Celtic Connections

Celtic Connections
Various Venues, Glasgow
13th-30th January 2011

Celtic Connections, Glasgow’s annual traditional music extravaganza, now in its 18th year, is a lot more than a folk festival. Commanding 20 venues for 300 concerts over a staggering 18 days, this year’s programme is the most diverse yet.

Alongside Scottish Traditional music, which forms the backbone of the festival, there are plenty of indie, protest folk, Americana, Country and Gospel acts on the bill too. Demonstrating the enduring influence of “Celtic” music across the world, the line-up includes Sir Tom Jones, tributes to Bob Dylan and country star Rosanne Cash, and an extensive array of Scottish Traditional musicians. Of course, perceptions about so-called Traditional music have changed over the lifespan of the festival, and Celtic Connections strives to provide a platform for new Scottish talent from across the musical spectrum, not just those who play traditional instruments. From bands like Broken Records, with their pounding Arcade Fire-inspired crescendos (for whom “going folky” means playing a ballad), to Laki Mera (an electronic trio whose only Celtic Connection is being from Scotland); there’s room in the schedule for everyone.

Representing Americana we’ve Giant Sand, John Grant and Laura Cantrell, while at a sold-out Oran Mor, not-folky-at-all New Yorkers The Walkmen demonstrate their signature sound with a sense of deadpan drama. Closer to home, we’ve an all-Scottish supergroup in the form of The Burns Unit, featuring King Creosote, Emma Pollock and Karine Polwart dazzle with a set of songs written as part of the Burnsong scheme.

From south of the border there’s Jim Moray, beard in place but no Arran Sweater, who performs traditional English folk songs, supporting the more contemporary sounds of feminist protest folk icon Ani diFranco; a charismatic performer who confounds expectations to play an engaging and consciousness-raising set.

Glasgow’s Randolf’s Leap continue what has become another Scottish tradition: twee pop. They support the godfathers of jangly indie, BMX Bandits, whose Duglas T. Stewart wastes no time inviting founder members and associates to the stage – including Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake – for a run-through of old favourites like ‘Getting Dirty’ and ‘Serious Drugs’. The show celebrates his twenty five years as a catalyst and uncool figurehead for several generations of the Glasgow scene.

Among the many highlights, however, it’s James Yorkston’s solo performance at the City Halls Recital Room that The Fly enjoys the most. Yorkston melts the formal surroundings away with some of his most intimate songs and entertaining readings from his tour diary book, ‘It’s Lovely To Be Here’.

With so much to take in and with such a diverse array of music on display, Celtic Connections offers bountiful rewards for the musically adventurous.

Lucy Brouwer