Latest news with #HoolieintheHydro
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Algorithms reviving traditional Scottish music for the next generation
This monumental triumph was aided by a slight cheat in the system: one physical sale of an album can count for more than 6000 streams. This does not take away from the achievement. Conversely, it highlights the dedication and loyalty of the Scottish rock band's fans. As Gary Innes, BBC Scotland radio presenter and frontman of the popular trad band Mànran, puts it: 'They used their fan base to basically support them by buying physical CDs. I can guarantee most of them that actually bought the CD don't have a CD player but what they are doing is wanting to contribute to their favourite band.' READ MORE: Skerryvore on 20 years, castle gigs, global fans and staying true to Scottish roots Innes has proven the might of the modern trad music scene through his ambitious and hugely successful festivals: Hoolie in the Hydro, Lochaber Live and Lochaber: A Celebration. What seems to be at the heart of this success is firstly the willingness to fuse the traditional with the modern, as he continues: 'When you're hearing bagpipes with synthesisers and you're going to a show and there's lasers and there's smoke machines and haze and strobe and all of a sudden you're like, 'well, this could be a dance festival.'' What also drives this success is his genuine desire to provide festivalgoers a valuable experience and honest connection to both Scottish traditions and each other. He energetically explains: 'To me, everything in life is about having a connection and just being nice to people … to create memories for folk, I think, is a privilege. 'I realise that's probably quite a cliche thing to say but, in all honesty, it's just genuinely about trying to create events and memories and moments for people, because that's what it's doing for me too!' Of course, this growth in the popularity of traditional music has not been driven by one man alone (though some may argue otherwise). Streaming, social media and other contemporary devices for music consumption have inevitably played their part in returning Scots to their roots. Later this year, the former ceilidh band Trail West host their sell-out Trail West Fest, which features two nights at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. This band performs a mix of original songs and 'repackaged' traditional music reworked to have a modern sound. Seonaidh MacIntyre, Trail West's bagpiper, guitarist and vocalist, claims that the band's reach would have been nearly impossible without their online presence. He says: 'The fact that you get that exposure – I mean, I don't think that we would be doing gigs in the Barrowlands, let alone selling out two nights, if it wasn't for that.' Despite this, he still believes that live music is the best way to engage with fans and get music out there. He expands: 'I don't think we would be the same band without the live thing. Having a live presence, that's your kind of bread and butter if you're wanting to earn money from music because unless you break BIG time online, you're not gonna make that much from it.' This growth may come at a price, however. The simple truth is that the more English and genre-infused the songs are, the greater reach they generally get. Many could argue this algorithm-driven production could make music less distinctive across all genres. READ MORE: Scottish director's film set during Highland Clearances takes Cannes by storm However, as Innes acknowledges: 'It does feel that maybe you take with one hand, giveth with the other slightly, because if you look at our streaming numbers for instance, they've exponentially raised in the last couple of years with more English material but with the more listeners they are indeed getting to listen to a more Gaelic content.' For those who still fear that social and streaming services are diluting Scotland's music traditions, I challenge you to attend Hoolie in the Hydro 2025 where more than 10,000 young people will be bouncing up and down to Trail West blasting out the 300-year-old Macpherson's Rant – and still argue that algorithms aren't helping re-shape, revive and re-energise traditional Scottish music for the next generation.
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow event Hoolie in the Hydro to honour Billy Connolly
This year's Hoolie in the Hydro, titled The Big Yin, will take place on Saturday, December 13. A cast of musicians will pay tribute to Sir Billy, his humour, and his love for folk music at the OVO Hydro. Read more: Glasgow charity revives veteran football project with Rangers FC The tribute to the Glasgow icon will form the finale of the night, with artists performing some of Billy's most popular songs, such as I Wish I Was in Glasgow and Glasgow Central. Sir Billy was a key figure in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His renowned banjo and folk roots have played an important role throughout his career. (Image: Gary Innes) Gary Innes, broadcaster, and musician, and organiser of Hoolie in the Hydro, said: "Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. "It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin." Aly Bain, a famous Scottish fiddler who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will take part in the tribute. He said: "Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. "Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. "He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro." Read more: Ambitious plan revealed for former Glasgow banking hall Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro has gained a reputation as the world's biggest ceilidh and is once again set to feature a line-up from across Scotland's vibrant folk and traditional music scene. The event will feature performances from the Elephant Sessions, Trail West, Mànran, and Beluga Lagoon. More information about this year's Hoolie in the Hydro can be found on the Ovo Hydro website.
The National
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Glasgow event Hoolie in the Hydro to honour Billy Connolly
This year's Hoolie in the Hydro, titled "The Big Yin", will take place on Saturday, December 13. A cast of musicians will pay tribute to Connolly, his humour, and his love for folk music at the OVO Hydro. The tribute to the Glasgow icon will form the finale of the night, with artists performing some of Billy's most popular songs, such as 'I Wish I Was in Glasgow' and 'Glasgow Central.' Sir Billy was a key figure in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His renowned banjo and folk roots have played an important role throughout his career. Gary Innes, broadcaster, and musician, and organiser of Hoolie in the Hydro, said: "Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. "It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin." Aly Bain, a famous Scottish fiddler who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will take part in the tribute. He said: "Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. "Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. "He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro." Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro has gained a reputation as the world's biggest ceilidh and is once again set to feature a line-up from across Scotland's vibrant folk and traditional music scene. The event will feature performances from the Elephant Sessions, Trail West, Mànran, and Beluga Lagoon. More information about this year's Hoolie in the Hydro can be found on the Ovo Hydro website.
Scotsman
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Musical career of 'Scottish hero' Billy Connolly to be celebrated at 'world's biggest ceilidh'
Billy Connolly started out as a musician on the Glasgow folk scene Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... He is a much-loved Scottish figure, best-known for his astute observational stand-up comedy. Now, the arguably lesser-known musical achievements of Sir Billy Connolly which launched his career as a performer are to be celebrated at an event in his home city of Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bill Connolly's life and music will be celebrated at the event. | Getty Images Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin will take place in the OVO Hydro, in December, where a cast of musicians will pay tribute to Sir Billy, his humour and his love and affinity for folk music as the night's finale. The line up of singers will play their part in marking 60 years since Sir Billy formed the beloved Humblebums and pay tribute to one of Glasgow's most iconic sons as the city celebrates its 850th birthday. Sir Billy, 82, was entrenched in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His folk roots and love for the banjo have remained close to his heart throughout his remarkable career, which has taken him to stages, screens and award ceremonies the world over. Organiser and Scottish cultural luminary Gary Innes said he had agreed the event with Connolly, who now lives in the US. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. 'It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday. As one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin.' Mr Innes added: 'We'll have some fabulous names to announce in the coming months who will join us for the tribute and share their most treasured Billy songs – I can't wait to see the Hydro all singing and laughing along this December. I'm also delighted to have some of the brightest names on the Scottish traditional music scene join the bill and showcase the energy, ambition and fun to be found on the folk scene today, so come join us for a good bit of nonsense and the ultimate celebration of Glasgow.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly | PA Renowned Scottish fiddler Aly Bain, who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will be part of the tribute. He said: 'Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. 'Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro.' Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro is known as the world's biggest ceilidh, featuring a line-up from across Scotland's folk and traditional music scene. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this month, the concept travelled across the Atlantic with the inaugural and hugely successful Hoolie in New York, which saw Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean and other Scottish stars take over Carnegie Hall - one of the most prestigious music venues in the world. Sir Billy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over ten years ago, has been based in the US for more than 30 years, with his wife, Pamela Stevenson.
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Hoolie in the Hydro to celebrate Sir Billy Connolly
The Billy Connolly Tribute will form the finale of the night and audiences can expect Glasgow and Scottish talent to share their favourite Big Yin songs like I Wish I Was in Glasgow and Glasgow Central. With a star-studded bill for the Billy tribute to be announced, the line-up of singers will play their part in marking 60 years since Sir Billy formed the beloved Humblebums and pay tribute to one of Glasgow's most iconic sons as the city celebrates its 850th birthday. Sir Billy was entrenched in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His folk roots and beloved banjo have remained close to his heart throughout his remarkable career, which has taken him to stages, screens and award ceremonies the world over. READ MORE: Hoolie in the Hydro returns to celebrate 100 years of Scotland's trad music scene Hoolie in the Hydro crossing the Atlantic for 'unprecedented' event in NYC Mural tribute to Sir Billy Connolly appears on Glasgow building Once Hoolie in the Hydro organiser, broadcaster and musician Gary Innes got the green light from the man himself, with the help of his family, it was full steam ahead with plans to honour one of Glasgow's greats. Mr Innes, said: 'Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. "It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin. "We'll have some fabulous names to announce in the coming months who will join us for the tribute and share their most treasured Billy songs – I can't wait to see the Hydro all singing and laughing along this December. "I'm also delighted to have some of the brightest names on the Scottish traditional music scene join the bill and showcase the energy, ambition and fun to be found on the folk scene today so come join us for a good bit of nonsense and the ultimate celebration of Glasgow.' Renowned supergroup Mànran will bring their electrifying live performance to Hoolie in the Hydro once again (Image: Hoolie in the Hydro) Renowned Scottish fiddler Aly Bain, who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will be part of the tribute. He said: 'Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. "He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro.' Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro will once again also feature a stellar line-up from across Scotland's vibrant folk and traditional music scene. Elephant Sessions will bring their high-octane live show to the OVO Hydro for the first time. Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, engulfing guitars, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica resulting in a new and exciting sound that has earned them a plethora of awards and a reputation for the best live set around. Six-piece Trail West will also take to the stage, having played the event's debut edition in strong links to the Western Highlands and Islands, Trail West are a band who continue to rise in popularity from their modest roots as a four-piece West Coast Ceilidh Band to a formidable, award-winning live act. Their performance at Hoolie in the Hydro will follow two sold-out shows at the Barrowland Ballroom in September. Renowned supergroup Mànran will also bring their electrifying live performance to Hoolie in the Hydro once again. Their innovative blend of traditional and modern instruments and outstanding Gaelic and English songs have won them international acclaim and fans worldwide. Finally, one of the most original and compelling acts in the Scottish music scene, Beluga Lagoon has also been announced as part of the bill. The musical project of Andrew O'Donnell, a wildlife cameraman and filmmaker, Beluga Lagoon's music encapsulates the beauty of the Scottish landscape and expresses the essence of Scotland's natural wonders. Hoolie in the Hydro was born out of an ambition to bring Scotland's own music to its biggest stage, and share the genre-bending diversity and electric atmosphere of live contemporary traditional music with the world. Earlier this month, the concept travelled across the Atlantic with the inaugural and hugely successful Hoolie in New York, which saw Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean and other Scottish stars take over one of the most prestigious music venues in the world, Carnegie Hall. Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin will take place on Saturday December 13, 2025. Tickets are on sale now at
