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Transatlantic Sessions – Celtic Connections 2025 review by Pauline Keightley

Transatlantic Sessions is always such a classy, sophisticated concert with the excellent transatlantic band and top notch singers! The celebrating their 30^th year!. Transatlantic Sessions explores the musical connections between Scotland, Ireland and America.

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Transatlantic sessions band, guided by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, features renowned musicians John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro. performed at the concert hall as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

In 2025 Ireland was represented by Niall McCabe and John Doyle. Scotland by Julie Fowlis, Aly Bain, Donald Shaw, John McCusker and James Mackintosh. And America by Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Jerry Douglas, Daniel Kimbro, Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison de Groot.

Glasgow Scotland. 2 February 2025. Niall McCabe, Irish singer songwriter, performed at Transatlantic sessions as part of Celtic Connections 2025 at the Glasgow concert hall. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Larry Campbell, American multi-instrumentalist, producer, best known as part of Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour 1997 to 2004. And American singer Teresa Williams, performed at the concert hall at Transatlantic Sessions as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

Accomplished husband and wife duo, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams from Tennessee, performed their love songs, such as ‘Did You Ever Love Me At All’ and ‘Midnight Highway.’ Teresa and Larry were also on top form with their bluesy gospel song ‘Keep your Lamp Trimmed and Burning.’  Teresa wore a billowing, eye-catching yellow skirt. Campbell played with Bob Dylan’s band for seven years, as well as many other notable musicians.

Loudon Wainwright III

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Loudon Wainwright III, American singer songwriter and actor, performed at the concert hall at Transatlantic Sessions as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

From the States, Loudon Wainwright III, certainly commanded the stage with his story-telling songs and gritty character. He was at his best with his ‘Swimming Song’, when Loudon impressed with the full band behind him, (fiddles, dubro, mandolin, guitar, piano, bass). He had everyone singing on his show stopper, the bard of Dundee, Michael Marra’s ‘Hermless’. He later observed, when he sang, “Things Are Weird Right Now – “No its not the end of the world as we know it, its just the middle of the night.”

Julie Fowlis

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Julie Fowlis, Gaelic singer, performed at the concert hall at Transatlantic Sessions as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

A highlight was Scots Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, who charmed us with her faster tempo music on ‘Domhnall Binn’, and also with her poignant lament of loss and longing ‘Ge fada ma Thriall (Catullus)’. With the song ‘Gradh Geal Mo Chrid’ from her new album ‘Looking for the Thread’, she held the audiences in a hushed silence backed solely by Shaw’s piano and strings. She also played the pipes and whistle. Fowlis, from north Uist is one of the leading lights keeping the Celtic and Gaelic traditions alive. She literally sparkles on stage and brings class to any stage.

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Larry Campbell, American multi-instrumentalist, producer, best known as part of Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour 1997 to 2004. And American singer Teresa Williams, performed at the concert hall at Transatlantic Sessions as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Transatlantic sessions band, guided by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, features renowned musicians John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro. performed at the concert hall as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

From the band we were treated to fine tunes, from bluegrass to Shetland – ‘Stormy Point/ Far from Home/ Bonnie isle of Whalsay/ High Road to Linton.’ When each band member does a solo part. This accomplished band perform bluegrass, Americana, Scots and Irish folk tunes. The climatic finale featured Julie Fowlis with her song ‘Hug Air a Bhonaid Mhoir,’ and after she joined the band on pipes when they finished with their usual set of rousing tunes which always sets the audience on their feet. A toast to the excellent musical directors!

Glasgow Scotland. 2nd February 2025. Transatlantic sessions band, guided by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, features renowned musicians John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro. performed at the concert hall as part of Celtic Connections music festival. Photo Pauline Keightley/ Alamy.

Transatlantic Sessions offers us both established and emerging singers – the perfect platform for the artist and the perfect house band. Concerts such as TS proves the size of the audience for this kind of traditional, acoustic music. Celtic Connections music festival has taken the closed off live local pub sessions on to the bigger stage. And also taken Celtic music forward, while respecting the traditions. In particular certain folk musicians aim to keep carrying the stream.

Review and Photos Pauline Keightley – https://pkimage.co.uk/