Tue 28 Our only concert of the day was the 35th anniversary celebration of Cherish The Ladies. The for all purposes sold out Royal Concert Hall was eager to welcome the core ensemble and their numerous guests. And the people certainly got their money's worth as the event stretched to over three hours, including a … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 4
Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 3
Sat 25 An evening at City Halls, and a very busy one - musically speaking. Both artists on stage displayed a staggering level of virtuosity - the notes per second index was at times through the roof - but never at the expense of the tune. Always about music, never only about showing off. New … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 3
Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 2
Tue 21 The Big Fling aka Scottish Dance Band Extravaganza: hugely entertaining evening, expertly hosted by Gary Innes himself. At some points felt like in a time machine with the music evoking mental images of dance halls and cèilidhs long gone. Tom Orr's Mega Cèilidh Dance Band, put together for this event and with a … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 2
Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 1
Jan 18-19 Our second CC adventure began on Sat 18th, two days after the launch of this year's festival. Having left Finland on a morning flight on Fri 17, we arrived in Glasgow on Friday afternoon but had no gigs to go to that day, as we had realized too late Duncan Chisholm was giving … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 1
A look back to last summer…
It has been quite a few weeks since I last wrote anything in this blog. The usual end of the year things at work, Christmas planning, Christmas rest and so on.... No time really to listen to new music; The Outside Track’s and Còig’s great new Christmas albums notwithstanding, of course. And, surprise surprise, I … Continue reading A look back to last summer…
Xmas Album(s) Review / Còig: Carols & Carols Too
Carols Too by Canada’s fabulous Celtic folkers Còig is a sequel to their 2015 Carols - at least the title of the album lets us use that word. Since this blog didn’t exist in 2015, a few words on their previous Xmas album. Carols quickly found its way to my ”best Xmas albums” list and … Continue reading Xmas Album(s) Review / Còig: Carols & Carols Too
Xmas Album Review / Kate Rusby: Holly Head
Kate Rusby must be THE Christmas fan in the entire British-Scottish-Irish folk scene. This is her third seasonal album, and she’s been busy with them, too: The Frost Is All Over came in 2015, Angels And Men in 2017 and now this. Looking forward to 2021 already 😉 Or perhaps she’s been doing a Christmas … Continue reading Xmas Album Review / Kate Rusby: Holly Head
Xmas Album Review / The Outside Track: The Christmas Star
Confession: I have nothing against Christmas music - when the music is not godawful, that is. I’m actually quite a Xmas-friendly guy, so any seasonal album that carries the honest spirit and is musically decent is ok with me. And then there are the *really* good modern Xmas albums, most of them by women: Aimee … Continue reading Xmas Album Review / The Outside Track: The Christmas Star
Quick Take Album Review / Crawford, Farrell, Doocey: Music And Mischief
Just a quick a very and non-analytical note on an album. Music & Mischief by the excellent Irish musicians Kevin Crawford, Colin Farrell and Patrick Doocey is brim full of the most delightful and spirited trad I have heard in a while! There’s no attempt to upgrade or modernize the material in any notable way … Continue reading Quick Take Album Review / Crawford, Farrell, Doocey: Music And Mischief
Better-late-than-never Reviews 2×2: Grey & Peach, Macfarlane & Henderson
2x2 = two albums, both with two musicians and lots of the deceptively simple beauty I love in this music. I wasn’t properly awake when these were released earlier this year but, again, better late… The mesmerizing Air Iomall (On the Edge) by Charlie Grey & Joseph Peach is paired with a film of the … Continue reading Better-late-than-never Reviews 2×2: Grey & Peach, Macfarlane & Henderson
