Transatlantic Sessions is one of those TV programmes which you may have seen if you spend any time watching BBC Four, BBC Alba, or (I guess) BBC Scotland.
Jerry Douglas hosts a variety of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, the US and elsewhere as they record – well, sessions – which are then broadcast in a very lush manner. Anyone and everyone seems to get involved.
As Celtic Connections has just taken place in Glasgow, a Transatlantic Sessions “band” was put together and last night in the Royal Festival Hall was the last night of their short tour. I got a late ticket when they put the Choir seats on sale. As is obvious from the picture above (and below), that meant I was sitting behind the band. Fortunately, the sound was fine with the RFH thoughtfully placing some speakers pointing backwards.
The set-up was fun in that rarely were all 17 singers and musicians playing simultaneously, so there were a couple of sofas just below where I was sitting for everyone not playing in a particular song to “hang out.”
So who else was there? Well lots of people.
Cara Dillon; fresh from winning the Best Album award at the BBC Folk Awards.
Dan Tyminski; the “voice” of George Clooney in O Brother Where Art Thou, and who is part of Alison Krauss and Union Station (when it’s not on “hiatus”).
Sara Watkins; part of Nickel Creek who I once saw play live at work, and now performing solo.
Eddi Reader; once of Fairground Attraction fame.
And plenty more.
Lots of original work and more than a few covers. I fear that I’ll be looking out a few CDs in the coming weeks.