Over the years people have stuck tapes, CDs and a few other things in my hands. I’ve even had the odd thing posted to me. Believe me when I say that I listen to them all and never assume that because I don’t get them they are not worthwhile. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve chatted with a couple of up and coming song writers and it is always exciting to meet the force and confidence of youth.
I say this because (although it seems long ago now) I was once such a song writer. I was also from the sticks. People used to say about getting started in music; talk to someone in the business. I knew no one. It was Dundee and the late seventies and early eighties and it really felt a million miles from wherever the music business was meant to be. If I’m honest I really think we thought (or I did) that it really wasn’t for the likes of us. Punk did change a good deal of that but even now I do sometimes wonder whether that attitude stops real talent pushing their way forward.
So Celtic Connections is good because it really ignores these traditional routes to success. Many of the artists playing there have great careers but have never been played on mainstream radio or ever have ever had to endure making a promo video. They have simply followed their heart and made the music they have been listening to, adapting and changing. One of the nice things I have learned about music from working on the radio is we really do take each record as we find it. We love finding new things and sharing them with you and we hugely enjoy it when an established artist comes back with something we can’t ignore. So this week we have brand new music from Sweden – First Aid Kit, Beach House, Dawn Landes and Laura Veirs from USA as well as Ray Price and Dolly Parton. We also have country royalty as we play the session and interview from Holly Williams she cut with us last week and some tracks from the Low Anthem’s live appearance at The FruitMarket Cletic Connections show. All great stuff.
Going back to the sticks however. I’m aware that we broadcast from Glasgow and are lucky enough to get these great acts coming through town. Where I grew up there were very few American acts coming to play and I am aware that many people may feel that in their part of the world they feel cut off. I relate to this hugely and please feel free to criticise us if we sound too Glasgowcentric. We’d love to hear and be involved in events all over Scotland and flag them up for people’s attention. Coming from the sticks is something that made me feel an outsider for years. It’s being an outsider that makes me think the way I do and rejoice when I find that spirit in the music I’m playing. Long live the sticks.
Some timely comments on the sticks for me… I’m actually visiting Dundee for work next week – for the first time – and am looking forward to exploring what will be a new part of Scotland for me (I’ve spent more time on the west coast than anywhere else – one of my favourite places in the world).
I don’t the show comes across as Glasgowcentric at all, though. I’ve really enjoyed the Celtic Connections coverage of late but moreover the full range of music you play. And as you’ve acknowledged I listen from London. Hardly the sticks, I know, but I appreciate the connection back to Scotland I get from the broadcast, but simultaneously think it reaches is far beyond Pacific Quay and Glasgow.
Looking forward to the array of music lined up for tonight’s show…
Well Celtic Connections has been fantsastic…seen some superb live bands and Ry Cooder / Chieftans and Natalie Merchant absolute highlights.
It was this time last year you had the wonderful Tift Merrit in session and it would be great to something from her on the show at some point. It is also a year since John Martyn passed away so a sad anniversary.
Cheers
Norrie
Glasgowcentric???? No problem. In fact more, more, more…….Cripes! Glasgow is a World Heritage of Music City……that does not sound right or read well…..BUT having served my last full week of puppy sitting and only being able to “listen again” Lordie what a wonderful program….Next year: No puppies (8, 7 week old German Shepards, rescued by 30 year old bachelor son….I’m open for offers on the pups and he son)……NO Puppies cause I will be in Glasgow for Celtic Connections and a couple of months of study and volunteering. Go Glasgow!
My friend and I were recently talking about how we as human beings are so hooked onto electronics. Reading this post makes me think back to that debate we had, and just how inseparable from electronics we have all become.
I don’t mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside… I just hope that as technology further innovates, the possibility of transferring our memories onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It’s a fantasy that I dream about almost every day.
(Posted on Nintendo DS running R4 SDHC DS Fling)