Huge Celtic, folk, roots, and world music fest in Glasgow that starts with a torchlight procession from George Square on 13th January and later, in the evening, a concert featuring Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain with international and home-grown musicians.
Among the 1500 musicians appearing over the 18 day festival, in a gospel strand, are Tom Jones, Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bettye LaVette, Creole Choir of Cuba, and Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown: A Folk Opera.
Adaptation and transition is a major programming theme, as artists embrace their influences – The Waterboys celebrate the work of W. B. Yeats, whilst Rosanne Cash, Thea Gilmore, Josh Rouse and more pay tribute to Bob Dylan in the year of his 70th birthday.
The festival celebrates the vibrancy of the Scottish folk scene with performances by Lau, Treacherous Orchestra, The Unusual Suspects, Fiddlers’ Bid and more
Internationally renowned acts from the worlds of folk, roots, indie and Americana include Paul Brady, Richard Thompson, Fran Healy, Rosanne Cash, Seth Lakeman, Raul Malo, Teddy Thompson, Jah Wobble, Ani DiFranco, Justin Currie, Crooked Still, The Walkmen, Marty Stuart, Sharon Shannon Big Band with Imelda May, Shane MacGowan and Mundy and a special BMX Bandits 25th anniversary gig.
The festival features a strong world music strand, celebrating the connections between Celtic traditions and cultures across the globe – Yasmin Levy, Mama Rosin, Cheikh Lô, OqueStrada, Leo Blanco, Keltic Tales and Taraf de Haïdouks will all appear in Glasgow in January.
Iconic Glasgow group Love and Money will re-form for one night only.
Should be something for everybody to make the trip over.