Feb 1
Now that we’ve all dragged our sorry bodies home – or are at least in the process of trying to do so – it’s time to reflect on a last few hazy highlights of Celtic Connections 2010.
Jan 31
We’re at that stage where somehow it’s normal to bump into people at gigs and have them confess that they only got up an hour ago. One such culprit, overheard last night, went on to admit that, prior to hitting the hay, she’d only left one of the artists’ hotels, where she’d fetched up post-Festival Club the night before, at four that afternoon – and not for any reasons of hanky-panky, but thanks to the monstrous party fallout from the first Transatlantic Sessions show on Friday, which was indeed a triumph that thoroughly merited celebrating.
Jan 30
A memorable career first for Orcadian singer-songwriter Kris Drever last night, while he was signing CDs at his sold-out Fruitmarket gig with Session A9. One female fan in the queue - who hadn’t even bought an album - pulled down her top and asked him to sign her breast instead, to which request the ever-genial Drever, although somewhat startled, manfully acceded.
Jan 29
With casting currently under way for a new feature film, The Road to Lafayette, scripted by James Kelman and directed by Kenneth Glenaan – and with shooting due to start in America this spring – the call has gone out for a young, male, Scottish musician, aged 15-20, to play the lead role. He can play pretty much any instrument, and singing ability could be an added advantage, but according to casting director Orla O’Connor, an unbridled passion for music is the foremost requirement. There’s an open casting call being held next month: contact Orla on orlaoconnor@live.co.uk or 0131 553 0559 if you’re interested.
Jan 28
As if the prospect of performing last night with Indian percussion guru Trilok Gurtu, revered Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and Bombay singing star Shankar Mahadevan weren’t already keeping them on their toes, the Scottish trio Lau – relaxing in their dressing-room prior to their scheduled post-interval appearance – were more than a little startled to hear themselves called to the stage before any interval was announced. Gurtu, clearly having a whale of time, had decided on the spur of the moment to dispense with a half-time break and just keep playing, and thus Lau hastened onstage one by one in a state of some discombobulation, singer/guitarist Kris Drever still in T-shirt and jeans having not yet changed into his suit, and accordionist Martin Green having left his music behind backstage. Hardly the ideal start to such a challenging and high-profile guest slot, but – being old hands at flying by the seat of their pants - they nonetheless acquitted themselves more than creditably.
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