls.
Karine Polwart's Scottish Songbook – 2nd February
McGonagall’s Chronicles at the Tron theatre.
The Bards Tale – Concert hall
Kathleen MacInnis and
Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm.
'Grace and Danger' concert celebrating John Martyn.
A celebration of folk-blues singer-guitarist John Martyn’s Grace and Danger album with a special line up – Paul Weller, Lucy Rose, Eddi Reader, Ross Wilson, Rory, Butler, Eric Bibb, John Smith, Katie Spencer.
Scotland continues to have a diverse, vibrant and thriving live acoustic music scene, which I discovered in my twenties and is much more real than the music we are fed by mainstream radio. I want to discover my own music through a variety of means – reviews, folk clubs, festivals, more. Today online streaming doesn’t always have the albums I want to listen to.
Celtic Connections 2019 is premier 18 days major winter music festival,
17thJan - 3rdFeb 2019, Glasgow
Over 20 venues, 300 events and 2,100 artists.
The festival will feature special event concerts, film screenings workshops, talks, theatre, ceilidhs, exhibitions, free events and late night sessions. Celtic Connections includes innovative collaborations while respecting past traditions and encourages new talent with late sessions, open mic and more. There is always such a fantastic buzz!
Monday 31 December 2018
The year of Young People
This is the year of young people – so I want to include quotes from some.
Questions is Ireland – I believe a youth forum should put forward their views - why should those over 70 year olds be deciding their futures in our fast changing world?
‘I want to own my music.’
Mhairi Black
‘Westminster is a private club masquerading as a parliament.’
‘Democracy only works when there is education beside it.’
Was the 2016 Brexit vote merely an opinion poll? Yes people want change – but perhaps rather than ripping ourselves out the worlds most successful trading block
What we really need is - a new , representative voting system, a constitution, real local accountability
‘Your story is now a part of our story.’ Ireland welcomes immigration to keep faith with home cultures and to be sure to share them with new neighbours.
Poet James Hogg wrote of the 1707 Union,
"Let friendship and honour unite
And flourish both sides the Tweed. "
Both Sides the Tweed
Both Sides the Tweed
So authentically sung by traditional Scots singer Dick Gaughan. May we all learn to work together - harmony, peace,
Wednesday 26 December 2018
Photography & Journeys 2018
2018 has been a constructively rewarding year.
I was delighted that one of Scotland’s top singer song writers Rab Noakes has used my photos from his Celtic Connections gig 2017 - on his new album Anniversarywille. Back in the 60s and 70s, Rab played with greats such as Gerry Rafferty and Lindisfarne. When I hung out in the folk scene then, I remember well the harmony singing of Noakes songs, such as Branch, Clear Day,To each and Everyone, Somebody Counts on Me. In 2007, I saw Noakes still going strong at an Oran Mor gig. He often includes a fifties classic, and this time a song my husband remembered his mother singing. He is also a dedicated Bob Dylan follower – check out his interpretation of Dylan’s Mississippi.
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| Rab Noakes Old Fruitmarket Celtic Connections |
I also had my first front page in the Scotsman of Chelsea Clinton, in Edinburgh to promote her book, She Persisted. Also photos used by major media (the BBC, Albert hall, Celtic Connections and more) and by press outlets. I have exhibited at Celtic Connections music festival.
I need to allow space, movement, escapism, movement and time for dreams in my images. There have been times when I was so in the moment. I’ve had shoots with hours of time when the artists, the musicians, the dancers who have put their hearts on the line over their commitment to hours of hard graft.
Journeys
I have been travelling the Scottish islands – first to Orkney, which was awesome, and all its history. Orkney gently tells many stories – ancient sagas from its rich past. Second the outer Hebrides and the beauty of the shimmering soft blues of these landscapes is breathtaking, and its expanse of sands and surging seas....
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| V & A Dundee |
I’ve been pursing many projects - too many perhaps! - and I’m often inspired. Hopefully.
My interest and love of history continues apace – this began as a child and with visits to Edina’s historic castle and the Holyrood palace, where I purchased a small blue book on the Stewart kings. At school though, I only learnt of the Tudors and European history.
We learn invaluable lessons by following those who walked before us. I’ve been searching for Scotia – in Edina’s ancient streets and reading Robert Crawford’s The Bard, a very well researched Robert Burns biography that focuses on his poetry and songs. Writing requires a great deal of research, time, commitment, editing, resources and mostly patience too – as do all the arts. We need many skills.
In these strange times, the arts matters more than ever.
Culture matters. Our stories matter.
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