Tim Dalling and Paul Tasker

Tim Dalling takes the plunge with this Celtic Connections return. You struggle to find a fitting term that describes him in his many wondrous guises. Versatile, although true, doesn’t quite hack it! Remembered by some for his hugely creative input to the legendary but sadly departed New Rope String Band, in recent years, he’s written and recorded as a powerfully observant singer-songwriter and been ranked by critics along with the likes of Ivor Cutler and Randy Newman.

Lau's Martin Green had this to say: “It was one of the best shows I've seen anywhere ever. Life-affirming, moving and impossible to resist, Dalling is a world-class song-writer and performer. Carrying the baton from Michael Marra and Ivor Cutler on one side and all the pinpoint emotional control of Paul Simon or John Martin on the other, he is not to be missed.”

Paul Tasker, probably better-known for his work with Iona Macdonald in the popular duo, Doghouse Roses, impressed with his 2nd solo release, Tierra Quemada, which had the critics drooling. An instrumental journey, it marked a breakaway from his usual  bluesy/Jansch-like acoustic guitar work, with banjo centre-stage. Folk Radio UK called his approach “fascinating” and described the album as “remarkable.”