Celtic Connections 2010
14th – 31st January 2010
In January 2010, Glasgow will once again provide the backdrop for Celtic Connections, one of the world’s largest and most prominent winter music festivals.
Taking place over 18 days, the UK’s premiere Celtic music festival will provide several tons of entertainment that will make sure Scotland’s first city is bustling, buzzing and back to life after the festive period!
Celtic Connections, a major event in the folk and world music calendar, returns in 2010 for it’s 17th year. This years line-up looks to be better than ever.
Each year, the very best in homegrown Scottish talent is joined by visitors from around the globe. 2010 will see more than 1,500 artists from every continent performing in venues across the city.
You can look forward to more than 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, workshops and late-night sessions in venues throughout Glasgow.
Some of the highlights of this year’s Celtic Connections (in our very own humble opinion) are listed below:
- The Celtic Connections Torchlight Parade (Thursday 14th January at 4.45pm, George Square). Every year, Celtic Connections launches in spectacular style with a torchlight procession through Glasgow city centre. The pipers will lead a mass of blazing torches from George Square to the Concert Hall steps, as Glasgow lights up for the first day of the festival.
- Celtic Connections All Star Ceilidh Band (Saturday 16th January at 10.45pm, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall). Fronted by an awesome face-off between accordionists Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, Fergie MacDonald, Alasdair MacCuish and Gary Innes, and fiddlers Charlie McKerron, Ronan Martin, Eilidh Shaw, and Archie McAllister, this supergroup once again takes over the Concert Hall’s Main Auditorium. With the seats stripped out for the ultimate Scottish Saturday night, you’ll most definitely be kept dancing into the wee hours…
- The Jewels of the Ocean (Sunday 17th January at 8pm, Old Fruitmarket). Exploring the art of Gaelic song in all its guises, this suitably glittering line-up of Scottish and Irish, solo and ensemble performers is headed by two uniquely influential outfits, the revived 1970s trio Na h-Oganaich and contemporary Celtic supergroup Capercaillie.
- Public Workshops (Throughout the festival at various times, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall & City Halls). Come along and try traditional Scots song, mandolin, small pipes, traditional strings or even whisky tasting.
- Transatlantic Sessions (Friday 29th & Sunday 31st January, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall). Long established among the jewels in the crown of Celtic Connections’ final weekend, and the fastest annual sellouts (even extended over two nights) the Transatlantic Sessions continue to revisit shared roots and forge new common ground between today’s finest Celtic and Americana musicians. This year’s shows feature the likes of Eddi Reader, Cara Dillon, Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain & Donald Shaw (with the same artists performing on both dates).
- Martin Simpson (Friday 29th January at 7.30pm, Oran Mor). A frequent winner at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, Martin Simpson is performing alongside his former student, Sam Carter, a guitar prodigy and gifted singer-songwriter, and Edinburgh singer and fiddler Mairi Campbell, whose version of Auld Lang Syne was heard by millions via the recent Sex and the City movie.
- BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final (Sunday 31st January at 5pm, City Halls).
- Celtic Connections Festival Club Final Night Party (Sunday 31st January at 10.30pm, The Art School). Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances with sparkling host Kevin Macleod to guide you through proceedings.
More information about this fantastic festival can be found on the official Celtic Connections website. Tickets can be obtained at separate venues (online or in person).
This event is included in the following categories:
