Traditional to dub reggae and fusion music with a Gaelic twist were at the heart of the explosion of talent and fun in the run up to the finale of this year’s Celtic Connections festival.
Two of the best were served up in a relaxed, but electric atmosphere at Glasgow’s Tramway. First up was local band Dlù (pronounced dloo, as in blue) made up of Moilidh NicGriogair, Zach Ronan, Aidan Spiers, Andrew Grossart and Seoras Chlad, who all first met at Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, Scotland’s first all-Gaelic school.
In 2022, they released their first album, Moch and ever since have been taking the music scene by storm, showing off the Gaelic language and culture and celebrating the generations who are determined to keep it going.
The band are among a large community of Glasgow Gaels (Gaelic speakers) who have grown up with the language and culture in a city which first embraced the traditional tongue when families from the Highlands and Islands moved south in the 1970s.
Dlù, which means closeness, is an apt name for the band, whose musical talents have brought them together and resulted in the bold and all-inclusive performance.
Starring at The Celtic Connections, gave the band the chance to show off more of their impressive music from their newly released second album, Close To.
The powerful collection of songs helped the heart swirl and also gave the opportunity for a good old-fashioned jig, which the audience warmly embraced in the fun atmosphere.
A hard act to follow, but one which was done with ease by the main act of An Dannsa Dub (The Dub Dance in Gaelic).
The brainchild of dub vocalist and producer Tom Spirals and Scottish traditional musician Euan McLaughlin in 2020, the band fuses the mystical energy and instruments of Scottish music and Gaelic song, with the heavy, meditative, driving basslines of digital dub.
The band spent 2024 touring extensively, with appearances across Europe, including at Glastonbury and Festival Interceltique de Lorient and are due to release a new album this year.
Their appearance at Celtic Connections gave them the chance to try out their new tunes and they were joined by a host of special guests including Glasgow singer Josie Duncan.
Both bands had the audience clearly enjoying themselves and it was a joy to the powerful message of keeping traditions and roots alive, bursting through.
Celtic Connections rounds off on 2nd February 2025 with a plethora of different bands and styles. For ticket availability, please visit: www.celticconnections.com and for band information you can visit: www.andannsadub.com and www.dluband.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Dlù and An Dannsa Dub
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