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EEifiEfiONNECTIONS gears up for another
,fi’anscontinentalknees-up, we flag up the stars of the
"festival and the musical state of their nations. 5' , :ris: Kenny Mathieson'ii if v :c M ’1 o. '3 )7"
WEDNESDAY 10
I Evelyn Glennie Meets Phil Cunningham l<o_\;il (‘uiieei-i Hiill. Sziuehiehull Street. 3S7 55f l. 7.30pm. Ell) £22. Opening: the l'estixul. lligltluncl-ltused piano accordionist l’hil (‘unninghiiiii’s llL‘\\ composition. (‘i'i/irlli. is perloriiied h} percussionist land L'lusc‘l piper) li\el_\n (ilennie \\ itli lllci/in' l‘itlclles and the RS.\'( ).
I Danny Kyle's Open Stage lixhibition fftlfl. Royil ('oiieert fftlll. Suuehiehall Street. 3S7 55| l. 5 .7pin.
live. In nieinor} of the late l);inn_\
K} Ie. the \\ inners of this l'esti\;il-long_' \litt\\c‘;l\L‘ e\ cut for neu talent mm e ‘1);inn_\‘ iiuiircls including time in ;i \llltilt) to produce ii ('I ).
I Adam McNaughton and Stramash 'l'he l’ipin}: ('entre. \lc'l’ltziter Street. 237 55l l, Spin. E7 iE5i. Dr). droll :incl deepl) knim ledgeable. \feNaughton‘s songs celebrate (ilusgou. literature. food and drink he \\ role The ./(’('/\ I’lr'i'e Sung and Hum/('1. Strutnush are all e\cel|ent traditional singers. pipers. fiddle and eoneertinu p|;i_\ ers.
I Alasdair Fraser And Friends Strathelyle Suite. Roin ('oneert llzill. Satic'ltiehull Street. 2S7 551 l. Spin. Ell)
lL'h'i. .\'o\\ based in (Kilil'orniu. Alasdair l’rgiser is one of the great e\ponents ol the Scottish fiddle. and tonight
pei‘l'ornis \\ ith guitarist 'l‘on} .\le.\l;inus.
h;irp pliner ('oi'rinu lle\\;it and other guests
I Horse ’l’he ()iti l'i'tiitiiidi'kc‘t. Albion
Street. 387 55l l. ‘lpnr £13.5lliElll.5l)i_
.\ prm erl'ul unique \oiee. and ii regular at the l'esttutl. songuriter Horse \liic‘lhingild [k‘l'lttl'lllS new and classic stings in ltc‘t’ t‘Uc‘k/c‘i'ttsstn c‘t‘ \l_\ lc‘.
I Festival Club The Qualit} (‘entrtil Hotel. Gordon Street. Ill 0680. llpiii. El £5.50. l.i\ e bands. l'ood. bars. and late opening. The social hub of the l‘c‘sliutl.
I Danny Kyle's Open Stage l-Lxliiliriinii Hall. Rii};tl ('onc‘et'l lltill. Sgiuc'ltteltull Street. 3S" 55H 5 "pin. free See Hm I I.
I String Sisters Rani! (‘uiieei-i H.ill. Sauehiehull Street. ZS" 55l l. “.Rllpni El,‘ til I t. (’iiteli modest l'S Irish liildle star l.r/ (Hirrol in a repeat of l;ist sear \ successful l'oi'niula concert. featuring: \l\ of the top lentgile l'itlillers. including: Scotland’s (‘gitrtona .\l;iel )oii.ild. .\'or\\;i} 's .-\iinhioie lien. (".ipe lh'etoii's .\';it;t|re .\l;ic.\l;ister .ind li'el;iittl\ .\l;nre;id \i .\lli;ion;ug_'h.
Scotland Phil Cunningham’s Ceilidh
As the host nation, Scotland is alinrays well- representc-rrl at Celtic Connections A major new
commission launches the festival this year, in the substantial shape of Phil Cunningham's Ceilidh inot to be confused \‘.‘|ili the actual ceilidhs in the programmc”, The accordion maestro \".'C)li great popular (ittldlli‘i for his earlier Highrands and Island Suite, and follous rt up ‘.'.'Iili more of a concerto- style worlc this time, ‘.‘.llii(‘l‘. for the potent combination of Aberdeen-boi'n percussion genius Evelyn Glennie, the six-fiddle Scottish folk group Fiddler's Bid, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Dave Heath, best known in these parts for hrs stint as composer-in-resictence \‘.’tilt the BT Scottish Ensemble, \\'|ll conduct the new piece on the night, and is also helping Phil sOit out the fiddly (no pun intendedt business of orchestration Evelyn Glennie can play anything, and \N’lll have no problem coping With the music, and should rexiel in a return to her roots.
I Main Auditorium, Wed 10 Jan, 7.30pm. 32 THE lIST 5 Jar-18 Jar: 200i
England Kathryn Tickell Ensemble Mystical
Just to show how unprejudiced it is, Celtic Connections invariably finds space for the English. The music of Northumbria and its environs has a particular affinity with Scottish music and is well-represented this year, led by the current superstar of the Northumbrian pipes, Kathryn Tickell, who leads a new group she has decided to call Ensemble Mystical. Kathryn will be joined by Ron Shaw (Cauld Blast Orchestra) on cello, Mary McMaster (Poozies) on vocals and harp and John Kenny (Carny) on trombone and it has been suggested that the instruments may include the carnyx, the Pictish war horn topped with a stylised boar’s head which John Kenny has made his own. That remains to be seen, but what is certain is that there will be some great piping, and some fascinating musical hybrids emerging. Northumbria is also represented in concerts featuring accordionist Karen Tweed (once of Kathryn’s band) and the Great Acoustic Roadshow (with another fine piper, Pauline Cato).
I Strathclyde Suite, Sun 21 Jan, 8pm.
Ireland Sharon Shannon
As the brand leader in the Celtic inasic reuiva‘i,
Ireland always commands pride of place lliere is no shortage of choice again this year, from the Dubliners' homely singalongs to the Virtuoso piping of Liam O'Fiynn One v’lStiOT who is always assured of a rousing welcome is the danling accordion and fiddler player Sharon Shannon, who has been gathering fans around the world since her days in the \f‘i/aterboys, back when they were a major musical force Although she has an irripeccable background in traditional rrrusrc, Shannon rias long been a notably experimental musician and has incorporated all manner of ethnic and world music Influences into her mUSIC Sharon leads her own band, the Woodchoppers, in this concert, but will also be romed by a couple of special guests Hothouse Flowers srnger Liani O'l/laorilai and the great GaliCian piper Carlos Nunez both share her expansionist musical horizons
I Old Fruitmarket, Sun 21 Jan, 9pm.