Celtic Connections 2017

Renata Rosa cuts a colourful figure from the very beginning as she sweeps onto the stage at Glasgow City Halls to perform with her three-piece band…a thrilling and enchanting taste of Brazil.

The very nature of Celtic Connections means there are a wealth of exciting collaborations, formed without much time for rehearsal, and they can be all the more exciting for it. However, when something as carefully planned, and as perfectly executed, as Duncan Chisholm’s The Gathering takes place the results are captivating and memorable.

Featuring Karen Matheson, Julie Fowlis, The Kaela Rowan Band and more, Paul McGeechan presented Celtic Connections with a unique and captivating performance, successfully bringing the splendour of Starless to a live, and thoroughly appreciative, audience.

The Mitchell Theatre was filled to capacity to experience the true American legend that is Tom Paxton and he didn’t disappoint. Joined by his band of Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer it was a truly memorable evening.

A perfect blend of styles delivered with assured mastery by a group of highly accomplished musicians; The Kaela Rowan Band provided another example of the genuinely outstanding quality of performance on offer at Celtic Connections.

It takes quite a performer to move a packed auditorium from a hand clapping, foot-stomping frenzy to a rapt, silent hush on the turn of a sixpence. Tommy Emmanuel, though, with his mix of guitar and people skills, is the very man for the job. An outright charmer.

Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland’s brought their off-the-cuff musical musings, Nae Plans, to a packed and enthusiastic house. Together with Jenn Butterworth, Laura-Beth Salter and Steve Foreman they also brought a flavour of those famous late night sessions to an early-evening Glasgow audience.

Derek Gripper walked onto the Celtic Connections stage with a cheery nod, acknowledging the welcome from the audience, took a seat, relaxed with one ankle resting on the other knee, and proceeded to play the most beautiful, enchanting guitar music you will ever hear.

Glasgow-based trio Wildings (Jennifer Austin, Sarah Hayes and Fiona MacAskill) charmed the Celtic Connections audience from the outset and was a testament to the creative relationship enjoyed by this trio.

Joined by special guests, including Chris Wood, fiddle player Catriona Price and harpist Esther Swift, better known as Twelfth Day, gave a remarkable performance at Celtic Connections. True originals who sound like nothing you’ve ever heard.

Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall witnessed over 60 musicians, who have been inspired by and shared Angus R Grant’s vision, spend an energetic, soulful, exuberant and, at times, emotional four hours celebrating his music, his humour, his unmitigated love of a good tune, and of a good time.

On the first weekend of this year’s Celtic Connections, Scottish fiddle quartet Rant introduced 4/4, A Project for Projection, in which the band work with a group of twelve young fiddlers from across Central Scotland to create a performance with a full-on fiddle sound.