Blue Rose Code: This Is Caledonian Soul, Celtic Connections 2020

 

Blue Rose Code: Caledonian Soul at the Old Fruitmarket as part of Celtic Connections 2020

Tonight was a celebration of outstanding Scottish soul music, covering such Scots artists as the Blue Nile, Boo Hewerdine, Mark Knopfler, Del Amitri, Gerry Rafferty, Lewis Capaldi, Travis, KT Tunstall, Annie Lennox. The concert was hosted by the inimitable and very talented Ross Wilson (aka Blue Rose Code) and he was backed by an accomplished, soul 9-piece band, string quartet and backing vocalists. Plus quality guest vocalists that included – Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Robert Vincent.

Wilson began with a crowd-pleasing Del Amitri’s Kiss This Thing Goodbye and Graham Lyle’s What’s Love Got To Do With It. Eddi Reader performed a memorable Patience of Angels by Boo Hewerdine, along with her talented musician husband John Douglas, of the band Trashcan Sinatras.

Karen Matheson sang Mark Knopfler’s Brothers in Arms, with some highly exuberant playing by the rhythm section - plus the Blue Nile’s Happiness, KT Tunstall and Annie Lennox’s, No More I Love You. Karen had clearly enjoyed getting into the spirit of this collaborative, soul showcase. From Liverpool award-winning country soul singer, Robert Vincent, was on good form and sang a Travis song, Flowers in the Window, and Gerry Rafferty’s well loved Stuck in the Middle With You. As well as Lewis Capaldi’s major recent hit Someone You Love.

One of Ross’s biggest influences is John Martyn and he began the second half with an engrossing Fine Lines (I’d love to hear Solid Air or May you Never by the way). Wilson performed a new song from his up-coming album and a more upbeat version of his song Grateful. And for a grand finale we were treated to Jack Bruce’s Sunshine of Your Love, which had the packed audience on their feet. A heads up too for the excellent funky band. I would have enjoyed also to hear more duets and from emerging new Scots talent.

Keep a light on in these dark days…..  

Wilson draws on both his passion for blues rhythm guitar and the intimacy of folk tunes. His musical heroes include Van Morrison, John Martyn and other soul / folk musicians. I’m a fan! I first heard Ross at my local folk club, which was packed out for his 2 sold out nights there and I was impressed with his range, dynamic guitar playing, husky soul-filled voice and the passion of his songs. 

At Edinburgh festival 2018, Ross performed his first This Is Caledonian Soul concert at the Queens hall with a quality line up and well chosen songs.

I like to own my music and support musicians that I admire and I have so enjoyed Ross’s albums. (He also does an excellent version of Davey Steele’s powerful song Scotland Yet.) 

ALBUMS – Ballads of Peckham Rye 2015: Lo, Bird is on the wing, 2016; Live at the Queens Hall 2017; Water of Leith 2019. Plus eps and singles.  https://bluerosecode.com/

**My soul requests! Love to hear Danny Wilson’s Mary’s Prayer; Michael Marra, whose songs paint incredible pictures; Rab Noakes, renowned Scots singer songwriter, who also mixes folk and soul, Gently Does it; Average White band – Pick up the Pieces

 

Leave a Light on for Scotland!

After there was a candle vigil against this foolish Brexit

on the Buchanan street steps beside the statue of first, first minister of our Scottish parliament, Donald Dewar, where we sang Auld Lang Syne to mark the sadness most Scots feels at being forced to leave the EU. 

... who will the Tories blame now? 

#leavealightonforscotland 

Auld Lang Syne Concert -Celtic Connections 2020

What an excellent concert!

With a top line up of singers backed by the quality playing of the Scottish chamber orchestra and house band, consisting of Donald Shaw, fiddler John McCusker. The concert was recorded for Radio Scotland. Of course performing the much loved Burns songs with a top orchestra and quality singers was bound to be a winner and everyone was on top form tonight. 

Karen Matheson

Gaelic singer, Karen Matheson began the concert with some of Burns most romantic songs:with her clear, expressive voice and backed by the band and orchestra – Bonnie Jean, Lassie in the Lint White Coat, Ca the Yowes. She also performed a Donald Shaw composition, Let Me Wander. 

Jarlath Henderson

From Northern Ireland, piper and singer Jarlath Henderson, impressed with one of my best loved Burns songs, Westlin Winds. “One of the best songs ever written, it says all there is to say.” quote from folk singer Dick Gaughan (I missed his powerful voice). Henderson also performed one his own compositions and an excellent vocal on, Green Grow the Rashes O.  

Eddi Reader was cheered on stage and she sang – Jamie Come Try Me, Red Red Rose, and Charlie is My Darling - backed by the orchestra. After which Shona Donaldson sang a poignant Highland Widow’s Lament and the Slaves Lament, plus the more upbeat and rhythmic Rattlin Roarin Willie.  

For the grand finale Reader sang her passionate interpretation of Ae Fond Kiss and for a glorious finish with Auld Lang Syne and with the audience on their feet after such an enjoyable night.  

Eddi Reader

I wondered what would it have meant to Burns to have his songs thrill audiences all these years after he wrote them – and all over the world!  I was particularly glad to hear Westlin winds, Slaves Lament, Rattlin Roarin, Green Grow the Rashes O and Ae Fond Kiss, 

Burns was a great romantic poet and wrote some of the world’s greatest love songs -  but also so much more. He cared deeply on many issues – the Rights of Man (and women), his love and caring of nature, keeping Scots traditions alive, song collecting, equality, freedom and democracy. 

He was passionate about his song collecting but he was also a radical and reformer. His heroes from boyhood were freedom fighters. He also wrote one of the world’s best known and loved songs of equality - A Mans a Man for a That, which is sung today all over Europe, Canada and beyond. 

Jarlath Henderson, is an Irish folk musician. He is a  Uilleann piper, guitar, Cittern, low whistle and flute and winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young folk award 2003. 

Coastal Connections: at Celtic Connections Festival 2020

This new festival within a festival proved a highly successful and sold-out event. For the price of a ticket, we were given a wristband as access to musical performances of the highest calibre, celebrating Scotland’s vast coastlines and many islands.

The festival was held over the concert halls several spaces – the main auditorium, exhibition hall, Buchannan suite, and Strathclyde suite. The main event took place in a more relaxed setting in the main hall, with tables and chairs set up in the front area. All this proved ideal for families and for dancing. 

Some of the festivals top ceilidh bands took part – 

From north Uist we were treated to the perfect voice of Julie Fowlis along with Eamon Doorley, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre. Diamh from the Hebrides, proved a strong presence with accomplished musicians and with lead singer, Ellen MacDonald

Capercaillie from Oban, were the ultimate professionals: a band with strong tunes with contemporary rhythms led by

 accordion player and festival director Donald Shaw and with the moving Gaelic voice of Karen Matheson. Tiree-based Skerryvore are a powerhouse ceilidh band led by pipes and song, and they lit up the final show here. 

The more intimate spaces musicians included  - Orkney bands Gnoss and Fara; fiddler Gillian Frame from Arran; Ceol Nan Eilean from Benbecula; from Cape Breton Miller, MacDonald, Cormier and Feis Rois with John Somerville’s Voyage of the Hector; Esther Swift’s The Flood; from Lochaber Ingrid Henderson, Anna and Mairearad from the Black Isle. 

There were also art displays and musical instruments on show. I thought there might have been more coastal signage or art displays. There certainly are many outstanding photographers who shoot powerful images of Scotland’s incredible coastlines, perhaps a display for another day.

I’ve been fortunate myself to visit Scotland’s islands recently and the north coast. If the weather is kind ( as it is in may or the autumn) there is nothing to surpass the wildness, the subtle, shifting light, blinding wind or thunderous waves or perfect white sands.

(photos from north Uist nature reserve, Scarra Brae Orkney, North Coast 500

The festival had a dramatic opening spectacle with STORM, a 10m high sun goddess STORM made of driftwood by Edinburgh’s Vision Mechanics to celebrate our seas. Her voice the chorus of the waves to celebrate our seas, care of our coastlines and to put our environment first – she made her journey from the Clyde to the Glasgow concert hall.