Twelve heeds are better than yin: Hen Hoose Collective at Celtic Connections

Glasgow-based songwriting collective, Hen Hoose, played their latest album at Tramway, part of this year’s Celtic Connections festival. One photographer captured the magic of the night, and in anticipation of our upcoming magazine, the writer reviewed it in Scots, the theme of issue 21 of Greater Govanhill.

Hen Hoose peforming at Tramway as part of Celtic Connections

By Zara Grew | Photos by Sadia Sikander

Wit a night! Hen hoose collective brought the coop doon wae a night of singin, dancin and smashin the patriarchy. Aw gatherin tae celebrate the launch of recently released album The Twelve. The stage was buzzin wae aw twelve of the collaborators, headed by founder Tamara Schlesinger, known as MALKA, who started the project over lockdown an has been leading the charge ever since. 

Hen Hoose are a songwritin collective based in Glasgow who make bold new music and fight for equal opportunities in the music industry. They support wummin and non-binary artists through everyhin from album releases, songwritin camps to audio production courses.

Celtic Connections wis the perfect place tae launch such a glorious collection of Scottish-made music. Steeped in folk influences wis the folk-rock song Sirens Call My Name alongside newer sounds from punk tae hip hop an spoken word styles such as the song Rich (Katie’s in Space). This album was made in a week, from songwritin tae production, at Black Bay Studios on the Isle of Lewis. It wis refreshin tae hear an album that feels so raw, not overproduced but a snapshot of the creative process and artists development.  

At Tramway, the busy, bustling crowd showed thier support for Hen Hoose by loudly cheering on every artists who took to the stage. You could see the artists were pals with eachother as they were biggin eachother up and dancin along tae every song performed. We were having a right laugh at aw the wee jokes and stories about them being cooped up thegither on the Isle of Lewis. 

It was absolutely class to see such a varied line up a talented wummin and non binary folks, crossing genre an style tae create a joyful and energetic night. It felt like a celebration of wumminhood and a step towards changing attitudes an making the music industry a more inclusive and equitable space. A canny wait tae see an hear more from this very talented brood.