Celtic Connections 2008 presents A’ Adam’s Bairns on January 22, with a star-studded line-up of singers includes Rod Paterson, Tich Frier, Nick Keir, Steve Byrne, John Morran, Ross Kennedy, Dave Taylor, Emily Smith, Wendy Weatherby and Gillian McDonald accompanied by Sandy Brechin, Aaron Jones, Frank McLaughlin, Stevie Lawrence, Shona Mooney, Richard Werner and Chris Agnew.
Program:
Iain Anderson In Conversation
Alastair Moffat & Fred Freeman
Tue 22 January, 12:30pm
£3.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall
BBC Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson hosts an eclectic mix of local figures as well as musicians performing at the festival for a lunch time blether.Danny Kyle’s Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd
Tue 22 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall
Hosted by Danny Kyle’s good friends Gibb Todd and 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
The Unusual Suspects featuring Corrina Hewat & David Milligan with Alyth
Tue 22 January, 7:30pm
£18, £16
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Returning in triumph once again to the festival that launched their career in 2003 – a debut recently named by the Scotsman among the Top 20 Scottish gigs of all time – Scotland’s unofficial ‘national folk orchestra’, The Unusual Suspects continue to leave audiences gasping in delight wherever they play.
The past year’s highlights have included playing for a crowd of over 50,000 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the EU, at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and opening the Scots Trad Music Awards in Fort William.
Tonight will see this 22-piece musical juggernaut performing an all-new set, including a recently-premiered commission, The Lorient Suite, written by the group’s musical directors, Corrina Hewat and David Milligan, in honour of Brittany’s world-renowned inter-Celtic festival.
Support comes from the renowned Gaelic singer Alyth McCormack, whose magical vocals have previously graced the bands Shine and Sunhoney. Currently working on the follow-up to her solo debut An Iomall, she’s accompanied tonight by Jonny Hardie, Brian MacAlpine and a special guest.
Steve Forbert & the Soundbenders with Jim Lauderdale
Tue 22 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC
Bringing together two veteran stalwarts of leftfield US roots music, tonight finds both in the prime of their powers, each having released some of their finest work to date during 2007.
Mississippi-born Steve Forbert’s latest album, Strange Names & New Sensations, includes a winsome new version of ‘Romeo’s Tune’, the song that almost made him famous back in 1979 – before contractual travails stalled his career for most of a decade.
The long and winding road has proved a creatively fruitful one for Forbert, whose mix of raw-boned country-rock and gritty balladry channels a brilliantly seasoned musical intelligence.
Long acclaimed as one of Nashville’s most articulate and versatile songwriters, Jim Lauderdale has successfully pursued a parallel career in both country and bluegrass music.
His new release The Bluegrass Diaries returns to the latter fold with a set of superbly executed Lauderdale originals, described by All Music Guide as ‘a collection of heartfelt music as honest and beautifully crafted as the day is long’.
A’ Adam’s Bairns
Tue 22 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
A launch concert masterminded by musical arranger and producer Dr Fred Freeman, A’ Adam’s Bairns draws on his collaborative education project with National Library of Scotland, commemorating 200 years since the abolition of the slave trade.
Blending songs and light narrative the show explores Scotland’s history as a multicultural society struggling to maintain its egalitarian values.
A star-studded line-up of singers includes Rod Paterson, Tich Frier, Nick Keir, Steve Byrne, John Morran, Ross Kennedy, Dave Taylor, Emily Smith, Wendy Weatherby and Gillian McDonald accompanied by Sandy Brechin, Aaron Jones, Frank McLaughlin, Stevie Lawrence, Shona Mooney, Richard Werner and Chris Agnew.
Commentary by Fred Freeman.
Russell’s House
Tue 22 January, 8pm
£12.50
St Andrew’s in the Square
Russell’s House reconvenes the much-loved late-1990s line-up of Russell Hunter, Sandy Wright, Éamonn Coyne, and Simon Bradley, well known for their enigmatic and endearing mixture of Scots, Irish, American and bluesy tracks, vocals, banjo, fiddle, piano and guitar.
Songs of Scotland
Songs of the Sea hosted by Doris Rougvie
Tue 22 January, 8pm
£8.50
Universal
Over the last two years the Songs of Scotland series has looked at different regions of Scotland and the songs that have emerged from these areas.
For the 2008 festival the series looks at different themes that occur in Scots song, mixing Gaelic and Scots, and how they have inspired songwriters and singers throughout generations.
Each of the ten themes will showcase a selection of songs, so each night will see the audience taken on a journey of discovery through different languages, dialects and stories, all linked with one common theme.
Boston Tea Party
Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani
Tue 22 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tall Ship
One of America’s most famous incidents saw colonists, disdaining British taxes, destroy crates of tea aboard ships in Boston Harbour in 1773. Two centuries on, Boston was famous for a music scene that developed in its tea and coffee houses. Joan Baez, Taj Mahal, Tom Rush and Bonnie Raitt are just some who served apprenticeships on the local scene before gaining international recognition and today, Boston remains as vibrant as ever.
This Boston Tea Party, like the original, held aboard a sailing ship, features four names who are major creative forces among the current crop of leading Massachusetts singer-songwriters.
Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani present a programme that will show why leading radio presenters both here and in the USA are describing them as "wonderful", "outstanding" and "must-see", performing together over three nights in-the-round, sharing stories and collaborating on some of the finest music of our times.
BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts
Global Gathering
Tue 22 January, 8pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay
A handpicked selection of festival artists – from both home and abroad – play live in BBC Scotland’s stunning new building. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.
BBC TV Live at the Festival
Tue 22 January, 9pm
Free but ticketed
Old Fruitmarket
BBC Scotland feature some of the top acts appearing at this year’s festival in a special free highlights show from the Old Fruitmarket. This program will be broadcast at a later date on BBC 2 Scotland.
Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd
Tue 22 January, 10:30pm
£3.50
Central Hotel
The late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.
With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.
Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.
The 15th Celtic Connections festival takes place over 19 days in January and February in 14 venues across Glasgow, Celtic Connections is the UK’s premier Celtic music festival, with over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops.
Tickets can be booked:
In person Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
2 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow, G2 3NY
City Halls and Old Fruitmarket
Candleriggs
Glasgow, G1 1NQ
By phone 0141 353 8000
Online www.celticconnections.com
For further information check www.celticconnections.com.
Unusual Suspects photo Lieve Boussauw.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
