Tonight’s Festival Fling , Sunday 4 January 2014 10 till midnight I am revisiting the finalists night of The Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections 2014 with the 6 finalists you will be seeing at this year’s festival!
The first night of The Danny Kyle Open Stage will be in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday 16 January at 5 o’clock, back in the Exhibition Hall
Remember if you want to take part ! you only have until midnight tomorrow, 5 January
Application form follow this link Danny Kyle Open Stage
The Six Finalists Are:-
Austen George
“Austen has honed his craft over the years and developed that rare gift of giving an electric performance live on stage and making it appear effortless.”
and at Celtic Connections in 2014 I was defined to be…..
“Like stained glass, his songs seem to have an ethereal quality, lyrically vivid and colourful, with a rich and delicate framework plucked on his guitar. Austen’s voice is unique. It has a huge dynamic vocal range that combines raw power with fragility, all together creating captivating and original songs of rarified beauty.”
Austen will be appearing on 29 January in the Mitchell Library with Scotland’s legendary voice of Horse McDonald
Arthur was born to be a musician and play the guitar! Since he could first hold the instrument he has been mentored by his father, acclaimed Shetland guitarist Brian Nicholson. He writes and performs his own material with his debut album ‘Sticks & Stones’ released at the end of 2013 receiving considerable air play. Has had a busy year giging, from Shetland to being part of the tribute weekend in the memory of Davie Henderson to the appearing with Rachel Sermani , also with Adam Homes and The Embers not only in Shetland Folk Festival but in Edinburgh at Adams CD launch.
Arthur is appearing with Allison Moorer at St Andrew’s in the Square on 30 January
Griogair Morrison
Griogair is a young teenager innovative guitarist composer from the Orkney Isles, he takes a lot of his inspiration from the atmospheric and stunning beauty of his island. Winner of his own local open stage came down and blue everyone away in Glasgow.
He is appearing on 31 January in The Glasgow Art Club with renowned Scotland’s own Fraser Anderson
Hò Rò 
Lucy , Calum , Crisdean and Sean and latest addition Rory
Lucy Doogan the fiddle player, singer with the band, joind in 2014, Lucy comes from Glencoe Lucy is also studying at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Crisdean MacDonald- originally from Uist staying in Skye – plays pipes ,accordion and bodhran, Studying at National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music -Plockton Music School and attending Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Calum MacPhail , Accordionist studying from a very young age , composer, originally from Fort William now resides in Inverness. When not playing your can see him swing a Caman for Glen Urquhart’s Shinty Team!
Sean Cousins, Guitarist as well as piano player and on the drum kit as well who works out of Los Angles as a session musician and music producer.
Rory Grindlay – the youngest member of the band at 15 and the drummer joined the band for several gigs back in 2014 and will now be a more permanent member of the band
Will be appearing with Kathryn Tickell & The Side on 30 January 8pm in the Strathclyde Suite at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Mischa MacPherson Trio
Mischa Macpherson Clarsach player and native Gaelic singer and composer from Lewis, along with Conal Mcdonagh on border pipes and Innes White on Guitar mke up the trio.
Mischa also a winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician of the Year – have make it a very busy year for this young trio at festival throughout the UK and abroad.
They have two gigs at Celtic Connections 23 January with Steven Blake’s ‘Bystander’ in St Andrew’s In The Square
and on 25 January with Lahore Ceol Mor and Alistair McCollach’s ‘Innovations’s in The Mitchell Theatre
The Chaplins 
Jill with lead vocals, guitar, banjo , harmonica and ukulele as well as songwriter , Lisa on drums, percussion, vocals and ukulele John on double base go to make up The Chaplins from Glasgow
Formed in 2012, their dress sense leading to the band’s name! Will a highly acclaimed debut EP ‘Introducing the Chaplins’ launched them on a very busy year with their fantastic unique sound and soaring harmonies and foot stomping music !
They are appearing with Frances Black & Kieran Goss Reunion in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 27 January
Looking forward to hearing them all live at Celtic Connections
Remember closing applications must be received by midnight on 5th January
Liz Clark – Presenter and Co-ordinator of the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections