Celts connect to mark the Bard's 250th birthday

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2008 23:08

THE Celtic Connections festival will kick off celebrations of Robert Burns' 250th birthday with its biggest single event ever, organisers said yesterday.

The cream of Scottish folk music will play to a standing crowd in the Auld Lang Syne concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Scottish musicians including Dougie MacLean and Phil Cunningham will be joined by an overseas contingent led by the African-American singer and civil rights activist, Odetta, 77.

Celtic Connections will be staged in January at the start of the Year of Homecoming 2009, which the Scottish Government hopes will draw visitors from all over the world to celebrate the Burns milestone.

On Burns Night, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform the world premiere of The Homecoming Scotland Suite – eight pieces by contemporary Scottish composers.

A Jamaican Burns Night at the Old Fruitmarket features Kingston musicians performing Burns songs in island style.

The 16th festival, from 15 January to 1 February, includes about 1,500 artists performing in over 300 events across 14 venues in Glasgow.

Performers range from Gaelic performer Julie Fowlis and Scottish singer Eddi Reader to Senegal's Youssou N'Dour, along with musicians from Africa, India, Russia, Jamaica, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Norway, France and the US.

Artistic director Donald Shaw said the festival "will celebrate the connections between cultures across the globe and trace the roots of musical traditions. Some amazing acts from all over the world are coming."