AN all-star tribute to the life and music of Gerry Rafferty, the late singer-songwriter, is to be one of the highlights of the Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow.
To be staged a year and a day after the funeral of the musician, the show will feature contributions from The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Ron Sexsmith and more, in a key event for this year’s festival, which features a stronger political tinge to it than perhaps ever before.
Donald Shaw, the artistic director of the festival, unveiled a programme yesterday that also features a Centennial celebration of the songs and influence of Woody Guthrie, a 40th anniversary celebration of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilder’s work-in, appearances from Bruce Hornsby, Jack Bruce, Aaron Neville, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, as well as a host of folk, traditional, Americana and Gaelic performers.
Bring It All Home is the title of the tribute to Rafferty, and will be a “commemorative gathering” of the Paisley-born songwriter’s friends, family, bandmates and admirers, organised by Rafferty’s daughter Martha and his friend and Stealer’s Wheel co-founder, Rab Noakes.
Noakes said an appearance from Billy Connolly, the comedian who was in The Humblebums with Rafferty, is possible, and added: “There are still some more people whose attendance is pending.
“It says so much about him, that he was known so far and wide for his music with musicians, and with audiences too. Now we are all deciding who gets to perform which song.”
Mr Shaw said that, with the prominence of music in the revolutions of the Arab Spring in the Middle East, it seemed natural to introduce a more political edge to the festival, which runs from January 19 to February 5 next year.
The World Turned Upside Down event will feature music from Justin Currie, Karine Polwart and Palestine’s Kamilya Jubran, there will be an extensive Woody Guthrie celebration, and a new songwriting competition, in memory of Alistair Hulett, for Songs for Social Justice.
“This year it has a political tinge to it, with inspiration from the Arab Spring, and I think we all saw the images from Tahrir Square in Cairo, and right through the Middle East,” Mr Shaw said.
“It’s amazing to see how they rallied against political suppression and used music to find a way to a better life.
“Tahrir Square is a great example of that. All the way through the protests and the revolution, there wasn’t a moment where there were not musicians playing songs. And I think probably folk music has always had a political background to it.”
This the 19th year of Celtic Connections, and the sixth year sponsored by ScottishPower.
Celtic Connections 2012 will host around 2100 artists in 300 events in 20 venues in 18 days in Glasgow..
Tickets are on sale now.
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