Neil McFadyen

The River is a delightful and long-anticipated solo debut by Hamish Napier. One that paints portraits of the River Spey’s endless moods and mysteries. Not only that, he paints those portraits with such care and depth of emotion it’s impossible to avoid the irresistible pull of the current.

Fuel is a thoroughly delightful album, and a perfect example of patient and careful growth resulting in a blossoming of creativity. The pace and vitality engage the senses, the vocal performances are captivating and those arrangements, with their wide range of influences, are delightfully detailed but never overdone.

Questio Io…where to start? In Glasgow would be best probably, among the thriving live folk and jazz clubs the city, its inhabitants and its visitors foster. Scottish Folk / Jazz fusion – a beguiling album!

This is a much stronger step forward from Blue Rose Code than might be initially apparent. It’s an album that rewards return visits with new discoveries and one on which his Scottish roots are far more in evidence. Ultimately, it’s all about those songs…his best yet.

For ‘Summer Isles’, Mairearad’s taken what seems like a whole new approach to writing, a wealth of new influences and woven a warm, finely crafted tribute. It’s as enchanting as the islands that inspired it and as full of riches as their history.

In 2, The Gloaming meet and exceed the expectations encouraged by their debut. It’s another enthralling, captivating interpretation of Irish tradition. For some reason it’s all rather emotional – that emotion tends to be joy, frequently mixed with wonder.

Lauren plays traditional music with an unmatched elegance. This skill, in partnership with Mhairi Hall’s ability to provide exquisitely balanced accompaniment or an emotionally charged air, resulted in an evening of the finest possible traditional music.

At Celtic Connections Tim Edey put on one of the finest nights of music you could hope to enjoy anywhere, brought to life by his superb musicianship and his warm, affable character.

In the second part of The Big Music Society’s evening of music that aims to help find a place for Piobaireachd in a modern setting, Fraser Fifield takes to the stage and demonstrates just how adaptable our indigenous music can be in the right hands.

New York band Blarvuster take to the stage at Celtic Connections – Just because it’s bagpipes doesn’t mean it’s trad; just because it’s Piobaireachd doesn’t mean it’s classical…

Yet another example of the outstanding collaborations that Celtic Connections brings to its audience. Six of highland Scotland’s finest musicians join forces to provide an evening of song, music and, of course, the usual banter.

Talisk clearly enjoy, indeed thrive on, injecting some fire into their sets, every bit as much as the audience enjoy hearing it. Although they’re also very capable of taking their music along a more sedate route, that pace is quite remarkable.

Kathleen MacInnes / Dermot Byrne / Brian Finnegan / Mike Vass joined forces for Celtic Connections to create a live set that showcased the very best in traditional and contemporary folk from both Scotland and Ireland – a rare musical treat.

In what was sure to be one of the most memorable collaborative events of Celtic Connections, kora master Toumani Diabaté and his Symmetric Orchestra teamed up with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for a special arrangement of his masterpiece of solo kora, The Mande Variations.

Behave the Bravest is an all-encompassing piece of work that draws on Nuala’s significant experience as a writer, performer and collaborator; just as much as it draws on her deeply rooted love of Irish music. It’s set to be her best solo album yet.

Orkney duo Gnoss put on an impressive performance at the Mitchell Theatre for Celtic Connections which also marked the launch of their eponymous debut album which is sure to raise the profile of this promising duo.

Her fiddle playing is peerless; her voice soft, warm and soothing; and her rapport with the audience as easy and sincere as if she was chatting with a neighbour. With a surprise guest slot from Siobhan Miller the full house at the Tron Theatre would clearly welcome Rayna back to Celtic Connections again and again.

Cam Penner & Jon Wood bring Sex & Politics to the Tron Theatre for Celtic Connections and transport the audience to the hand-built studio shack in the woods where the album was crafted.