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root salad 12 shots from the fRoots Rocket Launcher a dozen leading questions to fire at Mary Ann Kennedy
If you were given the funds to organise a concert bill, who would the artists be?
The Voice Squad (how cool is it that they’re back!), Les Mystères des Voix Bul- gares, Serre L’Écoute (Québec), Bobby McFerrin, Connie Mhary Mhicí (Donegal), Iarla Ó’Lionáird, Straight No Chaser (of the YouTube 12 Days) and a massed Gaelic choir from back home. Yup, instruments not required.
Which totally obscure record do you most treasure and would like more people to know about?
For a wean brought up in Highland Glasgow – has to be Highland Voyage – an early ’60s album charting a trip ‘doon the watter’ aboard a ‘puffer’, one of the wee cargo boats that used to ply their trade down the Clyde coast. It features the origi- nal TV cast of Para Handy – Duncan MacRae, Roddy McMillan and John Grieve – as cap- tain, mate and engineer. Gems such as Sandy At The Mod (And Why He Never Won A Prize), Maggie Ann (from Clachnabrochan) and the Crinan Canal (and its attractions vs oceangoing merchant marine) are essential listening to under- stand the West of Scotland Highland psyche.
What was the best live gig you ever saw?
The great Russian pianist, Vladimir Horovitz at London’s South Bank, playing his farewell tour in the mid-’80s. I was still at college, and my pal Alan Darling and I paid more than we could afford for the tickets and headed south on the train to London for the gig. It was like a whole musical world distilled down into one room and one man for the night. His play- ing still sang, even in his last years.
And what was the worst?
The gigs that offend me the most are those that are obviously shambolic – but then Emperor’s Clothes Syndrome kicks in and everyone says how good they were because it’s important or useful some- where down the line that they be per- ceived as such.
What was your own best ever gig?
Scalpay Village Hall with the band Cliar in the late ’90s. After two aborted attempts to get there with the weather, it was a day from heaven – borrowed coun- cil minibus, a barbecue and Charlie Chan jokes from guitarist Chaz Stewart. But that was about the memory of the whole day and gig. The other contender would be Lasair Dhè at Glasgow Cathedral, 2000. A reworking of the Gaelic psalms for massed choirs and the band in front of a sell-out crowd – it had taken a couple of years, much wailing and gnashing of teeth and several performances to bring
it all together with commissions from Eilidh MacKenzie, Kenna Campbell, Blair Douglas, contemporary composer Stuart MacRae, myself and others. But the end result was glory.
And what was your worst?
Several gigs a few years ago when I went through a long phase of ‘The Fear’ and my hands would shake uncontrollably on the harp. I’ve never really gone back to playing solo since. Bruce Molsky was a very understanding musical partner at the time.
What’s the professional achievement you’re most proud of?
I suppose it’ll be when we get the final part of The Campbells family project out – the family are gigging, the album is out – and the eventual biography and music col- lection Fonn, out in the summer, will be the culmination of about five years’ slog from a large and dedicated team. I have nothing but admiration now for anyone who writes a book!
What’s the most embarrassing thing you ever did in public?
Dressed up as a pint of Guinness as a PR stunt to publicise the National Mòd (Gaelic festival) coming to Glasgow in 1988. I had to be picked up by Big Jimmy – a guy on stilts, outsize kilt and CU Jimmy
bunnet. Fortunately, all that could be seen of me were my legs. Nice legs though…
Which song or piece of music would you most like to have written yourself?
David Francey’s Saints And Sinners – thanks, Aaron Jones and Claire Mann.
Who was the first musician or singer you were inspired to emulate?
My mam and her family – I used to lie in bed as a kid listening to them rehearse in the front room, and really hankered after a group of my own, even then.
Who was the last-but-one musician or singer you lusted after?
I still work with him from time to time so I couldn’t possibly say – but let’s just say my appreciation of the silver foxes is well-known…
If you had a rocket launcher, who or what would be the target, and why?
Well, you could probably hazard a guess right now…
Mary Ann Kennedy is equally well known as a gaelic singer/ harp player and broadcaster. She co-presents World On 3 on BBC Radio 3 and until its recent axing by BBC Scotland, the fabulous Global Gather- ing (which may explain her last answer!).
www.maryannkennedy.co.uk
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