Transatlantic Sessions Usher Hall Edinburgh 6th February 2023 Review
Image credit: Gaëlle Beri
Transatlantic Sessions was at the Usher Hall Edinburgh tonight, and If you are not familiar with Transatlantic Sessions then the best way to describe them is a collaboration of live performances from various leading musicians from both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate folk, bluegrass and country music in all its myriad forms, which often weave in and out of each other due to shared cultural histories. With artists from Scotland, Ireland, England and North America on one stage together the programme is always going to be varied and full of surprises. The focus is not just on the established names in music, as Transatlantic Sessions has established a highly respected name for showcasing new and emerging music talents too.
The format for Transatlantic Sessions is pretty much that of an all-star house band with a selection of guest artists who perform a few songs each in the show. This format means that no one performer dominates the stage at any one time and, also, every Transatlantic Session is a mixture of different musicians and performance styles. This format (in film and live performances) has proven to be so successful that Transatlantic Sessions is approaching its 30th year of concerts.
The artistic line-up for 2023 (and tonight) included Martha Wainwright, Liam Ó Maonlai, Karen Matheson, Amythyst Kiah, and Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves. An all-star house band included Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas (also acting as MCs), Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, and Daniel Kimbro.
Where do you even start when writing a review for a show like this that has so much talent on stage at any one time? At the beginning I suppose is the only answer to that, and multi-grammy award winning American Dobro and lap steel guitar player, producer, and MC tonight, Jerry Douglas was the link from start to finish for this evening of music. Whether it be as one of the all-star house band members or up front to open part two of our show with his impressive slide guitar cover of the George Harrison classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, Jerry Douglas effortlessly let us all know why he has won so many major music awards in his career.
Taking the first solo spotlight place this evening, Martha Wainwright set the scene for much of what was to come in the evening with music that was often underpinned by powerful story telling lyrics and her take on “Goin' Back To Harlan”.
Next on stage was Liam Ó Maonlai, who many people will remember with his band The Hothouse Flowers and their huge 1987 hit song “Don’t Go”. Since then, Liam has established a well-earned reputation as a gifted songwriter and performer, and this opening two song set, including a cover of “Work Song” by Oscar Brown Jr, was more like watching a magician perform magic out of thin air, but this time with words and music.
Few singers have embodied contemporary Scottish music over recent decades as much as Karen Matheson, and whether singing in Gaelic or English, somehow that power and expressive emotion of the words is always telling the story in her own unique way.
Words and music in the right hands have the ability to tell wonderful stories and, although coming from two very different musical styles, Amythyst Kiah with her powerful voice and blues based music and Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves with their very traditional stories of often one person, everything came from the most important place of all, their hearts.
With a house band like this one on stage, it was also no surprise that either collectively or in individual performances, these musicians made everything that they played look and sound so effortless.
A little word of thanks must go to the unseen people behind the scenes for Transatlantic Sessions this evening. The sheer logistical problems of getting so many performers on stage at the right time and making sure that every microphone, monitor, (and whatever else they needed) was there with them must have been a huge task. A big thank you also has to go to the sound team for tonight who despite an ever changing centre stage set up gave us all a great sound balance all night and let all of the performers be heard at their best.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
The format for Transatlantic Sessions is pretty much that of an all-star house band with a selection of guest artists who perform a few songs each in the show. This format means that no one performer dominates the stage at any one time and, also, every Transatlantic Session is a mixture of different musicians and performance styles. This format (in film and live performances) has proven to be so successful that Transatlantic Sessions is approaching its 30th year of concerts.
The artistic line-up for 2023 (and tonight) included Martha Wainwright, Liam Ó Maonlai, Karen Matheson, Amythyst Kiah, and Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves. An all-star house band included Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas (also acting as MCs), Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, and Daniel Kimbro.
Where do you even start when writing a review for a show like this that has so much talent on stage at any one time? At the beginning I suppose is the only answer to that, and multi-grammy award winning American Dobro and lap steel guitar player, producer, and MC tonight, Jerry Douglas was the link from start to finish for this evening of music. Whether it be as one of the all-star house band members or up front to open part two of our show with his impressive slide guitar cover of the George Harrison classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, Jerry Douglas effortlessly let us all know why he has won so many major music awards in his career.
Taking the first solo spotlight place this evening, Martha Wainwright set the scene for much of what was to come in the evening with music that was often underpinned by powerful story telling lyrics and her take on “Goin' Back To Harlan”.
Next on stage was Liam Ó Maonlai, who many people will remember with his band The Hothouse Flowers and their huge 1987 hit song “Don’t Go”. Since then, Liam has established a well-earned reputation as a gifted songwriter and performer, and this opening two song set, including a cover of “Work Song” by Oscar Brown Jr, was more like watching a magician perform magic out of thin air, but this time with words and music.
Few singers have embodied contemporary Scottish music over recent decades as much as Karen Matheson, and whether singing in Gaelic or English, somehow that power and expressive emotion of the words is always telling the story in her own unique way.
Words and music in the right hands have the ability to tell wonderful stories and, although coming from two very different musical styles, Amythyst Kiah with her powerful voice and blues based music and Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves with their very traditional stories of often one person, everything came from the most important place of all, their hearts.
With a house band like this one on stage, it was also no surprise that either collectively or in individual performances, these musicians made everything that they played look and sound so effortless.
A little word of thanks must go to the unseen people behind the scenes for Transatlantic Sessions this evening. The sheer logistical problems of getting so many performers on stage at the right time and making sure that every microphone, monitor, (and whatever else they needed) was there with them must have been a huge task. A big thank you also has to go to the sound team for tonight who despite an ever changing centre stage set up gave us all a great sound balance all night and let all of the performers be heard at their best.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com