Celtic Connections announces line-up for 2011

The line-up has been announced for Celtic Connections, one of Scotland's most prominent mid-winter music festivals, which attracts the Celtic and World music talent from around the globe to the city of Glasgow, Scotland from Thursday 13th until Sunday 30th January 2011.

The line-up includes some of the world's finest folk, roots, world, traditional, indie and jazz musicians who will help celebrate the festival's 18th birthday next January over 18 days, with around 1500 artists taking part in 300 events in 14 venues across Glasgow.

The line-up includes Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain opening the festival with an international collaboration with traditional musicians from Scotland and Ireland. The Waterboys will celebrate the work of W. B. Yeats, whilst Justin Townes Earle, Thea Gilmore, Justin Currie, and more pay tribute to Bob Dylan in the year of his 70th birthday.

In a major a major coup for Celtic Connections, the iconic Glasgow group Love and Money will re-form for one night only, and Grant Lee Buffalo will play their first UK gig together after nearly 12 years on hiatus.

Also confirmed are Scottish acts Lau, The Treacherous Orchestra, The Unusual Suspects, and Fiddlers' Bid.

International acts from the worlds of folk, roots, indie and Americana include Paul Brady, Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman and Port Isaac's The Fisherman's Friends, Raul Malo, Teddy Thompson, Jah Wobble, Ani DiFranco, Crooked Still, and The Walkmen.

Americana, country, rockabilly and bluegrass is represented at the festival including an appearance of the godfather of country music Marty Stuart, plus Sharon Shannon Big Band with Imelda May, Shane MacGowan and Mundy, and a special BMX Bandits 25th anniversary gig.

Also announced today are Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bettye LaVette, The Creole Choir of Cuba, Yasmin Levy, Mama Rosin, Cheikh Lo, OqueStrada, Leo Blanco, Keltic Tales, Taraf De Haidouks and Anaïs Mitchell's Hadestown: A Folk Opera.

New talent showcased includes the hotly tipped Rachel Sermanni, accordionist Angus Lyon, and fiddler Innes Watson.

Showcase Scotland works with an international partner each year and will this year share the stage with Nova Scotia. Some of the Canadian province's finest artists have been selected by Celtic Connections' Artistic Director Donald Shaw to appear at the festival including Amelia Curran, Joel Plaskett, Old Man Luedecke, Tom Fun Orchestra, Gillian Boucher, and The Beaton Sisters who will perform over the Showcase Scotland weekend as the festival celebrates the strong connections between Nova Scotian and Celtic musical traditions.

The festival has also announced the return of the All-Star Ceilidh in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall which will form the core of a new dance strand which celebrates traditional dance from both sides of the Atlantic.

Donald Shaw, Celtic Connections Artistic Director, said, "Every year we encourage artists to bring something special to Celtic Connections, and I think performers really embrace this opportunity. The 2011 festival will feature ambitious new collaborations with musicians from completely contrasting backgrounds, such as a fusion of Celtic music with electronica. We'll also stage one-off shows such as a 70th birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, or a performance by the iconic Glasgow band Love and Money, who will re-form for one night only at the festival.

"Over the past few years we've explored the connections between Celtic music and cultures around the globe, and this year we're honoured to welcome Zakir Hussain to Celtic Connections for our opening concert, The Pulse of the World. I think this notion of celebrating global influences really encapsulates what the festival is all about, and hopefully for 18 days in January, the pulse of the world will be Glasgow."

Tickets for Celtic Connections 2011 tickets will go on sale today, ticket prices vary from FREE to around £30. To buy tickets once available, click here.

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