Glasgow Letter - 23.5.24
New president
While one controversial Leòdhasach gets ready to contest the presidency across the pond, there was no such debate over the election of the new president of the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association.
Congratulations to Calum Smith – a very passionate Gael who has always worked hard for the promotion of Gaelic in Glasgow. His mother, Mina, was for a great many years the Gaelic reader for the GGs choir; and his daughter, Anna, is also a fine Gaelic singer who I had the pleasure of conducting as part of the Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic choir.
A statement from Calum on the association Facebook page over the weekend read: "I am deeply proud and honoured to have been elected as President of the Association at tonight’s AGM. I look forward to working with the committee to continue the good work that the Lewis & Harris does in supporting the island community in Glasgow and I want to thank Angela Jenkins for the years she has dedicated to the Association in her time as President, particularly the difficult task of leading us through the exceptionally tricky times of lockdown.
Calum Mac a’ Ghobhainn
Festival season
I dare say a fair percentage of the highland diaspora in Glasgow will be heading up the A9 this weekend to Peat and Diesel’s Black Isle Belter which sold out this week.
Congratulations to the lads on what I’m sure will be a fantastic weekend.
Meanwhile, only two weekends to go until Glasgow’s own traditional music festival, The Reeling, returns to Rouken Glen Park on Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9.
Still a fledgling festival, last year’s inaugural event was an absolutely resounding success, with revellers basking in glorious Glasgow sunshine and listening to the very best of traditional, Highland music.
Last week, I referenced many of the fantastic acts who will be appearing on this year’s line up (particularly Niteworks who are gearing up for their last ever Glasgow show) and over the coming fortnight, I will preview the festival more fully. It faces stiff competition from Taylor Swift who is playing through at Murrayfield in Edinburgh that weekend, but nevertheless the festival looks set to be another total cracker featuring a wide range of acts from across the diverse spectrum of traditional music.
New music
Last Friday saw the double single release from LUSA, which I previewed a couple of weeks ago.
Lucia (featuring she strings of Laura Wilkie) and Probably (remixed by Ros T) both launched on the same day to great acclaim and, now, LUSA prepare to play their debut headline show in Dannsa on Sauchiehall Street supported by Grace Morton tomorrow, Friday May 24.
LUSA is a song-writing collaboration between Innes Strachan, Donald MacDonald, and vocalist Beth Malcolm, with percussion added by Niteworks’ Ruairidh Graham. Their sound is a blend of synth driven instrumentals and co-written songs.
There are still tickets available for their show in Dannsa so check out their material and head along if you like what you hear.
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