Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Winners Announced at Celtic Connections

Glasgow, Scotland – Last night’s Open Stage saw 7 up and coming artists
collect Danny Awards. All of these artists will play a part in next year’s
festival which starts on Wednesday 17th January.

The level of talent on display at this year’s Open Stage was as high as ever,
with everyone from singer-songwriters to a heavy-metal band in disguise
competing to win a coveted finalists’ slot. A diverse panel of judges – from
industry stalwarts to members of the general public – had the unenviable task of
picking just seven winners from the eighty who performed over the 16 days of the
competition.Heelie Go Leerie (Central Belt, Scotland)

Mark Neal (guitar, vocal), Ali MacLeod (jembe), Eilidh Steel (fiddle)

This trio focus on traditional Scottish music, with a high proportion of
self-composed tunes.

Maeve O’Boyle (Glasgow, Scotland)

Maeve O’Boyle (guitar, vocal)

Blending folk, country, rock and pop, Maeve is building a profile around Glasgow
and beyond, enjoying international airplay thanks to the podcasting phenomenon.

David Ferrard Trio

David Ferrard (guitar), Sandy Butler (guitar), Suzanne Adam (fiddle), Sarah
Kamen (vocals) and Karen Dietz (guitar)

A group of musicians and singer-songwriters, all performers in their own right,
come together for their very own version of the Transatlantic Sessions!

Force 10 (Inverness, Scotland)

Caillin Campsie (whistles), Ewan Hemmingway (keyboard), Douglas Kane (smallpipes,
fiddle), Lewis Kane (accordion)

Describing their style as “traditional Scottish with a funky modern twist”, this
four-piece band are no strangers to success, with a first-place in this year’s
Inverness music festival, and third place in the Highlands and lslands Music
Festival already under their collective belt.

Hazel Morrison (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Hazel Morrison (vocal, keyboards), Elizabeth Morrison (accordion), Kerowyn Frew
(fiddle)

Percussionist and vocalist for The Bathers and Cantara (Danny Kyle Open Stage
Winners 2003) Hazel performed her own solo material from her forthcoming album,
Flux. With a style influenced by everything from blues to classical, via latin
and folk, Hazel’s vocals have been described by no less than Mojo as “holy of
holies”!

The State Broadcasters (Glasgow, Scotland)

Emma Caudle (violin), Graeme Black (guitar, vocals), Pete MacDonald (piano,
trombone, vocals)

A Glasgow-based Americana folk-pop band, with influences ranging from Parsons to
punk, currently working on recording an EP.

White Hare Band (Co. Derry, Northern Ireland)

Jim McKee (guitar, vocals), P.J. McDonald (whistles), Brendan Hendry (fiddle)

This Northern Irish trio describe themselves as “from the heart”

Danny Kyle was the most passionate supporter of traditional music and constant
campaigner for its revival in Scotland who passed away in 1998. The Open Stage
has been an integral part of the festival for the last six years.

Each night, new musical talent is given the chance to shine under the Celtic
Connections spotlight and the seven best acts win through to the coveted final
night concert that is often attended by agents and promoters keen to spot bright
new talent.

Compered by Danny’s close friends, Gibb Todd and Liz Clark, it has been the
launch pad for many now familiar names such as Dochas, Malinky and GiveWay.

[Photo: Dochas, winner of a past edition].