Now playing: Celtic Connections

In the midst of Celtic Connections, which maintains its moments of musical intimacy despite thousands of attendances, hundreds of performers, and venues scattered across the city center of Glasgow in rainy Scottish January. Maybe it’s that weather that helps draw people together: it’s time to go within and share music.

Highlights thus far include:
*Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas in absolutely inspired musical conversation at the City Halls at the end of an evening’s program which also included gigs from the Swedish group Oleman, who took us to back porch in Scandinavia, and the amazing guitarist Tony McManus with a many musical friends.

*Mary Ann Kennedy, James Graham, and Mick West in the intimate listening space above the Universal club, trading songs in Scots and Gaelic about emigration, and the audience joining in on many songs to everyone’s delight.

*The Rooney Family, Ryan Young, and The Laurels as new rising talent

*Brian Finnegan’s Singing Tree, an adventure into the music of Northern Ireland, old and new and future, with Cara Dillon, shown at left, Damien O’Kane, and others

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