One of the highlights of Glasgow's annual Celtic Connections festival in January was the sellout concert by Fraser Speirs and friends. Over the past two decades Fraser has created an enviable reputation as one of the finest diatonic harmonica players working today. As a studio musician he has played with Love and Money, Fish, Prefab Sprout, Carol Laula and Del Amitri, and has also recorded and toured with Tam White, Rab Noakes, James Grant and Carol Kidd. Described by Paul Jones as "a great harp player with a gorgeous tone". He began his career in the late 60's while working at Glasgow's Maryland Club. He sat in with several visiting musicians, including Alexis Korner, Muddy Waters and Champion Jack Dupree, before joining Scotland's folk / blues circuit, notably with Hamish Imlach. In 1976 Fraser formed Below the Belt, a band modelled on the Crusaders and Brecker Brothers where, in his own words, he "learned the discipline of playing a part and how to blend with other musicians." Fraser concentrated on session work upon the group's demise and his standing as a musician prospered during the ensuing years thanks to concurrent appearances on radio , television and live work in Scotland, Europe and the Far East.

Fraser has also led his own bands, the Road Rockets and the Blues Cruisers, and worked as a duo with both Rab Noakes and Rod Clements of Lindisfarne. He supported Eric Bibb and Buddy Guy at Glasgow's Big Country and Jazz Festivals, all of which have combined to bring Fraser a wide audience in his own right. "Fraser Speirs and Friends" - the concert preserved on this CD - celebrated Fraser's work with an evening of great music.

The songs on offer deftly balanced original material with cover versions, each of which was arranged to showcase the many talents lending support to the show. Drummer James MacIntosh, whom Fraser worked with on a solo album by Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, is superb, particularly on quieter numbers where his understanding with bassist Ewen Vernal brings a subtle underscore to the performance. Capercaillie keyboardist Donald Shaw shows a marvellous touch, and clearly enjoys the variety of songs on offer, forming a perfect foil with Colin Macfarlane, who weaves textures on acoustic and electric guitar and mandolin. Robin Rankin, a musician Fraser has known for 30 years, figures on occasional Hammond organ while Rod Clements adds extra atmosphere on electric slide and dobro. Three longstanding associates make telling and contrasting contributions. Jazz singer Carol Kidd is rightly regarded as one of Britain's finest vocalists. She and Fraser first worked together with Frank Pantrini and Jimmy Feighan in Glasgow's Lorne Hotel and he remains a member of her touring big band. Fraser has enjoyed an equally strong relationship with singer / songwriter Rab Noakes. They have recorded and performed as a duo and Fraser also works with Noakes' group, the Varaflames. Former Love and Money mainstay James Grant is an outstanding talent, both as a songwriter and interpreter, as evinced by his contributions to his concert. Yet despite the all-star cast, it is Fraser who remains at the centre. His harp playing is always intuitive, but he is equally aware of every other musician. Supportive, textured and forceful when necessary, he deftly balances the roles of frontman and support, reacting to the changes in mood, but always staying in control.It has been a long road to this, his first solo album, but it's been worth the wait.