As one of Scotland's most predominant mid-winter music festivals, Celtic Connections is now in it's thirteenth year and is said to attract the cream of Celtic and World music talent from around the globe, with more than 150 acts performing in 2006.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday 17th January with a Schools concert in the morning followed by a Torchlight Procession at 5pm and a special charity concert, Hands Across the Water, which takes place at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 7.30pm and features members of Altan, Capercaillie and Solas alongside the Duhks, Flook, Darrell Scott, Maura O'Connell and Beth Nielsen Chapman.
Most of the concerts over the following two weeks take place at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, and include performances from the following artists:
Mary Chapin Carpenter (Thurs, 18th Jan) Clannad with Sephira (Fri, 19th Jan); Solas with Iarla Ó Lionáird (Saturday, 20th Jan); Beth Nielsen Chapman with Teddy Thompson (Sunday, 21st); Tom Paxton and Roy Bailey (Tuesday, 23rd); Kate Rusby with Roddy Woomble (Wednesday, 24th); Fiddlers' Bid (Friday, 26th); John Martyn (Monday 29th); and The Wailin' Jennys (Saturday, 3rd Jan).
Artists at the other venues amongst others include:
At City Halls, Fruitmarket: Karine Polwart and Seth Lakeman (Friday 26th Jan), plus Shooglenifty and Tanya Tagaq with Skolvan Big Band (Saturday, 20th January)and Klezmatics with Moishe's Bagel (Sunday, 4th Feb);
At The Classic Grand: The Ukrainians with Rise Kagona & 'Champion' Doug Veitch (Fri 19th Jan); and The Peatbog Faeries with Dolphin Boy and Paul Jennings and Fraser Stone (Friday, 2nd Feb).
There's also Bob Fox with Siobhan Miller at The National Piping Centre (21st Jan), Chumbawamba (acoustic) with Elin Fflur at The Garage (Sat, 27th Jan); Idlewild with De Rosa at the ABC (Tues, 23rd Jan); and Canadian, Oliver Schroer (Camino) with Espido at St Andrews in George Square (Tues 23rd Jan).
Other events, almost too numerous to mention, include the nightly Celtic Connections Festival Club (for season ticket holders), workshops every weekend, Iain Anderson 'talks', films and dance.
Many events are now sold out and there have been problems with online booking. However, considering what's on offer, it might be worth checking out this feast of both traditional, international and alternative celtic folk music.
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