The Celtic Connections festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2018. In true Celtic Connections style the festival will feature an ambitious and eclectic line-up of musicians from all corners of the world who have been invited to take to the Glasgow stage early next year.
The festival will run from Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February 2018. The 18 days of entertainment will brighten up the dark, wet January nights with a mixture of concerts that will include a host of one-off musical collaborations alongside talks, workshops, film screenings, ceilidhs, art exhibitions, free events and late night sessions.
When the festival began in 1994 doubters couldn’t believe the “sheer audacity” of festival organisers to plan an event of such length and scale during the month of January, when purse strings were pulled tighter and people were more inclined to batten down the hatches on the dark dismal nights than head out into the night to attend a gig, especially a folk gig!
Not only were the timings described as wrong but so also was the venue, the festival was centred round the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall which was described as “too formal, too plush, too posh for the essentially scruffy, laid-back creature that is folk music.” From these initial scepticisms and the various doubters the Celtic Connections festival grew at an unprecedented rate, increasing from 66 events in one venue with 27,000 attendees in 1994 to 172 events across 11 stages with 50,000 attendees in 1997 to now putting on 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.
With this year’s line-up and one-off collaborations, the festival will show how much Scotland’s music scene has changed over the last 25 festivals, with ever-increasing musical styles and cross-genre fusions of jazz, classical, folk, world and electronica.
Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections, said: “Since the inception of Celtic Connections in 1994 the Scottish music scene has developed and diversified hugely. When the festival began there was still significant compartmentalisation of genres, which although has its place at times, has become less prevalent over the years. The influence and inspiration that the traditional music scene has had across the whole musical landscape in Scotland and worldwide has helped to make the journey of Celtic Connections all the more adventurous and exciting.
“As an internationally renowned festival we continually strive for better and the 25th edition is no exception. Audiences will be treated to performances from some of the best artists from across the world and an array of unique collaborations and an eclectic mix of world music.”
Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Celtic Connections has been a leading light in Scotland’s cultural calendar for 25 years and I would like to wish them a very happy 25th anniversary! Since its modest beginning Celtic Connections has firmly established itself as a destination of choice not only for lovers of folk and traditional music but also for anyone who wants to embrace outstanding music from across the world.
“Every year audiences from around the world also flock to Celtic Connections, some who have attended every year since the festival’s inception. We look forward to welcoming these audiences back to our city in 2018 and the outstanding musical talent we’ve come to expect from this globally renowned festival.”
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland has a rich heritage of traditional music and storytelling. For 25 years, Celtic Connections has built a stunning Trad folk and world music festival that promotes Scotland’s reputation as a nation of creativity and musical excellence, attracting music lovers from far and wide.
“As we enter our Year of Young People in 2018, Celtic Connections continues to support young people through their educational programme and provide opportunities for young musicians to perform and learn from other, more experienced artists. This is a festival of celebration that welcomes the world to Glasgow, confirming Scotland’s status as an open, outward looking country.”
Emma Campbell, Music Officer, Creative Scotland, said: “It’s a wonderful thing to congratulate Celtic Connections on its twenty-five years as an integral part of Scotland’s music scene. The festival celebrates our shared musical traditions and shines a light on the brightest new stars. Celtic Connections offers a world-class stage and wildly enthusiastic audiences to top performers from home and friends from across the globe. It’s particularly exciting to welcome Ireland as the festival’s international partner in 2018. This partnership with Culture Ireland builds on a strong affinity between our countries, with joint ambitions to share our music with the world.”
Highlights of the 25th Festival
Following its debut at the opening concert of Celtic Connections 2015, the GRIT Orchestra will perform another world première at The SSE Hydro during next year’s festival – a grand-scale live version of Bothy Culture, the late Martyn Bennett’s second album that is celebrating its 20th release date. The show will feature a special appearance by 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’. Bennett’s music has again been arranged for orchestra by violinist Greg Lawson, who also conducts the performance. Comprising of around 80 leading folk, jazz and classical musicians, the GRIT Orchestra will be a unique ensemble and an embodiment of Scotland’s diverse contemporary music scene, a scene that Bennett himself helped pave the way for. Skye’s Niteworks will open tonight’s show; the young quartet is well known for inciting festival and dancefloor euphoria, splicing traditional tunes and instrumentation with symphonic synths and colossal beats.
American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin will celebrate 20 years since the release of platinum-selling A Few Small Repairs and its recent re-release in a newly expanded edition at Celtic Connections 2018. 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.
Shetland’s Fiddler’s Bid will headline a Main Auditorium concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Having formed playing lunchtime sessions at high school, Fiddlers’ Bid share a bond going back more than 25 years and since day one their island’s unique musical heritage has been at the core of what they do. The band will be joined at Celtic Connections by Finnish seven-piece Frigg who are similarly led by four contemporary champions of proud native fiddle traditions. Audiences can expect a mix of Nordic-hued Shetland tunes, both old and brand new, laced with Québécois and east European flavours. Reprising their monumental 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.
Described as being one of the world’s greatest female singers, Mali’s Oumou Sangaré returned from an eight-year recording break in 2017 when she released her album Mogoya – marking a bold step away from previously recorded material. Featuring French production trio A.l.b.e.r.t. and iconic Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, the album couples her phenomenal voice and traditional Wassoulou roots with dynamic dashes of rock, funk and soul, together with edgy dance grooves, while retaining the powerful social commentary for which she’s also renowned.
Just over 25 years ago, an 18-year-old Kate Rusby gave her first solo public performance at Holmfirth Folk Festival – fifteen solo albums and four BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards later and Kate’s shining star continues to rise. She will be joined at next year’s festival by some special friends.
In 1998, Bruce MacGregor assembled a selection of Highland and Island fiddlers, spotlighting distinctive regional styles, for a one-off two-week tour that showcased an array of young talent. It is from here that Blazin’ Fiddles was born. The line-up still includes Bruce, alongside Jenna Reid, Rua MacMillan, Kristan Harvey, Anna Massie and Angus Lyon – retaining the founding format of multiple frontline fiddles, plus powerhouse piano and guitar. This 20th-anniversary show will feature ex-Blazers Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Catriona Macdonald, Iain MacFarlane, Allan Henderson, Marc Clement and Andy Thorburn.
In 1988, Levellers co-founders Mark Chadwick and Jeremy Cunningham met in Brighton pub The Eagle and discovered their mutual musical tastes and political views. Fast forward thirty years and they remain one of the UK’s most passionate live acts, and also the most fiercely independent – booking their own gigs, recording on their own label and running their own Beautiful Days festival. Their heartfelt punk-folk sound and anti-authoritarian stance earned them a string of gold albums during the 1990s, and amid today’s political climate they’re still as relevant as ever. Fans old and new can watch them at Old Fruitmarket as part of Celtic Connections 2018.
In a unique world premiere, Celtic Connections will present a night of symphonic arrangements of Gaelic repertoire under the title of Òrain nan Gàidheal: Songs of the Gael – featuring The BBC SSO & special guests. This show, taking place in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, will feature much loved and renowned Gaelic vocalists including Kathleen MacInnes, Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Robert Robertson, Isobel Ann Martin, Kim Carnie and Mischa Macpherson.
England’s Frank Turner turned his focus to a primarily acoustic-based solo career in 2005 after the demise of his former punk-hardcore band Million Dead. With a devoted fan base via six studio albums and a touring schedule not for the faint-hearted, Turner is working towards his seventh album which he will showcase at next year’s festival. Describing his new material as “a radical departure” from his previous solo work, Turner has centred his new album on classic soul and EDM influences.
In the words of The Mavericks’ frontman Raul Malo, alluding to the current US and world events, “No matter what’s going on, you can still shake your ass”. While their new album Brand New Day features some pointedly topical lyrics (“building walls between us doesn’t fix a thing”), these new songs will have Celtic Connections audiences dancing the night away in the Old Fruitmarket this January.
In the breath-taking surroundings of City Halls Gaelic songstress, Julie Fowlis will perform her spine-tingling new album alterum. With supernatural themes subtly intertwined with the new material, Julie performs the songs in her native Gaelic as well as in English and Galician, with harmony vocals from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Gillebride MacMillan, all accompanied by Julie’s customary brilliant live band.
Alabama-born sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer have each enjoyed separate, equally successful careers that have grown out of their shared Southern musical roots. Their first ever joint recording came in 2017 when they collaborated on the album Not Dark Yet. Celtic Connections audiences can enjoy the material from this new album in the iconic City Halls.
The Celtic Connections 25th Anniversary Concert will take place on the opening night of the festival and will embody all of these elements. This show will be a celebration of artists who have performed at the festival over the years. There will be a few familiar names joining in the celebrations, including Tryst, Saltfishforty, Cherish the Ladies, Eddi Reader, Sharon Shannon, String Sisters, Kris Drever, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton and many more!
Celtic Connections once again gets the chance to test the Barrowlands dance floor with the return of West coast folk-rockers Skerryvore who will play the historic venue on the first Saturday of the festival. This multi award-winning band will be supported by We Banjo 3, two sets of brothers from Galway who have shot to international fame with their multi-instrumentalist performances of traditional Irish, old time, and bluegrass music that they call Celtgrass.
The quintet Lord Huron’s unique spin on US indie-folk sets tales of romance and tragedy amid harmonised, reverb-heavy soundscapes. With all of their work based on imagined characters dreamed up by Michigan-born frontman Ben Schneider, who seeks inspiration from Western adventure novels and Kurt Vonnegut’s writings, this is sure to be a memorable night in Glasgow’s O2 ABC.
Fusion of Genres & Unique Collaborations
Chris Stout & Catriona McKay will perform with King Creosote, Scottish Ensemble and a selection of special guests. Following their new duo album Bare Knuckle, Shetland fiddler Chris Stout and harp trailblazer Catriona McKay will host an unprecedented meeting of disparate musical worlds, highlighting their myriad of musical adventures over the past 7 years. As a duo Chris and Catriona consistently challenge what traditional music is and their performances and collaborations take the music to a whole new creative level. This concert will feature Fife indie-folk troubadour King Creosote, as well as top contemporary string orchestra Scottish Ensemble. Another of the night’s guests, the astounding São Paulo vocalist and body-percussionist Marcelo Preto, reflects Chris Stout’s continuing exploration of Brazilian music, since his Brazilian Theory project in 2010-11. Centred on the new Bare Knuckle material – almost entirely self-penned – the show will feature a variety of groupings within the line-up, together with full-ensemble arrangements.
The hugely popular Roaming Roots Revue will return once again for Celtic Connections 2018. In its 6 year history this cross-collaborative concert has never paid tribute to one single artist, until now. The untimely passing of one of America’s greatest song-writing icons will see this show make an exception with a gala concert in honour of the music and magic of Tom Petty. Roddy Hart curates an all-star transatlantic cast of emerging talent, with expert backing from house band The Lonesome Fire. The line-up includes Natalie Prass, Nerina Pallot, Susanne Sundfør, Joel Plaskett, Lera Lynn, Leeroy Stagger, Sierra Hull, Cory Chisel and Adriel Denae, Pictish Trail and Alela Diane.
At the turn of the century one of Scotland’s most popular progressive folk acts was born, Croft No.5. The band was made up of eight young talents who introduced a highly influential fusion of trad, funk, world and EDM elements to their music. All having gone on to play with other bands or develop other careers, John and Misha Somerville, Barry Reid, Somhairle Macdonald, Paul Jennings, Adam Sutherland, Duncan Lyall and Innes Watson will revisit their headily precocious youth two decades after they formed for this one-off Celtic Connections show.
Bringing together six leading contemporary folk talents, sharing fruitfully diverse backgrounds, The Secret North began with five days’ intensive workshopping in a remote Highland studio last summer. Scotland’s Ailie Robertson (harp) and Donald Grant (fiddle), together with Jarlath Henderson (uillean pipes/whistles), Karen Tweed (accordion), Norway’s Sondre Meisfjord (bass) and Swedish/Norwegian mandola ace Marit Fält all contributed new original compositions, charting fresh common ground between Celtic and Scandinavian tradition, jazz and classical music. They will showcase this cross-collaboration at the Old Fruitmarket as part of next year’s festival.
Accordionesse is a new international quintet of leading contemporary accordionists and composers who are creating new music exploring the contrasts and common ground between Celtic, Nordic and Baltic traditions, as well as each player’s wide-ranging artistic travels. The band comprises of Tuulikki Bartosik (Estonia), Hannah James (England), Teija Niku (Finland), Mairearad Green (Scotland) and Karen Tweed (England/Ireland) with Accordionesse fusing a range of influences together that encompass tango, musette, Balkan, electronic and Americana sounds.
Hailed as ‘a perfect concert’, Hannah Peel – Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia & Tubular Brass – Tubular Bells is a unique performance of the seven-movement suite written by Hannah that charts an imagined octogenarian’s odyssey from Barnsley to out space. The music sets Hannah’s hauntingly delicate voice amid analogue synths, vintage instruments, found sound and for this performance a massive horns support section in the shape of Tubular Brass, an innovative ensemble formed by Scotsman Sandy Smith to develop brass-band music for contemporary audiences.
The Isle of Eigg 20th Anniversary Ceilidh will take place as part of next year’s festival. Starting with the Scotland-wide fundraising campaign to support its community buyout, the Hebridean island of Eigg has attained totemic status in Scotland and beyond, both among advocates of land reform and local self-determination, and for staging one of the country’s most (in)famous annual revels, the Anniversary Ceilidh which marks ‘Independence Day’ each June. The 2017 event celebrated 20 years since Eigg’s inhabitants became its owners, as well as subsequent achievements including the island’s own renewable energy supply, here the festivities continue with a reprise of last summer’s line-up – who all have close Eigg connections – featuring Pictish Trail, Dàimh, Ja’Ma’Tha Ceilidh Band, Massacre Cave and DJ Dolphin Boy.
International and Americana
Uniting the celebrated talents of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan, I’m With Her is set to be an unmissable shows in the Celtic Connections 2018 line-up. Their amazing voices, top-rank instrumental skills and superb songwriting spans the spectrum from beautiful ballads to crowd-pleasing footstompers. Alongside existing originals, covers and traditional songs, they’ve also begun writing together and have just released their first EP Little Lies.
For more than 40 years, the legendary singer, guitarist, bandleader and impresario Juan de Marcos has been a linchpin figure in the evolution and popularisation of his native Cuban music. Having co-founded the great Sierra Maestra in 1976, he oversaw that line-up’s eventual expansion into the Afro-Cuban All Stars. Today’s multi-generational, 17-piece All Stars draw on at least a century’s worth of Cuban sounds and styles, from vintage son via Latin jazz to hip-hop, matching master musicianship with red-hot passion. A moving night of music is guaranteed with Juan and the Afro-Cuban All Stars in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on the first Monday night of the festival.
Tennesse native Sierra Hull, aged just 19, is a star on the rise on the Americana scene. When Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Rhiannon Giddens and Abigail Washburn all guest on a young artist’s album, it’s time to sit up and take notice. A former child prodigy on mandolin, Sierra spread her wings with her third album in 2016, the Grammy-nominated Weighted Mind, which showcased her as a vocalist and songwriter of equally exceptional talent.
Approaching their 30th year, Swedish trio Väsen continue to win rapturous acclaim throughout the folk world and beyond. Väsen have worked with acts as diverse as the Danish String Quartet and Snarky Puppy, and have most recently excelled themselves once again with their recent 17th album Brewed. Audiences can enjoy Väsen in the breathtaking surroundings of the Mackintosh Church.
Born into one Africa’s richest musical cultures – home to some 450 different ethnic groups – the music of Congolese artist Jupiter Bokondji, together with his high-octane band Okwess, reaches beyond its popular conga and soukous sounds, mixing myriad lesser-known styles and rhythms with funk, soul and rock, while urgently addressing his homeland’s post-colonial travails.
US trio The Lone Bellow, featuring three vocals, two guitars, mandolin and keyboard, have rapidly climbed the Americana rankings since their self-titled debut album in 2013. Their heartfelt, soulful, gospel-tinged sound is acutely heard in their most recent album Walk Into A Storm and their passionate live shows are sure to impress the Celtic Connections crowd.
New Venue Announced
Celtic Connections is delighted to announce that for their 25th anniversary they will be using the Pavilion Theatre for the very first time. From Thursday 1 February to Saturday 3 February there will be three special shows taking place in this iconic venue. The first night will be a very special night remembering the life of the late great Michael Marra in words and music. Straight off the back of their sold out Barrowlands show earlier this year west coast favourites Skipinnish who will perform with special guests. The final night at the Pavilion will welcome the Ceilidh King himself, Fergie MacDonald who will be interviewed by Take the Floor’s Gary Innes about his life on the stage. Fergie will perform in the second half of the show with a host of special guests.
The Celtic Connections Global Session: Stramash 25
To celebrate their 25th Anniversary Celtic Connections will partner with more than 20 organisations worldwide to create a live and online interactive session involving folk musicians of all ages and all instruments.
There will be a synchronized musical session lasting at least an hour featuring pre-arranged Scottish tunes and songs hosted in various halls and spaces with live audience interaction across the world – including The UK and Ireland, France, Spain, Scandinavia, Italy, Germany, Canada, USA, India, Brazil and Malawi.
Education
More than 11,000 children across Scotland will take part in Celtic Connections Education Programme through five free morning concerts and school workshops led by leading musicians.
The Education Programme has reached more than 200,000 children across the country since it began in 1999. This programme is supported directly by membership fees from the festival’s Celtic Rovers patron’s scheme, the membership option during the festival that offers discounted rates on bookings and exclusive experiences during the festival.
There will once again be the ever-popular programme of public workshops that will give people of all ages and opportunities the chance during the festival to learn new musical skills and have fun along the way.
International Conference in Partnership with RCS
A conference exploring the teaching and learning of traditional music in higher education on an international scale will be staged as part of Celtic Connections 2018. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Celtic Connections and Glasgow UNESCO City of Music have joined forces to host the three-day conference during January’s festival. The international conference will explore the future of traditional music education. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Celtic Connections are world-renowned organisations that share a passion for excellence and distinctiveness as national and international ambassadors for traditional music in Scotland. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is one of the world’s top three institutions for performing arts education. Scotland’s national conservatoire is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of its ground-breaking BA Scottish Music degree, recently transformed as the BMus Traditional Music – the only Bachelor of Music programme dedicated to traditional and folk music in the UK.
Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections 2018
Showcase Scotland will return for the last weekend of Celtic Connections when musical directors and programmers of leading festivals and venues from around the world will attend performances by Scottish songwriters, bands, and musicians as part of the Showcase Scotland weekend. The concerts, along with a trade fair, provide invaluable opportunities for Scottish musicians to gain new worldwide opportunities thanks to this leading industry delegate event.
Ireland as Showcase Partners
Each year, Celtic Connections partners with a country to help create new international links and advance opportunities for their musicians. For 2018, Ireland is the selected country and Celtic Connections is working in partnership with Culture Ireland to present both leading and emerging Irish artists at the festival. The Irish acts who will perform at the leading music industry event that is Showcase Scotland are: Aoife Scott, Daoiri Farrell, Wallis Bird, Notify, Young Folk and Lorcán Mac Mathúna.
Funders and Sponsors
Glasgow City Council and Creative Scotland continue to provide invaluable support to Celtic Connections.
The festival is delighted to announce La Bonne Auberge as a new sponsor for the 25th Celtic Connections.
Maurice Taylor, owner and founder, La Bonne Auberge said: “For the past 25 years, Celtic Connections has promoted a stunning array of musical talent and styles, helping to put Glasgow on the map as a destination of choice for music lovers across the world to visit our great city. With La Bonne Auberge located directly across from the festival’s original launch venue, we have always enjoyed a great partnership and now we are very happy to become a key sponsor during this year of celebration.”
Culture Ireland, the agency responsible for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide, is supporting the participation of some of the best emerging and established Irish artists at this year’s festival.
Media Partners the Sunday Herald, Evening Times, The Herald and Heraldscotland.com continue to provide in-depth preview and review coverage of the festival. The titles provide valuable support to up-and-coming talent performing at Celtic Connections, with the Sunday Herald supporting the festival’s New Voices commissioning strand, and the Evening Times supporting the Danny Kyle Open Stage.
ScotRail has supported Celtic Connections from the beginning, bringing artists and audiences from all over Scotland to Glasgow for the festival. 2018 continues Celtic Connection’s travel sponsor partnership with Caledonian MacBrayne, Hebrides and Clyde Ferries.
The BBC has supported Celtic Connections since its very first year and the festival is pleased to collaborate once again with BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 who will all be broadcasting live throughout the festival.
Glenturret Whisky will sponsor the Drever McCusker Woomble concert at the Old Fruitmarket on Friday 19 January.
Belhaven will sponsor Elephant Sessions at the Old Fruitmarket on Friday 2 February.
http://www.celticconnections.com/
Celtic Connections Listings 2018
Celtic Connections 25th Anniversary Concert
Thursday 18 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Broken Records and Special Guests
Thursday 18 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Chris Stout & Catriona McKay with King Creosote, Scottish Ensemble and special guests
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £21
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
This is the Kit with Last Horizons
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
O2 ABC
To Kill A King
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £12.50
Drygate
Ricky Ross and Roseanne Reid
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £25
Mackintosh Church
Saltfishforty and Red Tail Ring
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
Iain MacFarlane Trio and Kim Carnie
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrews in the Square
The One Ensemble and support
Friday 19 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
The Secret North and Navá
Friday 19 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Drever McCusker Woomble and support
Friday 19 January
9.30pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Friday 19 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Friday 19 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
The National Whisky Festival
Saturday 20 January
12pm/4.15pm
Tickets from £41
SWG3
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Saturday 20 January
2pm
Tickets from £12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Dove Tales, the Association of Scottish Artists for Peace, presents a discussion about The Human Cost of War
Saturday 20 January
4.30pm
Tickets from £5
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City of Music Studio
String Sisters and ‘Scotland’s Wild Heart’
Saturday 20 January
7:30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
The Lone Bellow with Deer Tick
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £17
O2 ABC
Ross Ainslie & The Sanctuary Band and Brighde Chaimbeul
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
Skerryvore and We Banjo 3
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Barrowland Ballroom
The Friel Sisters & Special Guests
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrews in the Square
Croft No. 5 and Dosca
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Saint Luke’s
Jupiter & Okwess and Les Triaboliques
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Drygate
Lankum with Stick in the Wheel
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
Oran Mor
Findlay Napier’s Glasgow
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mackintosh Church
Brian Ó hEadhra & Fiona Mackenzie with Hecla
Saturday 20 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The National Piping Centre
The Tannahill Weavers – Golden Anniversary
Saturday 20 January
8pm
Tickets from £15
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Saturday 20 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
City Halls
The Music of Laura Nyro featuring Diane Garisto & Guests
Saturday 20 January
Tickets from £18
Old Fruitmarket
Swarb! It Suits Him Well featuring The Jason Wilson Band, Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick & Simon Swarbrick
Saturday 20 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Tron Theatre
Trembling Bells and Special Guests
Saturday 20 January
8pm
Tickets from £13
The Hug & Pint
Celtic Connections Ceilidh Dances: Ceòlas/Beinn Lee Ceilidh Band
Saturday 20 January
8pm
Tickets from £12
Partick Burgh Halls
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Saturday 20 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Saturday 20 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
New Voices: Innes White
Sunday 21 January
1pm
Tickets from £12
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Hazy Recollections
Sunday 21 January
2pm
Ticket Price TBC
O2 ABC
Shawn Colvin and Her Band – A Few Small Repairs 20th Anniversary Tour with special guests Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
Sunday 21 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £28
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Ladies of Soul
Sunday 21 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Oran Mor
Keenan/Gavin/Byrne and Lahira
Sunday 21 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
City Halls
Jean-Michel Veillon & Yvon Riou and The LIT Trio
Sunday 21 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrews in the Square
Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock and Fergus McCreadie Trio
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Boo Hewerdine and Marianne McGregor
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Tron Theatre
Brian Kennedy and support
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Old Fruitmarket
Accordionesse
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
SOUNDING: Modern Studies & Lomond Campbell with The Pumpkinseeds Chamber Orchestra
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Saint Luke’s
Doghouse Roses, John Alexander and Mandula & Hephziba
Sunday 21 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Sunday 21 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £5
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Sunday 21 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
Juan de Marcos Afro-Cuban All Stars and support
Monday 22 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £23
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Start to End: Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
Monday 22 January
8.30pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Lee Fields and the Expressions
Tuesday 23 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16.50
Oran Mor
Max Richter Ensemble: Woolf Works
Tuesday 23 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £24
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Liz Carroll with Séan Óg Graham & Trevor Hutchinson and Niamh Dunne
Tuesday 23 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Frank Turner and support
Tuesday 23 January
8pm
Tickets from £26
Old Fruitmarket
Start to End: John Martyn – Solid Air
Tuesday 23 January
8.30pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Dougie MacLean and support
Wednesday 24 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Le Vent du Nord with Apiary
Wednesday 24 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
O2 ABC
The Deslondes with Underhill Rose
Wednesday 24 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Oran Mor
Mandolin Orange and support
Wednesday 24 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mackintosh Church
Bright Phoebus Revisited
Wednesday 24 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Mitchell Theatre
BEMIS celebrates Burns
Wednesday 24 January
8pm
Tickets from £22
Old Fruitmarket
Cathal McConnell and Hannah Rarity
Wednesday 24 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Alessi’s Ark and Special Guest
Wednesday 24 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Greater Belfast
Wednesday 24 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Tron Theatre
Fiddler’s Bid with Frigg
Thursday 25 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
James Grant and Yola Carter
Thursday 25 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
O2 ABC
The Fretless with Ewan Robertson
Thursday 25 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrew’s in the Square
John Smith & Friends and support
Thursday 25 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
An Evening with LAU
Thursday 25 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
City Halls
Band of Burns
Thursday 25 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Binneas nam Ban
Thursday 25 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Last Night from Glasgow: Carla Easton, The Gracious Losers and The Miss’s
Thursday 25 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Greater Belfast
Thursday 25 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Tron Theatre
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Thursday 25 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Thursday 25 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
Òrain nan Gàidheal: Songs of the Gael featuring the BBC SSO & Special Guests
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Sierra Hull with support
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
Väsen and Aizle
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Mackintosh Church
Lúnasa & Special Guests
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
City Halls
Big Country 25th Anniversary and support
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £21
O2 ABC
John Coletta & The HUMPFF FAMILY Revival and support
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Oran Mor
The Glad Community Choir and Friends
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
Matthew Tighe and An Dhá
Friday 26 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The National Piping Centre
Greater Belfast
Friday 26 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Tron Theatre
Peatbog Faeries & Special Guests
Friday 26 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Old Fruitmarket
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Friday 26 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Friday 26 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
Feis Ceilidh Trail with KIN and the Community
Saturday 27 January
2pm
Tickets from £12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Greater Belfast
Saturday 27 January
2pm
Tickets from £18
Tron Theatre
Roaming Roots Revue: The Wild One, Forever – A Tribute To Tom Petty
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer and Teddy Thompson
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £23
City Halls
Joe Henry and Aara Hart
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Mackintosh Church
Lord Huron and The Weather Station and Flyte
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
O2 ABC
The 4 of Us and Lizabett Russo
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Oran Mor
Sean McKeown & Liam O’Connor with Smok
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The National Piping Centre
A New International
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
Cara Dillon and The Fretless
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Chris Wood and Me for Queen
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £14.50
St Andrew’s in the Square
Bothy Culture & Beyond and Niteworks
Saturday 27 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £39.75
The SSE Hydro
Hannah Peel – Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia & Tubular Brass – Tubular Bells
Saturday 27 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Molsky’s Mountain Drifters with Salt House
Saturday 27 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Marnie and Special Guests
Saturday 27 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Greater Belfast
Saturday 27 January
8pm
Tickets from £18
Tron Theatre
Celtic Connections Ceilidh Dances: Scott Harvey Ceilidh Band
Saturday 27 January
8pm
Tickets from £12
Partick Burgh Hall
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Saturday 27 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Saturday 27 January
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
New Voices: Sarah-Jane Summers
Sunday 28 January
1pm
Tickets from £12
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Hazy Recollections
Sunday 28 January
2pm
Ticket Price TBC
O2 ABC
The Groove is Not Trivial with Q&A (screening)
Sunday 28 January
3.45pm
Tickets from £9.50
GFT
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final 2018
Sunday 28 January
5pm
Tickets from £15
City Halls
Northern Star – Scotland Sings Canada
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
I’m With Her and Rory Butler
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Isle of Eigg 20th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Drygate
Alela Diane and Mick Flannery
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Mackintosh Church
The Barr Brothers with The Oh Hellos
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Saint Luke’s
Maid of the Loch ‘The Heart of Loch Lomond’
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Mitchell Theatre
Richard Dawson and support
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £12.50
Platform
Alkinoos Ioannidis and support
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
St Andrew’s in the Square
David Foley & Jack Smedley with Heather Downie
Sunday 28 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The National Piping Centre
Northern Celtic Routes and Estbel
Sunday 28 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Adam Sutherland, Mairearad Green, Anna Massie & Hamish Napier with Andreas Tophøj & Rune Barslund
Sunday 28 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Last Night from Glasgow: Sister John, Annie Booth and Andrew Nicol
Sunday 28 January
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Northern Flyway
Sunday 28 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Tron Theatre
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Sunday 28 January
10:30pm
Tickets from £5
The Art School
Dale Watson & His Lone Stars and special guests
Monday 29 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Martin Simpson with Tony McManus
Monday 29 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Eugene Kelly (The Vaselines) and Special Guests
Monday 29 January
8pm
Tickets from £13
The Hug & Pint
Northern Flyway
Monday 29 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Tron Theatre
Oumou Sangaré and Solo & Indrė
Tuesday 30 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
James Yorkston and Sarah Hayes & Sara Kazmi
Tuesday 30 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
The Railsplitters and Iona Fyfe
Tuesday 30 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Fiskur and Friends
Tuesday 30 January
8.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Hug & Pint
Kate Rusby & Friends and Aoife Scott
Wednesday 31 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Shake the Chains
Wednesday 31 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
Words and Music by Willy Vlautin
Wednesday 31 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mackintosh Church
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle and Snuffbox
Wednesday 31 January
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Drygate
Martin Hayes Quartet and Brothers of the Free Reed
Wednesday 31 January
8pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert, Main Auditorium
Ímar and Kaia Kater
Wednesday 31 January
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Mary Ann Kennedy and Luar na Lubre
Wednesday 31 January
8pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Blazin’ Fiddles 20th and Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Declan O’Rourke and Josie Duncan & Pablo Lafuente
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
Mitchell Theatre
Hayseed Dixie and Emma McGrath
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £18.50
O2 ABC
Arrest This Moment: Celebrating the Life of Michael Marra in Words and Music
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Pavilion Theatre
Ryan Young with Andrew Finn Magill
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The National Piping Centre
C.Macleod and Wallis Bird
Thursday 1 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Saint Luke’s
The Poozies and support
Thursday 1 February
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
The Gallant Sixteen and Twine it Weel
Thursday 1 February
8pm
Tickets from £15
Tron Theatre
Declan Welsh and Friends
Thursday 1 February
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Levellers Acoustic and The Brother Brothers
Thursday 1 February
9.30pm
Tickets from £22
Old Fruitmarket
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Thursday 1 February
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Thursday 1 February
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
Transatlantic Sessions
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £28
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Adam Sutherland Band with Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Skipinnish and Special Guests
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £24
Pavilion Theatre
The Bow Brothers and Calum Stewart
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
Mitchell Theatre
Out Lines and Hamish Hawk
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Saint Luke’s
101 Scottish Songs – The Wee Red Book
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrew’s in the Square
Dean Owens and Jenny Sturgeon Trio
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Drygate
Sound of Yell, IIk and Aby Vulliamy
Friday 2 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
Rura and Kinnaris Quintet
Friday 2 February
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Peter Broderick and Jamie Sutherland (Broken Records)
Friday 2 February
8pm
Tickets from £13
The Hug & Pint
Lorcán Mac Mathúna with Cassie & Maggie
Friday 2 February
8pm
Tickets from £15
Tron Theatre
Elephant Sessions and Notify
Friday 2 February
9.30pm
Tickets from £16
Old Fruitmarket
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Friday 2 February
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Friday 2 February
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
TMSA Young Trad Tour
Saturday 3 February
2pm
Tickets from £12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Michael McGoldrick Band and Talisk
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
O2 ABC
Alex Rex and Radie Peat
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £13
The Glad Café
Fara and Low Lily
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
St Andrew’s in the Square
Blasta and Xabi Aburruzaga
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mitchell Theatre
Fergie MacDonald: The Ceilidh King
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £22
Pavilion Theatre
Siobhan Wilson Band with the Demi Octet and Jamie Sutherland
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Mackintosh Church
TootArd with Trio Tekke
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
Drygate
Old Blind Dogs
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £15
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Tide Lines and support
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £14
Saint Luke’s
Sam Outlaw and support
Saturday 3 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Oran Mor
Colter Wall and Tyler Childers
Saturday 3 February
8pm
Tickets from £15
Tron Theatre
Daoiri Farrell
Saturday 3 February
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Jaye Bartell and Special Guests
Saturday 3 February
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Celtic Connections Ceilidh Dances: RSCDS Ceilidh: The Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band
Saturday 3 February
8pm
Tickets from £12
Partick Burgh Hall
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Saturday 3 February
10:30pm
Tickets from £10
The Art School
Late Night Sessions
Saturday 3 February
11pm
Tickets from £7.50
Drygate
New Voices: Ailie Robertson
Sunday 4 February
1pm
Tickets from £12
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
Hazy Recollections
Sunday 4 February
2pm
Ticket Price TBC
O2 ABC
Duncan Chisholm presents Sandwood and support
Sunday 4 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £20
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium
Celtic Connections Closing Party – Mànran & special guests and The Young Folk
Sunday 4 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £18
O2 ABC
Transatlantic Sessions
Sunday 4 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £28
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Sam Baker and support
Sunday 4 February
7.30pm
Tickets from £16
Mackintosh Church
Matthew Logan Vasquez (The Delta Spirit) and Special Guests
Sunday 4 February
8pm
Tickets from £11
The Hug & Pint
Sultans of String and Maeve Mackinnon
Sunday 4 February
8pm
Tickets from £14
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite
The Mavericks and support
Sunday 4 February
8pm
Tickets from £26
Old Fruitmarket
Celtic Connections Festival Club
Sunday 4 February
10:30pm
Tickets from £5
The Art School
http://www.celticconnections.com/
Main photo: Chris Stout, Catriona Mackay, Unoma Okudo, Ross Ainslie, Josie Duncan, Su-a Lee, Connor Blake-Martin