We were visiting a small village a little while away from the city of Chyangugu in South East Rwanda and bidding farewell to the residents when a wonderful thing happened. Gathering around us the members of the small settlement burst into song. It involved a call and response from one woman with the rest of the locals accompanying her only with handclaps and the occasional ululation. Soon the dancing started and the elders made their way to the front and danced us up the road. In a week of extremes, where we heard stories illustrating the worst of human behaviour it was great to be reminded about the wonderful explosion of warmth when groups of people coalesce around music. Standing in the middle of the village surrounded by melody, harmony and rhythm I was given a timely reminder that music, at its best, is brilliantly, beautifully simple.

Perhaps that’s why, over the last few weeks so many people passing through Glasgow have found much to enjoy in World, Folk, Country, Bluegrass and all the other roots music on offer at Celtic Connections. All of us love being reminded of the simple elements of voices and instruments coming together in their rawest form.

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated the scope of our own genre – Country – in a three way round at Cottier’s theatre. On this week’s show we’ll bring you a reminder of the new recordings by the three artists involved as well as taking you on a little journey around some of the themes of their songs on that particular evening.

In the second hour we’ll welcome Lauren Jenkins live in session fresh from her support slot with Brett Eldridge at The Old Fruitmarket on Tuesday evening. We’ve been playing Lauren’s music for the best part of a year now and we’re excited to hear her stories and listen to her own acoustic re imaginings of her album cuts.