Fairport Convention and some other Folk

Seirm: Celtic Connections
The last in the series saw Blue Rose Code getting most attention, but there were also turns from FARA, Brigid Campbell & Fin Moore, and an extra go from the Trials of Cato.

Binneas - Na Trads
From the 2021 event, an edition with Kim Carnie & Ellen MacDonald together. The other edition had a showcase from Daimh, among whose members is Ellen MacDonald, coincidentally.

Song of the Track / Ceol na Loidhne
Ingrid Henderson re-tells the story of the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig, but as she's a folk singer, she also played several tracks which the line has inspired in her from "Rhythm of the Line" to "Nurse Hawkins" (about those who picked up the pieces when things went painfully wrong). A familiar story (the bloody Glenfinnan viaduct etc), but at least this felt fresher.

Binneas - Na Trads
Two more bursts from 2021, firstly from Hannah Rarity, and then the Gary Sutherland Ceilidh Band.

Binneas - Na Trads
The last 2 shows of this 2021 series, one with Imar, and the other with the Strathspey Band.

Doolin
From 2019, some event or other, with performances from Ultan Conlon, Steph Geremia, and a main event from Lunasa.

Lorient 2022
Cerys Hafana, Gwilym Bowen Rhys and Azenor Kaclag went to Brittany to check out the annual Inter-Celtic festival. Cerys and Gwilym got in on the musical act, with turns ranging from Perfect Friction to Alffa, and NoGood Boyo to finish.

Berlin Live: Donovan
From 2015, the folk legend ran through his many hits and beyond, delighting the crowd at Schwuz.

Cuirm @ Celtic Connections: Capercaillie
With the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the legendary Scottish band did a decent set some of which was in Gaelic and some of which wasn't.

Cuirm @ Celtic Connections: Niteworks
The term "electro-folk" never crosses anyone's lips here, but that seemed the likeliest term. Together with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and a few vocal contributors such as Sian and Beth Malcolm, the four-piece did their stuff.

Niteworks - A' Ghrian
A look at the lads as they work on their 3rd album, and prepare for the above concert. Family and associates also had their say.

Triall
Mary Ann Kennedy travels across Scotland, from the Isle of Iona through various small towns and transportations, to a St Andrews music festival. She sings and plays instruments too, as well as hooking up with many old friends and new as they consider the return to live performance. Usefully doubling as an offbeat travel guide too.

Legendary Clannad member Noel Duggan has died at 73. RIP 

Belladrum '22 - Manran - Project Smok
About equal time for both acts across an hour.

Belladrum '22 - Tide Lines
A half-hour for these guys also.

Na Trads 2022
Having seen little shows collecting performances, I actually saw coverage of the event itself. Mary Ann Kennedy and Alistair Heather presented, but most of the show seemed to be about performances, from the likes of Trip, The Auldeners, Eryn Rae, Fara, Mischa MacPherson and guests, and Elephant Sessions. There were the usual "of the year" type awards, with a couple of "lifetime achievement" type ones too. Fairly entertaining all round.

Belladrum '22 - Calum MacPhail / Hannah Rarity
A couple of short sets, and they both got little chat moments. Calum is a member of folk band Ho-Ro as well.

Belladrum '22 - Siobhan Miller
She did quite  abusy set including hits like May Morning Dew.

Orain Oir
A 4-part series compiling a number of Gaelic-spoken performances, put together in 2010. A few faces were repeated, but it was mostly different every time.

Cuirm@ Celtic Connections: SIAN
A decent little show I must have missed previously. They did a heavily Gaelic setlist, with guest help from Signy Jakobsdottir. Presumably the 2023 event will turn up soon enough.

HebCelt: aig25
The festival on Stornoway started in Jun 1996, but generally seems to be held in mid-July. Members and volunteers told its tale, and a great many past performers spoke warmly, from KT Tunstall and both Proclaimers, to members of Runrig, Manran, Tide Lines and Skipinnish, and not forgetting doughty stalwarts like Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.

Cuirm - Celtic Connections at 30
The opening gig, with presenter Ellen MacDonald talking to many of the acts included, from Kim Carnie to Matt Carmichael to Rachel Sermanni and the lads from Peat & Diesel. I'll look forward to seeing more shows from this festival.

The Chieftains - Water From The Well
A profile from 2000, with the main members telling their story, how they've kept relevant, done collaborations, tried other styles, but not lost touch with their roots. They even finished by bringing Van Morrison on to be his usual self.

Lwp - Curadur - Mari Mathias
She was a Talgarreg girl who moved to Cardiff but kept in touch with the old place. She brought on Gwenno Morgan, Cynefin, and her mother Meinir who's a painter.

The Alehouse Sessions
Bjarte Eike and Barokksolistene have been peddling this act for many years, and here they were at the George Inn in Southwark to do a decent hour of material, some spoken, some not. An enjoyable concoction.

Sabhal Mor Ostaig
A 50th anniversary concert from Glasgow, with many faces paying their respects to a venerable institution, sometimes in super-groups.

Wayfaring Stranger, with Phil Cunningham
A lengthy 3-part trip from 2017, following a musical trail from Scotland, to Northern Ireland, and then inevitably to the USA. Rosanne Cash and Ricky Skaggs were among contributors, besides the folklorists and university historians. The story was mostly about folk music, though there were nods to its turn to country toward the end, with bluegrass and so on. But a fascinating story, well told.

misery guts wrote:TransAtlantic Sessions - Dluth am Daimh
The last of this series, and they rounded off with a version of "Will the Circle be Unbroken?"

The Trans-Atlantic Sessions
Possibly the original 1995 series, over 6 half hours, filmed at the Montgreen Manor House Hotel in Ayrshire. Put together by Donal Lunny and Jay Ungar, there were a few notable includees like Emmylou Harris, John Martyn and Guy Clark, and each show mixed between folk songs and tunes. Enjoyable to see in its original way.

BBC Four Sessions: Damien Rice
Infamous for the O album, and nothing else. This 2004 gig was from LSO St Luke's, as ever, and was as you'd expect.

Joan Baez In Concert - Part I
Joan Baez In Concert - Part II
From Shepherds Bush in 1965, Joan in classic form, some Dylan covers, some appeals to get the crowd singing, and some other gems like I'm Troubled and I Don't Know Why, Watch Out Boys She's A Troublemaker, and 500 Miles. She finished both halves by singing Plaisir d'Amour.

Hoolie in the Hydro 2023
Julie Fowlis and Coinneach MacLeod introduced highlights from two shows at the premier Glasgow venue, partly in tribute to Runrig, and featuring turns from Trail West, Wolfstone, Ewen Henderson, Nati, and more. Entertaining stuff.

In Concert: Judy Collins
A short show from 1973, in which she paid tribute to Joni Mitchell by covering Both Sides Now, and finished on Who Knows Where The Time Goes? but the highlight was The Hostage, which I'd not heard before, and was really impressive.

Peter, Paul and Mary - at Newport 1963-65
A show from 2018, combining archive with chat from Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey. They met and performed with Joan Baez and other folk legends at the event.

Look at Life - On Tape for Tomorrow
In 1964, how archivists were visiting Welsh and Irish folkies and recording songs from them, for future preservation.

Cuirm @ Celtic Connections: Valtos and friends
An hour or so from Glasgow, as the folk-tronica duo worked with Julie Fowlis, Ruaridh Gray and others, on a variety of songs.

Cuirm @ Celtic Connections: Valtos & Caraidean
Another half-hour from the show, with a few more chats to members of Valtos, and some of their many guests.

Seirm
Two episodes from Celtic Connections 2024, linked by the redoubtable Mary Ann Kennedy. Acts include Ewen Henderson, Genticorum, Kaia Kater, Talisk and the Pine Tree Flyers.

Seirm
The latter 2 episodes from the same series event/ This time with Carlene Carter, Sarah Jarosz, Katie MacFarlane and Kathryn Tickell. Fine enough stuff.

Curadur - Iwan Huws
Frontman of Welsh group Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog spoke some about his band, gave props to Plethyn, Llio Rhydderch and Dafydd Owan, some of whom chatted to him too.

Julie Fowlis - Kelvingrove
A special concert from Celtic Connections, held at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and with Julie chatting about things between tracks.