Bringing it all Back Home
As a fitting finale to Celtic Connections’ celebration of Homecoming Scotland 2009, this year’s Transatlantic Sessions will highlight the traditional songs and tunes which crossed the Atlantic with Scottish and Irish emigrants over the last 300 years, to form a key bedrock of American roots music. From the Appalachian Mountains to Greenwich Village coffeehouses; from the trailblazing careers of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger to today’s post - O Brother Where Art Thou? revival, these transplanted Celtic roots have continued to evolve and flourish in New World soil, and these two very special shows will see them welcomed back home by a dazzling international cast of musicians.
From across the pond, featured vocalists include the much-loved country-folk star Nanci Griffith, reconnecting with her own Scottish roots, and fellow Grammy-winner Kathy Mattea, whose haunting 2008 album Coal draws on her family’s history in the mines and mountains of Appalachia. Also among the Stateside singers, Dan Tyminski will be familiar to many as a linchpin of Alison Krauss’s Union Station, while Transatlantic Sessions regulars Tim O’Brien and Dirk Powell once again juggle vocal and multi-instrumental duties. Joining this stellar line-up are the exquisite Scottish and Gaelic voices of Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.
Ultra-classy accompaniment and awesome instrumentals will be supplied by a similarly crème-de-la-crème array of US and Celtic talent, once again under the musical direction of Shetland fiddle maestro Aly Bain and dobro legend Jerry Douglas. Others confirmed to appear include accordion ace Phil Cunningham, Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw and Michael McGoldrick, ex-Solas guitarist John Doyle and Shooglenifty percussionist James Mackintosh. Following last year’s double sellout, the concert will again be staged twice, with all featured artists appearing on both nights, and is sure to be remembered as one of the year’s best homecoming parties.
For more event info and to buy tickets (30th Jan) , click here
For more event info and to buy tickets (1st Feb), click here
Back to Celtic Connections Homecoming programme overview