By Greg Kane

January 2025
Helen Ganya
Sunday 26th January 7:30pm
The Hug and Pint
Helen Ganya is a Brighton-based, Scottish-Thai singer/songwriter. She has been releasing music since 2015 (formerly under the moniker Dog in the Snow). Her sound is kinda dark, art rock with much sonic experimenting. It can get quite lush. She is signed to the ever impressive Bella Union Records and is on a UK tour with Hayden Thorpe throughout Jan-March supporting her new album “Share Your Care” and lead single “Chaiyo!”
She is also on the committee of EarthPercent, an organization run by Brian Eno whose mission is to get musicians and the music industry more involved with the climate change movement. Yes, there’s lots of considered shoe gazing and violin bowing guitar work going on here, but it grooves and she has a fantastic voice.
Choice Track: Helen Ganya – “Home Time”
Willie Watson
Tuesday 28th January 7pm
Cottiers Theatre
Willie Watson is a 40 something American singer-songwriter, banjo player, guitarist, actor and founding member of the Grammy Award winning good time country band ‘Old Crow Medicine Show’. But as this group headed towards commercial success in 2011 oor Willie turned away from all that shindigary to pursue a more authentic take on the subtler side of country music. Listening to his self titled 2024 album you’re transported back to a time when there were no guitar tuners, voice tuners or time grids just heartfelt lyrics backed with assured guitar finger picking. He has one of the most distinctive voices in modern Americana, pitched high, melodic, plaintive, and somewhat otherworldly at times. His use of accompanying instruments, oboes, flutes and string quartets gives the music a uniqueness in the traditional space it occupies. Beautiful, beautiful music.
Choice Track: Willie Watson – ‘Harris and the Mare’
Clarissa Connelly
Wednesday 29th January 7:30pm
Mackintosh Church
Born in Fife, Scotland, Clarissa Connelly relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark at the age of 9. So it’s no surprise that her music blends the mythology of Nordic culture with a strong Celtic heartbeat. Her third album “World Of Work” was released on the achingly hip Warp records in early 2024 and is a carefully orchestrated record that uses voice, guitar, flute, piano and percussion to tell its epic tales. Speaking of percussion, Connelly attended the Rhythmic Music Conservatory (RMC) in Copenhagen after she left school. “The school really creates independent thinking, because nothing is written in stone there” says Clarissa… I’m so jealous!
Connelly’s career is already impressive. She’s been a member of the Laurie Anderson choir and has won the Nordic Music Prize for her 2nd album ‘Voyager’ in 2020. There are obvious comparisons to Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Fiona Apple etc… but what makes her so distinct is her beautifully controlled high falsetto voice with the lyrics sung in a strong Scottish accent. A real musical treat.
Choice Track: Clarissa Connelly – ‘Give It Back’
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