Shetland-Music.com

Shetland was once again well represented at this years' annual Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, the biggest of its kind in Scotland, indeed perhaps the world

Shetland fiddle player Jenna Reid made a number of acclaimed appearances at the festival both in her own right and as a member of 'Dochas'.

On Thursday 25th January she appeared in the main auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of the 'Showcase Scotland' concert, and again in the Strathclyde Suite of the same venue on Sunday 28th January along with 'Fernhill' from Wales and Scottish band, 'Breabach', another 'Showcase Scotland' event.

Jenna also made an appearance with Scottish band Dochas in the Old Fruitmarket as part of the Phil Cunningham and Friends show on Thursday 18th January.

Chris Stout had a high profile presence at the festival, most notably on Saturday 20th January in the City Halls during a concert entitled 'Scotland's Music Live', when he and Catriona McKay fronted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, performing a specially commissioned piece composed by Chris for the occasion. Also on the same bill performing with the SSO were Gaelic singer James Graham, singer songwriter Karine Polwart and the legendary Michael Marra.

Chris of course was also part of the 'Fiddlers Bid International' concert in the Royal Concert Hall main auditorium, reviewed elsewhere in this section.

One of Shetland' most acclaimed fiddle players, Catriona Macdonald, also featured during the festival. She appeared as part of the 'String Sisters' concert in the Old Fruitmarket on Thursday 1st February, along with other notable female musicians including American's Liz Knowles and Liz Carroll, Ireland's Mairaed Ni Mhaonaigh (Altan), Annbjorg Lien from Norway and Emma Hardelin from Sweden.

Catriona was one of the original instigators of String Sisters, a powerful gathering of female fiddle stars, as far back as the 2000 Celtic Connections festival and the group had come together at this years event to lauch a live CD and DVD recorded during a sellout tour of Norway in 2005.

Catriona also appeared in a concert at the St Andrew's in the Square venue, alongside Annbjorg Lien (fiddle) and Christine Hanson (cello)

Shetland's exiled singing sensation Astrid Williamson (ex Goya Dress), originally from Scalloway, also appeared at the City Halls on the same bill as Lloyd Cole (ex 'Lloyd Cole & the Commotions') while Paul Jennings, another musical exile, appeared in the new Glasgow venue the Classic Grand, along with musical cohort Fraser Stone, fronting an eight piece band performing their 2006 'New Voices' commission 'SJP Voyager'. Paul also appeared on drums as part of piper Fred Morrisons band in the Old Fruitmarket on Saturday 29th January, supporting Salsa Celtica'.

Aly Bain maintained his regular high profile attendance at the festival co-hosting the now regular Celtic Connections feature concert 'Transatlantic Sessions' with dobro genius Jerry Douglas in the main auditorium of the Royal Concert Hall on Sunday 4th February. Among those taking part were Rosanne Cash, The Wailin Jennys', Bruce Mosky, Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, Alison Brown and Michael McGoldrick.

And last, but certainly not least, was another of the busiest Shetlander's at this years festival - Kevin Henderson - who made appearances with Fiddlers Bid, Boys of the Lough and Session A9 throughout the duration of the festival.

However you want to view it, it was once again a pretty amazing participation from a group of islands as small as Shetland is.