Opening 25th Celtic Connections concert 2018

The Celtic Connections Opening concert was organised by pianist Dave Milligan, one of the 1994 performers, to celebrate the world biggest folk, world and roots festival 25^th  Anniversary - with a packed line up of the quality and breadth offered by the festival. 

Maya Youssef

Saltfishforty

The line up included - *Pipers Turst; Saltfishforty who had flown down from Orkney, Siobhan Miller, sang Quiet Grave, winner of Traditional singer; Michael McGoldrick Trio; Louis Abbott, singer Admiral Fallow; Maya Youssef, from Syria; The String Sisters; Far Far from Ypres with Ian McCalman;

Second set – *Festival favourites Cherish the Ladies; Drever McCusker Woomble; Sian Shian, singers from Highlands and Islands; Sharat Chandra Srivastava and Gyan Singh; Sharon Shannon, Irish accordionist; Eddie Reader, Scottish singer; Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton. Scottish pipers.  

Sharon Shannon

Collaborations lift us higher – whether with the great artists of the past or in the present time with other creatives. One thing is the ‘buzz’ that surrounds a top festival; from the foot soldiers laying out the equipment, the seating, the lights, the sound equipment, the instruments; to the Press Office – reviewers, photographers, bloggers, the managers, organisers; to the session rehearsals, sound checks and the spontaneity. From behind the scenes to the front of house, all hope to perform at their best. Festivals are a celebration of the best talent.

Cherish the Ladies

Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton

Sian

**The house band included drums, double bass, brass and guitars. 

For the grand finale we were treated to the entire ensemble of musicians and singers onstage for a rousing jam session! 

Eddi Raeder

The concert had haunting harmonies, excellent band line ups and quality song interpretations.

This concert held the promise of the future and also some footsteps past. The festival gives young talent a stage and many spoke of how they got their starts here and how the festival brought them together.

Back in 1994, few could have foreseen how the festival would grow – it now has over 2000 artists, in 300 events at 20 venues over the 19 days of the festival. And includes Showcase Scotland, Danny Kyles open stage, late sessions, festival club, and more. I was able to shoot the entire concert and obtain a rich tapestry of this vibrant festival.

Congratulations to director Donald Shaw and the many who work to pull the festival together! To delve the traditions and push the boundaries.

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Far Far from Ypres

Celtic Connections 25th festival 2018!

Karen Matheson & Julie Fowlis

Celtic Connections festival celebrates its 25^th anniversary 2018 - with an ambitious and eclectic line-up of world class musicians from all corners of the roots, folk, world, Americana, and indie music world.

I’ve enjoyed some of my best ever concerts at Celtic Connections – The opening concert with the GRIT orchestra, Cara Dillon, Rura the Old Fruitmarket, Jerry Douglas and his band, the legendary Rab Noakes and Dick Gaughan. Mary Chapman Carpenter, Richard Thompson, The Chieftains, Punch Brothers, concert for Gerry Rafferty; concert for Michael Marra.

the awesome Transatlantic Sessions, beautiful Gaelic singers – Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Rhiannon Gibbons,

Some at the bigger venues, some at intimate smaller venues and the many medium sized. In fact Glasgow is ideal, providing colour, history and upbeat vibes. Celtic takes over most of Glasgow’s renowned venues from the warm hub at the concert hall, the atmospheric Fruitmarket, the world famous Barrowlands, intimacy Oran Mor, the historic St Andrews in the Square.

There is always such as unique vibe – from the behind the scenes meetings, the quality musicians who come worldwide, the exciting new talents at the Danny Kyle Stage, the fun Fruitmarket ceilidhs, the famous names, late sessions and so much more.  

Celtic Connections offers subtle intonation, creative musicianship, artistic storytelling, friendly collaborations

Thursday 18 January - Sunday 4 February 2018. The 18 days of the festival will brighten up the winter nights with one-off musical collaborations, talks, workshops, film screenings, ceilidhs, art exhibitions, free events and late night sessions. Celtic Connections festival now has over 300 events across 26 stages and an attendance figure of over 100,000. Begun 25 years ago, some wondered how successful a time January might be, but it has proved that fine music certainly warms the soul in mid-winter nights!

Aly Bain

Highlights of the 25^th Festival

Following its stand out opening concert at the Celtic Connections 2015, the GRIT Orchestra of folk, jazz and classical musicians, will world premier Martyn Bennett’s Bothy Culture at the Hydro, arranged by Greg Lawson. They will be joined by stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill (55m views YouTube). The GRIT Orchestra is a unique ensemble of Scotland’s diverse contemporary music scene, a scene that Bennett himself helped pave the way for.

Blazin Fiddles

Gaelic singers with the Scottish National orchestra – Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheosn.

There will be a tribute concert for Dundee bard, the late great Michael Marra with friends and fans, at the Glasgow Pavilion.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS include - American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, Shetland’s Fiddler’s Bid, Finnish seven-piece Frigg, award-winning Kate Rusby, punk folk band the Levellers, Irelands Sharon Shannon, Skerryvore, The Mavericks, Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean.  

Highlanders Blazin’ Fiddles, have their 20^th anniversary show, with Jenna Reid, Rua MacMillan, Kristan Harvey, Anna Massie and Angus Lyon – PLUS Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Catriona Macdonald, Iain MacFarlane, Allan Henderson, Marc Clement and Andy Thorburn.

The ever popular Celtic finale, Transatlantic Sessions concert will have special guests, the US country queen Suzy Bogguss, duo The Secret Sisters, Southern gospel, bluegrass and swing; Arkansas instrumentalist Shawn Camp; blue grass players Douglas in the Flatt & Earls of Leicester, Dubliner Daoirí Farrell, and North Uist Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.

This year the festival will partner with Ireland with many well known and emerging Irish talent appearing at the festival.

Tickets on sale from Wednesday 25 October 2017.  The festival will run from Thursday 18 January - Sunday 4 February 2018.

Follow the conversation @ccfest

For the programme line-up and tickets : www.celticconnections.com

**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 collaborations the festival will show how much Scotland’s music scene has changed over the last 25 years, with more 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 25^th 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.”