LAU...
There are few finer sounds in acoustic music than the mind-bogglingly inventive Lau in full flight. The
thrilling combination of dynamic Scottish fiddle player Aidan O’Rourke, Orkney singer and guitarist Kris
Drever and token English accordion magician Martin Green draws on jazz, classical and rock almost as
much as it does on the Scottish tradition and almost from the first time they played together in public a
couple of years ago, Lau mesmerised audiences in unusual ways - their Live album perfectly showcasing
their appetite for spontaneity. All three juggle other intriguing projects (Drever is an acclaimed solo artist)
but Lau is their main focus and their new album Arc Light – follow-up to the award-winning Lightweights
& Gentlemen – should be with us in the spring.
JEANA LESLIE & SIOBHAN MILLER...
It’s been a whirlwind rise for the young Scots duo who combine instrumental versatility (and dancing!)
TIC CONNECTIONS
with sublime harmonies and heart-rending performances of traditional songs, like their calling card The
Burning Of Auchendoon. They’ve made great strides since winning last year’s BBC Young Folk Award,
surprising everyone with the maturity of last year’s debut album In A Bleeze, which has received plenty
CEL
of airplay both in Scotland and England (where they’ve been championed by Mike Harding) earning
them the award for Up And Coming Artist Of The Year at the MG ALBA Awards and a nomination in the
Horizon category at this year’s BBC Folk Awards
MALINKY...
Predictions that the departure

of Karine Polwart in 2005 would signal the end for Malinky proved well
wide of the mark as Karine’s replacement Fiona Hunter quickly asserted her own individual style. Fiona
was shortlisted as Singer of the Year at last year’s Scottish Traditional Music Awards, while Malinky were
nominated as Band of the Year and their new album Flower & Iron has already had rave reviews. It’s 10
years since they formed and won the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections to set them
on their way so, although only two original members - Steve Byrne and Mark Dunlop – remain from
that line-up, it’s a triumphant return for them
BASSEKOU KOUYATE...
The growing reputation of Celtic Connections as a trailblazing forum for some of the best music of the
wider world is enhanced immeasurably after luring the inestimable Bassekou Kouyate to Glasgow. The
Malian master of the ngoni – a traditional West African lute – emerged from productive collaborations
with Toumani Diabate, Taj Mahal and Ali Farka Toure to establish himself as one of world music’s
brightest stars after the deliciously rhythmic and infectious Segu Blue album seduced critics (it won
Album Of The Year at last year’s BBC3 Awards For World Music). High profile festival appearances with
his band Ngoni ba also confirm him as a great live act.
TIM O’BRIEN...
The magic of Tim O’Brien is that you don’t quite know what he’s going to pull out of his considerable
bag of tricks next. And neither, seemingly, does he. An instinctive performer of vintage West Virginian
stock, his background in the bluegrass, country and folk traditions which he laced into the band Hot
Rize has now been adapted to incorporate seemingly every musical style on the planet in his ubiquitous
solo forays and a penchant for unscheduled collaborations. His jamboree of styles, ranging from the
American tradition to his Irish ancestry, is fully represented by his excellent recent solo album Chameleon
- including the show-stopper Get Out There And Dance.
SHOOGLENIFTY...
Many have tried to describe the explorative fusion adventures of Shooglenifty – and many have failed.
Expressions like “progressive Celtic music from Scotland”, “acid croft rock” and “hypno-folkadelic ambient
trad” have all been used but the band, who formed in Edinburgh around 15 years ago, continue to defy
description, maintaining their unique textures. Based around the charismatic fiddle playing of Angus
R. Grant, a compelling gift for infectious grooves and a fearless embrace of technology, they’ve played
all over the world, including a memorable set at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, absorbing multifarious
influences into their individual instrumental arrangements. Most recent album Troots even features Inuit
throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis.
Click on any ALBUM COVER to buy now
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