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The was dire stuff. Ricky Ross reading from cue cards set the tone for a pretty amateurish and lacklustre production.
This Scottish Songbook managed to include an obscure song from Andy M. Stewart and a terrible mauling of the Freedom Come All Ye by Lorraine MacIntosh. Siobhan Miller murdered an Annie Lennox song and for a finale Ross and MacIntosh made Sunshine on Leith sound even more dire than the original.

Sorry there was no room for B A Robertson; Ricky Ross was excellent on the night and Hamish Henderson's song is always a tough one since very few can understand the language, wonderful as it is.

Ian, were we watching the same performance? Dire? Lacklustre? Amateurish? Having attended Saturday night's concert I can assure you that your views are, by in large, solely your own.

From the outset this production aimed to take the performers out of their comfort zones, interpreting the songs in their own style - which there is no denying it did. Had anyone come on stage and produced a carbon copy of the original they would be accused of playing it safe. Taking Siobhan as an example; she has an incredibly powerful and unique voice, and so, when taking on an Annie Lennox number, trying to replicate the original would do neither any justice.

Celtic Connections exists for a number of reasons, however a couple that shine through, throughout the festival's programme, are the collaborations, and reinterpretation of various musics. Traditional/folk music has evolved for centuries on this basis; restraining anyone from touching any particular song/tune/piece - for whatever reason - will only result in it being forgotten altogether. Tonight I saw Bobby McFerrin's gig, where he showed us his take on Bach - a capella, and without a single instrument, probably about as far away from the original as you could get. Murder?

As for amateurish - are you serious? The main auditorium is a huge gig for anyone, however add to that the amount of work that one can only begin to imagine goes into any special production such as this, and you're having quite an insulting laugh.

An outstanding production (sorry Ian - have to disagree entirely). Brave, and high risk, but Karine and team pulled it off. No "Living Years" on the web though? A memorable performance from BA Robertson, especially given the personal emotion of the song.

Watching it on TV it did look a mixed bag - partly I felt due to the poor sound miking quality for many of the singers.

I watched last half on TV and wished I'd been at the gig. Difficult to get the atmosphere sitting at home - or was that what it was like on the night?

It was a privilege to see so many accomplished musicians and singers in one concert, but we felt Ricky Ross was uncomfortable in his MC role. We perhaps excepted a bigger wow factor overall.
The absolute highlight, 'though, was BA Robertson's Living Years. WHY why why was it omitted from Monday night's programme? As WSMCeltic says, I can't even find it on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ website.

I really hope (and suspect) that the live show was infinitely better than the TV hour, which was flat, lifeless, totally uninspiring and uninspired. If I had recommended the programme to friends who've never "done" Celtic Connections, I would have been sorely embarrassed and they would have wondered what I was enthusing about.
I take Craig157's point (above) entirely, but the TV production seemed to me to miss all the point.

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Cheers
Dick Tapsall

I came on to this blog/forum because it asked if there were any songs missed out.
Obviously, there is a plethora of songs that fit into this category, but I am going to put my neckon the line.
30 years ago I was holidaying in Stonehaven and took a trip to Dunnottar Castle, nearby. It was a misty cloudy day and within an hour I had written a song about the place. Not sure if I can do this, but it is on www.acquirius.co.uk/rgypo and is called Dark Dunnottar. Although it is unknown, it is requested everywhere I play. Maybe it is worth a listen. If you don't like it, fair enough

OK, if you're looking for the most beautiful, mesmerising and intoxicating sound of Scottish alt-folk, you need to be listening to the Last Battle, new from Leith and totally brilliant. Find them on Facebook or at: www.webdesignworks.org/Last Battle/index.html

You'll be glad you did!
Dick Tapsall

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