Spellbound by best from both sides of the Atlantic

Feb 9 2010 by Martin Ellis, The Journal

Transatlantic Sessions at The Sage Gateshead

THE Transatlantic Sessions started as a project for a BBC programme.

Traditional musicians from both sides of the Atlantic collaborated in a remote Scottish location and then showcased their work on television.

It progressed to become the headline event at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival.

For the first time the show has gone on a short tour for a handful of concerts, including this one at The Sage, which quickly sold out.

Eighteen musicians, young and old, from America and the British Isles took to the stage, all of them at the top of their game.

Cara Dillon won the album of the year award at the BBC Folk Awards a few days ago while Danny Thompson won a lifetime award at the BBC Folk Awards a few years ago.

Tim O’Brien, a Jumpin’ Hot Club regular, was the first to take the stage and everyone else then took turns.

The set ranged from folk jigs and reels to bluegrass, country and blues, while Jimi Hendrix and Terence Trent D’Arby covers took me by surprise.

I don’t think I have ever been to a concert as diverse and varied. Performances were restrained and nobody dominated.

The Sage audience was spellbound. Let’s hope the Transatlantic Sessions come back next year.