Music Folk
■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: come&try Whistle Royal Concert Hall: Buchanan Suite, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 11am. £7. A workshop suitable for total beginners, with whistles in the key of D provided, led by Young Trad award-winner Lorne MacDougall. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Kids Percussion Workshop Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Noon. £4. See Sat 16. ■ New Voices: Iain Morrison Royal Concert Hall: Strathclyde Suite, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1pm. £10.50. Creative young Lewis man Iain Morrison spans genres from pop (as a member of Crash My Model Car), to alt.folk (as frontman of the Sleepy Cafe Band), to traditional piping. Drawing together all these strands he plays a new set of piobaireachd compositions in a new ensemble, including veteran Gaelic singer/piper Rona Lightfoot and his own father, Iain Morrison Snr. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Beginner Fiddle Royal Concert Hall: Clyde Foyer, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. Build up confidence and learn a few new tunes on the fiddle with the tutors from Glasgow Fiddle Workshop at this welcoming workshop. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Beginner Mandolin Royal Concert Hall: Lomond Foyer, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. Beginners with a desire to learn and players of other stringed instruments are welcome along to this workshop where they can learn some typical melodies and chords for the mandolin. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Beginner Whistle Royal Concert Hall: Buchanan Suite, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. If you’ve decided to learn the whistle, this workshop is here to help you develop the basic skills and techniques necessary to progress to the next level. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Women’s Samba Workshop Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. Ladies! Let loose on a samba drum at this females-only workshop led by Big Groove, and come away feeling empowered, invigorated and in the mood for dancing. Part of Celtic Connections. FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Sat 16. ■ Chris Stout’s Brazilian Theory and Helene Blum & Harold Haugaard City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16. Celtic Connections’ links being forged across the musical world are on show here as Shetland’s great fiddler presents results of the collaboration between Scottish and Brazilian musicians. He is supported by admired Danish fiddler Harold Haugaard and vocalist Helene Blum with their backing band. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Tunes for Gordon and Tyskie Royal Concert Hall: Strathclyde Suite, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. Commemorating the incredible piping/compositional talent of the late Gordon Duncan, this concert features top younger generation players Mairearad Green, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson. Support from one of last year’s Danny Kyle Open Stage competition winners. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Eric Andersen and Craig Jeffrey Tron Theatre, Trongate, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Eric Andersen was hanging out in Greenwich Village back in the days of Dylan, Warhol and the beat poets and since then Fairport Convention, Linda Ronstadt and The Grateful Dead have 74 THE LIST 7–21 Jan 2010
recorded his songs. He is supported by Craig Jeffrey, one of last year’s Danny Kyle Open Stage winners. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ The Jewels of the Ocean The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £16. A special concert for BBC Gàidhlig featuring Gaelic song and music in all its forms, with performances from Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid, Ishbel MacAskill, Rona Lightfoot, Capercaillie, and many more. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ The Poozies and Jim Malcolm St Andrew’s in the Square, St Andrew’s Square, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Their treatment of traditional and contemporary tunes, rich vocal harmony and spirited performance has ensured the Poozies a place at the forefront of Britain’s folk/roots music scene today. They are supported by Jim Malcolm, ex- Old Blind Dogs singer/songwriter, guitarist and moothie expert whose native Scots traditional tunes are enhanced with a little swinging Americana. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Songs of Scotland: Songs of Courtship and Jilted Lovers The Universal, Sauchiehall Lane, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. Tonight’s highly popular Songs of Scotland series is hosted by Doris Rougvie, who gives an introduction to some great traditional songs by Norman Stewart, Elspeth Cowie and Darren MacLean, dealing with matters of the heart. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Words & Music: Hugh Lupton & Chris Wood City Halls: Recital Rooms, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. Relating tall tales of writer Arthur Ransome’s turbulent travels in Russia are English singer and fiddler Chris Wood and poet and storyteller Hugh Lupton. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Celtic Connections Late Night Session Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. £5. See Fri 15. ■ The Celtic Connections Festival Club The Art School, Renfrew Street, 353 8000. 10.30pm. £8. See Fri 15.
Monday 18 Glasgow FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Sat 16. ■ BBC Scotland TV Special The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. Free (ticketed). Top performers from across the festival performing live – tickets are free but strictly limited so be sure to book early. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Bobby McFerrin Royal Concert Hall: Main Auditorium, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £24 (£22). The man who gave us ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ performs songs from his three decade-long career, and brings a few guests. Expect everything from jazz to traditional, classical, choral and a cappella. Part of Celtic Connections. See preview, page 61. ■ Maura O’Connell and Karan Casey & John Doyle Royal Concert Hall: Strathclyde Suite, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Headliner Maura O’Connell performs her mixture of Irish and US folk, blending in country, a hint of jazz and a dash of pop. Support comes from two from the top US/Irish band Solas, but the singer and guitarist now work on different continents. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Songs of Scotland: Songs of Seafaring and Fishing The Universal, Sauchiehall Lane, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. Doris Rougvie hosts this popular series of traditional Scottish and Gaelic songs, which tonight features Irene Watt, Calum Alex MacMillan and Norrie MacIver’s salty selection of songs. Part of Celtic Connections. FREE Celtic Connections Late Night Session Royal Concert Hall:
Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. See Fri 15.
Tuesday 19 Glasgow FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Sat 16. ■ Rounder Records 40th featuring Blue Highway and Alecia Nugent Royal Concert Hall: Main Auditorium, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16 (£14). A celebration of Rounder Records, the USA’s leading independent label, which is or has been home to an array of artists including Alison Krauss, Loudon Wainwright III, Carl Perkins, Laura Nyro and many more. Tonight it’s bluegrass band Blue Highway and Louisiana singer/songwriter Alecia Nugent. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Scott Matthews O2 ABC, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £15. Solo artist from Wolverhampton whose folk/blues influenced sound can be heard on albums Passing Stranger and Elsewhere, the latter of which featured a duet with Robert Plant. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Frankie Gavin & The New De Dannan and 2Duos The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £16. The legendary Frankie Gavin is one of the top Irish traditional fiddlers (and accordionist, and flute, and whistle player) whose imagination and scope spans musical genres – he has played with the Rolling Stones, Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grapelli among many. Here he brings a new line up of De Dannan for a new decade, featuring Damien Mullane, Eric Cunningham, Mike Galvin and Michelle Lally. Support from two established duos who combine
to play pan-European folk: from Germany, Gudrun Walther (accordion, fiddle, vocals) with Jürgen Treyz (guitar, dobro, backing vocals) and from Scotland Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistles, backing vocals) with Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals). Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Mary Ann Kennedy’s Global Gathering BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay, 353 8000. 8pm. Free (ticketed). A selection of festival artists in a live radio show hosted by Mary Ann Kennedy and broadcast live on BBC Scotland. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Songs of Scotland: Scots Abroad The Universal, Sauchiehall Lane, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. Hosted by Doris Rougvie, this concert features McCalmans singer Stephen Quigg, Kirsteen MacDonald and social activist David Ferrard singing songs linked by the theme of the Scots diaspora. Part of Celtic Connections. FREE Celtic Connections Late Night Session Royal Concert Hall: Exhibition Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. See Fri 15. Edinburgh ■ Franco-Scottish Concert Institut Français d’Ecosse, Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 6.30pm. £10 (£8). Fiddle and guitar duo, Ross Couper and Tom Oakes, represent Scotland, while Made in France offer well-known and modern songs from France for the voice and piano. ■ Mike Vass & Friends Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 07502 024852. 7.30pm. £6. Fiery fiddle from the young North East bowman. ■ Ceilidh Club The Lot, Grassmarket, 225 9922. 8pm. £6. Ceilidh dancing to live music with callers to lead you through the steps. Music from the storming accordion of Norman Mackay.
New Voices: Iain Morrison This Outer Hebridean singer- songwriter has dabbled in indie pop – as a member of Crash My Model Car, dipped a toe in to alt.folk – as frontman of the Sleepy Cafe Band, and done a bit of traditional piping too. Just before the release of his album Trust the Sea to Guide Me, this Celtic Connections performance sees Morrison playing in a new ensemble, including veteran Gaelic singer/piper Rona Lightfoot and his dad, Iain Morrison Snr. ■ Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 17 Jan, part of Celtic Connections.