Musical festival well Connected with 1,500 stars

Published on Tuesday 20 October 2009 22:07

WORLD music superstars will rub shoulders with some of Scotland's best-known singers and songwriters when Glasgow hosts the annual Celtic Connections festival in January.

Celebrated "a capella" jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin, guitar legend Ry Cooder, Galician piper Carlos Nuez and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie are among a host of big-name acts for the 18-day event.

The Grammy-award winning African singer Angelique Kidjo, Indian percussion virtuoso Trilok Gurtu and flamenco superstars Del Castillo are expected to be among the hottest tickets in a line-up that also features acts from Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Macedonia, Norway and Romania.

However, famous Scottish artists from a host of musical genres will be appearing at the festival – with a promise of even more big names to come.

Scots folk icon Dick Gaughan will be curating his own reggae night, Scotland's leading indie bands will be coming together for a 15th-anniversary celebration of the Chemikal Underground label, while Salsa Celtica will mark a similar anniversary by teaming up with stars from Cuba's celebrated Buena Vista Social Club for a gala concert.

Scotland's long history of songwriting will be celebrated in two gala concerts, with Barbara Dickson, BA Robertson, Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh among those confirmed for a show which will feature the music of Annie Lennox, the Blue Nile, Franz Ferdinand, KT Tunstall and Jimmy Somerville.

Organisers are hoping other major names will appear at the one-off show at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the main venue for Celtic Connections, which will relocate its infamous late-night festival club at Glasgow School of Art.

The festival's showcasing of "all things America" will see the granddaughter of country legend Hank Williams, Holly, Raul Malo, former front man of The Mavericks, and Beth Neilsen Chapman take to the stage. American singers Laura Veirs and Natalie Merchant, former front woman of the band 10,000 Maniacs, are also expected to be among the biggest attractions at the festival.

Two separate concerts are planned to commemorate the lives and work of English singer-songwriter Nick Drake, who passed away 25 years ago, and Glasgow-born John Martyn, who died during last year's festival.

More than 1,500 artists from all over the world will be performing in some 300 shows at what will be the 17th annual festival.

Donald Shaw, artistic director of the event, said: "This year, we're looking closely at the influence of Celtic music on cultures around the world, and celebrating the connections between Celtic and world music on a major scale by bringing in acts from South America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

"It's astonishing how the world on a musical scale continues to embrace all roots music in such exciting and diverse ways."

New figures have shown the festival is now worth some 6.6 million to Scotland's economy.

The ones to watch

HOT TICKETS

Opening Concert: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Featuring a new "super-group" including members of the BBC SSO and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

&#149 The Chieftains, with Ry Cooder, pictured below, and Los Cenzontles, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. A one-off collaboration between the American guitarist and Irish folk veterans.

&#149 Chemikal Underground 15th anniversary, ABC. A landmark gig for the Glasgow indie label.

&#149 Natalie Merchant and Lunasa, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. American singer joins forces with Irish folk-rockers.

&#149 Carlos Nunez, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. One of the biggest names in world music.