Perthshire musicians to the fore at Celtic Connections 2011

Oct 22 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TICKETS went on sale this week for Celtic Connections 2011 – the 18-day Glasgow-based feast of music boasting a stellar line-up of some of the world’s finest folk, roots, traditional, indie and jazz musicians.

The ambitious international programme for Celtic Connections 2011 launches in spectacular fashion on January 13 with The Pulse of the World.

Two Perthshire musicians play major roles in this brand new cross-cultural performance featuring the globally-renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. Among the array of pivotal Scottish and Irish traditional musicians are Patsy Reid (fiddle/viola) from Knapp in the Carse of Gowrie, and Perth’s Ross Ainslie (small pipes/whistle). Also in this select group hand-picked for The Pulse of the World are Charlie McKerron (fiddle), Matheu Watson (guitar, mandolin), John Joe Kelly (bodhran), Michael McGoldrick (flute, pipes and whistles) and the beautiful Hebridean singing of Jenna Cumming.

Across the Celtic Connections programme there are some 1500 artists in 300 events at 14 venues.

At the programme launch in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall this week, artistic director Donald Shaw outlined the various strands running through the festival, including ‘adaptation and transition’ in which artists embrace their influences; a celebration of the vibrancy of the Scottish folk scene; the power of gospel and song; and the connections between Celtic traditions and cultures across the globe.

Two major coups for Celtic Connections 2011 are the re-forming for one night only of iconic Glasgow band Love and Money, while Californian alt-rock band Grant Lee Buffalo play their first UK gig after a neatly 12-year hiatus.

Celtic Connections events with Perthshire connections include:

To mark the 60th anniversary of the School of Scottish Studies, a host of artists who have been championed or inspired by the School’s world-renowned work will come together, including Pitlochry’s Jock Duncan and Sheila Stewart from the Blairgowrie area.

The festival will also stage a tribute to Blairgowrie-born Hamish Henderson (1919-2002) who has been referred to as the most important Scots poet since Robert Burns and was a catalyst for the folk revival in Scotland.

On January 21 in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Celtic Connections hosts the celebrated US radio show Mountain Stage, presenting its first ever-live broadcast beyond American shores. Topping the bill is legendary gospel diva Mavis Staples and flying the home flag will be Perthshire’s international troubadour Dougie MacLean.

Donald Shaw commented: “The 2011 festival will feature ambitious new collaborations with musicians from completely contrasting backgrounds, such as a fusion of Celtic music with electronica. We’ll also stage one-off shows such as a 70th birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, and the one-off performance by Love and Money.

“Over the past few years we’ve explored the connections between Celtic music and cultures around the globe, and this year we’re honoured to welcome Zakir Hussain for our opening concert. I think this notion of celebrating global influences really encapsulates what the festival is all about.”

Celtic Connections 2011 is sponsored by ScottishPower Group.