This should have been one of the highlight concerts of this year's Celtic Connections.
The great Woody Guthrie, after all, was the man who inspired a young Bob Dylan. Dylan, in turn, revolutionised the American folk music world. A tribute concert in what would have been Guthrie's 100th year was a festival must.
The artists who took part, Guthrie's grand-daughter Sarah Lee, her partner Johnny Irion, Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Mark Spencer, all have a pedigree in the US and are accomplished performers. The high spot was possibly Guthrie and Irion's collaboration with Gerry Rafferty's daughter Martha and nephew Mark on There'll be No Churches Tonight.
Somewhere along the way this show fell flat. Perhaps it seemed fitting for the four musicians in the second half not to bother engaging with the audience, after all Guthrie didn't have to interact with the railroad workers he sang to in the Pacific north-west – they just listened.
A 21st-century audience rightly expects better. Even a brief explanation of who they were, why they were there, why they chose certain songs, even a few Guthrie anecdotes to put the evening into context. The one-third full auditorium didn't help the atmosphere.
It was not all disappointing, the Guthrie classic Pastures of Plenty was an excellent encore, if a little late. But it should have been a lot better. Guthrie, and his memory, deserved more.
Celtic Connections events are sponsored by ScottishPower.
HH
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