Reviews by C. Byrne, 2008.

Transatlantic Sessions

Concert Hall 1st February

Forget country stars on ego trips, temperamental divas hogging the spotlight. Instead think your local folk club on a good night - a fantastic night - when performers from near and far put on the show to end all shows. However, the relaxed informal atmosphere and apparent lack of structure could not hide the dedicated professionalism of the musicians.

Shetlander Ali Bain and blue-grass king Jerry Douglas from Ohio were the musical directors and 'emcees' of this feast of fiddles and guitars, mandolins, accordions and what have you. Songs from Texas to Tennessee, the Emerald Isle to Ecclefechen, kept feet tapping as the sell-out audience responded to the musical talent of the performers.

The list reads like a who's who of the best of folk and includes Ali Bain, Phil Cunningham, Tim O'Brien, Eddi Reader, Mindy Smith, Russ Barenberg, Karen Matheson, Darrell Scott, Joan Osborne, Michael McGoldrick and many more. Amongst the plethora of songs were 'Brother wind,' 'There ain't whisky in this town,' 'Please don't tell me how this story ends,' whilst Eddi Reader delighted us with Willie Nelson's latest song, 'I guess my heart just settled back to earth.'

I know it's a cliche but 'a good night was had by all.'

Capercaillie

Old Fruitmarket 2nd February

It was literally standing room only and at least half of the crowd were not pleased with the non-seated arrangements. Although I didn't see any zimmers there were a few walking sticks, since many of Capercaillie's fans are well past even their middle years. Still, all was forgiven when the concert began. Kirsty McGee's Hobopop Collective is a quartet of talented musicians and kept the crowd well entertained. A backing group of Corrina Hewat and friends helped out with some of the numbers and there was a performance on an instrument rarely seen on stage - a saw.
But we were only there for Capercaillie.

The band delivered as they always do and we stomped and whooped along with their own brand of folk rock. I don't have the Gaelic but that didn't stop me appreciating Karen Matheson's voice which was as pure as ever. Michael McGoldrick on flute, whistle and uilleann pipes went down a storm.

Tracks from their new album mingled with long term favourites as the old Victorian fruit market building rang to its illustrious rafters. Co-founder of the band and Festival Director Donald Shaw was on keyboard and accordion and Anna Massie guested on mandolin.

We were still there at midnight but sadly all good things must end and at half past twelve they played their last number. Roll on their next gig but I think it will be a while before we see them back in Glasgow.

New Voices: Patsy Reid

Strathclyde Suite 3rd February

I'm not heavily into classical music so violin concertos I can take or leave but I was dazzled by Sunday afternoon strings in the Strathclyde Suite. Young Patsy Reid's music ranges from haunting slow melodies to the madly throbbing beat of Celtic rock. Her 'backing group' included Mhairi Hall on piano, Aidan O'Rourke on fiddle and Michael Bryan on guitar.

The programme notes explained the differing modes in which the music was created using words beyond my vocabulary. 'Dorian, Lydian, Locrian and Phrygian' are frankly a foreign language to me but are apparently scales. But never mind that - the music was brilliant.

The sheer energy of the compositions coupled with the exuberance of the players produced something memorable.

At times cheerful and harmonic, at others almost discordant but still with a strange beauty, the performance was nothing short of wonderful. A ponderous march could morph into a jig or reel, a soothing slow air to a foot-tapping hornpipe.

The concert was entitled 'Bridging the Gap' and it did just that, seamlessly mixing classical and traditional music. I'm sure we will see and hear more of Patsy Reid.

Harp Heaven

Glasgow Concert Hall 20th January

Not only did we get fabulous entertainment from the harp music of Corrina Hewit and her string magicians but they also performed wonderful harmony singing. The venue was full to overflowing with the appreciative audience and there was more than a sprinkling of harp players and devotees in the audience, confirmed by a show of hands. By the way, a player is not a harpist as I had always believed but a harper.

Lauise Kelly from Ireland told the story of Tara where harpers from all parts of the world gather. The Irish Government has approved the building of a four-lane motorway that will bisect the Hill of Tara and she asked the audience to support the opposition to this.

Among the pieces played were many tunes composed and performed by individuals in the group and although much of the music was unfamiliar to me it plucked at the heartstrings.

Jochen Vogel from Germany and Irishman Cormac De Barra were the two males in the line-up but were far from overwhelmed by the ladies. Sunday night at the Strathclyde Suite went down as one of the highlights of the Festival.

BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year

City Hall 27th January

The finalists' concert to decide the winner of the competition promised to be a treat for the senses and the young musicians' performances certainly fulfilled that promise.

First off we had Stephen Blake, a member of a band called Flow. Stephen played the a selection of bagpipe tunes, finishing with some jigs and reels. Next was Ailie Robertson on clarsach. She is a member of band, The Outside Track and had been one of the twelve harpers at the Harp Heaven gig. She puts so much into her music, composing as well as playing, and performed some of her own compositions. On guitar we had Ewan Robertson from Carrbridge. Ewan was originally a fiddler and bagpipe player but found his favourite when he began playing the guitar. Ewan is also a singer, and sang 'When I'm Gone,' amongst others. His final pieces were 'An Apple a Day,' and 'The Hill of Cromdale.'

Accordion player, Robert Menzies was next up. His flying fingers coaxed traditional music from the accordion but he also played a piece on piano, 'Graham and Jilly's Wedding' - for his mother, he said. Robert was followed by gutsy folk singer, Amy Lord. She started with one of Burns's bawdy ballads and finished with 'Sae Will We Yet.' Amy had her own fan club in the City Hall in the shape of The Liltin' Lassies, the singing group she tutors.

The final contestant was piper James McKenzie, the only young traditional musician to dress in the tartan. Most of his repertoire consisted of his own compositions including one with the intriguing name of 'The Paralytic Paramedic.' As well as bagpipes James performed on the border pipes. Whilst the judges were deliberating, Gaelic singer, Catriona Watt and her band entertained the audience. Catriona was last year's winner and her wonderful voice bore witness as to why she was chosen.

Finally, came the announcement. Jeff Zycinski, Controller for BBC Radio Scotland opened the golden envelope to announce the winner. The Young Traditional Musician of year 2008 is Ewan Robertson. Among his prizes are a recording with Greentrax Records and a trip abroad. Congratulations to Ewan and well done to all the finalists who gave us a great night of fabulous music.

The Unusual Suspects

Concert Hall 22nd January

It really couldn't happen but I've just become the first OAP groupie. I was blown away by the fantastic performance of this talented band of musicians. Blending brass with bagpipes, fiddles with harp, bongo drums with the reedy resonance of accordions take some doing, but the end result was a blast. I jigged and shimmied (albeit in my seat) to the wild but controlled beats of drummer Donald Hay, David Milligan's hot piano and the thrum of the base. Don't ask me what they played - tunes they called them but what tunes. The Unusual Suspects' music defies definition. They are billed as a Folk Orchestra, perhaps that describes them but they are much more. Their energy transmits to the audience, engaging it so that the listeners are participants in this wall-to-wall musical extravaganza.

Where else would you find pipe tunes played on trumpets and trombones, fiddlers who can charm the senses with sounds both sweet and wild? David Milligan and harp player Corrina Hewat are the musical directors responsible for the ensemble. Flair or genius? Both, but oodles of hard work went into it as well.

The first half of the concert was a set by Gaelic singer Alyth McCormack whose truly wonderful voice did justice to her repertoire. Recently back from New York she performed songs from her new album, including one specially written for her by Justin Currie.

Her backing group included musicians from The Unusual Suspects and I was especially taken by fiddler Aidan O'Rourke's contribution. His stance and easy manner charmed me and I've given him the nickname, the Gallus Fiddler.

Travellers Day Out

St Andrews in the Square 19th January

The night kicked off with banjo player and singer Gibb Todd, MC for the Celtic Connections Festival club, who was an honorary traveller for the evening. He told us something of the background to the concert and of Ewan McColl's task of collecting travellers' songs.

Next up was Stanley Robertson who's plaintive but powerful voice gave us songs and stories including The Laird of the Drum and McCrimmon's Lament. He was followed by Jimmy Williamson, who had made a living selling and repairing willow baskets and carrying on the traveller's tradition of singing and storytelling. One of his songs told of his two uncles who fought and died at the Somme in the First World War.

Next it was the turn of Sheila Stewart, daughter of Belle Stewart and the last of the Stewart family of travellers. Now a successful writer, Sheila can still grip an audience with the energy and intensity of her voice. She spoke of the 'cant,' the travellers' language, now sadly dying out and her final song, 'My name is Betsy Bell' had us all joining in.

Jess Smith, no longer on the road, related humorous tales of her family and of how the children were made to attend school through the winter, only escaping when the flowers began to appear on the broom plants, finishing of course with the song 'When the Yellow's on the Broom.'