Strathclyde Suite, 21 January 2008

Maria Kalaniemi (Photo - Ayako / HaLo)

“WELCOME to Hell!” was the gleeful greeting as ten devilish performers took to the stage. “We believe it’s the best place to be. And it’s the full moon, so anything could happen…”

With that, eight world-class horned box players, backed by guitar and bodhran, launched into an exuberant rendition of ‘The Bluebell Polka’. Quite what Jimmy Shand would have made of the two hours that followed is anyone’s guess. Strict tempos and sedate sets were flung to the flames as the musicians drew on influences from across the globe, creating an exquisite evening of accordion gluttony.

First up on a solo slot was Sandy Brechin, who belted out ‘Buckfast at Tiffany’s’ as the opener from Scotland. Next it was Ireland’s turn, with Mick McAuley of Solas on small button box, backed by guitarist Tim Edey, sporting a vampire’s silk cape. A waltz and a couple of reels from this dynamic duo saw the atmosphere hot up, then it was time for ‘the devil himself’ – Phil Cunningham.

By the time he’d got to the end of a set of rollicking reels, backed by Tim Edey and Flook’s bodhran wizard John Joe Kelly, the large crowd in the Strathclyde Suite was whooping for more.

The evening carried on in this vein, the accordionists taking it in turns to showcase their styles, and collaborating to produce some great, original sounds. Piano box player Angus Lyon, who will be touring the Highlands with Box Club in March, injected some cheeky jazz and dance grooves, while England’s Andy Cutting played some delectable tunes on the melodeon.

Wearing a large set of pink horns at a jaunty angle, Maria Kalaniemi declared herself well at home among her demonic cohorts, coming as she does from HELsinki. She interspersed delightful rippling runs and unusual minor arrangements played on a large button accordion with beautiful, clear singing. Her second solo, an old song from the north of Finland, she said “went straight to the heart and proved there were emotions in hell” – and it held the audience spellbound.

Karen Tweed of the Poozies was the charismatic MC for the evening. Resplendent in shocking pink and playing a bright, red piano box, she played a composition penned for her mother who intended to “go straight to hell because the craic’s much better down there.” Her set was remarkably diverse, starting sedately, with teasing, lively bursts, then morphing into a waltz and on into a zingy, bright number with a breezy Mediterranean feel.

The Irish contingent was boosted by Dermot Byrne, who as well as playing solo, played a cracking set of jigs and reels with Mick McAuley. Later in the show he joined forces with guitarist Tim Edey to produce one of the evening’s most sublime moments, a wonderfully joyous version of the Brazilian classic ‘Tico Tico’.

This devilishly diverse evening peaked when the musicians came together for a fast and furious finale, joined onstage by Celtic Connections director Donald Shaw on piano. An encore was inevitable and hell’s self-appointed accordion missionaries returned firmly to Scottish territory, finishing up with ‘The Atholl Highlanders’ to a crescendo of foot stomping and resounding applause. Marvellous!

© Catriona Ross, 2008

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