AFTER a spectacular weekend of gigs, including Talisk, Mec Lir, Kinnaris Quintet and Anoushka Shankar, Celtic Connections heads into its final week and there are still plenty of top acts to catch before the festival ends next Sunday.
On Thursday, Kathleen MacInnes, owner of one of the most incredible voices in any genre, will be joined by Gaelic, Welsh and Sámi musicians to celebrate the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages in Mother Tongue at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall’s Strathclyde Suite.
South Uist’s MacInnes was most recently to be heard on the latest release by Skye four-piece Niteworks A’ Ghrian, and here will be accompanied by Brendan Begley from West Kerry.
Begley’s Irish accordion takes in everything from slides, polkas, songs and slow airs and his musical upbringing in the Gaeltacht is evident in his playing.
Cynefin, the creative vision of Owen Shiers from west Wales, is also on the bill and will weave a tapestry as he embarks upon a musical journey through the Clettwr Valley. Tickets are priced £15.40.
The big final weekend has plenty of treats in store and first up are Rura who play the Theatre Royal on Saturday with a new collaboration being premiered at the festival.
As one of the most exciting bands of the past decade, Rura are a creative force and this new EP, entitled Our Voices Echo, sees the band joined by piper Ross Ainslie, fiddler Duncan Chisholm, flautist Michael McGoldrick, Scots siger Hannah Rarity and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.
It is sure to be a performance to remember. Tickets from £22.
Elsewhere, Gaelic singing trio Sian play the New Auditorium at the Royal Concert Hall on Saturday.
Ellen MacDonald, Ceitlin Lilidh and Eilidh Cormack first joined forces as part of a project to celebrate female bards and since then have appeared regularly with Niteworks and in 2020 released their stunning debut album Ceol.
Sian will be joined by Daimh guitarist Ross Martin for what is certain to be a celebratory night. Tickets are priced at £17.60.
Also on Saturday, the Mitchell Theatre is hosting The Scottish World: Billy Kay, Robyn Stapleton, Siobhan Miller and Guests as part of Scotland’s Year Of Storytelling.
The Scottish World promises music, poetry, story and song celebrating the Scottish diaspora and its influence all over the world. Tickets are priced £16.50.
Donald Shaw, creative producer of Celtic Connections, said: “We’ve got a fantastic final week of shows lined up as part of this year’s festival – from household names to young, emerging talent, there really is something for everyone.
“Celtic Connections is bringing venues to life right across Glasgow for the next seven days, while also presenting an exciting digital programme for audiences to enjoy online.
“We would encourage people to brighten up their dark nights and revisit the magic of live music.”
Following the Omicron outbreak, many shows at this year’s festival were affected but happily there is still a chance to see some amazing artists, even if you can’t travel to Glasgow, thanks to the Celtic Connections digital passes which are available to buy and give audiences from around the world access to more than 12 hours of exclusive performances. Details at the Celtic Connections website: www.celticconnections.com/
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