Transatlantic Sessions

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 February

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Bruce Molsky, Jerry Douglas and Tim O'Brien.

Simone Byrne reports

The hottest ticket in town had to have been Transatlantic Sessions. This is the third year I've been and it's not let me down yet. A star studded ensemble introduced by BBC Radio Scotland's very own Iain Anderson.

You're treated to one the finest house bands you're ever likely to hear Bruce Molsky and John McCusker on fiddle, Russ Barenberg and John Doyle on guitar, Danny Thompson on double bass, James Mackintosh on drums, Michael McGoldrick infusing the bluegrass, country, jazz and salsa with celtic character of the whistle and Uilleann pipes, Tim O'Brien playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin.. to name a few (if he picked up a chair he could have played it) and of course festival director Donald Shaw on accordion …and all this headed up by musical directors Aly Bain on fiddle and of course Jerry Douglas whose dobro reflected it’s light over the concert hall and cast a spell over the audience. I've not even mentioned the special guests yet…

Ruth Moody of the Wailin' Jenny's compensating for the fact she’s on tour too much to tend to plants and flowers sang her enchanting song “The Garden”. The ever ready Eddi Reader showing her appreciation of the Bard with “Green Grow the Rashes” specially arranged by John Mccusker.

The very funny Declan O'Rourke accompanied Eddi as she sang his ballad “Love is the Way”, he followed this with his uniquely named and exceptionally catchy tune “Lightning Bird Wind River Man”.

Karen Matheson's beautiful and poignant rendition of the “Aragon Mill” was followed by the Latin sways of Mavericks’ front man Raul Malo with “The lucky One” and “Every Little Thing About Her” his Cuban melodies interjected with the excellent Celtic pipe playing of Michael McGoldrick.

With an upbeat celebration of 100 years of Woody Guthrie and an encore of Hank Williams "Hey Good Lookin’" the audience were left on a high and the players received the standing ovation so rightly deserved. Roll on winter 2013 and next year’s Celtic Connections.

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