Celtic Connections announce first acts

Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Felice Brothers, Tommy Emmanuel, and Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

By Scott Williams | Published: Thu 18th Aug 2016

Celtic Connections 2017

Thursday 19th January to Sunday 5th February 2017
various venues, Glasgow, City of Glasgow, G2 3NY, Scotland MAP
various - from FREE to around £35

Daily capacity: 25,000

Celtic Connections has announced the first acts for it's programme of folk, roots, world, traditional, indie, blues & jazz for the forthcoming festival that happens in numerous venues around Glasgow from Thursday 19th January until Sunday 5th February 2017. A morefull programme announcement will come in October.

The first acts confirmed are Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Felice Brothers, Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, and Billy Bragg & Joe Henry will performing songs featured on their album Shine A Light, which was recorded on a four day rail trip across America, along with favourites from their own back catalogues.

Each January more than 2000 musicians from across the world take part in more than 300 events in venues across the city as Glasgow hosts the UK’s leading celebration of Gaelic music. There were more than 120,000 attendances at last year’s festival – while nearly 10,000 school children attended free morning concerts as part of the festival's Education Programme.

buy tickets now >

Ticket prices vary from FREE to around £35.

Councillor Archie Graham, OBE, Chair of Glasgow Life, said, "Celtic Connections is a must see event that will already be marked in the calendar of music lovers across the world. If you've never been before, then I would encourage you to join us in Glasgow to experience what is not only the UK's leading celebration of Celtic music but also now one of the best music festivals in the world."

discuss this news on the Festival Forums