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With Celtic Connections 2012 presenting the 15th series of New Voices, bringing the total number of commissions to an impressive 45, you'd think that the scope for firsts within these projects - beyond, of course, the salient fact that every show is a world premiere - might be getting somewhat limited by now. However, the second of this year's musicians chosen to unveil their creation, Laura-Beth Salter - a member of the all-female cross-Border band The Shee - is both the first mandolinist and the first Americana specialist to feature in the programme, even if her native Lincolnshire doesn't seem the most obvious birthplace for a bluegrass devotee.
"Specialist", admittedly, may be stretching the point somewhat, given the versatility Salter has displayed in her relatively short career to date. Besides playing and singing with The Shee, whose repertoire also takes in Scottish, Irish, English, Gaelic and original material, she's carved out a successful niche as both a session musician and a touring stand-in for unavailable members...