Observing and preserving folk traditions is one (noble) thing; playing with them is far more fun. Esteemed piper/fiddler Kathryn Tickell and her cross-border band of musicians from ‘England, Scotland and Northumberland’ nod to the former but prefer the latter, as their dynamic Celtic Connections set attested.

Tickell led with the evocative reediness of her Northumbrian piping, complemented by Josie Duncan’s harp, Amy Thatcher’s accordion and a rock rhythm section adding such heft that Tickell was left out of breath with a Shetland reel. This is the energy level we want. Elsewhere, an original slip jig inspired by Lindisfarne was infused with a slow air element, a visit to a Galician festival inspired a ‘pretendy manera’ with lusty whoops solicited from the audience, and a poem by Tickell’s father about Greta Thunberg was teamed with a sorrowful drone.

The original fare flowed, ranging from a fragrant three-part harmony of ‘Freedom Bird’ to the tricky time signatures of ‘Clogstravaganza’, a working title which encapsulated Thatcher’s joyous clog dancing accompaniment, before Tickell and co wrapped up with ‘O-U-T Spells Out’, their raucous and slightly punk spin on a kids’ street song. Skye quintet Falasgair opened proceedings with a whirlwind of fleet fusion, their line-up of fiddle, whistles, pipes, guitar, bodhrán and piano calibrated for maximum dance spirit but also richly melodious on the slower tunes. They did err towards the energetic, dazzlingly showcased by a closing set which mashed up Dutch bouzouki number ‘The Sauna’, a traditional reel and Shetland tune ‘The Spirit Of Whisky’.

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening are on tour, Thursday 21 March–Sunday 6 October; reviewed at Drygate, Glasgow, as part of Celtic Connections.