Glasgow Letter
A GLASGOW taxi driver commented to me on Sunday night that this was the start of the winter months when he annually expects to spend a lot of time dropping people off at the Islay Inn or the Park Bar as the highlanders and islanders, particularly students, return from spending their summers up the road.
It is indeed a great time of year in Glasgow – with lots of exciting events coming up.
Americana Evening
A big weekend is on the horizon for Ceòl ’s Craic which hosts its annual Oidhche Americana on Saturday September 23 at 7.30pm in the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street.
Oidhche Americana, as you can probably deduce from its title, is a celebration of the historic links between traditional Gaelic song and Americana music.
This year’s event takes inspiration from the ‘Grand Old Opry’ shows of Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium and features a stellar cast of singers and musicians.
Dòl Eoin MacKinnon, from Scalpay (and my neighbour here in Partick) has long wanted to pay tribute to the late, great Tom Sloss. For this event he will be exploring the Uist troubadour’s body of work alongside some of his own original compositions.
The Eriskay Ponies feature the cream of Glasgow’s session musicians and the vocal talents of Lorraine Wilson and Warren MacIntyre. They will reconvene to perform country classics, original compositions and inspired Gaelic cover versions, in addition to acting as ‘house band’ for the evening’s exciting array of guest vocalists.
Gillebride MacMillan is a native of South Uist who grew up steeped in Gaelic song and tradition. Mairi Morrison is a renowned actress, writer and director and an exceptional Gaelic singer and songwriter. Mairi returns to perform her unique take on some classic Country heartbreakers. Also performing as a very special guest is Mary Jean Lewis who hails from Louisiana and is the niece of ‘The Killer’ himself, the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis! Tickets are £12/£10 and are available from the ceòl ’s craic website.
Comunn an Taobh cèilidh
Comunn an Taobh an Iar host their opening ceilidh of the season this Thursday (September 14) at 7.30pm in the Ellangowan Social Club. The chairman is Peter MacDonald, the piper is Kenneth Macfarlane, and the singers are Kirsteen Dick, Linda MacCallum, Allan MacDougal, and Gordon McKeeve. Amy Caulfield is the instrumentalist, and Kirsteen Grant the accompanist. Teas, coffees, fruit juice and biscuits will be available. Admission is £7.
What’s On
Friday September 15: Opening Clydebank Ceilidh of the season in the Napier Hall, Old Kilpatrick at 7.30pm.
Friday September 15: Glasgow Lewis and Harris ceilidh in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, at 7.30pm.
Saturday September 16: Glasgow Skye Association Opening Concert in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, at 7.30pm.
Saturday September 16: Gaelic and Scots Music and Song featuring Calum MacLeod, Edinburgh Gaelic Choir, and other guests at 7.30pm in St John’s Church Hall, Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Pub Scene
Islay Inn
Friday September 15: Gunna Sound
Saturday September 16: The Raggaels
Park Bar
Friday September 15: Dùn
Mòr
Saturday September 16: Dùn Mòr
Sunday September 17: Trail West