Tartan Terrors at The Kate
Katie 
Sunday’s Celtic Christmas concert by the Tartan Terrors was a joyous two-set celebration of music, memory, and merriment, wrapped in plaid and powered by pipes, drums, and soaring melodies. The evening unfolded in two energetic 45-minute sets with a brief intermission, opening with the stirring “Awakening” and gliding seamlessly into holiday favorites and Celtic standards like “I Saw Three Ships,” “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “Heave Away,” and a rousing Christmas medley. Highlights from the first set included the emotional “Christmas in the Trenches,” the lively “Glasgow Reels,” and the always-electric “Quad Piper,” reminding everyone why the Terrors are known as much for their spectacle as for their musicianship.
Between songs, front man Ian charmed the crowd with a series of hilarious and heartfelt childhood Christmas stories that quickly became as much a part of the show as the music itself. Tales of the infamous “Round John Virgin,” interpreting “Noel” as “No El” in honor of his sister Ellen, accidentally singing “incest owns a deity nigh” instead of “incense” during church, and the legendary misread “apply glue” that sent his father on a wild glue hunt had the audience laughing nonstop. Throughout the night, Ian and the band lovingly kept his sister Ellen’s memory alive, giving the concert an added emotional depth beneath the humor and high-spirited performance.
The second set soared with powerful selections like “Freedom ’14,” a beautiful take on “Pachelbel’s Canon,” and a spirited “Fairytale of New York,” followed by beloved holiday staples including “Christmas in Killarney,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Little Drummer Boy.” (The latter not without a hilarious take from Ian on how no mother would want a drummer next to her sleeping newborn baby!) “Sailing Home” and “High Road” carried the crowd toward the emotional finish before an encore of “Auld Lang Syne” and “Bonnie Dundee” sent everyone home glowing with holiday cheer. Personally, hearing “Carol of the Bells” live brought an extra layer of magic, as it’s my favorite Christmas carol and a moment I’ll be replaying in my head all season long. The Tartan Terrors’ Celtic Christmas was equal parts laughter, memory, and musical brilliance. A perfect way to welcome the holiday spirit.
