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Transatlantic Sessions Celtic Connections 2026

Review and Photographs – Pauline Keightley

The Celtic roots celebration returns for its 31^st year at Celtic Connections music festival. Transatlantic Sessions (TS) is one of the highlights of the festival, with both familiar tunes and the new. TS brings together the deep connections between Irish, Scots and American music. It’s a special blend of the churning rhythms of bluegrass, country, fine Scots melodies, jigs and reels and the haunting Irish Gaelic song. This year we were treated to a range of high quality performers: Kathy Mattea and Darrell Scott from America, Karine Polwart from Scotland and from Ireland, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.

Glasgow Scotland. 1st February 2026. Karine Polwart, Scottish folk singer songwriter, performed at the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasgow concert hall, as part of Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

Glasgow Scotland. 1st February 2026. Kathy Mattea, American country singer, performed at the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasgow concert hall, as part of Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

To set the tone the concert began with the familiar refrains of Aly Bain’s tune Waiting for the Federals. America dubro master, Jerry Douglas was our musical director and compere and he provided his dynamic steel guitar melodies, along with Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison de Groot on banjo and fiddle – counterbalancing the Scots fiddles, pipes and accordion of John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, Michael McGoldrick and strongly backed by John Doyle’s energetic rhythm guitar and Kimbro on double bass.

Irish singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, transported us with her Irish Gaelic song – An Rabhais ac an Carraig which was heart wrenching and haunting. She spoke of how ‘Irish Catholics were repressed, to wipe out their language and music ‘ Through music, messages were sent back and forth. She is a musician from Country Kerry and was the lead singer for the traditional music group Danu.

Glasgow Scotland. 1st February 2026. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Irish singer, performed at the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasgow concert hall, as part of Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

American award-winning musician and songwriter, Darrell Scott, was a highlight with his songs Great Day to be Alive and Wandering Johnny. Fellow American, grammy winning, country singer Kathy Mattea and Scott moved us with their stirring duet of his song, You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Mattea also sang a poignant Dougie MacLean song, Ready for the Storm. Karine Polwart is a popular stalwart of Scottish folk music – renowned for her solo albums and for her collaborative work. Tonight she performed her impassioned song Liberty Tree, inspired by Tom Paine (whose pamphlets on the rights of man helped to start the American wars of independence).

Glasgow Scotland. 1st February 2026. Darrell Scott, American musician, performed at the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasgow concert hall, as part of Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

Aly Bain drives deep into the emotions, as he played his subtle and expressive Shetland fiddle with his expert ease on Hector the Hero set. Polwart then led us all in rousing singing of the well kent Scots classic, Wild Mountain Thyme. Followed by energetic uplifting tunes for their encore.The quality TS band are always tight and impressive, the glue for this concert. As we leave to brave the cold January night air, we are heartened by the jovial warmth and musical energy of this ever popular concert!

Glasgow Scotland. 1st February 2026. John McCusker, Aly Bain, Scottish musicians, Jerry Douglas, Americna dubro musician, Daniel Kimbro. American musician, performed at the Transatlantic Sessions at the Glasgow concert hall, as part of Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

Like a musical river from Tennessee to Nashville to west Kerry, than to Shetland and to Pathhead Midlothian. As Mattea described – the colourful, one off collaborating at Celtic Connections leads to arteries “like the roots of a tree that lead to different accents – and make the collaborating more sweet.” Like a fascinating patchwork quilt with the variety and range of musical styles and genres that challenge and add musical colour to our lives.

(Darrell Scott has written American country hits, such as Dixie Chicks Long Time gone, and is  a leading Nashville season instrumentalist. Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Kate Rusby, Robert Plant. His songs have been covered by Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Suzy Bogguss and more. His album, Crooked Road, 2010, won the award for the Country Album category from The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.)

Set List

Tune. Waiting For The Federals

Darrell Scott    Great Day To Be Alive   Wandering Johnny

Muireann  Si Bheag Si Mhor    Nead Na Lachan

Tunes: My Lily

Karine Polwart   Rebecca   Liberty Tree

John Doyle   Little Bird

Tune For Danny/ Michael McGoldrick

Kathy Mattea- – Love at the Five and Dime/   Come From The Heart

Tunes:  Far From Home

Second Set

Jerry tune  The Last Wild Moor

Tati and Allison

Daniel Kimbro My Common Law Mexican Step-Dad

Muireann An Rabhais ac an Carraig

Kathy Mattea  –  Ready For The Storm

Tunes: Charlie Hunter

Darrell and Kathy –  You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive

Tunes:  Hector the Hero set

Karine  – Wild Mountain Thyme

Encore:  Tunes Jiggy/Helvic

Photos and Review Pauline Keightley – www.pkimage.co.uk

This section: Celtic Connections 2026, Glasgow West End Local characters, Music Reviews, Pauline Keightley