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Celtic Connections Preview
(17th Jan- 3rd Feb)

28th January

2012 saw the unexpected return for the great folk singer, Nic Jones. Thirty odd years ago, Jones was in a car crash that crippled his career. I managed to see part of his set at the Cambridge Folk Festival this year and he was stunning. He made many grown men cry! He is joined by son, Joseph on the guitar, (who has remarkably seemed to of absorbed all of his father's old style on the instrument) and Belinda Hooley on piano and accordion. He plays on the 28th in the city halls.

29th January

Erin McKeon is singer/songwriter from the United States. Her songs, arrangements and voice have the folk, Americana and pop feel about them that pleases audiences internationally. Be certain to catch her on the 29th January in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall when she shares the stage with fabulous Martha Wainwright or on the 31st January in the Glasgow Art Club when she is sharing the stage with the enigmatic Amelia Curran.

31st January

Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford and John Doyle are considered to be some of the leading exponents in traditional Irish Music in the present day, so when the three of them formed a band, you can imagine how the Traditional Irish Music world reacted! With a beautiful and lyrical Clare style to Hayes and Crawford and a bold, driving guitar engine from Doyle this is an unmissible concert! Be sure to catch in the National Piping Centre on the 31st January. The last day of January, also sees the return of Ruairidh MacMillan to the festival. Since winning the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2009, Rua has released an album that has received high praise from critics and has also toured it extensively. On the 31st, he will unveil his new project, The Rua MacMillian Big Band, which includes the musical input of; BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician winners for 2010 and 2011, Daniel Thorpe and Kristan Harvey, Bodhran player Adam Brown, Guitarist Tia Fyles and Bassist Euan Burton. Very worthwhile concert to attend, if not to listen to some brilliant music, just to watch how MacMillan is creating brand new music within this brand new project.

1st February

The first day of February is the night of two very promising and upcoming Scottish bands. The both of them have won the, "Up and Coming Artist of the Year", at MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. Rura, are a high power and high energy group of musicians who will certainly raise the roof at venue that they play. They play contemporary Traditional Highland music and have recently been joined by Adam Holmes, who provides his smooth yet rustic vocals and some original songs. They play the Oran Mor at 7.30pm and are joined by the Norrie McIver Band. The second groups of musicians are the Paul McKenna band. They have a sound driven by the bouzouki and Bodhran playing of David McNee and Ewan Baird, with an extraordinary tone to the voice of McKenna that is matched in the skill of the Fiddle playing of Mike Vass and the Flute playing of Sean Gray, this is an gig not to be missed, especially by lovers of Traditional Scots song. They play St.Andrew's in the Square at 7.30pm and are also joined by Lucy Ward.

2nd February

The 2nd February will be a weepy point in my month, because I will be forced to miss the numerous amazing concerts on that day! There too many to mention all of them, but the ones I certainly would have gone to are: Bruce Molsky with John Doyle and Dirk Powell, Karine Polwart and Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer and Fiddler's Bid and Emily Smith. I know! Too much for one day. Bruce Molsky, John Doyle and Dirk Powell are all magnificent musicians at the top of their game, who certain provide an evening of American and Celtic music in a pure form. Karine Polwart is Scotland's greatest asset when singing and or songwriting is involved! She has one shelf groaning amount of accolades and very deservedly. She has a very honest voice and writes songs that touch on issues of the present day. She is joined by Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer. They will perform numbers from their latest album, which are entirely reinterpreted children's ballads. Fiddler's Bid, are a highly energetic fiddle band from the Shetland Isles. They make a return to the festival this year; have last played for Celtic Connections in 2011. Fiddler's Bid is an amazing powerhouse that will get the audience going and guarantee a great night out! They are joined by Emily Smith, who is a sensitive and graceful, yet bold singer/songwriter. All of her albums have received wide critical acclaim and she will be previewing some of the material from her new, fifth solo album that will be coming out later this year.

3rd February

The late Gordon Duncan was a revolutionary piper from Perthshire, who is still regarded as a God for; pipers, Tunesmiths, Fiddler players and any music lovers out there today. The on the 3rd February, (the last day of the festival), there is a concert to mark his brilliance. It is also a celebration of piping in general. There will be guest pipers from far and wide, including Hervé Le Floc'h from Brittany, Gordon Walker from Scotland and Margaret Dunn from Ireland. For any pipers, from any tradition, this is a must!

Workshops

There are also many workshops if some of you are interested in learning about music and how to play it. It is a fantastic opportunity to get advice from some of the best in the business, with workshops varying from Beginners Whistle with Lorne MacDougall and Come & Try Fiddle, with Lynsey Tait, to the Harmony Workshop with Corrina Hewat and Scots Chorus Songs, with Mick West. You never know what you might learn.

The Festival Club

After all the concerts, ceremonies, workshops and anything else you can think is over for the day, you will probably find yourself heading to the Walkabout, otherwise known as the Celtic Connections Festival Club. This is where many people come, after the day is done to listen to some more music, to have a drink and to have a good old fashioned socialize! There will be a selection of artists there performing some raw and untamed music in a big session that includes artists and audience that could easily, (and almost always does) go into the very wee hours of the next day. It is a brilliant place to hear some of the best musicians let loose and play some mouth wateringly good music, and also to meet new people.

In the End

Of course, all that I have just described to you is merely the tip of the iceberg! There is so much more going on, so you have to bear in mind that this is just what I would personally go to. There will definitely be at least two concerts that you will want to go to that I haven't mentioned and at least 2 concerts that you should go to that I haven't mentioned, purely because of the amount of gigs that there are on offer. So, catch that plane to Scotland, and think of all the dull, miserable Januarys you've in your life when you're having the time of your life at Celtic Connections!

Matthew Tighe

Images:Rua McMillan, Anais Mitchell

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