FOR veteran Scots musician and composer Jim Sutherland, Brexit is going to be a logistical nightmare.

His group, La Banda Europa, are playing at Celtic Connections in Glasgow on January 29. They are a 36-piece ensemble with musicians from 15 different European countries.

“To do this gig in Glasgow we have to apply for a visa for three musicians from Serbia,” says Sutherland, wearily. “In the future we’ll be looking for work visas for many more people. That will increase our workload, increase our costs, increase the cost to the people who might promote us…”

For tax purposes every piece of equipment, instrument, amp, piece of merchandise taken in or out of a country, has to be registered and accounted for. It is a time-consuming, expensive, exercise that bands in Europe haven’t had to do in years.

But does the interminable struggle of being a musician on the road in a post-Brexit world make Sutherland feel like jacking it all in?

“No, not at all. Actually the opposite,” he tells The National. “I’m determined to make it happen. It’s at times like this we need to lead by example. We need to show that Scotland is part of Europe and that Europe is part of Scotland.

“Our history with Europe is massive… we are steeped in European history. For me there’s never been a more important time to say ‘we’re European’.”

This is the band’s first gig since 2011, brought together again, in part because of what was happening in the world, Sutherland says, mentioning the refugee crisis, and the rise of the right.

There was an appetite from the others to get the band back together. Of the original ensemble only three were unable to make it. The other 33 jumped at the chance. Each musician plays instruments from their own home turf, and the stage of Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall will be festooned with hurdy-gurdys, nyckelharpas, duduks, fujara flutes, carnyx, and bagpipes from seven nations.

Celtic Connections starts tonight with the Mercury nominated and Brit award-winning singer songwriter Laura Marling making her festival debut, leading an orchestrated performance of her songs at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.