Music CELTIC CONNECTIONS
CELTIC CONNECTIONS Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Henry Northmore and Norman Chalmers. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 20 Glasgow ■ Iain Anderson in Conversation: Mike Harding with Archie Fisher Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 12.30pm. £5. The music and radio men chat about Mike’s autobiography. FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. Hosted by the late Danny Kyle’s good friend Liz Clark, this is a chance to see new musical talent before the young guns make it big, and watch as they compete to win a support slot at next year’s festival. ✽✽ Ani DiFranco O2 ABC, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £17.50. The prodigiously successful singer-songwriter has 20 albums and literally thousands of live performances under her belt. ■ The Campbells and Joy Dunlop St Andrews in the Square, St Andrews Square, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. Na Caimbeulaich (or the Campbells) are originally from Skye, and are one of Gaelic music’s most visible musical families, numbering no less than seven Mòd Gold medallists among their recent generation. Five of these medallists perform tonight – siblings Seumas and Kenna Campbell, Kenna’s daughters Wilma and Mary Ann Kennedy and her niece Maggie Macdonald. A guest at this family affair is women’s 2010 Mòd Gold medal winner Joy Dunlop. ■ Kepa Junkera & Friends Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £18–£23. Basque accordionist and Celtic Connections favourite Kepa brings his trikitixa (giant marimba), his band, and new young female choir Leioa Kantika Korala back to the stage. International artist and cross-genre collaborator, he’s also bringing along a couple of special guests for the occasion. ■ Brian Kennedy and Nell Bryden City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £18.50. Celtic Connections veteran Brian Kennedy is a Belfast chap whose transcendent vocals have garnered him a loyal clutch of fans. Last year he collected the Lifetime Achievement accolade at Ireland’s prestigious Meteor Music awards for his work not only in music but also as a successful novelist and TV presenter. ■ Ceol’s Craic at Celtic Connections CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Gaelic language session featuring musical selections from pupils of Glasgow’s Gaelic School and singer-songwriters Iain Morrison and Brian Ó hEadhra, piping from The Armagh Pipers Club and spoken word performances from Irish wordsmith Gearoid McLaughlin and Gaelic poet Daibhidh Martin. ■ Paddy Keenan Tron Theatre, Trongate, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Iconic uilleann piper Keenan, one of the founder members of The Bothy Band, performs with some top-secret support, which will not disappoint any fans of traditional Irish music. ■ Steele the Show The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £16. An evening of music in tribute to the Scottish singer Davy Steele, who died ten years ago. As a member of Caledon, Ceolbeg, Urbn Ri, Drinkers’ Drouth, Clan Alba and The Battlefield Band, he was a well-known figure in the world of modern Scottish traditional music, not least for his solo
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compositions celebrating his beloved East Lothian home. Tonight Phil Cunningham and Ian McCalman host a concert of his songs performed by some of his favourite singers, including Karine Polwart, Dick Gaughan, Sally Barker and Andy M Stewart. ■ The Tannahill Weavers and Lurach Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Formed in Paisley back in 1968, The Tannahill Weavers have had an influence on the development of the modern Scottish folk music scene and the rise of its popularity abroad. In a now rare performance on home soil, they are joined by 2010 Danny Kyle Open Stage award winners Lurach, a young Scottish quartet who combine shared vocal duties with whistles, fiddles and tenor banjo tunes. FREE Celtic Connections Late Night Sessions Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. Not ready to go home yet? Join this informal session with a drink in hand and perhaps you’ll catch a unique meeting of musical minds
Friday 21
Glasgow FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Thu 20. ■ Banda das Crechas and Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas St Andrews in the Square, St Andrews Square, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. Banda das Crechas is a musical collective from Santiago de Compostela, which is very much invested with the spirit of the foliada (or ceilidh, to use our term). They are joined by the Scots-American alliance of fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas, continuing their innovative and vital musical partnership. ■ Henrik Jansberg Band and Dièse 3 The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. The talented young fiddler from Denmark – along with his four-piece band – proffer a smorgasbord of styles from gypsy and jazz to blues and Celtic. He is joined on the billing by fest-noz Breton trio Dièse 3, whose energetic foot-stomping style embodies the spirit of Brittany’s current Celtic revival. Part of Celtic Connections. ■ Justin Currie and Heathers O2 ABC, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16. The former Del Amitri frontman and Scottish pop favourite won much praise for his 2010 album The Great War and is a long-time Celtic Connections favourite. Irish folk-pop twins The Heathers, whose catchy song writing and harmonious tunesmithery has won them plenty of fans over the water, support him. ■ Mountain Stage with Larry Groce featuring Mavis Staples, Joy Kills Sorrow and Dougie MacLean Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £18–£23. In a first for the festival, Celtic Connections plays host for one night only to the US radio programme Mountain Stage, which broadcasts across 130 stations in America. Headlining the bill is legendary gospel diva Mavis Staples, whose 60 years in music have led to her winning a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among many other accolades. Scottish troubadour Dougie MacLean also plays alongside Joys Kills Sorrow, whose uniquely diverse sound contains elements of bluegrass, indie, stringband and R&B. There are also some special guests thrown in there as well. ✽✽ Trembling Bells and Emily Road, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. With influences ranging from early classical music to glam rock, the fast-rising Glasgow quartet Trembling Bells have achieved success with their two recent albums Carbeth and Abandoned Love, and are a favourite of the late Nick Portman Òran Mór, Great Western
Drake’s producer Joe Boyd. Glastonbury native and concertina player Emily Portman is an established folky whose 2010 album The Glamoury garnered enthusiastic reviews. ■ Ceol’s Craic at Celtic Connections CCA, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. This Gaelic session has an Indian flavour, with singer Prakriti Dutta and reels and ragas from India Alba. The evening also features music from Gaelic singer Cathy Ann MacPhee, the Armagh Pipers Club and DJ John Mulhean. ■ Malinky and LYY Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. Top song-based Scots band Malinky comprises Fiona Hunter, Steve Byrne, Dave Wood and Daniel Thorpe. They share the billing with self-assembly Swedish quintet LYY, whose lyrical melodies are boosted by a nykelharpa (traditional keyed fiddle). ■ Sèideadh a’ Chuain (Atlantic Blast) Tron Theatre, Trongate, 353 8000. 8pm. £12.50. A programme in celebration of Lewis’ rich piping heritage, originally staged to celebrate last summer’s 15th Hebridean Celtic Festival and the 25th anniversary of Stornoway’s An Lanntair centre. Featuring Lewis musicians Alasdair White, Norrie MacIver of Bodega, Calum Alex MacMillan, DC MacMillan of Face the West, piper James Mackenzie and Lewis dancer Jayne Macleod. ■ Simon Thoumire and Ian Carr City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. This concertina and guitar pairing performed as a successful duo for many years before calling it a day in 1996. On the heels of last year’s reunion concert at the Shetland Folk Festival, they perform together again at Celtic Connections. ■ Hadestown and Joy Kills Sorrow The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 9.30pm. £16. Hadestown is an unusual and compelling retelling of the ancient Greek Orpheus myth ‘somewhere between a song cycle and a folk opera’, born from the mind of American singer- songwriter Anais Mitchell. Mixing influences from country and gospel to swing, the vocalists tonight include Ani DiFranco and Martin Carthy. They are joined by alternative stringband Joy Kills Sorrow. ■ The Celtic Connections Festival Club The Art School, Renfrew Street, 353 4690. 10pm. £8. Get ready for some seriously late bedtimes – the now legendary Celtic Connections Festival Club is the place to be for spontaneous appearances, one-off collaborations, and ‘the jam session to end all jam sessions’ at the House of Song. Hosted by Kevin Macleod, the party goes on into the wee small hours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival. ■ Celtic Connections Late Night Sessions Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. £5. See Thu 20.
Saturday 22 Glasgow ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: The Fiddle Village Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10.15am. £55. A two-day masterclass for intermediate to advanced string players hosted by cellist Natalie Haas and fiddler Alasdair Fraser. The workshops explore the dynamics of playing traditional music in a group and the particular techniques and flavours of folk. Places are limited so booking essential. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Lullabies for Wee Ones with Chrissie Stewart Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 11am. Adults £7; babies free. Chrissie Stewart teaches some lovely songs for winding down at the end of the day selected from Scotland’s treasure-trove of slumberous music. Babies go free.
■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Come&Try Mandolin Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 11am. £7. The Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association are coming to share their boundless enthusiasm for this versatile instrument, and they’re bringing plenty of mandolins with them so there’s no need to have your own, or any previous experience. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Come & Try Ukulele Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 11am. £7. Finlay Allison teaches some basic chords and rhythms on this dinkiest of instruments, which has its origins in Hawaii. Ukuleles provided; no experience required. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Beginner Ukulele Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. Develop your skills on the ‘jumping flea’ with tutor Finlay Allison. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Singin’ on yer Mammy’s Knee Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. A workshop for parents, childminders, play-leaders, grannies and the like. Chrissie Stewart teaches action songs and singing games for the under 5s. ■ Celtic Connections Public Workshops: Come&Try Whistle Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 1.30pm. £7. A workshop suitable for total beginners – with whistles in the key of D provided – led by Young Trad award- winner Lorne MacDougall. ■ Feis Rois is 25 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2.30pm. £12.50. Concert launching Gaelic music initiative Feis Rois’ silver jubilee year. The line-up includes a new piece composed by pianist James Ross and performed by pupils of St Clements School in Dingwall alongside Feis students and professional musicians, as well as performances from 25 Feis alumni including fret master Matheu Watson and accordionist/piper Mairearad Green. FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Thu 20. ■ Crooked Still with Lau and Move O2 ABC, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16. A jam-packed evening with Lau, the many-crowned princes of the British folk scene who continue to redefine the boundaries of modern folk with their experiments in stripped-down acoustic and electronica. Crooked Still join them for some collaborative rearrangements of each band’s work. Also on the billing are Highland funk- folksters Wild Biscuit, Fraser Fifield, Colin Brown, Travis drummer Neil Primrose and Scottish breakdance crew Random Aspekts with the Mid Argyll Pipe Band. ■ The Highland Sessions Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £18–£23. The musical flowerings from the Highland and island Gàidhealtachd on display this evening include North Uist singer and piper Julie Fowlis, and singers Catherine Ann McPhee of Barra, Calum Alex MacMillan, Margaret Stewart of Lewis and Darren MacLean. ■ Jah Wobble & The Nippon Dub Ensemble and Calum MacCrimmon The Arches, Argyle Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £14. The Cockney maverick’s latest off-the-wall project is a fusion of his dub reggae grooves with Japanese folk songs and taiko drumming in the form of The Nippon Dub Ensemble. Supporting Jah is Breabach’s Calum MacCrimmon, laying aside the bagpipes and singing some original funk-flavoured tunes. ■ Justin Townes Earle and The Staves Òran Mór, Great Western Road,