Mary Gauthier, Tron Theatre, Glasgow

12:35am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: **** Mary Gauthier's opening gambit is: "If you're feeling good, hold on to it. Here comes the bruising." So we knew we were in for an evening of reassuringly miserable pleasure.

Genticorum/Liadan, Oran Mor, Glasgow

12:35am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: **** Quebec's Minister of Culture was present to support her countrymen, but could not fail to have been impressed by openers, Liadan. Six Irish girls playing traditional music and making it sound very fresh indeed. The multi-part harmonies on closer P Stands For Paddy were spot-on.

Transatlantic Sessions

12:34am Monday 2nd February 2009

Location: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Star rating: ***** If you had to choose only one show to see at this festival, this would be it. With a cast of thousands, it captured the spirit of the event like no other.

La Bottine Souriante/Julie Fowlis

12:33am Monday 2nd February 2009

Location: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Star rating: ***** The Gaelic musical tradition has a genuine rising star on its hands in Julie Fowlis. Her second album, Cuilidh, was picked up by Radio 2 and reissued with her version of the Beatles' Blackbird included as an additional track. I challenge anybody to name a better interpretation of McCartney's song, whatever the language.

James Yorkston Classic Grand, Glasgow

12:33am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: *** The shadow of John Martyn hung heavy over the Classic Grand on Saturday night with both James Yorkston and, earlier, Blue Rose Code paying tribute to his influence. That inspiration is easy to hear in Blue Rose Code, an outfit whose youth belies the maturity of their sound. Tight melodies and jazzy flourishes make their sun-kissed sound one to listen out for.

The Treacherous Orchestra, ABC, Glasgow

12:32am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: *** For an ensemble that has played together only a handful of times, The Treacherous Orchestra managed to draw a huge crowd to the ABC on Saturday night. Word about this 12-piece supergroup is clearly out.

Mor Karbasi, St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow

12:31am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: **** Mor Karbasi had to be especially good to follow her opening act, the Quebecois scallywags Galant, tu perds ton temps, with their lovely five-part harmonies, exuberant singing and suitcase percussion - and she was.

Cherryholmes, St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow

12:31am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: **** Taking some of the subjects of their songs rather literally, the Cherryholmes offspring appear to have found the ideal antidote to being cheated and heartbroken and meeting liars, thieves and general sinners: they practise.

Judy Collins, City Hall, Glasgow

12:30am Monday 2nd February 2009

Star rating: **** Even in a career as long and eventful as hers has been, Judy Collins won't have experienced shoutin' up a closie before she began her debut appearance at Celtic Connections.

Christine Tobin and Sophie Bancroft

12:01am Friday 30th January 2009

Celtic Connections resumed its Tron Theatre programme with a double bill featuring two singers who, at one time, might have presented two sets of jazz standards.

Nanci Griffith

12:01am Friday 30th January 2009

Thirty-one years down the line, it would have been foolish to expect Nanci Griffith to take any risks, but did it really have to be this safe?

Rambling Boys Reunion

12:01am Friday 30th January 2009

Resplendent in bunnet, Glasgow exile Enoch Kent reflected for a moment as he prepared to introduce a fellow Rambling Boy to the Royal Concert Hall audience, writes Donald MacPhail.

Martha Wainwright

12:01am Thursday 29th January 2009

In a mesmeric concert on Tuesday, Martha Wainwright, alone except for a couple of guitars, pulled off a triumph by creating a sense of intimacy in the cavernous hall.

Aly Bain, Ale Moller and Bruce Molsky, with Strung

12:01am Thursday 29th January 2009

Paisley-born guitarist Tony McManus introduced the Ottawa Valley’s April Verch on fiddle, Doug Cox on dobro and bassist Cody Walters to Celtic Connections, writes Phil Trotter.

Kate Rusby and Kris Drever

12:01am Thursday 29th January 2009

This was my third exposure to Kris Drever at this Festival, and he just keeps getting better.

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