Dean Owens & The Sinners – Oran Mor Venue – Celtic Connections – February 2, 2025

Written by celtic music radio on February 3, 2025

DEAN OWENS

Dean Owens believes in is heart that music is all about connections – and this marvellous Celtic Connections’ gig shows he knows how to make that happen with shades of fun and sadness, big sounds and tender interludes and a top-class, wide-ranging career set list.

His music is thoughtfully compassionate and impassioned.

Tales from his youth and his family’s influence are recounted with his heart on his sleeve in his songs, while other compositions featured here offer snapshots of the wanderlust that has taken him to the desert states in the USA and, more recently, the Crinale region of Italy, where the new album SPIRIT RIDGE – officially launching here – was crafted and lovingly honed in a 400-year-old farmhouse’s studio.

Spirito from the new record hails the band to the stage but without any hint of pomp Dean gets down to business with the gentle flow of My Beloved Hills showing the band is up for this special night in this splendid venue.

Spirit Ridge is the follow-up to the excellent Sinner’s Shrine from 2022 and from it New Mexico rouses the impressive two-man horn section and then the wonderful, The Hopeless Ghosts, written with Townes Van Zandt in mind, carries us to the arid wastes of Arizona so evocatively.

Campanero, from the new album, is a glorious slouch of a song with woodwind and trumpet edging it along. By contrast, Burn It All, which almost didn’t make the album, has a crack, sparkle and soulful confidence that reminds me of the Average White Band.

The Buzzard And The Crow, Dean’s favourite on the new album, was inspired by him leaving city life behind to live in the country – the song is big and bold in its slowed down tempo.

There’s a brooding atmosphere about Sinner of Sinners. It’s a dark song – not unusual in Dean’s canon, of course – and the moody, swirling, gently stormy brass complements his powerful vocals. Wall of Death really kicks out and Tame The Lion’s elegance is enhanced by a delicious chug and dip: it’s terrific and refers to Dean’s great-great lion tamer grandfather.

Spirit Of Us is a gentle, luscious ballad dedicated to his mum and, not for the first time in his set, Dean’s singing is compelling.

It’s a new album launch but award-winner Dean doesn’t shy away from his impressive back catalogue. He heads to 2001’s The Man From Leith” for Strangers Again, a winning duet with Kirsten Adamson, which is vibrant and again The Sinners kick in with no shortage of sparkle.

The moving and warming The Man From Leith is a staple at his gigs but it’s a gorgeous, personal song we readily embrace every time. When it comes to Raining In Glasgow, the full house is in full voice.

The Americana Music Association UK’s Song Of The Year in 2019, Southern Wind, wraps things up on a memorable show with a flurry of gritty guitars and pounding drums.

Dean and the band head to Australia next month – they will love his music Down Under, like we do.

Review: MIKE RITCHIE