Eddi Reader to hit high note at Celtic Connections

Jan 9 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

IRVINE’S Eddi Reader is to headline this year’s Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.

The festival, now in its 16th year, is one of the biggest events of the Scottish music calendar.

And the 49-year-old’s concert sold out in minutes, leading her to add another date to her appearances at the festival.

To commemorate the Homecoming celebrations and her love for the Bard, Eddi will re-release a special edition of her album, The Songs of Robert Burns.

And she will take to the stage of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sunday, January 18 and Monday, 19, to sing.

But Irvine fans had a sneak preview of her Burns songs at a concert last August.

At her Magnum Leisure Centre gig, Eddi spoke of her love for his poetry and songs before performing, My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose to the packed theatre.

She was then persuaded by the organisers of Homecoming 2009 to return to the recording studio and add Green Grow The Rushes O, Through The Rye, Dram Behind The Curtain, Ye Banks And Braes O’ Bonnie Doon, Aye Waukin-O, Dainty Dave to the original 12 tracks.

Eddi Reader Sings The Songs of Robert Burns will be released on Monday, January 12.