Music CELTIC CONNECTIONS/FOLK
the Rest St Andrews in the Square, ■ BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final 2011 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 5pm. £12.50. This fiercely contested competition will provide a major career springboard for one of Scotland’s young traditional talents. This year’s contenders are Gaelic singer Mairi Chaimbeul, piper Lorne MacDougall, fiddler Kristan Harvey, pianist Tina Rees, Scots songster Alistair Ogilvy and accordion player Andrew Waite. FREE Danny Kyle’s Open Stage Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. See Thu 20. FREE Finale Showcasing Danny Kyle Open Stage Winners 2011 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 5pm. Donations welcome. An inextricable part of the festival, the Open Stage was established in memory of folk music champion Danny Kyle and has helped launch the careers of Malinky, GiveWay, Breabach and the Lori Watson Three among others. Six winners will be chosen from the 80 acts that have graced the boards throughout the past fortnight and they get the chance to play a set at next year’s Celtic Connections. ✽✽ John Grant and Sharks Took St Andrews Square, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £15. The former Czars singer has a baritone to die for and a critically acclaimed solo album (2010’s Queen of Denmark) under his belt. He’s got Midlake as a backing band, although sadly for studio purposes only. Sharks Took the Rest bring a different edge to the evening with their blissed-out vocals and undertones of electronica. ■ Raul Malo and Doghouse Roses O2 ABC, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16. The Grammy-winning artist showcases music from his new release, Sinners and Saints while Doghouse Roses create a poignant sonic tapestry inspired by transatlantic 70s folk balladeers. ■ Richard Wood and Angus Nicolson Band Òran Mór, Great Western Road, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. A double helping of fiery young trad troubadours, as Richard Wood of Prince Edward Island brings some rock’n’roll attitude to the fiddle, with the sound of the innovative piper responsible for Lasses That Baffle Us, Angus Nicolson. ■ The Waterboys: An Appointment with Mr Yeats Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £30.50 (£27.50). The popular Waterboys present the fruits of their recent project engaging with the poetry of Yeats. Mike Scott fronts his extended line-up including violinist Steve Wickham, Irish singer Katie Kim and Catalan trombonist Blaise Margail for a show of new tunes as well as long-time favourites. ■ Fran Healy and Joel Plaskett The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £17.50. The Travis-man who lied when he was 17 is now a fully-fledged solo artist, having produced low-key introspective album Wreckorder recently. He performs the Canadian frontman of The Emergency, Joel Plaskett. ■ Rik Palieri Café Cossachok, 1 King Street/Trongate 103, 553 0733. 9pm. £6. Songs from round the world from this Vermont acoustic musician. FREE The Celtic Connections Festival Club The Art School, Renfrew Street, 353 4690. 10pm. See Fri 21. ■ Celtic Connections Late Night Sessions Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 10pm. £5. See Thu 20.
Got an opinion? You can now Comment on all our articles at list .co.uk 74 THE LIST 20 Jan–3 Feb 2011
FOLK Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Henry Northmore and Norman Chalmers. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 20
Glasgow ■ Karine Polwart and Kim Edgar Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. £tbc. Gifted singer and guitarist Polwart performs some of the nation’s favourite Burns songs accompanied by pianist/singer Edgar, with readings by Gerry Carruthers and Kirsteen McCue. FREE Lyra Busby Hotel, Field Road, Clarkston, 644 1136. 8pm. Irish, Scottish, Americana and English folk/rockers. Kinross ■ Mama Rosin The Green Hotel, Muirs, 01577 863467. 9pm. £14. Cajun music band – from Switzerland.
Friday 21
Edinburgh FREE Tom Oakes & Kathryn Nicoll Captains Bar, South College Street. 8.30pm. Driving traditional music on flute, fiddle and guitar.
Saturday 22
Glasgow FREE Ceilidhs at Lauries Lauries Bar, King Street, 552 7123. 8pm. Regular Saturday night shindig. Edinburgh FREE Allan Johnston & Friends Captains Bar, South College Street. 4pm. Original story songs, vocal harmony, banter and multi-instrumental Celtic music. ■ Burns Ceilidh Dance Rudolf Steiner Hall, Spylaw Road. 7pm. £10 (£6.50; under 12s £3.50). Live dance music is provided by Hud Yer Wheesht to celebrate Burns Night. ■ Rabbie Burns Fundraising Ceilidh Dance King’s Hall, South Clerk Street, 466 8660. 7pm. £7.50 (£5). Auld Reekie Sawbones Band supplies the music at this for the Africa Fund.
Dundee ■ George Smith Wighton Heritage Centre, Upper Foyer, Central Library, Wellgate. 11am. £5. A cappuccino concert – the price includes coffee and newspapers, from 10.30am – from the classical violin player George Smith and friends, performing 18th-century chamber music by the Earl of Kelly.
Kinross ■ Nell Bryden The Green Hotel, Muirs, 01577 863467. 9pm. £12. Modern day Dixie, bluegrass, jazz, soul and blues from this Brooklyn singer- songwriter and Radio 2 favourite. Livingston ■ Burns Night Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 7.30pm–midnight. £15. Broomielaw Ceilidh Band lead the proceedings as there’s food, drink, dancing and music on offer to celebrate Rabbie’s birthday. Ticket price includes haggis, neeps and tatties.
Sunday 23 Edinburgh FREE Tom Oakes & Kathryn Nicoll Captains Bar, South College Street. 4pm. See Fri 21. ■ Nell Bryden Sneaky Pete’s, Cowgate, 225 1757. 7pm. £14. See Sat 22.
FREE Bobby Nicholson & Eddy Hanson Captains Bar, South College Street. 8pm. Folk music session. Falkirk ■ Burns Night Behind The Wall, Melville Street, 01324 633338. 7pm. £25. A four-course traditional menu with recitations of classic Burns plus live music and pipes from Urban Tonkerers and Fraser McIntosh.
Tuesday 25
Glasgow FREE Burns Night Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Stories, songs and vegetarian haggis. For the patriotic poetry-lover whose love of the Bard stops at the sheep’s stomach. FREE The Blas Collective The Rio Café, Hyndland Street, 334 9909. 8.30pm. Quality ‘folk flavoured sessions’ from this collective led by Jenn Butterworth. Edinburgh FREE Café Ceilidh: Burns Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street, 556 9579. 2pm. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for an informal, open afternoon of music and song. Song sheets are provided – just drop in. Part of Burnsfest. ■ Live Music Now: Emerging Artists Series Burns Day Celebration Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 2.30pm. £2 (students and children free). Anna Massie, Mairearad Green, Ewan Robertson and Gary Innes perform contemporary settings of original and Scottish traditional music. ■ Rachel Cross & Punch in the Dark Leith Folk Club, The Village, South Fort Street, 07502 024852. 7.30pm. £6. A new band featuring Cross on fiddle and five-string viola. ■ Ceilidh Club The Lot, Grassmarket, 225 9922. 8pm. £6. Ceilidh dance with callers to take you through the steps. Live music from Big Shoogle. ■ Edinburgh Ceilidh Dance Lauriston Hall, Lauriston Street, 339 5374. 8pm. £8–£10 (children £6). Traditional fun with ceilidh bands and a piper, and some international folk dances to complement the Scottish classics. Refreshments available. Burns night special with the Willie Fraser Band and caller Ken Gourley. FREE The Fyrd Captains Bar, South College Street. 8pm. Acoustic music on guitar, with vocals and fiddle from Eddy Hanson and Mike Breen.
The Go! Team
Wednesday 26
Edinburgh FREE Easy Chair The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. Laidback folksy sounds from Graham Laird and Mike Bennet. ■ Burns Night Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £10 (£8; members £6). An informal celebration of the national bard’s birthday featuring singer and funny man Tich Frier. FREE Nuala, Cammy & Friends Captains Bar, South College Street. 8pm. Traditional session with Nuala Kennedy on flute and vocals, with Cammy Robertson on cittern.
Dunfermline FREE Dunfermline Folk Club Session Thistle Tavern, Baldridgeburn, 01383 729673. 8.30pm. Informal folk session.
Falkirk ■ Burns, Ballads and Banter Falkirk Town Hall, West Bridge Street, 01324 506850. 7.30pm. £8 (£7; under 16s £5). Soprano Nicky Connor performs a range of popular Scottish songs by composers from Rabbie Burns to Annie Lennox. Livingston FREE Acoustic Music Session Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 7.30pm. Songwriter and guitarist Tom Clelland hosts this eclectic acoustic session for both participants and those just looking forward to a relaxing evening of music.
Thursday 27
Glasgow FREE Lyra Busby Hotel, Field Road, Clarkston, 644 1136. 8pm. See Thu 20. Edinburgh FREE Calum Wood & Friends Captains Bar, South College Street. 8pm. Acoustic night on guitar, vocals and fiddle.
Friday 28 Edinburgh ■ Samba Sene & Diwan The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 220 4298. 7pm. £3. Dancey, jazzy grooves and Afro- beats from Senegal, as they launch a new album. ■ Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, St Mary’s Street, 557 5224. 7.30pm. Suggested donation £3. Regular
Now on album number three (Rolling Blackouts, see review, page 60), The Go! Team are a well-oiled pop machine. Mainman Ian Parton still deploys samples and production wizardry with spit-fire, surgical accuracy, but the other five members of the band have become more integral to bringing his vision to life: loops and melodies are created in-house and sampled after, resulting in songs that are more unified and organic than their (still-brilliant) antecedents. The live reputation that they earned from festival slots supporting last album Proof of Youth remains intact; go catch their many-limbed, multi-instrumental behemoth in action. ■ Oran Mor, Glasgow, Thu 3 Feb; Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Fri 4 Feb.