Review: Celtic Connections

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 08 Mar 18 - 04:16 AM

Jim, I don't know who you are....maybe a member? but your contributions are smart and very funny.
I'll probably be off soon, but you have been one of the best things about Mudcat.....Ake.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 08 Mar 18 - 04:10 AM

Guest North has summed up the condition of traditional/folk music admirably......the slow descent into oblivion.
All that we once loved and was meaningful in music and its emotional content will be lost if we cannot recognise the paucity of what is being presented to us by the establishment elite, who only see value in what brings celebrity.

In saying that Jim Knowledge makes some excellent points in his own inimitable way. :0}

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: peteglasgow
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 01:21 PM

i was at that court and spark gig and found it disappointing really - i thought the musicians were competent but i couldn't help judging each song on how much it was close to the original. there wasn't much spontaneity or improvisation. i wandered upstairs to get a closer look at the decorated ceiling - stunning art work by alisdair gray - while the band continued pleasantly enough downstairs. i've been to oran mor many times but not been up top before - happy enough with this exceptional good bar downstairs or the basement venue. where the following night i saw the Deslondes. bluesy, country folk from new orleans - i love a country band in a crowded responsive venue. anyway, the whole festival, oran mor, partick thistle and glasgow a great way to spend a few days

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,North
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 12:21 PM

some further opinions: would MB have re-arranged his home studio made recording for an orchestra, 20 years later? No, very little to suggest this would have happened.

Is there a trend from individualism toward collectivism in the music of the funded Scottish establishment? Yes, most definitely.

Is this healthy? Like getting hit by a falling piano kind of healthy.

Are expressions like Lawson's "every note was written by one man" cretinous in the extreme? Yes.

How do I feel generally about the 'trad' music scene? Largely dead, taken over by something shallow, happy clappy and, ultimately, boring.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 09:22 AM

There was an excellent, and by that I mean superb, concert from Celtic Connections broadcast last night on BBC Radio Scotland "Travelling Folk" from the Court and Spark Band paying songs from Joni Mitchell's album of the same name!!!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 08:28 AM

Before I go - I forgot to mention that I love bouzoukis!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 07:37 AM

folk is supposed to be "history"

It never has been and there is no reason why it should become so. It should be up to date and about contemporary issues and reflect contemporary technology and other musical influences as it always has while respecting and referencing historical traditions, stories, musical formats, song themes etc.

"Sanitising folkto appeal to popular culture"

Surely the popular appeal of the music is what made it 'folk' in the first place.

So much of this argument is about personal taste. I wouldn't go to see the Chilli Pipers if you paid me. But I know at least one person who has taken up learning the pipes as a result of seeing them.

I love fiddle music and have played for about 30 yrs (not always that well). My interest was forged by people like Dave Swarbrick and Peter Knight who both worked in tandem with other genres. I've now got a passionate enthusiasm for traditional fiddle music, Irish, Cajun, French, Cape Bretton but especially Scottish.

Bouzouikis v mandolins? They are different instruments for different jobs though there are some jobs that both are OK for. But mandolins don't do everything that a bouzouki do and vice-versa.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Allan Conn
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 07:14 AM

Santaci is absolutely spot on. It is plainly ludicrous to compare Bennett's work to the likes of the Spice Girls with the idea of chasing the dollar etc. Bennett's work is not really orientated to the mass commercial market. I don't think Ake has actually listened to any of his albums!!!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 06:10 AM

I `ad that Robbie McTavish, the well known folk archivist, in my cab the other day. `e was all done up in `is plaid, kilt and sporran, looking like an Edinburgh pox doctor`s clerk.
I said, " Morning Jock, you off to judge some `aggisses or something?"
`e said, " No Jim, get me to `eathrow please, I`ve gotta get home for the referendum."
I said, "I thought that was all done and dusted. Sturgeon said there would be no more independence nonsense."
`e said, "No, that`s all over. This one is a vote on the Celtic Connections that Mudcat is going on about. Do we want more pseudo, pretentious cacophony or more innovative, connective fusion presented as folk music? That`s the question and I don`t know where I stand at the moment!!".

Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Santaci
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 05:35 AM

It’s good to see that ‘fusion’ is now a sinister plot by the ‘academic elite’ to dumb down the music world. Even more hilarious that the work of Martyn Bennett, one of the most innovative and exciting musicians Scotland has produced, is being fingered as part of the process.

Sanitising folkto appeal to popular culture has been going on for ever (Lonnie Donegan, The Spinners) and is certainly an issue, but one big concert at an international festival that has had the rough edges taken off is not detracting from all the good songs and music being performed in other venues.

Listening to Ewan Mclennan or June Tabor solo is every bit as enriching as hearing Moving Hearts or the Peatbog Faeries at full blast. It’s not an either or (and one of the highlights for me this year was hearing the Peatbogs backing Vieux Farka Toure, where Malian songs were mixed up with Scottish tunes to fine effect).

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Ake
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 03:19 AM

You are quite wrong Joe, I like American roots music, contemporary singer songwriters(not all) Irish, some Pop and I usually have classical on in the car (I do a lot of driving).
I simply agree with Mick about "fusion", which I see as a tactic propagated by the academic musical elite(you know who they are....the "folk music lovies"), to create an effect which can be used to dilute traditional music and sanitise it for "popular culture".   Large audiences do not necessarily mean quality performance. (Spice Girls? Chilli Pipers?)

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 10:57 PM

I am grinning ear to ear here. Just how many people are up in arms about this one performance (which I have not seen), but the "uproar" it has created is wonderful, likewise all the posts here.

Johnny J is absolutely right, Celtic Connections is a brilliant event and no doubt will continue to be so. More venues need to fund such events.

I can't be bothered to scroll back up 5 pages or so, but whoever it was describing their like in music.. I am in total agreement. My taste ranges everything from Mozart, through 5 Finger Death Punch, a crap load of pop, roots ridden blues to folk/trad. I have respect for all. What I don't like is when someone tries to take one form and blend it with another. Folk especially as history is my bag and folk is supposed to be "history" I know I am being finicky.

But one thing I am adamant about is burning every bouzi or how the hell you spell it.. we have the mandolin, a far superior instrument.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Johnny J
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 05:13 PM

I enjoyed the concert on TV.
We don't know if Martyn would necessarily have wished the big orchestral treatment and spectacle but I suspect he would have been very proud.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 05:05 PM

Agreed Johnny J: perhaps a Mudelf could change the title of the thread to Review: Celtic Connections Grit Orchestra Concert at SSE Hydro.
From what I have read here and on Facebook, views of the concert are very polarised - loved it or loathed it. Among my friends the sizeable majority are in favour and this includes a good few, and myself, who were there on the night. And others have expressed their opinions of the TV broadcast on BBC 2: the latter in itself is a major breakthrough in terms of recognition of how important this concert was.
I was at the first Grit concert, the opening concert of Celtic Connections 2015, and described it then as one of the best concerts I have ever been to in my whole life (3-score and ten +!)
I did not enjoy the recent concert quite as much: yes, there were the spectacular bits with Danny McAskill and the various acrobats, which could only have been staged in a larger venue than the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (the venue for the 2015 concert), but the SSE Hydro, to my mind, was just TOO big: left you feeling disconnected from the orchestra.
It was a shame that Greg Lawson's impassioned speeches were NOT included in the TV broadcast: to me they were an integral part of the whole night, and might perhaps help to persuade the unbelievers what it was all about: a celebration of Martyn Bennett's life and work.
Despite my reservations, it WAS worth going to, and also watching on TV a week later.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Johnny J
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 04:43 PM

A couple of points.

The title is misleading. This discussion is not a review of Celtic Connections but only one concert.
Also, Celtic Connections is not and has never claimed to a "pure" trad or even a folk festival although it does feature many great exponents of these in several concerts too.

There are many other festivals which feature the so called "real thing". Smaller and less known ones, admittedly, but it's still a minority interest whether we like it or not.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:53 PM

I think this is just a waste of everyone's time - Ake is obviously an expert on folk music and no one else is entitled to an opinion on the quality or value of music. I'm on the side of the thousands of people in that hall and no doubt the thousands who enjoyed it on TV.

There are loads of great bands who never get TV coverage in all genres of music - just because those I have a particular love for are not shown on TV and stuff I am not so keen on is shown I don't insult the people who like those bands - I don't insult the music or those who have spent many hours composing, arranging, rehearsing, learning their instruments

To be honest it is up to the BBC what they show - they made a good call on this occasion - there may have been stuff I'd have liked more, there would definitely be stuff I'd like less but in the end it was a hugely important concert for the festival and therefore I see no reason why the BBC should not have shown it. Complain to the BBC if you must but don't try to tell the rest of us what we should or shouldn't enjoy. I'm sure I would hate some of the music you like but I wouldn't say you shouldn't be given the opportunity to hear it or see it on TV if it were shown

I'm out of here now - just as well there are probably no non folkies looking in on here as they'd be appalled by the narrow mindedness of some of the contributors and it would do nothing to attract people to the music

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Santaci
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 01:07 PM

Some of the tunes in the tuneless racket were traditional you know.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 12:53 PM

"It was a tuneless racket and very pretentious into the bargain, "
IN YOUR OPINION.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 12:39 PM

Apologies, that was me and apologies to Gallus Moll....."gingers" can be sheep too" :0)
"ginger sheep"

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 12:22 PM

It was a tuneless racket and very pretentious into the bargain, but the most disgraceful thing is that it was presented on national TV, on Scotland's premier Celtic and Traditional music platform purporting to be what it obviously was not......tuneful, entertaining, or anything to do with folk music.

There are dozens of talented musicians and groups who never even get a sniff of a large TV audience. It must be extremely frustrating to these people to find themselves coming second to this "lovey" drivel.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 11:22 AM

"the modern phenomenon of psycho-trad and the real thing?"
Why don't you just listen to your "real thing", and leave others to listen to - and presumably even enjoy - "psycho-trad", without them having to suffer tedious, uninformed abuse from you.
One of the stupidest, most pointless discussions on Mudcat for a long time.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 10:20 AM

Yes perfectly put Will. Clearly Ake thinks he is the sole arbiter of taste. Fortunately most folk enthusiasts do not take such a narrow view and are open to a wide range of music.

I think the discussion has probably run its course. Ake thinks he is right, most of us think he is wrong and extremely narrow minded in his taste. That is his prerogative, I have friends who only love trad and those who hate it but that is their choice. I don't insult them or tell them they are wrong

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: gillymor
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 09:38 AM

Nicely put, Will.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 08:23 AM

We're not congratulating ourselves, you silly man - we're in agreement on a fundamental opinion about music. Obviously not your opinion, but who cares. I've been making music for over 50 years, and my views are as valid as yours. I've played music of all sorts, both professionally and otherwise, and never played anything I wasn't enthused about.

Who gives a toss about what you call psycho-trad and "the real thing"? All that matters is what sounds good to the individual - and every one of us is an individual - that we believe in what we play, and that we play to the best of our abilities. That's the real thing. All the rest is, as you put it, pish.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,ake
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 07:55 AM

That wis me, for anybody that husnae guessed.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 07:51 AM

would you guys no' be better to stop congratulating one another on the bouquet of the pish ye talk and start addressin' the contradictions between the modern phenomenon of psycho-trad and the real thing?

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 06:53 AM

"I think Captain Swing is confusing fusion with development."

Not at all Mick Lowe, I chose my words carefully. There a plenty of examples of music form developing by fusion.

"You also got one thing almost right, the one thing that should be banned from all Western European music is the bouzouki."

What nonsense! There are so many counters to this I'm spoilt for choice.

I'll leave it to Martin Carthy who knows a thing or two about all this:

"Folk music is not an archive. If you see it as that, it becomes like a butterfly in a glass case. Folk music has to live and breathe. I'm not interested in heritage – this stuff is alive, we must claim it, use it."

"Every instrument which plays a melody will do different things to that tune, and I've become interested in this style which is basically playing the song itself on the instrument."

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Allan Conn
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 06:12 AM

Well said both of you! Thought this was an interesting short film. You can click on a tab where Greg Lawson (the conductor and orchestral arranger) is talking just before the initial performance of Grit in 2015. Talking about what he was trying to do and why he was doing it.

http://www.martynbennett.com/A015.html

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 04:14 AM

Well said, Joe G. Long live variety, combinations of genres, and adventure and experimentation in music.

I saw the great Michael McGoldrick at a concert in Sussex some months ago. Wonderful, wonderful playing on pipes and flutes - with a most eclectic and exhilarating repertoire. 50+ years ago, I was thrilled beyond measure to hear the guitar stuff the Davy Graham brought us. Same feeling.

It's possible to love the old AND get to grips with the new.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 04:02 AM

I'm getting a bit tired of being described as a pseud!!. I'm a music lover - I enjoy many different genres and open minded to others. Those I particularly adore include Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Finzi, Pink Floyd, Renaissance, Miles Davis, Arun Ghosh, John Tams, Jez Lowe, Tickled Pink, Cara Dillon, Treacherous Orchestra, Eliza Carthy, Runrig, Warsaw Village Band, Sailif Keita, a wide range of Eastern European, African and Middle Eastern music and of course Martyn Bennett. I also enjoy a fair bit of trad. Because I appreciate a wide range of music does that make me, and those like me who love music without borders or constraints, a pseud? I don't think so. Perhaps when we can have a discussion without insulting other people's musical tastes and name calling then we can move on to something more constructive

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Santaci
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 03:29 AM

But, Mick Lowe, both the bouzouki and bagpipe were first described in the eastern Med / near east area, so maybe we should stick with the Carnyx and nothing else. (Johnny Moynahan, wasn't it?)

"It wis produced and promoted for an elite group of pseuds." No, it was one of the BIG events that can only really happen at big festivals, not to everyone's taste but every bit as relevant to the tradition as a few grumbling old men sitting in a corner singing for themselves.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,ake
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 02:20 AM

Well Gallus, ah know thit you're beautiful, talented and an all round good egg, an' you know thit ah'm no the worst ootae a bad bunch, so we should be able tae haud diffrint opinions on the direction o' the music withoot fa'in oot?
Whit makes ye think ah don't "understaun" whit the pantomime in the SEC wis aw aboot?.....Ahm no as stupit as you seem tae think, it wis a "production" as opposed to real in yer belly traditional music.
It wis produced and promoted for an elite group of pseuds, a group who have all but taken over traditional music and its presentation in the media.
Where this pseudo- artistic faction go a section of our young people follow like sheep.....an ah don't mean you, for have yit tae encounter a "ginger" sheep.    Love A.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:52 PM

I think I have a different understanding/definition of fusion when I said it has no place in folk music. There was a good programme on BBC Alba in a "psuedo pub setting", the name of which I couldn't even begin to try and spell let alone pronounce. Had some brilliant acts though the camera tracking got wearisome at times. Every so often they would have what I call fusion music, bands trying to combine the musical cultures of two different continents.

I think Captain Swing is confusing fusion with development. You also got one thing almost right, the one thing that should be banned from all Western European music is the bouzouki. It has has much place in our music than the bagpipes do in a Mozart opera. I can't recall the guy's name now who is responsible for introducing it into folk music but I saw an interview on t.v. where he said it was his greatest regret. They should all be collected up and burnt in one big ritual ceremony.

Purely by chance I came across an album called "Rubber Folk", produced I think by Mike Harding it was a bunch of folk artists including John Tamm and Ralph McTell covering the Beatles' Rubber Soul Album. Interesting and very good in parts but it doesn't make it folk music.

Okay..that should set a few more cats amongst the pigeons...

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:32 PM

Gallus Moll, I really ( completely really in every sense of the word 'really'), could not have said it better myself. Well done!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:05 PM

Dear Ake -
gggrrrr!!!! How come MA opinion wisnae includit in yer straw poll?
Um Ah no wan o yer freens / aquaintances?!!!
Ah telt ye way back near the tap o this thread that jist cos ye dinna like summat disnae mean ithers mauna -- ye are entitled tae yer ain opeenion, but sae am ah an ah hiv tae say ah enjoyed the production!
An' ah live in this piping area tae, hiv done fer nigh on 53 years..... an' as ye weel ken ah sing, play a bittie fiddle, dae Burns stuff, run folk events....ah ken a wee bittie aboot the genre.
Sae we shud agree tae differ - Ah'll no' drag ye tae a Greg Lawson / Grit orchestra event (tho I do think you should be open minded to give it a try some time?) but ye shudnae disparage sumpin' an' try tae pit ither fowk aff it jist cos ye dinna like / unnerstaun' it!!!
Love, Gallus

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 01:55 PM

Perhaps the best that could be said of the offending televised concert, regardless of its quality, is that its ticket sales provided the revenue to fund some of the good things that happened at Celtic Connections?

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 12:47 PM

As Santaci said it probably didn't come over as well in a broadcast - which is true of a fair bit of music to be honest - but I am not sure that your 30 friends are necessarily a structured representative sample - I'd tend to go on the reaction of the thousands of people in the audience. It wasn't perfect but to say it turns CC into a bad joke is hyperbole of Brexit bus sized proportions!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 12:15 PM

Well, I've done a quick straw poll amongst my friends and workmates. about thirty so far who have seen a bit of the pantomime. Not one thought the music "listenable", not one sat through the whole performance and this is a big piping area.

Martyn may have been an excellent musician, that is not the point, the whole arrangement was dire, had nothing to do with Celtic or traditional music and has turned Celtic Connections Which was and should be a showpiece, into a bad joke.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 12:14 PM

Well, I've done a quick straw poll amongst my friends and workmates. about thirty so far who have seen a bit of the pantomime. Not one thought the music "listenable", not one sat through the whole performance and this is a big piping area.

Martyn may have been an excellent musician, that is not the point, the whole arrangement was dire, had nothing to do with Celtic or traditional music and has turned Celtic Connections Which was and should be a showpiece, into a bad joke.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Santaci
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 10:41 AM

I saw the Grit concert at CC2015 - wonderful in the Concert Hall - but didn't manage to get to this one. On the TV it seemed a bit forced and I watched until Hallaig, then switched off. Maybe it didn't translate well in a broadcast, but IMO it didn't come over very well (and the stunt cyclist looked a bit embarrased). The album Bothy Culture is a classic and deserves all the praise it gets. The Grit Orchestra and Greg Lawson in particular deserve much credit for keeping the flame alive.

But this - "The shambles at Celtic Connections was analogous to the direction of today's society, change simply for the sake of it, thoughtless, destructive and if we don't regain our senses, unstoppable." - is laughable.

I've seen Martyn Bennett doing dancy pipes and laptop stuff in large venues and playing solo in a small club. He was an outstanding musician, hugely respectful of the tradition and also aware of the potential for innovation.

Celtic Connection has always looked for new things (did anyone else love the Heritage des Celtes in 1996?), but comparing it to the decline of society is surely a harrumph too far.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: gillymor
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 09:17 AM

When did a ballad like "The House Carpenter" become "static" and not dynamic, on what date was the official "folk" version encased in amber and what committee or academic decided on that particular version played and/or sung in that particular manner? That kind of stilted, authoritarian thinking takes the folk out of folk music.

There are probably millions of musicians that are more proficient than either the individual members of the Beatles and Stones were/are including quite a few teenagers but how many of them will turn out the wide range of wonderful music that those two groups did?

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:54 AM

From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:56 AM

"Queen were 'more proficient'than The Stones or The Beatles"
?????
Words fail me.

Promises promises

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 08:20 AM

Guest 07:56

I am speaking as a massive Beatles fan here and I like the Stones quite a lot as well but neither band could be classified as technically great musicians. They were extremely resourceful musicians who made the absolute best of their talents. Through their imagination, creativity and innovation the Beatles music, in my opinion, sits well above all of the other bands of the era.

But I can still appreciate that Queen are technically more accomplished even though their music does little for me. I quite like Bohemian Rhapsody though.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:56 AM

"Queen were 'more proficient'than The Stones or The Beatles"
?????
Words fail me.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:48 AM

'No' not 'know'!!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:47 AM

In my view it is important that the source material survives but I see know problems at all mixing it up with other musical forms - one of the most exciting things I have ever heard was what an artist who went under the name of Broadcaster did with samples from the original Radio Ballads. Chumbawamba also did wonderful things with samples of folk songs on their CD 'Readymades'. The more we can get folk music, in any form, out into the wider community the more likely we are to attract new people into discovering the source material and maybe even becoming folkies themselves.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:12 AM

"No fusion" - what nonsense!

Without fusion there would be no Shetland Music, Cajun & Zydeco, Cape Breton Music, Ragtime. In Celtic music there would be no mandolins,banjos ( OK, that would probably be a positive), bouzoukis etc, etc. O'Carolan tunes would be outlawed.

Traditional music positively thrives on fusion. I imagine that there would have been more fusion in the past if economics and invention had allowed more people to travel more easily and further.

The idea of keeping traditions discrete is a spurious affectation of (parts of) the folk revival and these days the "we've always done it this way" brigade.

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 06:50 AM

hahahaahh!!!!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 06:29 AM

Surely we are forgetting that folk music must only be performed in a way approved by the folk police or Ewan McControlfreak!!!

Subject: RE: Review: Celtic Connections
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 05:43 AM

Well said Guest Joe G!