celtic connections

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.

The programme for Celtic Connections 2017 has been announced which features concerts from Laura Marling, Karine Polwart, Shirley Collins, a special tribute to Angus R Grant, a star-studded folk orchestra with La Banda Europa led by Jim Sutherland and lots more.

The first names for Celtic Connections 2017 are announced with tickets going on sale for Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, The Felice Brothers, Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and Joanne Shaw Taylor.

Her fiddle playing is peerless; her voice soft, warm and soothing; and her rapport with the audience as easy and sincere as if she was chatting with a neighbour. With a surprise guest slot from Siobhan Miller the full house at the Tron Theatre would clearly welcome Rayna back to Celtic Connections again and again.

Mischa MacPherson talks to Folk Radio UK about what she’s been up to including her new 7-piece band which will debut at Celtic Connections on 29 January ft: Mike Vass, Innes White, Ali Levack, James Lindsay and more.

Read our Live Review of The Shee’s launch of their Continuum Project at Celtic Connections also featuring Karine Polwart, Chris Wood, Andy Cutting, Kathryn Tickell and Martin Simpson.

In our ongoing ‘Guest Feature’ The Shee tell us all about their tenth anniversary Continuum project and their nominated collaborators. For their latest post Shona Mooney tells us about her choice – Kathryn Tickell.

To mark their ten-year milestone The Shee announce new collaborative project ‘Continuum’ featuring a host of well known folk composers. We will be hearing from each band member over the next six weeks in a special Folk Radio UK feature.

The programme for Celtic Connections 2016 has been announced today by Artistic Director, Donald Shaw. Featuring a stunning cast from world, folk and roots music as well as some great tributes including a special concert for the late Bert Jansch.

Calexico played the final day of Celtic Connections this weekend featuring music from their new album Edge of the Sun. Ian McDonagh was there to capture some of the magic through the lens for Folk Radio UK.

You need a class act to support a band with a reputation like The Punch Brothers – gifted singer Siobhan Miller was perfect, an unforgettable performance at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The Punch Brothers gave the Celtic Connections crowd an unforgettable performance including unplugged delights and voice only performance of ‘The Auld Triangle’ as performed on Inside Llewyn Davis.

One of this year’s most significant and far reaching commissions at Celtic Connections was ‘The Atlantic Corridor’ curated by Carlos Núñez. Along with a fine list of special guests it was an unforgettable evening.

With the great success of The Elizabethan Session those all-star sessions are revived and brought north to Celtic Connections for a final performance at The Mitchell Theatre.

The unscheduled Dreamer’s Circus performance at Celtic Connections was one of the highlights of this year’s festival, a performance that will surely secure their return next year with a more prominent billing.

This year’s Celtic Connections is already looking to be one of their best – with the opening concert of the live world première of Martyn Bennett’s final masterpiece Grit it will take off to a flying start!

Neil shares his final Celtic Connections experience at the auditorium at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library with a fabulous double bill: Sharon Shannon & Alan O’Connor / Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas.

Neil shares more highlights from Celtic Connections when he joined a capacity crowd at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to see Lúnasa, Session A9 and Maru Tarang.