FESTIVAL THROWBACK
The January sun rose mid-morning in Glasgow. Surface ice on the walkway along the River Clyde began to thaw and allow a firmer grip for the small crowd waiting and watching intently. Several cameramen stood ready to record the big moment. Storm, a gigantic sea goddess puppet designed to call attention to climate change, was about to wake up and begin her long stroll through city streets to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the hub of Celtic Connections Festival 2020.
Workers in sky blue raincoats kept watchers at a safe distance while a team in yellow raincoats marked ‘STORM’ untied veils and took hold of ropes. Ominous whooshing and popping sounds emanated from a sound truck. Music by Mairi Campbell and Dave Gray sketched mysterious sounds, bits of melody and the chant, “Pure sound. It’s a mantra.” As if speaking for Storm, a voice intoned, “I come from the sea. My memory is long, and my children are strong…”
Slowly, Storm rose from kneeling to her full height of 30 feet. Her huge blue eyes opened and looked about, knees lifted, and she took her first steps, arms swinging much more naturally than might be expected for a puppet three storeys tall. Police escorted her as
