Celtic Connections favourite PHOTOS

 

Celtic Connections PHOTOS

Some of my favourite Photos from the past years taking photos, from 2008, at Glasgow’s world leading folk and roots festival. 

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.

*Celtic Connections 2022 both in-person and ONLINE!

For the second consecutive year Celtic Connections has had to cancel concerts due to the Coivd pandemic, while some of the festival has been able to go ahead. At the last minute I’ve had messages to tell me that 2 concerts have been re-scheduled for June, I’ve also had tickets refunded, for the opening concert and Vent du Nord, and Rura and Transatlantic Sessions (Feb. 5^th and 6^th) concerts are going ahead!

Every January its always such a boost to look forward to CC, and gets me through those chill winter nights with concerts full of warmth and joy, poignant ballads, energetic accomplished musicianship and unique collaborations!

 

Its good some concerts have been rescheduled for June though. 

CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival Pass - 

 - https://www.glasgowlifetv.com/products/celtic-connections-2022-festival-pass

 

Celtic Connections is Europe’s biggest winter festival and as well as celebrating Scotland’s rich music traditions, also welcomes international musicians and the strong Celtic links between Breton, Nova Scotia, Ireland, Tennessee, Scandinavia. 

In todays mono-culture of globalization its more important than ever to celebrate our diversities and uniqueness while also enjoying our interconnections. 

Music is our most powerful universal language. 

 

 

Vikings welcome festival with torch lit parade

 

A horde of Shetland Vikings led a warm welcome to the festival with a torch lit parade. To celebrate the opening weekend. with Up Helly Aa songs. 

The festival is staging 2 Shetland concerts for the 550 years since Shetland joined Scotland.

 

This year’s hybrid festival will be both in person and online – with around 60 in-person concerts, a number of intimate filmed and a digital offering with 500 artists beginning 26^th January. The festival will include Scots singers Iona Fyfe, Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart as well as ceilidh bands and more. 

 

Tickets for the newly confirmed shows are now on sale and organisers are encouraging “everyone who is able to support the festival” by joining them over the next three weeks.

Digital tickets are priced at £25 and will go on sale this Friday. A digital ticket will allow music fans access to at least 12 hours of exclusive filmed live content from across the festival for a three-week period starting Wednesday 26^th January.

 

Celtic connections said – “We warmly welcome confirmation that live indoor performance can proceed without the capacity limits in Scotland form Monday 24^th January. We have more than 50 shows still programmed between then and Sunday , February 6^th. The safety of audiences , artists and suppliers is central to all our plans and we are working with the Scottish government and venues to ensure we put all necessary public health measures in place of Celtic Connections 2022.”

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)