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LIV On in Concert with Olivia-Newton John, Beth Nielsen-Chapman and Amy Sky, Celtic Connections 2017 review by Pauline Keightley

Olivia Newton-John , Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky perform at Celtic Connections 2017.

LIV ON in Concert Celtic Connections 2017

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 24 January – review by Pauline Keightley

A hopeful and life-embracing evening of song to lift the spirits.  Australian, American and Canadian, singer songwriters Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky shared their personal journeys of grief in song from their collaborative LIV On: ‘A New Album to Aid & Comfort Those Experiencing Grief & Loss While Using the Power of Music To Heal’.

Although this was only their second gig playing together, the set was seamless with Nielsen Chapman leading the evening as musical director. She sang her well loved songs – ‘Sand and Water’, ‘You Don’t Know What To Say’, ‘This Kiss’ and ‘Christmas Song’.

Amy Sky played piano on several songs including the heartfelt  ‘Forever Blue’. She also performed a dramatic ‘Phenomenal Woman’, with lyrics by Maya Angelou.

Olivia Newton-John at Celtic Connections 2017

Olivia sang her best loved songs – ‘Love will See Us Through’, ‘Grace and Gratitude’, ‘I Will Always Love You’. She also performed the signature song for their new collaboration ‘LIV ON.’  We all remember Newton-John from the famous Grease movie; she looked well, had great rapport with the concert hall audience and she performed her songs perfrectly. However, the show was quite a contrast to the musical; Newton John expressed exactly the right mood and feel required by the moving concert.

The three women sang of love and strength with gentle, poignant harmonies containing the message of how love will see us through. They also opened up to the audience with their own personal stories of grief.

This concert was about the journey of grief we must all travel to release pain, but more than this, it was about the destination of acceptance. For their finale they clapped and smiled and sang the hit song ‘Happy’.

Phil Cunningham then joined them on stage and they sang a restoring ‘Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep’.

They were well supported by the talented fiddler John McCusker and his band – playing wondrous reels and slower tunes. He was joined on stage by the singers Heidi Talbot and Adam Holmes.

Review and Photos Pauline Keightley  – pkimage.co.uk

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