Celtic Connections 2015

15th January – 1st February

Thursday 6th November

NEW ARTISTS CONFIRMED FOR CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2015

Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison is among an exciting mix of new artists

confirmed for Celtic Connections 2015.

Morrison’s latest album, 2012’s Born to Sing:No Plan B, encapsulates the

uncompromising passion and drive that have been constants throughout his

extraordinarily rich and varied 50-year career. Born in Belfast, and originally inspired

by his shipyard worker father’s collection of blues, country and gospel, Van the Man

has worked with such fellow legends as Bob Dylan, The Band, John Lee Hooker,

Ray Charles and Tom Jones, amassing myriad top accolades including six

Grammys, an Ivor Novello Award, an OBE and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall

of Fame.

The eclectic programme for next year’s festival includes some of the best-known

musicians in traditional and roots music, world, indie, jazz, folk, soul and Americana.

Over 2000 musicians from every corner of the globe will come to Glasgow between

Thursday 15th January and Sunday 1st February 2015.

Highlight Concerts Added to Line Up

Other highlight concerts added to the 2015 line up include Horizons which is a new

partnership project promoting music from the British Isles’ constituent nations and

regions in the international market, with tonight’s line-up focusing on singers and

songwriters. Representing the home team is multi-award-winner Karine Polwart,

whose songs’ poetic lyrical economy, understated emotional intensity and uncanny

human empathy are all exquisitely articulated in her radiantly incisive voice. From

England comes the much loved Barnsley songbird herself, Kate Rusby, having

earned another fistful of glowing reviews for her 2014 album Ghosts, while her

husband, singer and banjo ace Damien O’Kane, showcases the resonant vocals and

interpretative affinity with Northern Irish material that have earned him comparisons

with Paul Brady and Len Graham. Bilingual Welsh balladeer Al Lewis features in his

new country-folk duo with Mississippi-born Alva Leigh, and Ireland’s Declan

O’Rourke performs fresh material from his most recent album Howlin’ Lowly Moons.

(For more information on Horizons please see below notes to editors)

Wired to the World: Treacherous Orchestra with Michael McGoldrick big band

promises to be wild night – much of the downstairs seating area in the main

auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will be cleared so that the audience

can strut their stuff at the action-packed Afro-Celtic party. Raising the bar in folk

fusion are Glasgow’s mightiest dirty dozen, the Treacherous Orchestra, who look set

to generate uncharted peaks of euphoria as they preview their imminent second

album, Grind. Flautist, whistle player and uilleann piper extraordinaire, Michael

McGoldrick – who’s lately been switching hats between jet-setting duties in Mark

Knopfler’s band, 30th anniversary gigs with Capercaillie, and his dream-team trio with

Johns McCusker and Doyle – needs little introduction here, but gigs at the helm of

his own hand-picked band of brothers are always a festival highlight. Formed out of

conflict and displacement, Malian quartet Songhoy Blues preach peace and

reconciliation via hypnotic Tinariwen-style grooves and defiant blues-rock swagger.

Completing the line-up, Cameroonian singer Coco Mbassi performs mainly original

material, subtly blending African sounds with jazz, gospel and soul.

Ten years on from the original With Strings Attached, a landmark Celtic Connections

performance featuring Highland fiddle supergroup Blazin’ Fiddles with some of

Scotland’s top singer-songwriters, the band again turn their hands to sumptuous

song arrangements for Strings Attached – The Next Generation. Discussing the 2005

show, Blazin’ Fiddles ringleader Bruce MacGregor said, “We wanted to show the

adaptability of traditional music, but also to raise the question of just what is a folk

song?” – points which have arguably been both answered and expanded in the

interim, with the guest singers all embodying diverse contemporary definitions of

‘folk’. From Scotland, Adam Holmes and Rachel Sermanni have each established

themselves among today’s most affecting and distinctive vocalists and songsmiths,

while ex-Crooked Still singer Aoife O’Donovan, now pursuing a highly praised solo

career, brings a Stateside dimension to the project. Together with an augmented

Blazin’ Fiddles line-up, the concert also features the glorious and innovative vocal

might of the Inverness Gaelic Choir, plus other surprise guests.

Master Galician piper Carlos Núñez returns to Celtic Connections 2015 with a brand

new commission entitiled Carlos Núñez ‘The Atlantic Corridor’, in association with

British Council and the gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye, where he was

inspired to visit following “the distinct possibility that the bagpipe arrived to Scotland

by way of an Atlantic corridor, and that its closest relation is the Spanish Gaita”.

(Hugh Cheape) Along with special guests from Scotland, Wales and South America

Núñez and his band aim to once again reflect Celtic music’s subsequent leaps-and

bounds evolution (in which Núñez himself has played no small part), splicing

traditional and original material, from Galicia, Ireland and Brittany, along with newly

created Scottish piping arrangements.

Inspired by a sea voyage around Scotland’s west coast, retracing a route sailed by

author Neil Gunn in 1937, award winning musician/composer Mike Vass’s captivating

new work Mike Vass ‘In the Wake of Neil Gunn’ integrates traditional, classical and

electronic elements with film, photography and spoken-word excerpts, vividly evoking

the moods of the sea, weather and landscape together with the power of Gunn’s

writing. Vass leads a 10-piece ensemble including string quartet, fiddle, guitars,

oboe, flute and bass.

Glasgow's Gaelic arts organisation An Lòchran will present Slàinte Mhath over the

last weekend of the festival where they will invite the audience to revisit that hallowed

hostelry Bùth Dhòmhnaill 'ic Leòid (Donald MacLeod's Pub), where, in the

(translated) words of 20th-century bard Donald Macintyre, all sorts foregather/That

come from the bank of the Clyde and down from the glens and Our minds will be on

music and we'll have plenty of songs. A hearty celebration of Gaelic drinking songs,

traditions and stories, the show features musical director Mary Ann Kennedy, Arthur,

Eilidh and Ruairidh Cormack, Rona Lightfoot, Robert John MacInnes, Sineag

MacIntyre, Angus MacLeod, male vocal group Trosg and a four-piece house band,

with narration from Angela MacEachen.

Step Into My Parlour featuring Michelle Burke will make a welcome return to Celtic

Connections 2015. Having started out as a twohander performance in Edinburgh’s

eponymously tiny Wee Folk Club, during the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe, Irish singer

Michelle Burke’s Step Into My Parlour has grown arms and legs in the course of

subsequent stagings. While the Old Fruitmarket surely sets a new record as the

world’s biggest parlour, the show’s charmingly homely intimacy will welcome all who

accept the title’s invitation. Jointly conceived by Burke and her visual-artist sister

Laura – who created the evocative set design. Step Into My Parlour takes its

audience back to their great grandmother’s era, with a quirky mix of traditional and

music-hall songs, family stories and antiquated household hints. Burke’s expanded

cast-list includes the iconic Cathal McConnell, fellow singers Heidi Talbot and

Kathleen MacInnes, multi-instrumentalist Anna Massie, English harmonica prodigy

Will Pound and pianist James Ross, with other surprise guests sure to make an

appearance too.

Chastity Brown will also be making a welcome appearance at Celtic Connections

2015. Rarely has an artist generated such a storm of ecstatic acclaim as Tennessee-

born singer and songwriter Chastity Brown, with her 2012 album Back-Road

Highways, showcasing her earthy yet honeyed voice, passionate delivery and poetic

lyrics. Distilling elements of gospel, soul, jazz, blues and country, and likened by

critics to a 21st-century Nina Simone, she’s poised to release the follow-up in spring

2015.

The west end’s Oran Mòr will welcome Adam Cohen who chooses to embrace rather

than evade the fact of his being Leonard Cohen’s son, Adam Cohen’s new fifth

album We Go Home draws on that relationship to create moving meditations on

parental and filial experience, and the passage of time and wisdom between

generations.

World Music Artists Added

The Brazilian MC, singer and songwriter Criolo, a key figure in Sao Paulo’s hip-hop

underground, extended his audience worldwide with his multi-award-winning second

album, Nó na Orelha, released internationally in 2012. Performing at Celtic

Connections 2015 with a full band, he mixes hip-hop with samba, Afrobeat, soul and

reggae, overlaid with trenchant, poetic critiques of modern Brazil. This show is

partnership with British Council, Transform and Creative Scotland.

Also hailing from Brazil is singer songwriter and gifted guitarist Chico César. A major

star in his homeland, Chico draws on the distinctive folk traditions and dance rhythms

of his native north-eastern region, combining them with samba, reggae, rock and

pop.

The O2 ABC will welcome two exceptional world music artists on Friday 23rd January.

The unique cultural traditions of Salento, in the heel of Italy’s boot, find thrilling

expression in the performances of Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, an

internationally acclaimed seven-piece ensemble whose spectacular blend of music,

song and dance centre on the ancient and mysterious traditions of pizzica tarantata.

Conjuring wondrous musical magic from the barest essentials – just four human

voices – South African group Complete draw on the Zulu-derived tradition of

Isicathamiya singing, combing its call-and-response format with gospel and R&B.

Originally discovered by the great Hugh Masekela, they’re now taking their

inspirational sound to an international audience.

The following weekend will see Congolese band Konono No.1 take to the O2 ABC

stage. With a fan-base ranging from world music audiences to electronic and avant-

rock devotees, the extraordinary Konono No.1 channel traditional sounds – thumb

pianos, ritual grooves and chanted vocals – through equipment fashioned from

salvaged car parts and other junkyard finds, creating a visceral, distortion-laden

sound that’s both primeval and futuristic.

Dance at the Festival

There will be a special dance show entitled The Second Coming at Glasgow’s

Tramway for four nights during next year’s festival. Inspired by the poetry and plays

of WB Yeats, The Second Coming is a spectacular fusion of traditional Irish music,

song and dance with aerial circus, theatre, narrative and film. It centres on the

concept of Yeats’s own ‘second coming’, as he returns to contemporary Ireland with

a message of renewal for today. Co-produced by Fidget Feet Aerial Dance company

– currently artists in residence at Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

– and the Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo, it features a seven-strong troupe of gravity-

defying dancers, and integrates archive audio and film footage of Yeats himself.

Musical director Michael Rooney has composed a stunning live score, and also

performs on harp and concertina, together with Mike McGoldrick (flute/whistles),

John Joe Kelly (percussion ) and Damien O’Kane (banjo/guitar/vocals)

New Venue

The beautiful Mackintosh Church has been added as a venue for Celtic Connections

2015. There will be three very special concerts performed within this iconic building.

An Evening with Mairi Smith and Friends will be a concert not to be missed. The

delicately earthy, sublimely elemental timbre of Lewis-born Mairi Smith’s voice, and

her profound understanding of the Gaelic tradition, have made her one of Scotland’s

most revered singers in any language. In this Celtic Connections concert she

explores and celebrates the close Gaelic kinship between Scotland and Ireland, in

company with sisters Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, whose illustrious joint CV

takes in work with Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity and Coolfin, as well as

solo work and the recent supergroup T with the Maggies. Also featured are two of the

younger Scottish singers that Smith continues to inspire, Brave soundtrack star Julie

Fowlis and former Daimh vocalist Calum Alex MacMillan.

The sounds of Ganesh Kumaresh with Trio AAB will also be reverberating of the

Mackintosh Church walls during next year’s festival Combining serious musicianship

with an infectious sense of fun, Scotland’s Trio AAB – twin brothers Tom and Phil

Bancroft, on drums and saxophone, and guitarist Kevin Mackenzie – cite influences

that range from “post-Ornette bop to The Sound of Music”. Here they team up for an

exciting and adventurous cross-cultural exchange with leading Indian violinists

Ganesh and Kumaresh Rajagopalan, plus percussionist Anantha R Krishnan.

The final concert to take place in the Mackintosh, for 2015’s festival anyway, will be

An Evening with Jimmie Macgregor and friends Now 84 years young, Glasgow’s own

Jimmie Macgregor has enjoyed an astonishingly long and diverse career, working

variously as a schoolteacher, quarryman, mortuary attendant, potter, illustrator,

radio/TV presenter – and above all, of course, as one of Scotland’s most cherished

and important folk musicians. His long-time partnership with the late Robin Hall

reached a TV audience of millions through their celebrated nightly appearances on

the BBC’s Tonight show, and later on the White Heather Club, with many of their

songs going on to become folk standards. Few performers can have anything like as

many musical friends to pick from, so settle back for an evening of the choicest

entertainment.

Celtic Connections Festival Club

The Celtic Connections Festival Club will make a welcome return to the newly

refurbished Glasgow Art School in 2015, ensuring the there is even more music to

enjoy after all the gigs are over.

With inspired line-ups that are never divulged before the night – the Festival Club

draws musicians and fans alike for a late-night jam session.

Late Night Sessions

The Late Night Sessions come home to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall next year

after a short vacation to the National Piping Centre at last year’s festival.

The sessions offer a more relaxed evening away from the hustle and bustle of the

Festival Club. Hosted by the inimitable Findlay Napier, the line up will feature just as

many great musicians as the main Festival Club and the bar will be open late.

Celtic Connections 2015 Listings

Celtic Connections Opening Concert 'Nae Regrets' - Martyn Bennett's GRIT Thu 15 January, 7:30pm £24 (premium seats - limited availability), £21 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Thu 15 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Danny Kyle Open Stage 2014 Finalists Fri 16 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Fairport Convention and Kevin Dempsey & Rosie Carson Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability), £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium

The Crew of the Puffer present Para Handy "A Highland Voyage" Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square The Lost Brothers and The Mountain Firework Company Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor The Pearlfishers and Pauline Alexander & Edwin Gallacher Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £16 Mitchell Library Auditorium The Second Coming Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £20 Tramway Mike Whellans and Fraser Nimmo Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club An Evening with Mairi Smith and Friends Fri 16 January, 7:30pm £15 The Mackintosh Church Qristina & Quinn Bachand with The Rambling Boys Fri 16 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola and Support Fri 16 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre Sam Sweeney's Fiddle: Made in the Great War Fri 16 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Horizons Fri 16 January, 8:30pm £18 Old Fruitmarket World Beat Bothy Fri 16 January, 9:00pm £14 The Arches

Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Fri 16 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Fri 16 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections Song School Vocal Warm Ups with Corrina Hewat Sat 17 January, 10:30am Free with Song School ticket Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Harmony Song with Alison Burns Sat 17 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Americana with Muldoon's Picnic Sat 17 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lomond Foyer Gaelic Song with Darren Maclean Sat 17 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Clyde Foyer Harmony Song with Corrina Hewat Sat 17 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall City of Music Studio Harmony Song with Alison Burns Sat 17 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Scots Song with Christine Kydd Sat 17 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lomond Foyer Scots Chorus with Mick West Sat 17 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Clyde Foyer Harmony Song with Corrina Hewat Sat 17 January, 1:30pm

£10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall City of Music Studio TMSA Young Trad Tour 2014 Sat 17 January, 1:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Danny Kyle Open Stage Sat 17 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Angelique Kidjo with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability), £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Federation of the Disco Pimp and Dumb Instrument Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £14 The Arches New Road and Erlend Viken Trio Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Justin Townes Earle and Lindsey Black Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £15 Oran Mor Chastity Brown and Dean Owens & The Whisky Hearts Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Gaels Le Chèile / Gaels Together @ Ceòl 's Craic Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £12 CCA 'Crossing the Minch' - The Music of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod MBE Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium The Second Coming Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £20 Tramway Hootenanny wi' Joyce and Annie Sat 17 January, 7:30pm

£12 The Glasgow Art Club Ganesh Kumaresh with Trio AAB and Patsy Reid Sat 17 January, 7:30pm £15 The Mackintosh Church Findlay Napier's Very Interesting Persons and Ruth Moody Sat 17 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Julie Murphy and Diane Cannon Sat 17 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre Sam Sweeney's Fiddle: Made in the Great War Sat 17 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Le Vent du Nord and Special Guests Sat 17 January, 9:30pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sat 17 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sat 17 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections Song School Vocal Warm Ups with Alison Burns Sun 18 January, 10:30am Free with Song School ticket Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Harmony Song with Alison Burns Sun 18 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Scots Song with Christine Kydd Sun 18 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lomond Foyer Scots Chorus with Mick West

Sun 18 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Clyde Foyer Harmony Song with Corrina Hewat Sun 18 January, 11:00am £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall City of Music Studio Harmony Song with Alison Burns Sun 18 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Americana with Muldoon's Picnic Sun 18 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lomond Foyer Gaelic Song with Darren Maclean Sun 18 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Clyde Foyer Harmony Song with Corrina Hewat Sun 18 January, 1:30pm £10 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall The Green Room New Voices: Graham Mackenzie Sun 18 January, 1:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Hazy Recollections Sun 18 January, 2:30pm £12 O2 ABC Glasgow Danny Kyle Open Stage Sun 18 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Roaming Roots Revue Sun 18 January, 7:30pm £22 (premium seats - limited availability), £19 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium RCS presents Wayfaring Strangers Sun 18 January, 7:30pm £14 City Halls Grand Hall Merrymouth and Southern Tenant Folk Union

Sun 18 January, 7:30pm £16 Oran Mor The Elizabethan Session Sun 18 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium The Second Coming Sun 18 January, 7:30pm £20 Tramway The Sea Road Sessions and Mairearad & Anna Sun 18 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Dreamers' Circus and Support Sun 18 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre California Feetwarmers and The Bevvy Sisters Sun 18 January, 8:00pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sun 18 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sun 18 January, 10:30pm £5 The Art School Danny Kyle Open Stage Mon 19 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Tommy Emmanuel and Chico César Mon 19 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability), £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium The Second Coming Mon 19 January, 7:30pm £20 Tramway Mr McFalls Chamber - Further Distillations

Mon 19 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Danny Kyle Open Stage Tue 20 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Eddi Reader and Kris Drever Tue 20 January, 7:30pm £26 (premium seats - limited availability), £23 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Hanneke Cassel and ALAW Tue 20 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square The Pictish Trail & Sweet Baboo Tue 20 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Mìorbhail nam Beann Tue 20 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Danny Kyle Open Stage Wed 21 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Carlos Núñez 'The Atlantic Corridor' and Rura Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £25 (premium seats - limited availability), £22 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Preston Reed & Usman Riaz and Thomas Oliver Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square In the Round Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor Criolo with Withered Hand Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow O2 ABC 1 Mike Vass "In the Wake of Neil Gunn" and Rachel Newton

Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Dunedin tae Auld Reekie Wed 21 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Dick Gaughan and Lynched Wed 21 January, 8:00pm £15 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Tiny Ruins with Blue Rose Code Wed 21 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Step Into My Parlour featuring Michelle Burke Wed 21 January, 8:00pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Danny Kyle Open Stage Thu 22 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall King Creosote performs 'From Scotland with Love' and Tiny Ruins Thu 22 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability) £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Band of Friends and Andy Fairweather-Low & The Low Riders Thu 22 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Luka Bloom and Bella Hardy Thu 22 January, 7:30pm £16 Mitchell Library Auditorium Charlie Dore Trio and Support Thu 22 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Angus Nicolson Trio with Trio Konogan Thu 22 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Tunebook presents Melody Lab and Support

Thu 22 January, 8:00pm £14 The National Piping Centre Mairi MacInnes and Support Thu 22 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Breabach and Alan Kelly Gang and Waoira Thu 22 January, 9:30pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Thu 22 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Thu 22 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Danny Kyle Open Stage Fri 23 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Punch Brothers and Siobhan Miller Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability), £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Steven Blake "Bystander" and Mischa Macpherson Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Niteworks with Macanta Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino with Complete Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Malinky and Jenna Reid Band Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Adrian Crowley and James Blackshaw

Fri 23 January, 7:30pm £12 Platform The Fiddletree Fri 23 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Peter Carberry & Padraig McGovern and Gavin Pennycook Fri 23 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre Inge Thomson's Da Fishing Hands and Maisey Rika Fri 23 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Shooglenifty 25th Anniversary Concert with Motu: Oiléain Fri 23 January, 9:30pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Fri 23 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Fri 23 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections Public Workshops Come&Try Ceilidh Dancing with The Cask Strength Ceilidh Band Sat 24 January, 12:30pm £7 adults, £4 children Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Ceòl nam Fèis Sat 24 January, 1:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Ukulele with Finlay Allison Sat 24 January, 3:00pm £7 City Halls Recital Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Kids Percussion with Big Groove Sat 24 January, 3:00pm £4

City Halls Studio One Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Opening Your Voice One with Harriet Buchan Sat 24 January, 3:00pm £7 City Halls The Club Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Spoons with Eddie Scott Sat 24 January, 3:00pm £7 City Halls Studio Two Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Mandolin with the Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association Sat 24 January, 3:00pm £7 City Halls Candleriggs Bar Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Kids Percussion with Big Groove Sat 24 January, 4:00pm £4 City Halls Studio One Danny Kyle Open Stage Sat 24 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Kids Percussion with Big Groove Sat 24 January, 5:00pm £4 City Halls Studio One Treacherous Orchestra with Michael McGoldrick Big Band, Songhoy Blues and Coco Mbassi Wired to the World Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £20, £16 (Standing) Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics with Trinity Roots Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £15 The Arches Nordic Fiddlers Bloc and Dallahan Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Jamie Smith's Mabon and Moxie

Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor JD McPherson and Shake Shake Go Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Llan de Cubel @ 30 with Special Guests and Waiora Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £15 Mitchell Library Auditorium Finlay MacDonald & Chris Stout and Fiona MacAskill & Sarah Hayes Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Mary Hampton and Mike Heron & Georgia Seddon and Louis Baker & Thomas Oliver Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £12 Platform An Evening with Jimmie Macgregor and Friends Sat 24 January, 7:30pm £15 The Mackintosh Church Fish & Bird with Sorren Maclean Sat 24 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Nils Lofgren Sat 24 January, 8:00pm £38.50, £28.50 City Halls Grand Hall Wingin' It and Corran Raa Sat 24 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre The Barr Brothers and Adam Holmes & The Embers Sat 24 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Taraf de Haïdouks and Support Sat 24 January, 8:30pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket

Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sat 24 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sat 24 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Fiddle with Daniel Thorpe Sun 25 January, 11:00am £7 City Halls Recital Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Womens' Samba Workshop with Big Groove Sun 25 January, 11:00am £7 City Halls Studio One Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Opening Your Voice Two with Harriet Buchan Sun 25 January, 11:00am £7 City Halls The Club Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Bodhran with Cormac Byrne Sun 25 January, 11:00am £7 City Halls Studio Two New Voices: Ross Ainslie Sun 25 January, 1:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Improver Fiddle with Daniel Thorpe Sun 25 January, 1:30pm £7 City Halls Recital Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Family Percussion Workshop with Big Groove Sun 25 January, 1:30pm Adults £7 and Children £4 City Halls Studio One Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Whistle with Lorne MacDougall Sun 25 January, 1:30pm £7 City Halls The Club Room

Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Bodhran for Beginners with Cormac Byrne Sun 25 January, 1:30pm £7 City Halls Studio Two Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Mandolin with the Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association Sun 25 January, 1:30pm £7 City Halls Candleriggs Bar Celtic Connections Hazy Recollections Sun 25 January, 2:30pm £12 O2 ABC Glasgow Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Beginners' Ukulele with Finlay Allison Sun 25 January, 3:30pm £7 City Halls Recital Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Come&Try Djembe with Allan Hughes Sun 25 January, 3:30pm £7 City Halls Studio One Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Improver Whistle with Lorne MacDougall Sun 25 January, 3:30pm £7 City Halls The Club Room Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Bodhran for Players with Cormac Byrne Sun 25 January, 3:30pm £7 City Halls Studio Two Celtic Connections Public Workshop Programme Big Slow Session with Nigel Gatherer Sun 25 January, 3:30pm £7 City Halls Candleriggs Bar Danny Kyle Open Stage Sun 25 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Ewan MacColl - 100th Anniversary Concert

Blood & Roses: The Songs of Ewan MacColl Sun 25 January, 7:30pm £24 (premium seats - limited availability), £21 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Celtic Connections Shine and Maisey Rika Sun 25 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Songhoy Blues and ALDOC Sun 25 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor Lahore Ceòl Mor and Innovation featuring Alistair McCulloch Sun 25 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Adam Sutherland Band with Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson Sun 25 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Nathaniel Rateliff and Louis Baker Sun 25 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre The Chair and Fara Sun 25 January, 8:00pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sun 25 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sun 25 January, 10:30pm £5 The Art School Danny Kyle Open Stage Mon 26 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Van Morrison and Support Mon 26 January, 7:30pm £55, £50 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium

Andy White and Little Rach Mon 26 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Danny Kyle Open Stage Tue 27 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall The Music of Craig Armstrong featuring The Orchestra of Scottish Opera & guests Tue 27 January, 7:30pm £26 (premium seats - limited availability), £23 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Karine Polwart with Sam Amidon Tue 27 January, 7:30pm £16 Mitchell Library Auditorium Frances Black & Kieran Goss Reunion and The Chaplins Tue 27 January, 8:00pm £16 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Oh Susanna and Dennis Ellsworth Tue 27 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Usher's Island and Ewan McLennan Tue 27 January, 8:00pm £18 Old Fruitmarket Danny Kyle Open Stage Wed 28 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall The Bruce 700 Wed 28 January, 7:30pm £21 (premium seats - limited availability), £18 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Bonnie Dobson and Gerda Stevenson Wed 28 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square World Party and Gabriel Kelley Wed 28 January, 7:30pm £16

Oran Mor Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O'Donovan and The Gospel According to Mr Niz Wed 28 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Diana Jones and Support Wed 28 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club St Roch's Senior Ceili Band Wed 28 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre The Idiot at the Wall Wed 28 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre The McCrary Sisters and The Campbell Brothers Wed 28 January, 8:00pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Danny Kyle Open Stage Thu 29 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Tweedy and Field Report Thu 29 January, 7:30pm £29 (premium seats - limited availability), £26 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium Tannahill Irish Songs Thu 29 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Adam Cohen and Sarah Hayes Thu 29 January, 7:30pm £15 Oran Mor Konono No.1 with Bombino Thu 29 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Horse 'Diamond Speaks' and Austen George Thu 29 January, 7:30pm

£16 Mitchell Library Auditorium Drew Holcomb and Amy Speace Thu 29 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Chris Jarrett meets Luca Ciarla and The Games Thu 29 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite A Moray Journey Thu 29 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre The Idiot at the Wall Thu 29 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Danú 20th Anniversary Celebration with Special Guests Thu 29 January, 8:00pm £16.50 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Thu 29 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Danny Kyle Open Stage Fri 30 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Blazin' Fiddles 'Strings Attached - The Next Generation' Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £23 (premium seats - limited availability), £20 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium François & The Atlas Mountains & Burkinabé Guests & Kid Canaveral Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £15 The Arches Allison Moorer and Arthur Nicolson Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £15 St Andrew's in the Square Helene Blum & Harald Haugaard and Barluath Fri 30 January, 7:30pm

£14 Oran Mor Hayseed Dixie and Support Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £17 O2 ABC Glasgow Cahalen Morrison & Eli West with Pharis & Jason Romero Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Blues Night featuring Mark Harrison with Dan Owen Fri 30 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club Kathryn Tickell & The Side and Hò-Rò Fri 30 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Mary Bergin & Kevin Conneff and Gráinne Brady & Tina Jordan Rees Fri 30 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre Jeffrey Foucault and Amelia Curran Fri 30 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Skerryvore with DàimhMòr - The Big Band Fri 30 January, 9:30pm £15 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Fri 30 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Fri 30 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections Public Workshops Ukulele School with Finlay Allison Sat 31 January and Sun 1 February, 10:30am £55 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Clyde Foyer Celtic Connections Public Workshops

Trad Strings Weekend Masterclass with Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas Sat 31 January and Sunday 1 February, 10:30am £55 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall City of Music Studio UHI presents Music of the Highlands and Islands Sat 31 January, 2:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Danny Kyle Open Stage Sat 31 January, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Transatlantic Sessions Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £30 (premium seats - limited availability), £27 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium A Stór Mo Chroí Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £16 City Halls Grand Hall Mànran and Harald Haugaard Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £15 The Arches Ian Carr & The Various Artists and The Will Pound Band Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £14 St Andrew's in the Square Hudson Taylor and Support Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £14 Oran Mor Tony Allen and Ibibio Sound Machine Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £16 O2 ABC Glasgow Arthur Johnstone and Friends Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Fraser Anderson and Griogair Morrison Sat 31 January, 7:30pm £12 The Glasgow Art Club

Slàinte Mhath Sat 31 January, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Ross Couper & Tom Oakes with Christine Hanson & Mairi Campbell Sat 31 January, 8:00pm £13 The National Piping Centre Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman with Bronwynne Brent Sat 31 January, 8:00pm £14 Tron Theatre Lambchop with Maggie Björklund Sat 31 January, 8:00pm £20 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sat 31 January, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sat 31 January, 10:30pm £9 The Art School Celtic Connections New Voices: Ella The Bird Sun 1 February, 1:00pm £12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Hazy Recollections Sun 1 February, 2:30pm £12 O2 ABC Glasgow Danny Kyle Open Stage 2015 Finalists Sun 1 February, 5:00pm Free non ticketed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 Sun 1 February, 5:00pm £14 City Halls Grand Hall Transatlantic Sessions Sun 1 February, 7:30pm £30 (premium seats - limited availability), £27 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Main Auditorium

Alistair Hulett Tribute Sun 1 February, 7:30pm £15 Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita and Cruinn Sun 1 February, 7:30pm £14 Mitchell Library Auditorium Leo Blanco's Blue Lamp Quartet and Support Sun 1 February, 8:00pm £14 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite Calexico and Support Sun 1 February, 8:00pm £20 Old Fruitmarket Late Night Sessions at The Concert Hall Sun 1 February, 10:30pm £5 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Exhibition Hall Celtic Connections Festival Club Sun 1 February, 10:30pm £5 The Art School ENDS For the launch press pack please go to www.celticconnections.com/press-area

For more information please go to: www.celticconnections.com

For further information please contact:

Celtic Connections Press Office

Tel: 0141 287 3565 Email: hannah.matheson@glasgowlife.org.uk

Notes to Editors Celtic Connections 2015 runs from Thursday 15

th January – Sunday 1

st February and

comprises a wealth of concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, free events and late night sessions taking place over 18 days. Various venues across Glasgow are utilised for Celtic Connections 2014 such as the Main Auditorium and the newly reopened Strathclyde Suite in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, O2 ABC, The Tron, Òran Mór, The Mitchell Theatre, City Halls, St Andrews in the Square, The Arches and the Old Fruitmarket will all play host to Celtic Connections events.

The festival boosts the local economy and tourism industry in the normally quiet post-festive period. Celtic Connections continues to have an international appeal and enhance Glasgow’s reputation as a major tourist destination. Fans visited from all corners of the globe to experience the best in traditional, folk, roots, world and indie music. In 2014 Celtic Connections saw an increase to 7% of visitors from oversees and 4% of the audience visited from the rest of the UK. 29% of festival fans accompanied their visit to Celtic Connections with an overnight stay. An impressive 89% of visitors stated that attending Celtic Connections was their sole or main reason for visiting Glasgow and 61% said they had also attended Celtic Connections in 2013. Festival fans attended an average of 3.5 events. 99% of festival goers rated the overall quality of the festival very highly - either ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Celtic Connections is promoted by Glasgow Life. Glasgow Life and its service brands (found at www.glasgowlife.org.uk) are operating names of Culture and Sport Glasgow ("CSG"). CSG is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland with company number SC313851 and having its registered office at 220 High Street, Glasgow G4 0QW. CSG is registered as a charity with the office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (No SC037844). A.G. Barr supports the work of Glasgow Life, as the charity’s first City Partner, and BAM Properties supports the work of Glasgow Arts, as our first Arts Supporter. About Horizons A world of music from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Horizons is a partnership between the following organisations Arts Council England, British Underground, Arts Council of Ireland, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Creative Scotland, Scottish Music Industry Association, Arts Council of Wales, Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales, Wales Arts International, Welsh Music Foundation and UK Trade & Investment Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland

Celtic Connections 2015 tickets are now on sale: Online www.celticconnections.com By phone 0141 353 8000 In person Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 2 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow, G2 3NY City Halls and Old Fruitmarket Candleriggs Glasgow, G1 1NQ To apply for Media Accreditation for Celtic Connections 2015, visit www.celticconnections.com