Location: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Star rating: ***** The Gaelic musical tradition has a genuine rising star on its hands in Julie Fowlis. Her second album, Cuilidh, was picked up by Radio 2 and reissued with her version of the Beatles' Blackbird included as an additional track. I challenge anybody to name a better interpretation of McCartney's song, whatever the language.

Location: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Star rating: *****

The Gaelic musical tradition has a genuine rising star on its hands in Julie Fowlis. Her second album, Cuilidh, was picked up by Radio 2 and reissued with her version of the Beatles' Blackbird included as an additional track. I challenge anybody to name a better interpretation of McCartney's song, whatever the language.

Fowlis and her excellent band have been on the road for almost a year and it showed in their performance. However, it was on her unaccompanied song, Chaidh Mo Dhonnchadh dhan bheinn (My Duncan Went to the Hill), that the goosebumps really came out in force.

Quebec's La Bottine Souriante, on the other hand, are bonkers. Defining their sound is a little tricky. Although rooted in the Quebec tradition, they had a splendid horn section and an even better pianist, who added a fabulously jazzy, funky, salsa-flavoured feel. This is seriously feel-good music.