Celtic Connections is delighted to be working with the Apple Store on Buchanan Street, Glasgow to feature a series of live in-store performances by festival artists throughout January. The artists will give short taster performances ahead of their Celtic Connections gigs.
Live at the Apple Store: Hazy Recollections with Findlay Napier & Kitty the Lion
Thursday 20th January, 7pm
Finlay has been nominated as Songwriter of the Year at the MG Alba Scottish Traditional Music Awards, and is well respected on the Scottish nu-folk scene. Kitty the Lion have been named as one to watch by Vic Galloway and Jim Gellatly, with recent gigs at T in the Park and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Hazy Recollections returns to Celtic Connections at the O2 ABC on the 23rd and 30th January.
Live at the Apple Store: Laki Mera
Friday 21st January, 5pm
Bringing their unique sound to the Apple Store’s Celtic Connections series, Glasgow four-piece Laki Mera’s arresting, multi-layered soundscapes, merging elements of trip-hop, classical, ambient and folk, have drawn admiring comparisons to Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Live at the Apple Store: Joy Kills Sorrow
Saturday 22nd January, 4pm
Joy Kills Sorrow, the Boston-based modern American string band, bring their decidedly modern sensibility to an old-world sound, channelling the prodigious talents of individual members into elegant arrangements and well-crafted songs. Boasting a bold new brand of acoustic music on their latest album Darkness Sure Becomes This City, JKS plumbs the entire spectrum of its spare instrumentation, effortlessly merging influences as diverse as folk, rock, pop, and jazz.
Live at the Apple Store: Justin Townes Earle
Saturday 22nd January, 5pm
Justin Townes Earle was winner of the Best New and Emerging Artist at the 2009 Americana Music Awards, as well as being named as one of the 25 best dressed men in the world by GQ. With his latest release Harlem River Blues picking up rave reviews and being hailed as his most accomplished yet, now catch the dynamic Earle performing solo at the Buchanan Street store as part of Celtic Connections.
Live at the Apple Store: Mama Rosin
Sunday 23rd January, 5pm
To celebrate the release of new album Black Robert Mama Rosin bring their intoxicating brew of Cajun and Zadeco straight from the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The energy of this three-piece (accordion, banjo, scrub-board and vocals) has been attracting new fans from all over the world, and this special Celtic Connections appearance at Buchanan Street will give you the opportunity to find out why this band is being hailed as the 21st century Velvet Underground.
Live at the Apple Store: Thea Gilmore
Monday 24th January, 5pm
Thea Gilmore can count Bruce Springsteen, Martha Wainwright, and Joan Baez as fans, with Uncut magazine describing her as “The best British singer-songwriter of the last ten years – and then some”. Thea, and guitarist/ producer Nigel Stonier join us for one of our most exciting Celtic Connections events at Buchanan Street this year, performing material from her latest acclaimed album Murphy’s Heart and many more well-loved songs.
Live at the Apple Store: Raghu Dixit
Saturday 29th January, 3pm
With an unforgettable performance in November 2010 on Later…with Jools Holland still causing ripples, Raghu Dixit has fast become a shining beacon of Indian contemporary music. With a fusion of Indian traditional folk music, and soulful vocal delivery this final Celtic Connections event at Buchanan Street should be essential, ahead of his appearance at City Halls.
Mànran and Rachel Sermanni have already performed in the store as part of its Celtic Connections series.
In other Celtic Connection’s News:
Change in Sharon Shannon Big Band line-up
Unfortunately Imelda May has been forced to withdraw from her appearance as a guest artist in the Sharon Shannon Big Band concert on Sunday 23th January at the Old Fruitmarket due to ill health.
This change was entirely due to circumstances beyond the festival’s control and her management has issued the following statement: “Imelda has been suffering from back problems which have been aggravated by her relentless live schedule. While she’ll still be fulfilling promotional activities as required by her record label Decca she needs a period of rest and physiotherapy before she resumes her live schedule at the end of January”.
The rest of the line-up remains as announced and will feature Irish accordion queen Sharon Shannon, ex-Pogues icon Shane MacGowan and evergreen singer-songwriter Mundy.
The Box Office is currently contacting all patrons to advise them of the change in line-up.
Mànran to support Kepa Junkera
Mànran will support Kepa Junkera at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall tomorrow, Thursday 20th January. A new line-up of young Scottish talent – Norrie MacIver (guitar/vocals), Gary Innes (accordion), Ewan Henderson (fiddle/pipes), Calum Stewart (flutes/uilleann pipes), Ross Saunders (bass) and Scott Mackay (drums), the band perform songs in Gaelic and English alongside fiery instrumental sets. They are making headlines this week for their bid to be the first band to make the UK Top 40 with a Gaelic single in the 21st century.
Vic Galloway to host A Night of Celtronika
BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway will host A Night of Celtronika at the Old Fruitmarket on 28th January. This ground-breaking gig fuses ancient traditions with 21st century technology in a pioneering line-up of Celtic and electronica collaborations, co-curated by Indo-Caledonian sound artist Sushil K Dade/Future Pilot AKA. The packed programme includes brand-new commissions by renowned Hollywood composer/electronica artist Craig Armstrong and PJ Moore (The Blue Nile). Also on the bill are new Chemikal Underground signings FOUND plus an appearance from their legendary Cybraphon installation – the band have been likened by The Word to “King Creosote holed up in a studio with Brian Eno”.
The line-up also includes Mike McGoldrick’s Future Trad Collective, Hidden Orchestra (formerly the Joe Acheson Quartet); Catriona McKay and Alistair MacDonald’s Strange Rainbow; Martin Green, Niteworks, an exclusive Celtic Connections collaboration between DJ Dolphin Boy and the Future Pilot Indian Pop Art Orkestra, and also slo-mo sonic legends The Pastels at the turntables.