Celtic Connections Festival delivers another exciting line-up of over 300 events featuring musicians from across the globe.
After last year’s impressive 25th festival celebrations, when Celtic Connections welcomed over 2,300 artists from over 30 countries and recorded an exceptional 130,000 attendances, the largest winter music festival of its kind continues to grow and diversify.
The UK’s premier celebration of Celtic music will run from Thursday 17 January to Sunday 3 February 2019 in venues across Glasgow. The jam-packed programme is an eclectic mix of intimate gigs, large concerts, one-off musical collaborations, talks, workshops, film screenings, theatre productions, ceilidhs, exhibitions, free events and late-night sessions. There is also a huge range of performers from household names to emerging talent.
Reflecting on the full festival programme, Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “Every year we strive to programme the most diverse and eclectic festival yet and 2019 is shaping up to be just that. From artists who have influenced the current scene, to musicians who are re-defining the music of tomorrow, Celtic Connections 2019 will continue to embrace a huge range of styles and genres that showcase artists and cultures from across the world.”
One highlight, as always, is the return of the Roaming Roots Revue for its 7th year, which will celebrate 50 years of The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’. Special guests performing alongside the Sun King Orchestra include KT Tunstall, The Staves and You Tell Me – the exciting new collaborative duo of Field Music’s Peter Brewis and Admiral Fallow’s Sarah Hayes – with more special guests to be announced. Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire will curate and host the night’s entertainment of original songs and unique covers.
Personal highlights for me include Siobhan Wilson bringing her stunning songwriting to Saint Luke’s, The Dandy Warhols playing the Old Fruitmarket in celebration of their 25th anniversary as a band and the beguiling Naomi Bedford playing ‘The Appalachian Ballads’ in the beautiful surrounds of the Mackintosh Church.
Despite the dark, gloomy time of year, Celtic Connections festival will again provide thousands of music lovers the opportunity to experience the brightest performances and a warm Glasgow welcome.
