An impressive collective of musicians called The Singing Tree will perform Tuesday January 29 at Celtic Connections 2008. The Singing Tree was conceived and devised by the Armagh flute and whistle player Brian Finnegan, co-founder of Flook.
The Singing Tree is a brand new performance in words, music and dance celebrating the rich musical traditions of the north of Ireland, and the social and cultural changes currently taking place there. Alongside Finnegan, a 13-strong line-up of top talent from the region includes acclaimed singer Cara Dillon, dancer Sibéal Davitt and the multi-award-winning Belfast poet Gearóid Mac Lochlainn, with Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes/whistles), Damien O’Kane (banjo/guitar), Trevor Hutchinson (double bass), Méabh O’Hare (fiddle/viola) and Eamon Murray (bodhrán). Other highlights include k.d. lang, Suzy Bogguss, Songs of Scotland and much more.
Complete program:
Iain Anderson In Conversation
Lesley Riddoch & Roger Hutchinson
Tue 29 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 29 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
k.d. lang with support
Tue 29 January, 7:30pm
£30
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
As Celtic Connections 2008 celebrates the glories of the human voice, there could be no better artist to embody this theme than multi-Grammy-winner k.d. lang.
In a career now spanning some 25 years, lang has lent her epically sweeping, intensely emotive voice to everything from classic country to Tin Pan Alley standards, smoky ballads to sophisticated pop.
Watershed [Nonesuch Records, January 28, 2008] is the first album of newly written material from the four-time Grammy winner since 2000’s Invincible Summer, and her first studio album since 2004’s acclaimed Canadian songbook, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. It is also the first self-produced collection of her celebrated career.
Sponsored by Belhaven Best
Suzy Bogguss with Wingin’ It
Tue 29 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC
As well as calling Suzy Bogguss a ‘singers’ singer,’ Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson – who produced Bogguss’s 2005 album Swing – describes her as ‘one of the few singers who connects with audiences in the country, folk, pop, and jazz worlds easily and successfully.’ Although bracketed as a country artist throughout most of her multi-platinum-selling career, with Swing and its successor, 2007’s Sweet Danger, Bogguss spreads her musical wings to embrace jazz, swing, Latin and sophisticated cabaret-style material, with a mix of standard and originals highlighting a different side to her pure, honey-sweet voice.
Opening the evening’s proceedings will be the winners of a Danny Award in 2007, Wingin’ It, an exciting new duo performing a wide range of styles.
Brian Finnegan – The Singing Tree with The Rooney Family
Tue 29 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Winners of a Danny Kyle Award in 2007, the six young Irish siblings making up The Rooney Family display their remarkably seasoned musicianship in a blend of traditional and original material.
Rod Paterson with Ross Kennedy
Tue 29 January, 8pm
£12
The National Piping Centre
A double bill featuring two of Scotland’s best loved folk singers. Rod Paterson’s repertoire ranges from Burns to vintage swing, while Ross Kennedy is also a superb fingerstyle guitarist.
Songs of Scotland
Songs of the Land hosted by Ishbel MacAskill
Tue 29 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.
BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts
Global Gathering
Tue 29 January, 8pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay
Mary Ann Kennedy presents the show live from BBC Scotland’s new home, featuring a pick of the festival’s finest – from home and abroad. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.
Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd
Tue 29 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.
Iain Anderson In Conversation
Timothy Neat & Alison MacMorland
Wed 30 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.
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.
Brian_Finnegan photo credit: Dougal Waters
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
