FOLK music & Sandy Bells

The extended gatherings of those who celebrate live traditional music – that warm special folk magic –with its

musical intimacy, the surprise of unexpected collaborations, the joy of a larger collective all appreciating musical traditions  and heritage, the bringing together of all ages, all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe, the appreciation of the common language and connections and the intense joy live music brings us. 

 

Music is our first and last memory and is in inherently, deeply instinctive.

Abiding memories. The release and hopes. Live folk music makes me see warm wood and golden glows. With the range and quality of the artists.

 

I first came across live folk music, in my early twenties, in the folk clubs of Edinburgh and at Sandy Bells bar. I’ll never forget that experience and the impact of live traditional instruments and the poignant, expression of  a live ballad singer. Up to then I had enjoyed playing piano and listening to recorded cassettes – the Beatles, the Stones, Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan and Mozart!. But the live traditional music was on a different level altogether with the impact of its vibrant immediacy, its heart and soul.

And for anyone who thinks folk music is our-dated or dull - there are many top names in music today who began with the folk song - Gerry Rafferty, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Proclaimers, Laura Marling, Neil Young, Eagles and many many more.

The melody and song is the heart.

 

I sincerely hope the live traditions will live on for many reasons. The folk song has so many deeper meanings an depth, tell stories across the divides. 

Julie Fowlis

Edinburgh is now full of international students. In fact I read that both St Andrews and Edinburgh universities are only 30% are now scots. And with Air B&Bs and globalization and tourism, it is crucial Scotland’s rich musical heritage can survive.

 

This is a reason people today are fighting for their sense of identity. A fight between individuality, independence, diversity, uniqueness, - and the mono-culture of blandness of global culture? Who wants a MacDonald’s on every street corner? I want to visit Italy for its art, it special and unique stories. 

Sandy Bells Bar Edinburgh

**Sandy Bells bar on Forrest road. Back in the 60s folklorists Hamish Henderson and Margaret Bennet used to attend the bar. Many musicians have been inspired by playing at Sandy Bells. 

**MY PHOTOS include fiddle player Alasdair White at Sandy Bells. 

Celtic Connection folk and roots festival hosts live Sessions at the Festival club and at the Late night sessions (although not in 2022 due to the Covid restrictions)

Celtic Connections 2022 cancelled events due to Covid

 

It's sad about Celtic Connections having to cancel some concerts, but they are now offering a Digital festival from 26th January.

THE ORGANISERS Celtic Connections music festival have announced that several shows will be cancelled due to the uncertainty around Covid.

FM Nicola Sturgeon announced that she hopes to be able to lift the current restrictions on indoor events on January 24 2022, so hopes are growing that this month's Celtic Connections festival, January 20, can go ahead to some extent, while some events have already been cancelled.

Celtic Connections  have announced it was with "a heavy heart" that they were confirming a number of shows within the programme are no longer able to go ahead. They are in the process of contacting impacted artists regarding cancellations and expect the majority of shows to be affected by restrictions in some way.

 "Our ambition for the 29th edition of the festival was to bring everyone together once again, however the uncertainty and disruption caused by the Omicron variant has meant it is not feasible for us to continue with our existing plans on the scale we had originally hoped.

"Artists and ticketholders for the shows affected so far are being contacted directly and we would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and patience.  We have not come to these decisions lightly and are committed to presenting a form of the festival which brings the connection and joy of Celtic Connections to audiences, while being both feasible and safe for all involved.

"We are currently working through many different scenarios and options and reviewing all shows in line with existing event restrictions. We will continue to keep our audiences up to date as the plans for Celtic Connections 2022 evolve."

The opening concert, ‘Neath The Gloamin’ Star, was to feature younger musicians and songwriters.

Cara Dillon

Before Christmas organisers said restrictions and the timeline against future reviews presented significant challenges for the festival. However, with restrictions placed onaudience numbers for indoor events at just 200 for all-seater shows and 100 for standing, and one-metre distancing, shows have sadly been cancelled.

The event, promoted by Glasgow Life, the charitable trust which runs the city's culture and leisure services, was due to be held in Glasgow from January 20 to February 6, with an 18-day programme featuring traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul and world music. More than 1,000 musicians were due to take part in the 29th edition of the concert series.

The online version of the festival in 2021 sold more than 27,000 tickets and attracted audiences from over 60 different countries, with more than 10.5 million minutes of musical entertainment viewed over a 19-day programme.  Previous festivals have featured Robert Plant, Laura Marling, the Chieftains, Bobby Womack to name a few - and more than 100,000 attendances.

https://www.celticconnections.com

Adam Holmes

 **Some events have already been cancelled, however. Below is a list of the affected performances.

Roaming Roots, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, January 23

Dean Owen at CCA, January 28

Geraint Watkins Band and Emma Jane, Drygate Brewery, January 21

 

 

Shetland 550, The Mackintosh Church, January 21

Ceilidh With The Peter Wood Band, National Piping Centre, January 22

The Lonesome Ace Stringband & The Magpies, Mitchell theatre January 22

Elephant Sessions 10th Anniversary Special, Glasgow Barrowland, January 22 (re-scheduled for September 23)

The Conundrum: International Piping Night, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (New Auditorium), January 22

Neal Francis and Unoma Okudo, Drygate Brewery, January 22

 

An Tobar: 25 Years, Drygate Brewery, January 23

Megan Henderson with Ainsley Hamill: Not Just Ship Land, Mitchell Theatre, January 23

Frankie Gavin and Màirtìn Ò Connor and Stundom, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (New Auditorium), January 23

Le Vent Du Nord, Old Fruitmarket, January 28

Ian Fraser with Josie Duncan, Mitchell Theatre, January 28

Spiers & Boden, Òran Mór, January 28

Astrid and Ewan Macfarlane, Drygate Brewery, January 27

Lera Lynn and Donovan Woods, CCA, January 27

Allison Russell and Ala de Liona and Emily Scott Robinson, Saint Luke’s, January 26

Breabach with Beòlach, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, January 26

Jason Wilson’s Ashara, CCA, January 29

Leventime: A Tribute To Jackie Leven, Òran Mór, January 29

Stina Marie Claire, CCA, January 30

Andrew Wasylyk and Twelfth Day, Mitchell Theatre, January 30

Hamish Henderson Night: Ballad Of The Banffies, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, January 30

Jill Jackson and Lady Nade, Old Fruitmarket, January 30

 

Annabelle Chvostek and Elaine Lennon, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Strathclyde Suite), January 31

Kate Rusby, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, February 1

Rachel Baiman and Cahalen Morrison, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Strathclyde Suite), February 1

Catriona Price, Mitchell Theatre, February 2

Amadou & Mariam, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, February 2

Darlingside, Saint Luke’s, February 2

Dervish, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, February 3

Tom Oakes, National Piping Centre, February 3

The Mastersons and Julia Taylor, CCA, February 4

Ryan Young and Chris Amer with Janice Burns and Jon Doran, National Piping Centre, February 4

Roddy Hart And The Lonesome Fire, Saint Luke’s, February 6

Times of Change 2021

COP 26 march

Covid is here to stay in its many different forms. 

It is now about how we learn to live with Covid. We may not be able to return to those large scale events we used to love .... as much as before. Then again I’ve really enjoyed many small intimate gigs, but will my local folk club return any time soon? 

We’ll have to learn to live and shop on a more local level – and not enjoy unnecessary flights. Do we really need 6 trips  a year, causing needless pollution and emissions.

The COP 26 Glasgow happened, but it seemed the real action was happening on the streets. 

 

Some Anglo-British Tories claim they believe in “liberty” but liberty for whom – for Scots with 7 mandates for independence? 

 

We’re all trying to learn to live with Covid, which at times has been okay getting back to a concert in August – Chrissie Hynde at the Queens hall Edinburgh -  and even the cinema to see the amazing Sci-fi film Dune. Will Celtic Connections actually happen, will life return to a normality?

 

But the hospitals are under great strain with a lack of staff, so all this is not so great. Many people are now moving closer to their families. One thing recent times have taught us, is  the need for resiliecet in the face of seismic change and the importance of family!

 

 Happy New Year and hoping for the best for 2022!

 

Scottish Music 2021

  

Proclaimers

The BBC's St Andrews day Program, featured many of Scotland's best loved artists from the 80s – Proclaimers, Texas, Simple Minds, Del Amitri, Deacon Blue, Travis, Wet Wet Wet, with these bands still touring today. 

Scotland certainly punched above its size for bands from the 80s and 90s! 

 

However many pf the Scots artists of today were not included – what about Chvrches, Lewis Capaldi, KT Tunstall, Mogwai, Biffy Clyro, although Calvin Harris and Emeli Sande were included.

 

There is a uniqueness to Scottish music, which mixes traditional folk melody and the heart of ballads, with contemporary influences, instruments and beats and rhythms – often in unexpected and unusual combinations.

Del Amitri

KT Tunstall

Blue Rose Code

Julie Fowlis

Also a big mention for all the incredible folk artists who perform, at Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow each January - with Ceilidh bands, Gaelic singers, orchestral musicians, bluegrass and soul, traditional folk, pipers, Celtic ballads, Irish influences, unusual instruments – which all provides a wonderful melting pot to bring different influences together for the 18 days of the festival.

 

Another major platform for music in Scotland is the Edinburgh International festival each August, which also brings diverse cultures and innovation together – from classical music to cutting edge rock. Scotland has much to be proud of! Here are some of my images from my years attending some of the many diverse and wonderful gigs here in Scotland

Capercaillie

Emeli Sande

Mogwai

Siobhan Wilson

Karine Polwart

Nicola Benedetti

Blue Rose Code