Mary Ann Kennedy brings that 'festival feeling' to a Glasgow living room

Solas Festival has joined the recent live music trend which opts for intimacy and originality with a series of living room gigs hosted by volunteers throughout this year.

Last Saturday night we got a tantalizing taste of what’s to come at this year’s festival when around 40 of us crowded into a converted 3-storey tower in the West End of Glasgow to enjoy one of the most spell-binding live music experiences.   

The bill consisted of fabulous folky acoustic duo Fair Witness, followed by the renowned Scottish musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy. Alongside stories of her upbringing in a Gaelic household in Glasgow, Mary Ann silenced the audience with her accessible interpretations of traditional Gaelic songs and show-stopping puirt a beul, combined with her beautiful compositions on the clàrsach. She's a master of her craft - humbling and inspiring to watch.

It was a real treat to hear music of such quality in such a comfortable setting, but this is typical of the events Solas has laid on all year and of the atmosphere of the festival itself.

Thanks to Ros for opening her house to us!

By Fay Butler, a Solas Volunteer

Mary Ann Kennedy takes to the Solas mainstage on Saturday 25th June with The Campbells 

(alongside four other members of her family; Scottish trad-royalty from the island of Skye)