There’s something about traditional music which pulls at the heart strings and gets the feet tapping.
Glasgow’s fantastic Celtic Connections is a showcase for some of the most talented musicians and singers and is the largest roots music festival in Europe and the UK’s most established celebration of folk, world and traditional sets.
The annual get together runs until 2nd February at venues throughout the vibrant city and one of the most beautiful is The Mackintosh Church in Queen’s Cross.
It’s the only church in the world designed by famous Scottish designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is a famed an architectural gem. Commissioned by the Free Church in 1896, its gothic windows and floral designs bathed in colourful lights, really add to the atmosphere.
Entertainers love to perform in the church and this year, rising stars Eabhal and The Canny Band topped the bill with a night of pure perfection.
First up, The Canny Band, made up of Sam Mabbett, BBC Young Traditional Musicians of the Year 2021, Michael Biggins and Callum Convoy, played some fabulous tunes, which helped earn them the MG Alba Scots Trad Music up and coming award in 2021.
With an effervescent mix of traditional based music with a sprinkle of classical and jazz thrown in to make it a high beat set, the musicians seemed to be having fun as they entertained the appreciative audience.
They were the warm-up for the vibrant Eabhal, a band with a distinctive West Coast sound, dedicated to Gaelic and English folk songs.
Made up of Kaitlin Ross (vocals), Megan MacDonald (accordion), Nicky Kirk (guitar), Robbie Grieg (fiddle) and Ewan Duncan (pipes and whistle), the band played songs from their two albums, “This is how the ladies dance” and Aisling, as well as some of their new tunes.
The laid back band were joined by former member and piper, Hamish Hepburn and really had the church jumping with some fantastic sets.
Having won multiple awards over the years, the band’s songs are based on their ethos on kinship and connection to people in land, elevation, journeys and languages. To hear the Gaelic words performed so beautifully was a real honour,
Both bands received standing ovations and in traditional Celtic Connections style, happily mixed with the audience following the concert, giving the night a real warm Scottish welcome.
For more information on the remaining events running until 2nd February 2025, you can check out www.celticconnections.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 The Canny Band
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