Albums

With a tracklisting voted for by fans, The Carrivick Sisters celebrate their ten years of recording and performing music together with an album that showcases their incredible talents.

The Mitchell Theatre was filled to capacity to experience the true American legend that is Tom Paxton and he didn’t disappoint. Joined by his band of Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer it was a truly memorable evening.

A perfect blend of styles delivered with assured mastery by a group of highly accomplished musicians; The Kaela Rowan Band provided another example of the genuinely outstanding quality of performance on offer at Celtic Connections.

Whilst they’ve both made strong impressions with their solo work, a new partnership of TRADarrr founder members Marion Fleetwood and Gregg Cave may well prove their biggest yet.

Go Get Gone, the debut album from Rosie Jones and Zoe Nicol, known as the Worry Dolls, is sure to cement their reputation here and introduce them to America in a big way.

Six years on from Abigail Lapell’s debut, Hide nor Hair is a calming 10-song collection of fine-spun folk songs, as much about mood as it is about storytelling. A departure from her earlier efforts, she possesses a persuasive voice, bearing echoes of many of the greats.

It takes quite a performer to move a packed auditorium from a hand clapping, foot-stomping frenzy to a rapt, silent hush on the turn of a sixpence. Tommy Emmanuel, though, with his mix of guitar and people skills, is the very man for the job. An outright charmer.

Raphael Doyle, a founding member of Café Society, returns to record a definitive album with the support of Tom Robinson, his son and Gerry Diver. A truly excellent piece of work from a man who finally found the self-confidence to believe in himself and the music he makes. We are all the richer for it.

Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland’s brought their off-the-cuff musical musings, Nae Plans, to a packed and enthusiastic house. Together with Jenn Butterworth, Laura-Beth Salter and Steve Foreman they also brought a flavour of those famous late night sessions to an early-evening Glasgow audience.

Last year, Robert Vincent became the first recipient of the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award for the UK Americana Music Association. On the evidence here, he’ll be needing more room in the trophy cabinet.

Derek Gripper walked onto the Celtic Connections stage with a cheery nod, acknowledging the welcome from the audience, took a seat, relaxed with one ankle resting on the other knee, and proceeded to play the most beautiful, enchanting guitar music you will ever hear.

Glasgow-based trio Wildings (Jennifer Austin, Sarah Hayes and Fiona MacAskill) charmed the Celtic Connections audience from the outset and was a testament to the creative relationship enjoyed by this trio.