THE world’s biggest and best winter music festival is back to help make the short, dark days of January and February a little more palatable.

Celtic Connections kicked off on Thursday with the return of Greg Lawson with one of two gigs for the mighty Grit Orchestra. Thursday’s celebration of the Declaration of Arbroath in the Royal Concert Hall was a welcome return to that venue after the stunning debut performance there in 2016, while last night’s performance of Grit and Bothy Culture at the Barrowlands was a slightly wilder celebration of the music of Martyn Bennett

which had the audience dancing for joy.

Elsewhere, Pictish Trail almost lifted the roof off St Luke’s with their inimitable take on lo-fi electro-indie folk, and yesterday’s day-long celebration of the Year of Scotland’s Coasts and Waters was peppered with electrifying performances, not least from ingrid Henderson and friends, who performed her specially commissioned composition, Message in a Bottle, and west coast stalwarts, Daimh.

However, if you missed out on the fun of opening weekend then there’s still plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks. Here’s just a small selection of the gigs coming up in the following weeks:

Robert Vincent and Amy Paparinsky, Today, Oran Mor

Liverpool’s Robert Vincent’s mix of blues and country is inspired as much by his home city as by the tumultuous events occurring across the world. His songs explore what it is to be human in these times and his contemporary take on age-old themes sets him apart.

Keith-born singer/songwriter Amy Papiransky, meanwhile, announced herself last year with her debut, Read Me Write, which showcased her stunning voice. A born storyteller, Papiransky weaves tales of love, loss and heartache with delicate skill while the lilt of her native north-east is ever present.

Hamish Napier, The Woods, Today, Mitchell Theatre

The third installment of Hamish Napier’s planned Highland pentalogy, The Woods, is an exploration of the trees,

the spaces and the wildlife surrounding his home in

Grantown-on-Spey.

Napier’s connection to the landscape and communities of Speyside that is at the heart of his compositions. He immerses himself in his subjects and the results are recordings that have an almost unique ability to transport the listener.

Frazey Ford with Adam Holmes and the Embers, Thursday January 23, St Luke’s

Frazey Ford returns to Celtic Connections ahead of the release of her third album, U Kin B The Sun. Her previous two efforts. Obadiah and Indian Ocean, were critically well received and Ford’s distinctive voice continues to enthrall.

Adam Holmes has long been one of Scotland’s brightest emerging stars and his light shows no sign of fading. His sonorous voice, always tinged with a deep melancholy, is the perfect vehicle for his undoubted songwriting skills.

Manran with Band of Burns, January 24, Barrowlands

Perhaps Scotland’s favourite folk-rockers return to Celtic Connections with a new vocalist but the same party attitude which is sure to have the Barrowlands jumping. Kim Carnie now fronts the band, allowing fiddler Ewen Henderson to take a step back, while national-treasure-in-waiting Gary Innes drives the dancing on his accordion. Expect a high-energy evening of dance tunes.

Peat & Diesel, January 25, Barrowlands

Lewis-based phenomenon Peat & Diesel bring Peatlemania to the east end with this gig originally scheduled for Oran Mor until it sold out within minutes. The band’s success has caught them by surprise with their infectious energy and commitment to exploring the dafter side of life on the edge of Scotland has propelled them further than they could ever have imagined. With their second album out already there’s no sign of ‘Callum Dan’s Transit Van’ slowing down any time soon. Craic.

Blue Rose Code, January 30, Old Fruitmarket

Edinburgh-born Ross Wilson presents This is Caledonian Soul, a journey through Scottish songs and songwriting from the traditional to the contemporary. With a 14-piece band, Wilson will explore Scotland’s musical output across the centuries including his interpretations of songs by artists such as the Proclaimers and The Blue Nile.

Tradbeats/ETE/Krismenn and Alem, January 30, Mitchell Theatre

The brainchild of Scottish stepdancer Sophie Stevenson, this promises to be a unique event celebrating dance, music and song from Scotland, Brittany and Quebec. Glasgow-Indian beatboxer Bigg Taj will be joined by Mod winner Eilidh Munro, Skye’s Deirdre Graham and Catherine Tinney, Quebecois trio ETE and Brittany’s Krismenn and Alem as they explore their native mouth music – Scots Gaelic puirt-à-beul, Brittany’s kan ha diskan and Quebec’s turlette.

Kinnaris Quintet, January 31, Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium

Fresh from the success of debut Free One, Belhaven Bursary Award winners Kinnaris Quintet bring their fiddle-driven take on Scots and Irish folk, bluegrass and Americana to the Concert Hall. There will be sequins, driving tunes but also some more reflective moments filled with emotion. The joy these women derive from playing together is infectious.