And now for something completely different.. a short poem what i wrote after seeing Bellowhead’s Farewell Tour at the O2 ABC.
In Memoriam
So farewell then…Bellowhead. There was a lot…Read more…
The Red and the Green will be worn, side by side
Glasgow Friends of MayDay (GFoMD) have today announced changes for this year’s celebration of the International Workers’ Festival in Glasgow. While the annual event at Oran Mor will take place again…Read more…
Statue sculptor to be announced at Mary Barbour Concert
The five shortlisted statuesThe name of the successful sculptor chosen to create the statue of Mary Barbour will be announced from the stage of the Gala Concert scheduled for this Sunday, 21 February…Read more…
Two acts at the peak of their powers – Celtic Connections 5
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Unthanks and Lau – ***** – GRCHIf anyone thinks that folk music is some immutable, traditional monolith, they need to see one of these two bands. Come to think of it, they need to see…Read more…
Two acts at the peak of their powers – Celtic Connections 5
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Unthanks and Lau – ***** – GRCHIf anyone thinks that folk music is some immutable, traditional monolith, they need to see one of these two bands. Come to think of it, they need to see…Read more…
Pulling down the walls – or how to arrange an ensemble concert – Celtic Connections 4
Songs of Separation – ***** – Mitchell Theatre In a festival that has made a feature of ensemble concerts, where a number of artists come together around a theme or event, ten women from Scotland and…Read more…
Acts announced for Mary Barbour Gala Concert
This release was featured in the Evening Times on the 19 January. It updates earlier news with some of the artists who have signed up to play in the GalaConcert. Get your tickets NOW!!A galaxy of…Read more…
Our nation deserves better songs – Celtic Connections 3
Scotia Nova – Songs for a better nation *** GRCH, Strathclyde SuiteThe problem with projects like this, is that you end up with a bunch of compositions, some of which won’t be as good as…Read more…
The Soul of the Estuary – Celtic Connections 2
— and this is the second – a tour-de-force by Chris Wood
Chris Wood – ***** – Glasgow Art ClubChris Wood – stepping up to the markIt is a common misconception that the tradition of ‘folk music’…Read more…
The Carrying Stream – Celtic Connections 1
This is the first of a series of reviews of Celtic Connections concerts. I’m doing a couple of summary reviews for the Morning Star (and indeed did a preview piece here.) but I thought some of these…Read more…
Mary Barbour ‘stars’ in Gala Concert
This is the original release that led to the story re the Gala concert appearing in The Herald recently – here, and also in Pat’s Guide to the West End, here. Thanks to both. The tickets are now on…Read more…
The Word on the Streets…. of Oldham
Of all the commentary on the huge success that was Labour’s victory in the Oldham by-election, few if any commentators seem to have noticed one of the most significant factors.
The key point (I…Read more…
Reeling in the (Cuban) Years!
A little late (I was away at a conference when it was published) here is a link to my review of
the First Havana/Glasgow Film Festival that the Morning Star published last Thursday.
Conducta – Five…Read more…
Cuba – land of problem and promise
Fernando Perez – in Glasgow Saturday!The First Havana/Glasgow Film Festival has started with a bang. The first film La Pericula de Ana, was reportedly a very funny launch, and Conducta – on last…Read more…
Mrs Barbour’s Army – 100 years on!
As we approach November 17 – the centenary of the day the court case against 18 Glasgow women on Rent Strike was dropped – it is probably not surprising that the amount of references to Mary Barbour,…Read more…
Political, cultural and lifestyle links celebrated in Glasgow/Havana film festival.
Many people over the years have commented on the parallels between the cities of Glasgow and Havana. The enthusiasm for dance, music and film that envelopes both cities has been often referred to,…Read more…
Sharp in word and politics
The Morning Star has published some more of my Festival reviews. Again, and for obvious reasons, they have amalgamated a number of reviews into one piece here. Here is one of the original reviews -…Read more…
Edinburgh Festivals 3. Sin, Dystopia and Scotland
…and this is the two of the other reviews from Saturday’s Morning Star article (see previous blog). (The other one was in my first Edinburgh blog.)
Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner….Read more…
Beware the spellchecker!… the real names of those Acts! – Edinburgh 2, Steel, Science and Beefheart
This weekend’s Morning Star has published three of my Edinburgh festival reviews edited into one article. It is here. It is a masterpiece of compilation and compaction, and I have the utmost respect…Read more…
Edinburgh Festivals – 1 – Countrybile, Communist Spies and Joan littlewood too!
Well, the extravaganza that is Edinburgh during the festivals is now in full swing, and trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff is (mostly) what I’m here to do.
I have posted (below) a couple of…Read more…