Celtic Connections
Barony Hall, Glasgow
31st January, 2025
It is one of the most certain things upon Planet Scotland that, when flicking thro’ the Celtic Connections programme, something will; surely spring out & snap into your ‘need-to-do’ list. For me, this year, it was Iona; In the Footsteps of Colomba who caught me in its’ hungry jaws. I live on Arran, & after visiting Kintyre, Islay & Gigha, want to explore more of those magical shores that drift with epic grandeur about the isles of western Scotland. There was also the promis’d blend of art, music & poetry – a veritable gesamtkunstwerk to tick all my aesthetean boxes.
To Glasgow’s gothic Barony Hall I went, on one of the more balmier evenings this winter, a spacious, well-lit cavern of a church; the pews were full & the energy was wholesome & keen. Supporting the evening were a couple of north-eastern youths, Emily & Luke, drawn together initially at the pub over many a folky number, & renditioning some of their favourites for a wonderful forty minute warm-up. I especially liked the song, “Take me Out Drinking Tonight” & it’s line, Ah Me McEwan you will be my ruin!
Then came the main piece, telling the story of how Christianity first came to Scotland, out on its obscure western fringes. The culturally responsive medium was an amazing blend of John Bett’s oratorials; magical paintings of Iona, bath’d in it’s natural clean & clear light, by John Lowrie Morrison; the effortlessly breathtaking violin of Paul Anderson (MBE); & invocative wordsmithery from the Irish poet, Francey Devine.
When blended together in such an epic setting I definitely felt like I was actually in Iona, a remarkable suspension of disbelief I’d never quite experienc’d before. I mean, I’m nervous to go to Iona in person now, just so I won’t be disappointed after such an amazing depiction of it by the Iona: In The Footsteps of St Columba troupe.
This body, by the way, consisted of more folk than the aforemention’d quartet – Anderson was join’d on stage by a full band, while sitting at the back of the venue allow’d me to be in extremely close vicinity to a lady piper, who I watch’d swaying in anticipation just before her allocated role, into which she burst with a banshee wail of glory & began walking, bridally, towards the stage – absolutely glorious!
Words: Damo
Photos: Colin Wight
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