Gerry Rafferty remembered in wide-ranging Celtic Connections line-up

A tribute to Gerry Rafferty and star turns from Jack Bruce and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas are among the highlights of the line-up for the 2012 Celtic Connections festival, which was announced today.

The multi-venue event, which focuses on folk and world music, returns to Glasgow for its 19th year in January, with 300 events planned for 20 venues across the city over 18 days.

The life and music of Paisley-born singer-songwriter Rafferty, who died in January aged 63, will be celebrated in a show curated by his daughter Martha Rafferty and long-time friend Rab Noakes, featuring artists including The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Maria Muldaur and Ron Sexsmith.

Former Cream bassist Jack Bruce, another Scot who made his name in the 1960s, will perform at the Rafferty show as well as rearranging some of his own material for a collaboration with Scottish folk group Lau.

More than 2,000 artists will appear at next year’s festival, which runs from 19 January to 5 February.

The festival has a strong American presence, with banjo maestro Béla Fleck performing with the original Flecktones, inventive pianist Bruce Hornsby, New Orleans legend Aaron Neville and acclaimed singer-songwriter Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy.

The centenary of the birth of folk trailblazer Woody Guthrie will be marked by a special event with his granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie and collaborator Johnny Irion, as well as a host of artists indebted to the protest singer who was a major influence on Bob Dylan.

Soul, gospel and blues will be represented by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Cedric Watson, Moussu T, Pura Fé and John Trudell, while new folk favourites like Shooglenifty, Session A9, Blazin’ Fiddles, Treacherous Orchestra and Salsa Celtica all appear.

A taste of Africa comes from the likes of Vieux Farka Touré, Orchestra Baobab, Fatoumata Diawara, while the native scene is represented by artists like King Creosote (appearing with Jon Hopkins), KT Tunstall and indie outfit Admiral Fallow.

Artistic director Donald Shaw said: “For artists and audiences alike, Celtic Connections is a chance to be adventurous. Artists fully embrace the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from different countries and musical genres, and I think this brings something really special to the festival.

“With trad and folk at the heart of the festival, this year we’re also featuring everything from world, jazz, blues and soul to political ballads and family events in the programme.”

• For more information and tickets, visit www.celticconnections.com