Celtic Connections – Thursday 20th January
There’s much, much more from Celtic Connections today, but if you can’t make it through to the events in Glasgow, then you could try on the radio instead, with tonight’s live recording on BBC Radio Scotland of the ever popular travelling folk. Bruce MacGregor presents a special live show featuring some of the best music from this year’s festival, from BBC Scotland’s headquarters at Pacific Quay.
Other listings today include:
Iain Anderson in Conversation
Mike Harding with Archie Fisher
Thu 20 January, 12:30pm
£5
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall
Music and radio men: Mike Harding and singer Archie Fisher make a welcome return to the talks and debates to discuss Mike’s autobiography.
Celtic Connections Danny Kyle’s Open Stage
Thu 20 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall
Hosted by Danny Kyle’s good friend Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year’s festival – and all absolutely free
In partnership with the Evening Times
Kepa Junkera and Friends
Thu 20 January, 7:30pm
£20, £18
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Ever since Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera’s revelatory UK debut at Celtic Connections 1999, he’s had a bit of a mutual love-affair with Glasgow, even once the rest of the world caught on to his intrepid, inspirational virtuosity. Simultaneously with revitalising the rich heritage of the trikitixa – the Basque diatonic accordion – among other native traditions, Junkera is a tirelessly globe-trotting, genre-blind collaborator, whose string of acclaimed albums has seen him working with literally hundreds of international artists. Above all, though, he’s an electrifying, unforgettable live performer, and we’re delighted to welcome him back, together with his full band and several extra special guests, including the young female choir Leioa Kantika Korala, as featured on his newest recording project Beti Bizi
The Campbells and Joy Dunlop
Thu 20 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
St Andrew’s in the Square
Na Caimbeulaich, or the Campbells, from Greepe on Skye, rank among Gaelic music’s leading dynasties. Of recent generations’ seven Mòd Gold medallists, five perform tonight – siblings Seumas and Kenna Campbell, Kenna’s daughters Wilma and Mary Ann Kennedy, and niece Maggie Macdonald – ahead of a new Campbells album and a family biography, both out later in 2011. Special guests include Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas and Lorne MacDougall.
The 2010 ladies’ Mòd Gold Medallist was Joy Dunlop, a tireless promoter of Gaelic as well as a superb singer, whose 2010 debut album Dùsgadh (Awakening) was hailed “as an unassuming masterpiece.” (Penguin Eggs)
Ani DiFranco and Jim Moray
Thu 20 January, 7:30pm
£17.50 – over 14s only, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult
O2 ABC Glasgow
Ani DiFranco played her first gig aged 9, was writing songs by 14, began singing them professionally a year later – and has barely, or rarely, slowed down since, firing out 20 studio albums on her own Righteous Babe label, and giving thousands of inspirational live performances. This prolific, endlessly evolving output has continually lent fresh meaning to the personal as political, and vice versa, most recently on 2008’s multi-layered, richly textured Red Letter Year.
Jim Moray’s stunning 2003 debut Sweet England announced him as a bold new adventurer in traditional song, uniting its timeless melodies and narratives – and his own hauntingly expressive voice – with 21st century digital techniques. Awarded the prestigious fROOTS critics poll prize for best album and Mojo magazine Folk Album Of The Year, Moray assembled an all-star band including Saul Rose (Waterson: Carthy, Eliza Carthy Band) and William Bowerman (La Roux) to headline summer festivals through 2009. He most recently broke with convention, giving his fourth album In Modern History away on the cover of Songlines magazine before releasing a deluxe two disc version in June 2010.
“One of the folk scenes great originals” **** (The Guardian)
The Tannahill Weavers and Lurach
Thu 20 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Originally formed in Paisley in 1968, The Tannahill Weavers perform all too rarely in Scotland, thanks to the insatiable demands of their myriad overseas fans. One of the first folk bands ever to feature the Highland bagpipes, they remain firmly at the forefront of the Scottish traditional field, combining top-notch instrumental work, powerful contemporary rhythms and stirring three-part harmonies.
Winners of a 2010 Danny Kyle Open Stage Award, the young Scottish quartet Lurach – all of whom feature on vocals, meanwhile playing flutes, whistles, fiddle and tenor banjo – perform a sparklingly accomplished mix of Scots and Gaelic song with Scottish and Irish tunes.
Brian Kennedy and Nell Bryden
Thu 20 January, 8pm
£18.50
City Halls, Grand Hall
A Celtic Connections favourite since the festival’s earliest days, Belfast singer and songwriter Brian Kennedy, beloved for his transcendently soulful vocals and supreme stylistic versatility, recently celebrated 20 years in the music business. Also in 2010, he collected the Lifetime Achievement prize at Ireland’s prestigious Meteor Music Awards – achievements that include two successful novels and the acclaimed TV series On Song, as well as those highlighted by his blissful anniversary compilation, The Very Best of Brian Kennedy. An ebullient, heartfelt performer, whose tautly crafted songs forge myriad Americana influences into her own arrestingly distinctive sound, native New Yorker Nell Bryden stirred up a major word-of-mouth buzz when she debuted at Celtic Connections 2010: don’t miss her this time around.
Paddy Keenan and Special Guests
Thu 20 January, 8pm
£12.50
Tron Theatre
First widely heard blazing out from the Bothy Band’s founding line-up, iconic uilleann piper Paddy Keenan’s flowing, open-fingered style and wild improvisational virtuosity represent a direct link with the travelling pipers’ traditions into which he was born. Given that his all-too-rare recordings feature pals like Paddy Glackin (whose own Celtic Connections gig happens to be the night after next…), expect his guests to be very special indeed. “In Irish music there are legends and legends and then there’s Paddy Keenan.” (John O’Regan)
Steele the Show
Thu 20 January, 8pm
£16
Old Fruitmarket
A concert in memory and celebration of the late great singer and songwriter Davy Steele, marking 2011’s tenth anniversary of his tragically early passing. As a member of Drinkers’ Drouth, Ceolbeg, Caledon, Urbn Ri, Clan Alba and Battlefield Band, and on his three fine solo albums, Davy joined the pantheon of Scotland’s most honest and eloquent voices, writing songs often rooted in the past and present of his beloved East Lothian home turf – though resonating much further afield – while giving new yet timeless expression to traditional material.
Curated by Patsy Seddon, tonight’s selection from his repertoire is performed by some of Davy’s favourite singers, including Dick Gaughan, Andy M. Stewart, Karine Polwart, Sally Barker, Kathy Stewart and Siobhan Miller, backed by a band featuring Andy Thorburn, Donald Hay, Mary Macmaster, Karen Tweed, Eilidh Shaw and Mairearad Green, with Phil Cunningham and Ian McCalman doubling as your hosts for the evening.
Ceol ‘s Craic at Celtic Connections
Thu 20 January, 8pm
£12.50
CCA
Le ceol ó Scoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschú, Brian Ó hEadhra, Cumann Píobairí Ard Mhacha, File Éireannach Gearóid Mac Lachlainn, cumadóir ‘s ceoltoir Iain Morrison, le file Gàdhlig Daibhidh Màrtainn agus DJ John Mulhearn.
Featuring music from Glasgow’s Gaelic School, Brian Ó hEadhra, The Armagh Pipers Club, Irish poet Gearoid McLaughlin, singer songwriter Iain Morrison with Gaelic poet Daibhidh Martin and DJ John Mulhearn.
Ticket holders can gain entry to the pre-concert events:
Tachartasan ron Chuirm-ciùil
6:00f: Òraid – ‘Òrain Ghàidhlig’ le Linda Nic Leòid
6:00f: Cearcal Còmhraidh – cothrom do luchd-ionnsachaidh agus fileantaich an cuid Ghàidhlig na h-Éireann a chleachdadh ‘s a leasachadh
7:00f: Príomh-Cheolchoirm
Pre Concert Events
6pm Lecture: ‘Gaelic Folk Song’ with Linda MacLeod
6pm Conversation Café: A relaxed opportunity for all level of speaker to practice their Irish Gaelic with Peadar ó Muircheartaigh
7pm Irish Film Screening
BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts
Travelling Folk
Thu 20 January, 8pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Radio Scotland, Pacific Quay
Bruce MacGregor presents a special live show featuring some of the best music from this year’s festival, from BBC Scotland’s headquarters at Pacific Quay. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.
Celtic Connections Late Night Sessions
Thu 20 January, 10pm
£5 – over 18s only
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall
For a more intimate evening during the festival, enjoy our Late Night Sessions taking place in the Exhibition Hall at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, hosted by Findlay Napier. Featuring just as many great musicians as the main Festival Club, the bar will be open late and you can be assured of many a memorable moment.
