Still Time is an absolute delight, a truly superb, eleven-track release that is nothing short of sublime. Matheson is best known for her voice as singer with a leading Scottish Celtic band, Capercaillie, where she is often heard working in her native Gaelic language. Here, however, she sings only in English with a range of remarkable story-telling songs that hold and capture the very essence of traditional Scottish folk and roots music.
Supported throughout by strong writing from Glasgow writer James Grant and her keyboard Capercaillie colleague, Donald Shaw (who also acts as producer), the album includes two classic tracks from Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, and perhaps a surprise here but excellently delivered Si Kahn’s “Aragon Mill,” a song of protest with a biting lyric that is emotive, evocative and carries the power to engage and sadden.
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Trad/roots: Nothing matches the variety and quality of Celtic Connections
One of the best music festivals anywhere, Celtic Connections is in full swing, albeit online, so we can at least enjoy a virtual visit to Glasgow to sample some the fabulous and hugely varied music on offer Oban-born Donald Shaw, artistic director of Celtic Connections Robert McMillen 22 January, 2021 01:00
Breabach, one of my favourite Scottish bands, who have played many times in Belfast. Picture by Archie Macfarlane
I LONG to Glasgow, dear old Glasgow toon… Well, that s certainly true during the month of January when I like to take a trip to the city on the Clyde for the annual Celtic Connections festival, probably one of the best music festivals anywhere in the world.
In spite of Covid, Celtic Connections shows Scottish folk music has never been healthier
4/5
The 2021 edition of the Glaswegian folk festival may be online, but its opening weekend was a rich showcase for music familiar and far-flung
Duncan Chisholm, writes Mark Brown, was among the stars of the opening weekend
Credit: Gaelle Beri
In any regular January, the splendid Celtic Connections festival of folk and roots music would now be welcoming audiences across Glasgow. However, with the pandemic continuing to blight all our lives, Europe’s largest winter music event has, like so many other artistic endeavours, been forced online.
EVERY January and into February, Glasgow’s extraordinary Celtic Connections festival offers audiences a head-spinning panoply of folk roots music from throughout Scotland and the world. This year, with Covid-19 continuing to wreak its terrible havoc, the doors of the concert halls remain closed and the festival is unable to extend its legendary warm welcome. What it is able to do, however, is provide an impressive online programme, with new concerts being released every day until February 2. If Friday night’s Opening Celebration Concert is anything to go by, viewers can look forward to a brilliant, diverse and splendidly recorded box of musical delights.