Celtic Connections

Well it's been a long time since I updated this blog.

Last Tuesday night I played the fantastic Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. My show was at the ABC, a great new venue in the centre of town. I was opening for my old Nashville friend Suzy Bogguss, plus Gretchen Peters and Matraca Berg who were doing a "in the round" style show. It was a wonderful evening. Suzy and I have been friends for a few years ever since she and The Felsons played the Big Big Country festival in Glasgow together. We've always stayed in touch and met up when I've been out in Nashville. I've also played a couple of shows with Gretchen in the past few years so it was nice to see her again.
It was my first show in quite a while and to be honest I was a little bit nervous as I was planning to play mostly songs from my forthcoming Whisky Hearts record which I hadn't played since I'd recorded them. I was put at ease as soon as I walked onstage by a fantastic Glasgow welcome. The crowd were really warm and good fun. I got a great reaction to the new material and especially one of the new album songs - Raining In Glasgow.
Before I went on Suzy had asked me if I was going to be playing any songs from my Droma Tapes record as it was one of her favourite records. I was very surprised and pleased to hear this so played Strangers Again for her. Thankfully she loved it!
I finished my set off with the song Years Ago which will be the first single from Whisky Hearts and this also got a great reaction.

It was nice to hear Suzy, Gretchen and Matraca singing together. I'd never heard Matraca live before and I was really impressed. She was good fun. It was also the first time I'd heard Suzy solo. She has such a beautiful voice it was so good to hear her play just with her acoustic guitar and no frills. Matraca had her husban Jeff Hanna from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with her and he also got up for a couple of songs
I think a great night was had by all.

I had to play the festival club at the Holiday Inn later on that night. Most of the artist do a short set there.
I thought I was doing a solo set of 20 minutes or so, but just before I started my best buddy Kev (McGuire) turned up at the side of the stage with his double bass (he'd been playing in town that night with Eddi Reader). Kev got up to join me for my set. When I started to play Strangers Again suddenly from the front of the stage Karine Polwart jumped up to sing with me which was a very pleasant surprise. Finally on the last track Eddi Readers drummer got up behind the stage drumkit. All very good fun.

Later on Eddi Reader asked me up onstage to sing on a Tom Waits song with her and her band.

A really special night for me all round.

That's all for now.

Whisky Hearts is still due out in May followed by the band tour. I'll keep you posted.
Cheers.
Dean