Albums

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.

Recorded aboard the Cayamo cruise ship Buddy Miller is joined by the likes of Fats Kaplan, Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson, The Lone Bellow, Kris Kristofferson and more.

Having previously traded as Major Chord, this is the first outing for the Melbourne indie folkie Dan Flynn under his own name. With influences from Nick Drake to Fairport Convention it’s a gentle, airy affair that sometimes belies the darker shades of the lyrics.

Dredgermen plied their trade working from a boat that dredged debris such as mud, coal or even corpses from rivers. Occasionally, they might just find something of real value. These lads have.

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.

Few debuts sound so fully formed, but this one shows an emergent talent whose work possesses a quiet intensity that moves you gently, but surely just as the moon tugs the tide.

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.

Gem Andrews’ Vancouver navigates the listener through folk and alt-country numbers with a crystal streams voice, at times evocative of the McGarrigles from whom she covers their classic Heart Like A Wheel. Seek this wonderful album out.

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.

With Wolves the Lamb Will Lie balances richly detailed lyrics with accessible arrangements which present M.G. Boulter’s musical vision intact. Anyone looking for instruction in the dark art of writing meaningful and original songs would be well-advised to give this a good, close listen; meanwhile the rest of us will be over here, losing ourselves in Matt’s music.