Celtic Connections to stage more than 60 live gigs after crowd curbs are lifted

Celtic Connections will return to Glasgow's music venues this month. Picture: Gaelle Beri

More than 60 live shows will be staged by Glasgow’s Celtic Connections music festival after restrictions on crowd capacities are lifted next week.

Full-capacity shows will be staged across 14 days in venues around the city after the Scottish Government confirmed the easing of measures introduced on Boxing to try to halt the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid.

Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Kathryn Joseph, Iona Fyfe, Rachel Newton, Bruce MacGregor, Ross Couper, Karen Matheson and Dean Owens are among the leading Scottish musicians due to appear before live audiences.

Other confirmed acts include Norman Blake, Bernard Butler, James Grant, Monica Queen, Esther Swift, Blue Rose Code, Sharon Shannon, Adam Holmes, Jill Jackson, Hannah Rarity and Adam Sutherland.

The Royal Concert Hall will be among the venues used for this year's Celtic Connections festival. Picture: Gaelle Beri

Shows by Manran, Talisk, Rura, Sian, Heisk, Gnoss, Old Blind Dogs, The Tinderbox Orchestra, Moxie, The Chair and the Kinnaris Quintet will all be going ahead.

Organisers have announced the revamped line-up for live shows after being forced to cancel much of the planned programme, particularly over the first four days of the festival.

The opening weekend will be limited to recordings of online concerts at the Royal Concert Hall which just 200 ticket-holders will be able to attend in line with the current restrictions.

However full shows will be able to go ahead at the Royal Concert Hall, the Old Fruitmarket, the Mackintosh Church, the Tramway, Saint Luke’s, The Hug and Pint, King Tut’s and The Glad Cafe from Monday night.

Highlights of the planned programme which have been salvaged include a tribute concert to the late Nanci Griffith, a celebration of the work of Orcadian writer George MacKay Brown and a performance of the late Ravi Shankar’s music.

An official announcement from Celtic Connections on the shows going ahead was issued hours after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the lifting of the Omicron restrictions on Monday.

The festival said: “We warmly welcome confirmation that live indoor performances can proceed without the capacity limits in Scotland from 24 January.

"We have more than 60 shows still programmed between then and 6 February which we cannot wait to stage.

“These exciting and eclectic performances are going to be truly unforgettable and are made all the more special given the recent uncertainty.

“Tickets for these in-person shows are on sale now and we would encourage everyone who is able to support the festival to join us over the next three weeks for some magical live music once again.

"The safety of audiences, artists and suppliers is central to all of our plans and we are continually working with the Scottish Government and venues to ensure we put all necessary public health measures in place.

“We can also now confirm festival passes for our digital programme will be on sale from 21 January.

“Priced at £25, a digital ticket will give people access to at least 12 hours of exclusive filmed