CELTIC Connections returns to Glasgow today with performances from some of Scotland and the world’s top emerging musicians alongside returning favourites.
The famed music festival will feature talent from countries including the US, Ireland and Morocco as they celebrate 30 years of showcasing traditional folk and world music.
The festival, which runs until February 5, will welcome “hundreds of thousands” of visitors this year as the festival has quadrupled the number of events on offer over the years since it began in 1994.
The opening concert today at the Royal Concert Hall involves artists who have featured over the past three decades, including Scandinavian folk roots band Basco, Western Isles band Peat And Diesel, Ireland’s Liam O Maonlai, fiddle legend Duncan Chisholm, Scottish Dance Theatre and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.
All the artists are joined by a band that will perform together for the first time in person after originally playing at the digital opening night in 2021 during the pandemic. The band will be made up of musicians including Duncan Lyall, Patsy Reid, Hannah Fisher and James Mackintosh who will also perform throughout the festival.
READ MORE: Counter-protest planned with Posie Parker group heading to Glasgow
Donald Shaw, creative producer for Celtic Connections, said: “Sharing our music and our arts is a vital part of our human existence – it allows us to feel rooted in place and connected to one another, enriching our lives in the process. Over the last 30 years, this is what Celtic Connections has always been about. As we take a moment to recognise and appreciate what we’ve managed to achieve over the last three decades, we go into this year’s festival with feelings of immense determination, pride and gratitude.
“As ever we’re incredibly excited to be welcoming people from across Scotland and the world to Glasgow to enjoy the very best in Celtic, folk, roots and world music. I know our musicians and everyone involved in the festival are ready to make this another incredibly special one in the calendar.
“With an incredible array of entertainment on offer, audiences can expect to be amazed wherever they find themselves across the city. It’s amazing how when the atmosphere in a venue is so warm and the music so restorative, you don’t notice the January rain or the wind outside.”
Glasgow-based band, VanIves will be performing at Saint Luke’s tomorrow as part of the festival line up where they will be joined by local singer Kitty, who was named best vocalist at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
Scottish album of the year winner Fergus McCreadie and harpist, Maeve Gilchrist, will be teaming up with Mr McFall’s String Quartet for a unique performance at the Mackintosh Church.
As part of the festival, dementia-friendly concerts are being held in the Strathclyde Suite of the Royal Concert Hall with Josie Duncan and Owen Sinclair, and Robyn Stapleton with Claire Hastings. The performance uses music to unlock memories with traditional songs.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Celtic Connections shines a bright cultural light in the winter darkness and I’m delighted the Scottish Government is able to support this year’s 30th-anniversary event.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here