Celtic Connections 2024 draws to a close with a weekend of the Transatlantic Sessions at the Royal Concert Hall.

The Transatlantic Sessions, featuring Scottish favourites Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, are a core band of musicians at the top of their game playing along with guest folk performers. There’s a long-connected history between Scottish music and American folk music and country, and the sessions celebrate that crossover with a selection of Irish, Scottish and American artists.

This year the guest musicians included American country singer Carlene Carter, daughter of June Carter (Johnny Cash’s wife). As one of her set she played June’s song for Johnny ‘Ring of Fire.’  The Carter family had a huge impact on the American country music scene. They recorded from 1927 and influenced bluegrass, country, gospel and the 1960s folk revival. Carlene spoke on stage about her upbringing surrounded by country music and her own desire to keep up the family tradition.

Other guest artists included Lindsay Lou – described as ‘bluegrass roots intertwined with progressive Americana’ – who played from her new album Queen of Time. Ulster songwriter and singer Joshua Burnside and Gaelic singer Kim Carnie also had a set each. All were good, although Kim Carnie made an ill-judged crack against the English at one point which drew a muted audience response.

One of my favourite pieces was an instrumental called Lament to the Dutch Smuggler – a Shetland tune about a smuggler from the Netherlands who used to bring gin to the islands. The instrumental pieces are where you can really hear how on top form this band are.

Ailie Hunter
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