CELTIC Connections finally gets going next week – so here’s what to expect as the festival celebrates it 25th year as a highlight in Scotland’s musical calendar.
The festival begins on Thursday with the traditional big opening concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and this year’s theme is, unsurprisingly, its anniversary.
The gala opening features an array of artists who have graced the festival over the years and who encompass its wide-ranging and cosmopolitan outlook.
Sharon Shannon, Eddi Reader, Saltfishforty, Drever McCusker Woomble and Gyan Singh are just a few of those who will be joining in the celebrations.
The following evening the concert hall plays host to fiddler Chris Stout and harpist Catriona McKay who will be joined by string orchestra the Scottish Ensemble and Fife’s own King Creosote.
Saturday’s highlights include Ross Ainslie and The Sanctuary Band, who will be playing Ainslie’s latest album Sanctuary at the Mitchell Theatre, while the welcome return of trailblazers Croft No 5 is sure to see a lively crowd pack into Saint Luke’s.
Don’t forget that the Festival Club is on at the Art School, and there are Late Sessions being held throughout the festival at the Drygate. You never know who might turn up to play at either venue.
www.celticconnections.com
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here