The first night of The Danny Kyle Open Stage will be in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday 16 January at 5 – 7 pm and will be back in the Exhibition Hall, broadcast live on Celtic Music Radio Showcasing last year’s Winners Concert
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 Cetic Connections in 2014 it 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 has also had a very busy year From playing from the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh to Glastonbury and all points in between. He has also been busy composing. So, listen out for his new work as well.
Austen will be appearing on 29 January in the Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow with Scotland’s legendary voice of Horse
Arthur Nicholson 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. He 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 has also had a busy year – most memorable highlight is the arrival of his son! Is still writing away and getting gigs confirmed, so expect to see a lot more of him in 2015.
Arthur is appearing with Allison Moorer in St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow on Friday 30 January 2015.
Griogair Morrison is in the middle of exams just now and will not play live today but will be with us for his gig on 31 January at The Glasgow Art Club.
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 blew everyone away in Glasgow – so much so, that Maddie Prior (Steeleye Span approached him as he came off stage and booked him for her festival ‘Stepping Stones’ last summer. At home, he also supported Newton Faulkner at his gig, who was the inspiration for Griogair’s finger style playing and has brought out an EP and of course played at his home festival –The Orkney folk Festival.
‘When I played at the Danny Kyle Open Stage, Maddie Prior from Steeleye Span approached me and asked if I would play at her ‘Stepping Stones’ folk festival in the summer of 2014. I had an amazing time there. The week after playing in the Danny Kyle Open Stage I supported singersongwriter Newton Faulkner in Orkney. It was such a brilliant experience to support the artist who inspired me to play fingerstyle. After winning my Danny, I was inspired to put together an EP of my own original fingerstyle tunes which I sell at gigs. I also played at the Orkney Folk Festival and Orkney Blues Festival last year, always a fantastic experience, big year for exams but would like to make an album of my fingerstyle work and voice! And would LOVE to play at the Ullapool guitar Festival.’’
He is appearing on 31 January in The Glasgow Art Club with renowned Scotland’s own Fraser Anderson
Hò Rò are 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 now staying on 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. Drummer who joined the band for several gigs back in 2014 and will now be a more permanent member of the band.
“The past year has been an incredible year for us. It just got busier and busier. We travelled to Italy for a tour. And played at some great Celtic festivals including Triskell Celtic festival and also the famous Celtica! Shortly after that we were asked to play in Amsterdam at an Irish music venue. Some other highlights included Hebcelt and Blas festivals. We don’t think these gigs would have been possible without us going through the Danny Kyle Open Stage last year. It opened so many doors for us and we can’t wait for the years to come!”
Will be playing with Kathryn Tickell & The Side on 30 January 8pm in the Strathclyde Suite at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Mischa MacPherson 
Clarsach player and native Gaelic singer and composer from Lewis, along with Conal McDonagh on border pipes and Innes White on guitar make up the trio. They have now added another member to the group. Mischa also a winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician of the Year, not to mention Mischa won Gaelic Singer of The Year at the Trads in December 2014, have make it a very busy year for this young band at festivals throughout the UK and abroad.
They have plenty of gigs at Celtic Connections: on 21 January on the Atlantic Corridor show in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall; 23 January with Steven Blake’s ‘Bystander’ in St Andrew’s In The Square, Glasgow; 25 January with Lahore Ceol Mor and Alistair McCollach’s ‘Innovations’s in The Mitchel Theatre, Glasgow.
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 with their fantastic unique sound and soaring harmonies and foot stomping music!
“They have had an extremely busy year gigging the length and breadth of the country. From Nottingham to The FAB Festival Middlewich, to supporting Eddi Reader in Troon; Glasgow Americana Festival and Perthshire Amber Festival! Looks like 2015 is going to be even busier.”
They are appearing with Frances Black & Kieran Goss Reunion in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 27 January.
The Concerts are hosted by Liz Clark, Co-ordinator and presenter of The Danny Kyle Open Stage.
The show will be available on Catch Up.
Any further enquiries re the artists please contact Liz on dkos.info@yahoo.com