Celtic Connections 2024 ANNOUNCED!

Tim O'Brien

Eddi Reader

CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival 2024  set for expansive programme of unmissable music!   Images copyright Pauline Keightley

World-renowned Glasgow festival Celtic Connections returns January 2024 with a full program and many international visitors – to brighten our winter nights!

Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February 2024, 

 

With one of its biggest-ever capacity festivals Celtic Connections is known as Europe’s premier folk, roots and world music festival, and the home of  spectacular musical collaborations. Celtic Connections has continued to expand into a multitude of genres over its 30-year history. 

 

In 2024 the festival will stage an ambitious  genre-defying programme of acoustic, traditional, indie, Americana, Jazz, blues, orchestral, experimental and more. Glasgow, UNESCO City of Music will host over 300 events across 25 venues  over 18 days.  Venues include Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Barrowland, Pavilion Theatre, Barony Hall, Old fruitmarket.  

 

From high-energy rhythms fusing contemporary sounds with traditional music, to intimate and soulful acoustic performances. Along with the anticipated 110,000 attendees, musicians will descend on Glasgow from Scotland, North America, West Africa, India, Australia, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, France and Ireland, more!

General tickets on sale at 10am, Wednesday 11^th October at www.celticconnections.com. Celtic Connections 2024. 

Celtic Connections 2024 will take place from Thursday 18th January to Sunday 4th February. General tickets go on sale 10am, Wednesday 11th October 2023, with advance tickets on sale now for Celtic Rovers festival supporters. The programme can be viewed in full and tickets purchased at www.celticconnections.com.

Images copyright Pauline Keightley

Highlights include:- 

●     Celtic Connections Opening Concert, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stages the European premiere ATTENTION! New symphonic work from American Grammy winner Chris Thile - “the best mandolin player in the world” - with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

●     100 years on since the death of Scottish iconic revolutionary socialist John MacLean, a centenary concert  to recognise the significance of the Red Clydeside era – with music, poetry on his legacy, will be led by Karine Polwart, Eddi Reader, Billy Bragg and Siobhan Miller

       Scotland burgeoning traditional music scene is celebrated with Dallahan, RANT, Breabach, Mec Lir, Heisk, Session A9 and The Canny Band alongside emerging artists like Beth Malcolm, TRIP, Lauren Collier, Tarran and Amy Laurenson

●     Another special international collaboration Citadels of the Sun, in tandem with Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Irish and Rajasthani musicians come together Barony Hall to share common themes that connect the two cultures. The show will feature Martin Coyle, Paul Cutliffe, Sarah E Cullen, Asin Khan Langa and Sawai Khan Manganiyar

●     A wealth of transatlantic talent at the 2024 festival includes country royalty with Carlene Carter (daughter of June Carter Cash), 15-time Grammy Award winner and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, beloved singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby, and festival favourites Sarah Jarosz, Teddy Thompson, The Milk Carton Kids, Tommy Emmanuel, Darlingside and bluegrass star Tim O’Brien,who with his seminal album The Crossing.

●     50th anniversary of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra , with unique arrangements and guest performances from Scotland’s Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile), American singer Aoife O’Donovan, visionary folk band Lau and harpist Maeve Gilchrist

●      Beloved Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean will mark five decades of extraordinary music making with a special show entitled Songmaker 2024 - Celebrating 50 Years of Music

●     Roddy Hart’s Roaming Roots Revue 12th year, Songs of Modern Scotland. modern classics along with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Symphony Orchestra, and Scottish talent Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones, Del Amitri’s Justin Currie, Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell, King Creosote, and more

●     Contemporary Scottish Celtic outfits with RURA and Talisk iconic Barrowlands; Skerryvore expansive sound, UK top 40 album Tempus; Skipinnish celebrate 25 years, renowned folk groups Blazin’ Fiddles celebrate 25th years, Kinnaris Quintet headline show Old Fruitmarket with Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart, and Skye’s Valtos celebrate Gaelic song SWG3

●      Showcase Scotland - a part of the festival which facilitates international collaboration - will this year partner with the country of Norway to showcase Scandinavian talent, while other festival favourites including Transatlantic Sessions will return

Festival-goers can also look forward to the usual mix of screenings, workshops, dementia-friendly concerts, late night sessions and pop-up performances at the Festival Club, as well as a thriving education programme that will benefit thousands of children across Glasgow.

Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Tim O'Brien, John Doyle- Late Sessions

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “It’s that time of year where we lift the lid on the incredible shows and events we have in the works for Celtic Connections. Celebration and collaboration are at the heart of the festival and once again we will bring the world’s music to Glasgow audiences this winter. I’m very excited that our 2024 edition will welcome a huge portion of international talent back to our stages, particularly our transatlantic cousins in America, and that we will be back to staging one of our biggest ever capacity festivals. We would encourage audiences old and new with a love of music to discover all that this diverse programme has to offer and spend the dark winter nights with us.”

Creative Scotland Head of Music, Alan Morrison said: “The 2024 Celtic Connections programme puts Scotland at the heart of a musical map of the world. This is arguably the festival’s strongest-ever international line-up, opening our ears to the inspirational sounds of artists from so many different countries and cultures. Running through it all, of course, is Scotland’s own musical lifeblood, the traditional tunes and contemporary twists that continue to thrill audiences and brighten up our winter days and nights.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “I’m greatly looking forward to this year’s Celtic Connections and the warmth it always brings to the colder months with leading Scottish and international musicians across a variety of genres set to descend on Glasgow for what looks to be another fantastic showcase of talent. 

 

Banksy Deconstructs at First Exhibition Glasgow

He deconstructs art and is radical, surprising. Dismaland, anti-war, 

 

It’s easy to understand Banksy’s desire to have this first major show of his 25 years of art making at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) Glasgow (once the Royal Exchange) with the coned Duke of Wellington proudly outside – coned comically now for 40 years after the council gave up trying to remove the cone.

 

Glasgow is a challenging and vibrant place – a place of a multitude of music venues, both big and small, where impressive stone architecture sits side by side with glass modernism, acute poverty and impressive art and architecture – tall Rennie Mackintosh design, merchant city venues, westend wealth, Clyde ships (now mostly silent like past ghosts) and swaying walkways that connect north and south Glasgow; the meetings and protests at George Square, down Ingram street and along Nelson Mandela place.

 

Glasgow is very much about its people and street art makes sense in a city that won’t be silent.

We first enter a dark, enclosed space with flickering lights, sounds and movement to represent street life – rather than the usual quiet of art galleries. There’s Banksy’s anti-war images – throwing flowers and hearts. There are many images of children. 

For Brexit - 'VOTE LOVE'

Banksy early on realised  the power art activism and art as protest can make. He eventually realised that the backgrounds didn't matter on the walls, where space played an important part too.

It was important to be seen and out on the ordinary city streets. To express how we are lost at times and our inhumanity.

It's also a protest to art elitism. Towards the end of the exhibit he shows us how he shredded his girl with a heart image, after a bidder at Sotheby's bid 750K! One thing missing after occurs though - where is nature except in his bunch of flowers? 

Hope in humanity sits alongside despair here – can we forge new pathways? Often surprising, questioning, 

“The purpose of art is not to hold up a mirror to life but to take a hammer to challenge it"

NEW festival The Reeling

 

                                                  Glasgow gets major new festival with launch of The Reeling

Summertime celebration of Scottish music to come to Rouken Glen Park this June

The prayers of Glasgow audiences with an appetite for Scottish music have been answered, with the launch of a major new summertime festival in the city, The Reeling.

 

Rouken Glen Park will burst to life with traditional Scottish and roots music from some of the country’s most exciting artists on Saturday 10th andSunday 11th June 2023, for what will be the biggest single weekend of traditional music in the Central Belt. The Reeling is the brainchild of Glasgow-based music promoter Michael Pellegrotti, who is one of the co-directors behind the incredibly successful Skye Live Festival.

 

This new 5,000-capacity festival in Glasgow’s south side, which will be a celebration of Scottish culture, creativity and community, has made a strong commitment to deliver a first-class, professionally-run visitor experience for audiences from the get go, as well as putting a laser focus on sustainability, championing a fair working environment for event staff, and committing to a gender-balanced line up from its first year.

Skerryvore

With the word ‘reeling’ derived from much-loved Scottish dances and tunes, the aptly named festival is guaranteed to be an almighty knees-up, both on and off the stage, thanks to the likes of Scottish favourites Skerryvore, who will close the festival on Sunday night, and inimitable party starters Peatbog Fairies, who will close The Reeling on Saturday.

Braebach

Talisk

Iona Fyfe

Sian

The opening day also sees a raft of thriving Scottish talent grace the outdoor stage including Folk Band of the Year Breabach, Gaelic supergroup Dàimh, trad four-piece Fras, highly sought-after folk act RURA, Gaelic vocal harmony trio Sian, the groundbreaking and genre-defying trio Talisk and electro-trad duo Valtos.

On Sunday Skerryvore will be joined by a cast of much-loved acts in the form of Scotland’s most celebrated fiddle band Blazin' Fiddles, Hebrides powerhouse Eabhal, Stornoway electro-Celtic band Face The West, energetic trad act Heron Valley, festival favourites Hò-Rò, Scots singer Iona Fyfe and beloved folk singer Siobhan Miller.  

As well as a performance-packed outdoor main stage, the tree-lined Rouken Glen Park site will be home to some unique dining experiences and other activities that will make The Reeling a truly memorable summer day out for music fans of all ages.

 

 

Weekend tickets will be available at an exclusive price until 9 March. Sign up at

 

 thereeling.com. 

 

Le Vent du Nord Joie de Vivre Old Fruitmarket Glasgow!

 

Le Vent du Nord brought their Joie de Vivre to the Old Fruitmarket Glasgow!

Le Vent du Nord, Canadian folk group from Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu Quebec. performed at the Old Fruitmarket Glasgow, at Celtic Connections music festival 2023. This award-winning band collect French folk songs of Quebec and they celebrated their 20^th year with their 11^th  album ‘20 Printemps.’ 

 

They are regular visitors to the festival, and embrace its cross-cultural ethos. Vent du Nord play truly their own blend of world folk and mix the music of the Balkans, traditional French song and northern American traditions. Their influences come from Brittany, Ireland, the songs of Appalachia and the beats of the American south. 

 

**Vent du Nord means “wind of the north” certainly blew our minds with their joyous energy and fun and love of music – and with humorous banter between songs! The band brought their infectious party atmosphere to the sold out Fruitmarket crowd, 

 

The band play both original and traditional music. They performed tunes from their most recent album - “Marianne” with a harmony that builds over the hurdy gurdy and dynamic fiddle. The high impact of beautifully controlled a cappella singing for the song “L’Auberge” with the band centre stage. The Irish rhythms of the instrumental “La Centaurée”, was then followed by the get up and dance beats of “Tour du Monde” and guitar and bouzouki counterpoint on “Petit Rêve IV.” 

 a cappella singing for the song “L’Auberge” 

This band use ‘foot-tapping’, bass and traditional instruments rather than drums; along with the swirls of hurdy gurdy, bouzouki, and accordion. The crowd were ready to party.

Later in the show, to increase the impact, the band were joined by Scots band Breabach, and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. The group play with many threads interconnecting – the band truly connect with many Celtic traditions in their unique brand of melting pot.  A genuinely joyous show!

Celtic concerts always makes me think of warm reds and browns, and this show very much encapsulated all this warmth, joy and passion for live music, and for our traditions and connections.

 

View from the pit

*Le Vent du Nord are Simon Beaudry on guitar, bouzouki and vocals; Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy, piano and vocals; André Brunet on fiddle, foot tapping and vocals; Réjean Brunet on button accordion, bass guitar and vocals; and Olivier Demers on fiddle, foot tapping and vocals. 

Dallahan provided a suitably upbeat and strong support band for tonight show. They play trad music of the Balkans and North America. They’ve had success with their unique style of world folk, which they mix with contemporary influences 

 

Opening concert Celtic Connections 2023

 Opening night at Glasgow concert hall. I see young Gaelic singer Kim Carnie walking past with her newly straightened hair. I remember meeting Dick Gaughan waiting outside here when I asked him what songs he’d be singing for the concert. He’s so honest and down-to-earth. I’m also sad for the loss of the Scots legend songwriter Rab Noakes, who often performed and hosted major tribute concerts at the festival.

The baton is being past now to the new generation of folk musicians, while popular festival stalwarts are still here – Karine Polwart, Anna Massie, Michael McGoldrick, Donald Shaw, drummer James Mackintosh – who reminisce on their very first Celtic Connections concert. My first cc was opening night 2008, with Transatlantic Sessions and Capercaillie old Fruitmarket. 

Tonight’s concert was a smorgasbord showcasing the range of talent on offer over one of the world’s largest winter music festival – with events at 24 venues across the city, from the Old Fruitmarket, City Halls, Oran Mor, Mackintosh Church, CCA to the concert hall; the centre hub with its Danny Kyle open stage and much more.

Peat & Diesel

The opening concert celebrated its 30^th year, and after two years of online events tonight’s packed crowd were more than ready to party again. The 35 strong big band are packed with quality strings, brass, fiddles, pipes and percussion did not disappoint. 

Maeve Gilchrist

We were treated to - Sierra Hull’s energetic display on mandolin; Hebridean Peat and Diesel full on folk rock; Maeve Gilchrist soothing harp melodies; Mali’s duo Dre Cali impressed (normally a trio, with one member missing due to Brexit restrictions). 

Liam O Maonial's (of the band Hot House Flowers) dance to his melodic Celtic tunes; Rachel Sermanni's haunting lock down song ‘Lay my heart’; and Mercury nominated Fergus McCreadie played silky, subtly nuanced jazz piano – which won him 

Scottish Album of the Year and a Mercury nomination for his 2022 album Forest Floor. There was high drama with the National Youth Pipe band and the Scottish dance theatre's contemporary joyful display, while the big band held sway with original and challenging compositions. A diverse joyful night of live music.  

Rachel Sermanni

Sierra Hull

Liam O Maonial'

Kim Carnie

Basc

Celtic has taken the intimacy of live folk to a bigger stage and broader audience. The festival explores quality musicianship and singers, diverse collaborations and the ever popular lively ceilidh bands. 

The Opening concert Big Band - Duncan Lyall, Sorren Maclean, Fraser Fifield, Patsy Reid, Graham Mackenzie, Laura Wilkie, Michael McGoldrick, Hannah Fisher, Ross Ainslie, Anna Massie, Greg Lawson,Alice Allen, Alyn Cosker, James Mackintosh.

 

PHOTOS -  https://pkimage.co.uk

 

Fergus McCreadie

Karine Polwart

Kathleen MacInnes

National Youth Pipe band

Maeve Gilchrist Celtic Connections 2023

 

Maeve Gilchrist soothing harp melodies at Celtic Connections 2023.