• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Celtic Music Radio

A Festival of Music

  • Amazon Link Header
  • Cardwell Garden Centre
  • Sponsors with Celtic Music Radio – Loganair
  • Skye Records
  • Home
  • Schedule
  • Listening
  • Links
  • Marketing
  • Contact Us

This sold-out inaugural Celtic Connections 2017 Drygate gig was not short of politics on a monumental day States-side, however, this musical set from Hurray For The Riff Raff was voted a fine one.

The band’s bass player wore a T-shirt with the bold wording “Not My President” on it and free-thinking activist, Alynda Lee Segarra pleaded on behalf of her nation: “stick with us” before ending the show with an emotional and tearful version of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, accompanied lustily by the audience.

The sound mix was, disappointingly, not as sharp as it could have been in patches but the former freight train hopper, Segarra’s presence, in the main, made this irrelevant as her vocals were absorbing, both soulful in a Percy Sledge mould, or huskily rocky in turn.

Opener, Life to Save was outstanding with band in a chunking country groove Segarra immediately into her stride while the fractured, slightly Tex-Mex feel to Rican Beach proved a tasty sampler for the band’s new album, The Navigator, coming out in March.

Another new song, Hungry Ghost was a stormer. It’s all about, as Segarra has explained, “the beauty of safe and queer diy venues and parties, sanctuaries that will become more important in these grave and uncertain times”. It’s got the dark insistent bass undertones reminiscent of The National and Segarra almost growls the lyrics.

Look Out Mama, title the 2012 album, even without the fiddle is a upbeat and joyous, complete with yodeling though the lines, “Sister dear take me by the hand / and lead us all the way to the promised land” were written long before last year’s presidential election cast doubts on her hopes.

She’s not alone in being worried about the future but musically she’s fearless and talented, and her own way forward with her songs looks bright enough.

MIKE RITCHIE
Pic – Eilís Boland

While Correct at time of printing please check Artist websites for any alterations, amendments or additions.

Primary Sidebar

Click button below to open the live stream in a new window. Listen as you browse!

Click this button to go to our catch up service.

Click this button to go to our Archive Section.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Quick Links

  • Danny Kyle Stage
  • Celtic Connections 2021
  • Studio Guests
  • Latest News

Schedule

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

Footer

Did You Know!

If you purchase some of the great music you hear on Celtic Music Radio using this link – it costs you nothing extra and brings in much needed revenue for the station!

Amazon.co.uk

Thank you for listening and supporting
Celtic Music Radio!

Useful Links

  • Mission Statement
  • Directors & Trustees
  • Funding
  • Training
  • Terms & Conditions

Donate

If you would like to donate to CMR got to this link. This takes you to Paypal’s new donate service.

Some more ways you can help on this page

Ways to Help
Celtic Music Radio 95FM, 54 Admiral Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, G41 1HU
Celtic Music Radio Registered Charity Number SC041172
Celtic Music Radio Company Number SC271561