THE doubters said it wouldn’t work. Particularly in January when the weather is bad and finances are worse.

When the idea of a festival celebrating trad music was first mooted 25 years ago it wasn’t just January that was the problem, however.

At the time, the genre was perceived as a bit stagnant and old-fashioned, music that could only be enjoyed by folk with heather growing out their ears.

A quarter of a century on and the festival has grown into a celebration of music that has surpassed all expectations. The very first year Celtic Connections staged just 12 concerts. Now there are over 300 events across 26 stages and an attendance figure of over 100,000.

Not only has the Celtic Connections festival grown in terms of events, stages and visitors’ attending but it has also grown significantly in terms of the music that it showcases, the genres it embraces and the international artists it welcomes. Celtic Connections 2018 will embrace music from the past to music of the present and will look ahead to the future of an increasingly experimental and exciting music scene.

WHAT’S THE SECRET?
FOR director Donald Shaw, the most dramatic difference over the last quarter century has been the sense of a growing confidence within the trad music scene.

“The journey trad music has taken is now allowing us to create quite ambitious shows and unique events,” he told the National.

“I think the biggest change in that 25 years is the sense of confidence and respect for tradition that now exists. It has been quite a long journey for the music itself to be considered along with other art forms like jazz and orchestral music.”

One of the benefits of this growing confidence, he says, is the vibrancy of the youth movement.

“There is a whole new generation coming through. Younger bands like Elephant Sessions and Talisk have this incredible sense of innovation, experimentation and confidence in their music and that shows quite strongly in this year’s programme.”

Indicative of that sense of confidence, says Shaw, is this year’s world premiere at the SSE Hydro of the grand scale live version of Bothy Culture, the late Martyn Bennett’s second album that is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Not only will this feature the Grit Orchestra which comprises around 80 leading folk, classical and jazz musicians, it will also star Scottish stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill whose performance will be inspired by his 2014 film The Ridge — which has been viewed 55 million times on YouTube — and soundtracked by Bennett’s track Blackbird.

HOW HAS IT GROWN?
SHAW considers the festival as a shop window for the best homegrown and international music that connects with folk music.

“One important development has been the way that we’ve tried to see roots music as global and that has broadened out the programme,” he said.

“This year we have acts coming from over 20 countries – Africa, India, all across Europe, South America. We are even staging a project with Iranian pipers as there is a very strong Persian piping tradition. We’ve wanted to do something before but this is first time they’ve got the visas. One of the obstacles of running a festival these days is immigration and getting international visas and getting artists across the border – that’s only going to get harder with Brexit.”

Despite the difficulties in organising such a festival, Shaw is greatly looking forward to this year’s event which runs in Glasgow from January 18 until February 4.

With so much to choose from, he is reluctant to pick any favourites but has highlighted ten performances to look out for.

AND THEY ARE?
SHAW’S first choice is the opening gala which will celebrate the festival’s history with a panoply of artists who’ve featured prominently over the years, reflecting such Celtic Connections hallmarks as its multi-generational breadth, its internationalism and its collaborative, cross-genre spirit. Pianist David Milligan – one of 1994’s original performers – is musical director and the once-in-a-lifetime line-up includes: Cherish the Ladies, Sharon Shannon, String Sisters, Eddi Reader, Kris Drever, Tryst, Michael McGoldrick Trio, Maya Youssef, Ian McCalman, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton, Louis Abbott, Sharat Chandra Srivastava, Gyan Singh, Siobhan Miller, Saltfishforty and more.

Number two on his list is Grammy winner Shawn Colvin who will celebrate 20 years since the release of platinum-selling A Few Small Repairs and its recent re-release in a newly expanded edition. She will be joined by her full band as well as acclaimed husband and wife duo Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, who will also open this show.

Then there is Findlay Napier’s Glasgow which marks 20 years since Napier arrived from his Highland birthplace.

WHAT ELSE?
SHETLAND’S Fiddlers’ Bid with Finnish seven-piece Frigg is also worth looking out for, says Shaw.

Reprising their successful encounter at last summer’s Kaustinen Folk Festival, on Frigg’s likewise fiddle-rich home turf, both bands will play individually before a roof-raising joint finale.

The aforementioned Grit Orchestra with Danny MacAskill is in Shaw’s top ten as is Maid of the Loch: The Heart of Loch Lomond. This will follow Siobhan Miller, Phil Cunningham and their special guests “doon the water” of the Clyde and through the sparkling waters of Loch Lomond as they explore the rich history of shipbuilding in Glasgow, exemplified by the glorious Maid of the Loch – the very last paddle steamer to be built in the British Isles and only remaining example of an “up and doon” vessel.

Austin’s answer to Johnny Cash, Dale Walton, is also on Shaw’s list as are one of the world’s greatest female singers, Malian diva Oumou Sangaré and singer-songwriter Frank Turner.

Then there is Out Lines, commissioned by Easterhouse’s Platform arts centre. This is a unique collaborative project that saw The Twilight Sad’s James Graham, together with SAY Award-winner Kathryn Joseph, turning local residents’ first-hand stories into songs, abetted by producer Marcus Mackay.

No trad festival would be complete without a dram or two, so it’s fitting that the National Whisky Festival, which returns as part of Celtic Connections, is also on Shaw’s list. On January 20 it will once again descend on SWG3 for seven hours of whisky wonderland: masterclasses, food, talks, live music curated by Celtic Connections and of course, plenty of drams.