Celtic Connections: Wine @ Women and Song

As the trio of beauties comprising Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss and Matraca Berg take to the stage, this one begs the question: are there any ugly women in Nashville? They've gotten together for an evening entitled Wine, Women and Song, each of them alternately performing their own numbers, dueting on co-written songs or providing vocal and instrumental backing for the others. It's all fairly down-the-line country pop, pleasant and agreeable without actually containing anything of any great substance, although their on-stage camaraderie and banter goes a long way to compensating. And yes, they are drinking wine. Mention must also go to Dean Owens in support, the Edinburgh songwriter making a lot of new friends with a charming and fun set. [Paul Greenwood]