UPDATES & NEWS FROM CELTIC CONNECTIONS
Written by Archie Fergusson on 11/01/2015
As we get nearer Celtic Connections 2015 the festival is delighted to announce that the Blue Nile’s Paul Buchanan will be joining the line up for Blood & Roses: The Songs of Ewan MacColl in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sunday 25th January.
The evening’s entertainment is a tribute to one of the most pivotal figures in Britain’s folk revival, Ewan MacColl, whose vast legacy of musical classics will be celebrated to mark his centenary year. Ewan MacColl was one of the architects of the first folksong revival. Whether as an interpreter of ancient ballads or as a writer of new songs, he influenced almost everyone involved in folk music in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. He brought the same skill and understanding to songs of Britain’s industrial cities, ballads of Scots history and lyrics from the English countryside. Many of his own compositions have passed into the common currency of folk music, including “Dirty Old Town” which has been covered by everyone from Rod Stewart to The Pogues.
Joining Paul on the bill is Norma Waterson of The Watersons and Waterson:Carthy fame alongside her husband Martin Carthy and daughterEliza Carthy. The festival also announced in December that Pulp’s former frontman Jarvis Cocker will be joining this star-studded line-up.
Four of MacColl’s grandsons, who are musicians themselves, have also joined the line up – Jamie MacColl (Bombay Bicycle Club), Harry Mead(Klangkarussell), Alex MacColl and Tom MacColl.
The concert has been curated by Ewan MacColl’s sons Calum and Neill – both successful musicians themselves – and features a handpicked house band from a diverse range of genres including Kate St. John, Dick Gaughan and Karine Polwart who will perform both well-loved and lesser known songs from MacColl’s repertoire.
