CELTIC CONNECTIONS CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL 20th YEAR

Celtic Connections is once again celebrating a very successful year as the 20^th Celtic Connection festival is now over

For the twentieth anniversary attendances once again reached over 100,000 and gross ticket sales topped £1 million.

Over the 18 days in January and February, over 2100 artists from around the world descended on Glasgow to perform at over 20 venues which included concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night festival clubs and workshops.

Dunoon Community Radio were very pleased to join over the 18 days our friends at Celtic Music Radio in  broadcasting live from Adelaides at 209 Bath Street, Glasgow keeping nearly 40,000 listeners up to date with the latest news and updates  from Celtic Connections.

With daily live broadcast from Celtic Music Presenters including Gordon Hotchkiss Ross Macfadyen and  the occasional guest presenters Victor, Ian Wilson and Fiona McNeill  from Dunoon Community Radio listeners were treated to guests from the world of music including live sets several from the quickly becoming  “world famous” the Airdrie Songwriters Club.  Formed in January 2011, the Airdrie Songwriters Club has gone from strength to strength and it was the interview and live set just 12 months ago at Celtic Connections with ASC member Gerry Reilly and Dunoon Community Radio presenter Victor that inspired the DCR Songwriters Group

Every year at Celtic Connections the best of new musical talent perform at the Danny Kyle Open Stage. Danny Kyle was a passionate supporter  of traditional music and a constant campaigner for its revival in Scotland.                                                                      

Compered by Danny’s close friend and Celtic Music Radio presenter Liz Clark, it has been the launch pad for many now familiar names such as Adam Sutherland, Karine Polwart, Barluath and The Chair.

Adelaides on Bath Street was for this year the brand new venue for the Danny Kyle Open Stage with the concerts broadcast from 4pm each day apart from Sunday with commentary from Ken Macdonald, Bill Morris and other Celtic Music Radio presenters and  broadcast live here on Dunoon Community Radio.

A diverse panel of judges – from industry stalwarts to members of the general public  picked six winners from the sixty acts who took part.

The Danny Kyle Open Stage 2013 winners performed at final sell out Concert at Adelaides and all can look forward to performing  as a support act at next year’s Celtic Connections festival – Once again we all congratulate the wonderful  talents of

Elliot Morris www.elliottmorris.co.uk/
The 23 year-old singer-songwriter from Lincolnshire  began playing electric guitar when he was 11, but launched his solo set at 17, just a year after starting to explore the possibilities of the acoustic instrument! Playing at many English Festivals in 2012

Gria –  From Glasgow www.facebook.com/GriaBand
Hailing from Shetland, Orkney, Lewis & Northumberland this recently formed band – have a cultural mi combining Gaelic and Scots and English  traditions
Gemma Telfer / Lana Eiaine Thomson /Louise Bicham / Ceitlin L.R. Smith

Taylor & Leigh – From Edinburgh  www.soundcloud.com/Talorandleigh
A blend of Nu-Folk-Country Blues  and blisteringly hot play across the length and breadth of the UK, their music has also been used to promote Ken Loch’s film ‘Aye Fond Kiss’

Genesse www.soundcloud.com/genesee
Beldina Odenyo singer songwriter, originally from Kenya now resident in Glasgow goes under the name of Genesse and brings her culture and travels to us in her poems and song

Graham Low and Jack Kirkpatrick www.facebook.com/graham.low.18?ref=ts&fref=ts
These accomplished young musicians from Orkney wowed everyone on the Open Stage at the Orkney Folk Festival , and again here at the Danny Kyle Open Stage , Graham also takes part in ‘The Gathering’ .

And Mulk – from Aberdeen who unfortunately couldn’t make the Winners Performance

Harry Gorski- Brown, Hayden Hook and Finlay  Jamieson make up this trio, bringing a fusions of gypsy , jazz, folk, improvisation, classical, fund and world ! With their own compositions make up this new and vibrant trio www.facebook.com/mulkx
We look forward to seeing and supporting all the winning acts next year.

We must of course take this opportunity to mention one act that graced the Danny Kyle stage and that was Celtic Music Radio presenter Ross Macfadyen who took to the stage.  LIZ CLARK introduced Celtic Music Radio presenter Ross Macfadyen on to the Danny Kyle stage  in front of a capacity audience including many celebrities to play a short set having had only 5 lessons on an accordion. His sister who Ross has slagged off for many years as she practised the accordion forgave him for long enough to accompany him and quite frankly make this a very moving performance. Ross did this to raise funds for the Celtic Music Radio Station. Well done Ross you did your Radio Station and yourself proud.

Highlights of the 2013 festival mentioned in the live radio broadcast included the poignant tribute to Dundee singer-songwriter Michael Marra.

Other memorable performances that had every one here at Dunoon Community Radio talking about included Dunoon Community Radio listeners favourites The Mavericks, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Donnie Munro with Eric Cloughley and the sensational Maggie Adamson, Joy Dunlop,Teddy Thompson, Manran, Barluath, Maggie Reilly,Skerryvore, Karine Polwart, Paul McKenna Band, The Norrie MacIver Band , Old Crow Medicine Show, Kate Rusby ,Amy Helm, Dougie MacLean, Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire, Aimee Mann, Bellowhead.and New Voices Rona Wilkie and the fabulous first public airing of Sorren Macleans forthcoming Album Winter Stay Autumn and so many others who feature regularly here on Dunoon Community Radio

The excellent BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards was also a favourite amongst listeners with many of the awards presented to artist who feature regularly on both Dunoon Community Radio and Celtic Music Radio  including presenter Julie Fowlis and it is believed that her co-presenter has also featured on both stations.

The festival is also renowned for its ambitious programme of one-off shows, world exclusive performances and unique collaborative events. Including the reunion of the famous first Scottish Beat Band The Beatstalkers The 2013 line-up explored the connections between Celtic music and cultures across the globe, bringing musicians from all over the world to Glasgow, with acts from as far afield as India, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico, Mongolia, Mali, Angola and Senegal as well as across Europe, the USA and Canada.

Celtic Connections continues to have an international appeal and enhance Glasgow’s reputation as a major tourist destination. Fans visited from all corners of the globe to experience the best in traditional, folk, roots, world and indie music, from Mali to the USA and Canada, as well as across Europe and around the UK.

There were almost 50 sold out shows including the 20^th Celebration Opening Concert, Washington Irving, Scots in the Spanish Civil War, The Mavericks, Duncan Chisholm in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, An Evening with Cowboy Junkies, Glasgow St Patrick’s Day, Donnie Munro & Joy Dunlop, JD McPherson, Sarah Jarosz and Leon Hunt, The Two Man Gentleman Band, The Dardenelles, Preston Reed and the hugely popular Transatlantic Sessions, which is now on tour, bringing a dazzling international cast of Celtic and Americana musicians to concert halls across the UK following its sell-out success in Glasgow over two nights.

The final weekend of Celtic Connections also featured a major showcase of Scottish music, with over 180 international music industry delegates in Glasgow to sample the cream of Scottish musical talent performing as part of Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections. The largest gathering of the international music community in Scotland, Showcase Scotland provides acts with the opportunity to perform in front of promoters, record labels and agents from 27 different countries. The exposure that artists gain can lead to record deals and overseas touring contracts, promoting Scottish music and artists to new audiences around the world.