Concert Line up Announced -Letters Life and Love Stories - A Celebration of Caring in Scotland

Home-grown talent to honor Scotland’s hidden army of carers at Celtic Connections concert

Its with the greatest of pleasure I can announce the line up for the  "Letters Life and Love Stories - A Celebration of Caring in Scotland concert I have been working on over the last months in alphabetical order 

Admiral Fallow, Eddi Reader, Emma Pollock ,Horse McDonald, Hue & Cry Little Fire

Siobhan Wilson. Plus more special guests to be announced

Celtic Connections website, accessible here.for info and Tickets - http://tinyurl.com/pfrgr7v

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and Regular Music with Celtic Connections are delighted to confirm a range of home grown talents will come together to celebrate the lives of many of the 660,000 carers in Scotland and those who support them.  

An exciting array of Scottish musical guests, will be appearing On Monday 20th January, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall  are indie folk five-piece Admiral Fallow, songstress Eddi Reader, founder member of The Delgados Emma Pollock, Horse McDonald, Hue & Cry, Little Fire and Siobhan Wilson, plus more special guests to be announced.

On Monday 20th January, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will play host to Scottish favourites  In alphabetical order...Admiral Fallow, Eddi Reader, Emma Pollock ,Horse McDonald, Hue & Cry Little Fire

Siobhan Wilson. Plus more special guests to be announced

for the ‘Letters, Life and Love Stories’ Concert, which forms part of the Celtic Connections Calendar for 2014.

The concert will be accompanied by a reception at which the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon will address an assembly of specially invited guests including carers and inspirational professionals and volunteers who play a part in their journeys.

The idea of the concert came from a meeting with Tommy Whitelaw of the ALLIANCE, Mark Mackie from Regular Music and Celtic Connections  Festival Director Donald Shaw where Tommy shared some of the letters and spoke about ways they could be brought to life by music.

Tommy Whitelaw, who worked for 20 years in the music industry, spent the last five years caring for his mum Joan who had dementia. He started a campaign, ‘Tommy on Tour’ to raise awareness, gathering letters from carers. Now as Project Engagement Lead with the ALLIANCE’s Dementia Carer Voices Project, he speaks to carer groups, health and social care professionals and students as well as key decision-makers who have influence over the lives of people affected by dementia.”

Tommy Whitelaw said

“Over the last few years I have seen the amazing lengths that carers go to through love as well as the transformational impact that special people can have on the carer journey. This event is the perfect opportunity to say thanks to these inspirational people for the role that they play.”  

Irene Oldfather Programme Director ALLIANCE Scotland

“We are delighted to work together with Regular Music and Celtic Connections to put on this unique concert to celebrate the lives of those who play a caring role

The concert and reception will reach out to inspirational individuals and groups, asking them to tell us about their journey caring for a loved one, and the motivation behind their caring role..” 

·         Celtic Connections, Glasgow’s annual folk, roots and world music festival,  celebrates Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the globe. Between 17th January – 3rd February 2013, 2,100 musicians from around the world will descend on Glasgow and bring the city to life for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, workshops, and free events.

·         Regular Music Ltd are one of Scotland’s leading Music Promoters www.regularmusic.com

Letters, Life and Love Stories Concert and Carers Reception

"Letters Life and Love Stories - A Celebration of Caring in Scotland” Gala concert will be held at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 20 January 2014 as part of Celtic Connections programme.

The concert will pay tribute to the love and dedication of Scotland’s carers and the part played by the many professionals and volunteers who contribute during the carer journey.

This partnership event with Regular Music and Celtic Connections will celebrate the lives of many for the 660,000 carers in Scotland and those who support them.  

Tommy Whitelaw, who worked for twenty years in the music industry, spent the last five years caring for his mum Joan who had dementia. He started a campaign, ‘Tommy on Tour’ to raise awareness, gathering letters from carers across Scotland.  The concert is the result of Tommy sharing these letters with Mark Mackie of Regular Music and Donald Shaw, Festival Director of Celtic Connections and a desire to bring the stories to life through music.

The concert will be held on 20th January at 7.30pm in Glasgow Royal Concert Halls as part of Celtic Connections. Tickets can be booked online via theCeltic Connections website , by calling the box office on 0141 353 8000 or in person from the box office located at the Buchanan Street entrance of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Latest Concert Press Release

Carers Reception 

We are delighted to confirm that the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will address guests at the ALLIANCE's pre-concert reception to be held in Glasgow Royal Concert Halls from 4:00 to 6:30 pm.

The reception will reach out to inspirational individuals and groups, asking them to tell us about their journey caring for a loved one, and the motivation behind their caring role.

At the reception there will be a range of exhibition stands from national and local organisations who engage with carers. These partners will each undertake their own project to collect and present the inspirational stories of those they support and represent in an innovative and engaging way.

If you are a twitter user, follow #icarewecare  for the latest updates.