Stars of Uist and Cape Breton
Last Saturday evening, I attended the 25th anniversary concert of Ceòlas in the Old Fruitmarket as part of the opening weekend of Celtic Connections.
It was a tremendous evening. The Fruitmarket was laid out with tables which gave the whole night the feel of a massive house cèilidh – the sort I imagine goes on each evening at Ceòlas when the festival (celebrating connections between Uist and Cape Breton) happens each year on the island.
The performances all had that relaxed cèilidh vibe. Dàimh were the house band for the evening and the fear an taighe was Gillebrìde MacMillan, who started things off with a great rendition of A' Pheigi a' Ghràidh.
Over the course of the evening, the audience was treated to songs, tunes and dances from Kathleen MacInnes, Allan Henderson, Ailean Dòmhnullach, Anna Wendy Stevenson and Simon Bradley, Mairi Rankin, Sineag MacIntyre, Mairi MacMillan, Fin Moore, Paul McCallum, Frank McConnell, Ellen MacDonald and Cape Breton's Miller MacDonald Cormier.
As you can imagine, it is very difficult to pick out a highlight from such a host of talented performers but I certainly enjoyed Kathleen's rendition of A Thighearna Dhia (the Gaelic version of How Great Thou Art) and
Paul McCallum's flawless version of Sìne Bhàn (accompanied on piano by Allan Henderson) was a real hairs on the back of your neck moment. Allan the Whaler and Seonaidh MacIntyre's Gaelic singing with the pipes was also brilliant.
I really could go on and on with highlights but I better not because it might make me late for the concert I'm heading to tonight which is The Big Fling – Scottish Dance Music Extravaganza in the Royal Concert Hall.
I dare say you'll read all about that next week!