Glasgow Letter
Film G Awards
Friday February 9 will be the evening of the 10th annual Film G Awards - the night when the Gaelic community don their glad rags and descend upon the Old Fruitmarket to celebrate Gaelic film-makers and cheer the nominees and winners of all the categories across all ages.
The competition began in 2008 with the intention of recruiting up and coming talent for BBC Alba.
Since then, the competition has received more than 400 entries and many of the competitors have gone on to have successful careers in Gaelic media. This year highlights will be shown on BBC Alba for the first time.
Good luck to all the competitors.
Clydebank cèilidhs return for 2018
The first Clydebank ceilidh of 2018 got off to a great start with two of the association’s members celebrating birthdays.
Katie MacDonald turned 90 on December 20 and her good friend Sydney MacGougan was 92 on December 31.
During the interval, both ladies cut the birthday cake and received flowers in appreciation of their dedication to the association.
Mark Wylie, of Drakes of Hazard fame, chaired the ceilidh. The singers were Alison Wood, Calum Ross, Linda MacCallum, Colin Fisher, and Ian McLean. The accordionist was Willie Scott, the piper Robert Wood, and the accompanist was Kirsteen Grant.
A great night was had by all to kick off 2018.
Celtic Connections under way
This time next week I will be able to report on the first of this year’s Celtic Connections shows.
As usual, I include a small selection of shows below. Please bear in mind that there are dozens of other shows that I could not practically include so head to the festival’s website to find details of all the other wonderful music on offer.
What’s on at Celtic Connections
Thursday January 18: Celtic Connections 25th anniversary concert in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 7.30pm.
Friday January 19: Iain MacFarlane Trio and Kim Carnie in St Andrews in the Square at 7.30pm.
Saturday January 20: Skerryvore and Wee Banjo 3 in the Barrowland Ballroom at 7.30pm. Wednesday January 24: Dougie MacLean and Yvonne Lyon in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 7.30pm.
Thursday January 25: Binneas nam Bàn in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 8pm. Friday January 26: Òrain nan Gàidheal, Songs of the Gael featuring the BBC SSO and special guests in the main auditorium of the Royal Concert Hall at 7.30pm.
Friday January 26: Peatbog Faeries with special guests in the Old Fruitmarket at 8pm. Wednesday January 31: Mary Ann Kennedy and Luar na Lubre in the Old Fruitmarket at 8pm.
Friday February 2: Skipinnish and Cruinn in the Pavilion Theatre at 7.30pm.
Friday February 2: Elephant Sessions and Notify in the Old Fruitmarket at 9.30pm. Saturday February 3: Fergie MacDonald, The Ceilidh King in the Pavilion Theatre at 7.30pm.
Saturday February 3: Tide Lines with Cassie and Maggie in St Luke’s at 7.30pm. Sunday February 4: Celtic Connections closing party with Mànran and The Young Folk.
Pub scene
Park Bar
Friday: Beinn Lee. Saturday: Scott Harvey. Sunday: Beinn Lee.
Islay Inn
Friday January 19: Black Velvet. Saturday January 20: Deep River.