CELTIC CONNECTIONS ANNOUNCES MICHAEL MARRA TRIBUTE CONCERT

On Monday 28th January 2013 Celtic Connections will host a special tribute night to folk legend Michael Marra at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Dundee singer-writer Michael Marra sadly passed away in October 2012. From his alternative national anthem Hermless to his majestic reading of Psalm 118 on Martyn Bennet’s Grit, Michael was a uniquely eloquent and vital presence in Scottish Music.

Michael Marra at his last Concert in the Dunoon Burgh Hall

Michaels last concert was here in Dunoon’s Burgh Hall with the Houseroom Tour celebrating the release of the Houseroom album which he produced and which features The Hazey Janes the popular Indie band which his daughter and son Alice and Matthew are members.

During his visit to Dunoon Michael with band members visited the Dunoon Community Radio Studio to talk live on air to Victor. It was suggested that the time was now right for Michael to introduce himself to a newer younger audience and now he had found the ideal backing band with  the Hazey Janes he ought to start looking at some mainstream Festivals such as T-In The Park, Michael quietly laughed, his band were all for showing off their new vocalist and predicted  good things for the future.

Michael also spoke about his experience working with the Hazy Janes who he was so tremendously proud of and spoke about the Houseroom the CD they had worked on together which at that time was Dunoon Community Radio’s CD Album of the week.

Artists appearing at the Celtic Connections event to pay tribute to Michael  include

Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean………………………………………., Pat & Greg Kane, Kris Drever, Riley Briggs (Aberfeldy), The Mackenzie sisters, John Spillane, The Hazey Janes, Chris Marra, all brought together by Musical Director Rab Noakes. There was also be a number of additional surprise guests on the night.

Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections, said: “Michael was a unique talent and a pivotal figure in the Scottish folk scene. Marra has performed in almost every festival since the inaugural one in 1994 so we felt it was very important to pay tribute to the great man himself during the 20^thanniversary year. Michael was someone who believed in the potential of future generations so in keeping with this, and Celtic Connection’s award winning education programme, proceeds from tonight’s concert will go towards the Marra Family’s Appeal to start one of Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise Orchestras in Dundee.”

MICHAEL MARA