Live review - Transatlantic Sessions

Artists: Transatlantic Sessions


Venue: The Sage - Hall 1

Town: Gateshead

Date: 4th February

Website: http://www.thesagegateshead.org/



Long since having established itself as the jewel in the crown of Glasgow’s annual Celtic Connections’ final weekend, and the show which sells out the quickest every year– even when extended over two nights – the Transatlantic Sessions continue to revisit shared roots and establish new common ground between today’s finest Celtic and Americana musicians. This year’s shows, once again featuring the same artists on both dates, have kept a winning formula, fresh with a balance between those who have been there from the beginning, those who have taken part both on stage and in the ongoing BBC TV version – and those new to the whole experience. However, to add a new twist this year, Transatlantic Sessions has gone on tour to a handful of venues around the UK . It was literally (for someone, and I know I am not alone, who has been unable, for various reasons, to ever experience the Sessions live in Glasgow) a dream come true when the Sage announced that it had joined forces with Glasgow’s Celtic Connections to have the Transatlantic Sessions play one of these coveted dates in Gateshead for the first time in its history.



The ever growing line up literally read as a who’s who of Celtic and American talent, all of whom have solo careers aswell as being very much in demand as musicians, such is their talent and appeal. Hosted as always by Aly Bain (MBE) and Jerry Douglas, the show featured: Russ Barenberg, Phil Cunningham, Cara Dillon, John Doyle, Karen Matheson (Capercaillie), James Mackintosh, Michael McGoldrick, Bruce Molsky, Tim O’Brien, Mollie O’Brien, Eddi Reader, Darrell Scott, Donald Shaw, Danny Thompson, Dan Tyminski (Alison Krauss and Union Station) and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek.) The fact that so many musicians fit onto the stage of Hall, was something of a miracle in itself, much less the fact that they were all in the one room together!



What was immediately striking, becoming more and more apparent during the course of the evening, was how much fun these musicians have being on a stage together, with almost constant banter between them, and with the audience. They were so at ease that they easily recreated the informal ‘jamming’ style witnessed on the TV series of the Sessions, as they took us on a musical journey from folk to bluegrass with everything in between. This journey lasted well over two hours, not including the interval and it was clear even before Eddi Reader spoke up in terms of her sadness that it was Darrell Scott’s last night with them, that each of them was savouring every moment, both in and out of the spotlight, some even wandering around the stage with cameras, to capture their own memories.



Changing in and out between lead vocals, backing vocals (the girls were even dubbed the TAS choir) and music, we were treated to Sara Watkins stunning voice, Cara Dillon and Karen Matheson’s haunting vocals, Incredible musicianship across the board; Dan Tyminski is one of the most talented musicians I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Pleasant surprises for the evening came in the form of hearing Mollie O’Brien perform, not least her rendition of a Terence Trent D’Arby number, a beautiful piece of music by guitarist Russ Barenberg, Drummer’s Of England, written by his son, and Darrell Scott put in a stunning performance of a song I had actually heard before but hadn’t realised was him.



One of the highpoints of the evening was the great Eddi Reader’s Dragonflies, taken to a whole new level by the accompaniment she received from her friends. However, the personal highlight of the evening was the assembled women’s tribute to the late Kate McGarrigle ( along with her sister, she was part of the very early sessions), with a version of Talk To me of Mendecino, which I suspect left hardly a dry eye in the house. That performance, with the music surrounding them on the stage, somehow seemed to embody what Transatlantic Sessions is about - making music for the sheer love of making music, sharing it with people who come along for the sheer love of experiencing music; very much in the present whilst celebrating its history and exploring its future.



From the comments made as the show was introduced by The Sage’s Programme Director, The Sage was as excited as we were that they got the coup that was Transatlantic Sessions, and are hopeful that now that they have this connection with Celtic Connections, this is only the first of many great collaborations to bring artists and events to Gateshead. I certainly hope so and look forward to seeing who and what next year brings



Helen Mitchell