Mat Martin at Celtic Connections

Mat Martin

These images were taken at the Old Fruitmarket venue Glasgow during the Celtic Connections festival. This fun venue has a wide wooden balcony strung with coloured lights and is one of my favourite venues. The Hobopop Collective were supporting Capercaille - and were having fun on stage. The lighting was just right (of which as a music photographer you have no control!) Guess I enjoy the challenge of it. These are some my best music shots.

Emeli Sande at the Oran Mor

I heard Adele (Emeli Sande) sing at the Oran Mor Glasgow - she has a powerful soul voice and impressive songs. She sang with her band and also at the piano. She sang a wonderful cover of a Nina Simone song. Emeli has a Publishing deal with EMI, and her co-written song Diamond Rings was nominated for best song at the Mobo awards and reached number six in the charts. She has also written a song for Cheryl Cole. She was exciting performer to take photos of - and several have been used for promotions. Thanks Adele.

fUn Edinbugh high street - festival

Umbella dance at festival

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2007

While there are many fun things such as the Speigel tent and more, a festival needs to evolve and Edinburgh has been going since the 40s! More streets available for new musicians to perform – say blocked of streets near Princes street with a central place to buy their cds – similar to Montreal’s Blues and Jazz festival. The sun casts late rays across the High Street blinding anyone walking towards the castle. Playing any festival is a buzz. There’s that exaggerated feel to it all – heightened senses. Many eccentic and colourful street performers of every nation brought together for thsi biggest of festivals - from Australian scouts to north Americana Indians. I had the best time and here’s hoping for sun and fun shows next year. See ya there 2008!

The colourful Massia Warriors at Mugdock music festival 2008 - who managed to smile their way through the Scottish rain !

Daughter smiles!

Holidays 2007 - surfing portgual coast.

Rock band in Glasgow and Paisley.

My son Ross with his rock band in Glasgow and Paisley 2007 - he is the bass player on the far right. 

John Kielty enthralled by musical impresario Cameron Mackintosh

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Here John Kielty is enthralled with chat by musical impresario Cameron Mackintosh at the after party of the Sundowe musical premier in Inverness.
The Sundowe went into rehearsals in October 2007 and was performed in Eden Court theatre Inverness in November 2007. It was produced by Eden Court and the Cameron Mackintosh foundation. In 2007 John Kielty moved to San Francisco.

THE *SUNDOWE - Eden Court Inverness

THE*SUNDOWE  - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, 30th Nov 2007

The Sundowe is a musical written by Edinburgh writers and performers John, James and Gerry Kielty. Originally written as a radio show, and later as a television pilot, The Sundowe eventually became the basis for a modern musical.

The storyline centres on their street busking being interrupted by..... vampires, the local council and the return of dead souls. The Sundowe spins a spooky tale of ghostly happenings and betrayals and never takes itself too seriously. It is set to the backdrop of the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, Greyfriars graveyard and the Scottish parliament. The musical is part comedy, part pathos and with references to modern Scottish politics, Greyfriars Bobby, street busking and Scottish history.

Busking high street Edinburgh Festival

Patrick Watson @ King Tuts 19th Sept 2007

Bright Shiny Lights. Indie 4 piece from Montreal played King Tuts - were relaxed and having fun. The Patrick Watson band offer lots of flowing space and fun theatrical percussion with their music. They used anything at hand – a balloon, a jacket over the guitar, effects pedals, more...the band mixed things up with light fun rhythms, echoing each other…. No rules! No genre. Having fun with it, with playful percussion, varied soundscapes, and expressive vocals. Coming out of Montreal’s fervent music scene, the band has a new album out ‘Close to Paradise.’ You sense they come out of a rich heritage of blues, jazz and more and shake it up to make it their own.