Christmas is coming

Following the success of the Edinburgh show during these years, Phil Cunningham is calling his pals together and touring the Christmas show, visiting towns across Scotland — including Glasgow.

Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker and Phil will lead you through a great fun night of modern and traditional Christmas music, featuring Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire along with a special guest Brass Band.

Oil your vocal chords and bring the family.

Phil told Live: “For us as performers, the two things that make for a great night are the atmosphere in the venue and an enthusiastic audience. Glasgow has always delighted us with both, by the sackful.”

What can you say about Phil Cunningham; a superb innovative instrumentalist, with not simply the fastest fingers in the west but some of the most sensitive ones, too.

The man who, in Scotland at least, made the accordion respectable again, and also plays fine keyboard and whistle; a composer, whose range extends from heart-tugging slow airs to vibrant tunes for a string of successful theatrical productions and to full-scale concert suites.

There, bagpipes, bodhrans and bouzoukis meet up with sometimes bemused classical orchestras in a whirlpool of rampant, exuberant sound.

He is the powerhouse behind two innovative and hugely influential bands, Silly Wizard and Relativity.

To add even more strings to his bow, he is a television and radio presenter, producer and director; involved in some of the seminal programmes that have enabled Scottish music to walk tall.

Phil is a record producer, responsible for many must-have albums and an unfailingly affable ambassador for traditional music.

A humorist, whose breezy banter can have a 2000-seat hall falling about in the aisles, he is also unfailingly patient, inspiring and witty musical partner of the great Shetland fiddler, Aly Bain.

He is a winner of countless music awards, including a writer’s Grammy and, with Bonnie Raitt, multiple gold, silver and platinum albums.

Phil, has recently completed Secret Scots, a series of radio interviews with world-famous names who have Scottish roots including the business icon Steve Forbes and, somewhat more surprisingly, general John de Chastelain.

To witness Phil Cunningham along with some of the finest musicians on the Scottish folk scene, head along to Glasgow City Halls (Grand Hall) on December 19. Phone 353 8000 to book tickets.

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £21.