THURSDAY 18
I Danny Kyle’s Open Stage lixhibition Hall. Royal Concert Hall. Sauchiehall Street. 287 55] l. 5—7pm. Free. See Thu I I.
I Kevin McLeod, Tony McManus and Jack Evans The Piping Centre. 3-1 Mcl’hater Street. 287 55] l. 8pm. £7 (£5). The ()ccasioiials‘ prize picker leads an innovative trio exploring music for strings (National steel tenor guitar/banjo/mandolin/ukelele/guitar/bari tone guitar) from Scotland. Scandinavia and North America.
I Old Blind Dogs and Guests The Arches. Midland Street. 22l 4001. 8pm. ii I 2 (£l()). The Dogs have Jim Malcolm on vocals. Fiddler's Bid l‘rom
Shetland and Orkney's Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley complete the line-up of first-rate fiddle-led folk outfits.
I Alison Brown Quartet Siraihelyde Suite. Royal Concert Hall. Sauchiehall Street. 287 55l l. 8pm. £l() (£8). Bluegrass and jazz are both on the menu of' this renowned banjo and guitar player. She's joined by Dean Owens of The Felsons.
I Salsa Celtica All-Stars The Old Fruitmarket. Albion Street. 287 55l l. 9pm. £12.50 (£l().5()). A storming mix ot'jazz. African. Latin and Celtic grooves from this nine-strong Edinburgh-based band. here featuring two guest musicians and singers.
I Festival Club The Quality Central Hotel. 99 Gordon Street. 22l 9680.
altic Connections Tickets and Information
['nless otherwise stated. all concerts are at venues within the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Sauchiehall Street: others take place at the Pipin Centre. McPhatei‘ Street; the 0 d Fruitmarket. Albion Street. the Tron. 'l‘rongate. and the Arches. Midland Street. There are record and merchandise stalls and exhi- bitions in the CiRCH. See the tree (‘eltic Connections ol‘licial programme for a full list of talks. debates. workshops. masterclasses and communit} events. The Festival Club. with guest appear- ances by many ot‘ the Festival perl'orm-
ers. runs from I lpm—Ram at the Quality
Central Hotel. (ioi-tlon .s‘iieei. Ill \
Wih‘ll. The l't‘SllHll (‘lub is a ticketed c\enl. Tickets for all e\ciits iii person from the (iRCll Ho\ ()llice. ('i‘cdit card booking and tickets also .i\ailable from the 'l‘lc‘ls'c‘l (l‘llll'c‘. (‘illltllt'l'lg‘gM Hl-ll 33-. 5511. Children: £2 off all tickets. Special access: Tape and Braille iiiloi'iiialioii and programmes a\ailable. Website address http://w wwgrclrcoiii lor all ('eliic (‘oiinections inl'oi‘iiiatioii.
Kenny Mathieson's new book Celtic Music: A Listener's Guide will be published in April by Backbeat Books.
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10.30pm. ill—£3.50. See Thu ll.
U SA West Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones may have little ObVIOUS connection With anything we would call Celtic music, but she is of Welsh and Irish descent and does make some of the most indiVidual and idiOSyncratic mUSIC of any major pop artist. Her ClaSSIC self-titled debut album announced the arrival of a major new talent back in 1979 and delivered her biggest hit With the infectious 'Chuck E’s In Love’, a paean to her then boyfriend (an even more famous relationship later developed with Tom Waits). If the mu5ic biz expected lots of Chuck E clones, they were in for a rude awakening. The Singer-songwriter has refused to fall into anybody’s pattern but her own, and she has set her own terms ever Since, regardless of commercial logic or the expectations of others. Her explorations have taken her on a fascmating journey through classic pop, hard-edged rock, jazz standards, and beyond.
I Main Audiotorium, Wed 24 Jan, 7.30pm.
USA South Cajun Specials
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Let the good times roll has become a hoary old cliché, but it remains the essential slogan of Cajun music. The high octane dance music of the Louisiana bayou has won a devoted worldwide audience, and has often played a part in Celtic Connections. This year features two Cajun Specials, the first of which sees a return visit for the group many people would rate as the top dogs on the current Cajun scene, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Riley and his top notch outfit aim to preserve the best elements of Cajun tradition in their music, and at the same time develop a distinctly contemporary feel. The second concert will feature a newcomer to the event, although one who bears a famous name in the history of the music. Sean Ardoin and Zydecool will bring a potent taste of Cajun music’s first cousin, Zydeco, custom-made to warm up the chilliest January night.
I The Arches, Fri 26 Jan—Sat 27 Jan, 8pm.
Cuba Salsa Geltica All-Stars
Cuba? Okay, it is stretching the geography a little to suggest that the Edinburgh-based Salsa Celtita are a real Cuban band, especially now that they no longer have any Cuban musicians in the group However, they Will be joined by a c0uple of special guests from the island on this occasion and their mu5ic certainly owes a great deal to Cuba The infectious blend of fiery Cuban grooves with jazz solomg and a distinct Celtic influence has made the band a major attractIOn on the Scottish music scene Since they first began turning Henry‘s Cellar Bar into a hot Havana nightspot back in the mid- 90s The band comes in various versions, but whatever their size, they are Guaranteed to fill the Old FrUitmarket With a huge and joyful sound and Will set feet to mOVirig and hips to swayng With that trademark Scottish salsa s0und
I Old Fruitmarket, Thurs 18 Jan, 9pm. Sla“-i8 iaa 200‘! THE LIST 35