Dundee, Fife and Perthshire musicians are amongst 1,000 performers from across the world taking part in Europe’s largest winter music festival in the new year.
Dundee harpist Catriona McKay and Dunfermline singer-songwriter Kirsten Adamson will appear at Celtic Connections in Glasgow alongside Perthshire multi-instrumentalists Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton; musical family trio Jim, Susie and Beth Malcolm from Perth, and esteemed fiddle player Charlie Stewart.
The UK’s premier roots music festival takes place between January 19 and February 5.
It will feature hundreds of performances, landmark musical collaborations, talks, workshops, theatre productions, ceilidhs, exhibitions, free events and late-night sessions.
Celtic Connections 2023 will be the 30th edition of the world-famous festival, and will recognise the advancements and achievements of the last 30 years and all that organisers have overcome to bring people together in a defining cultural celebration.
It will also acknowledge and celebrate the resilience of the Scottish music scene, and the live entertainment industry, in the face of adversity.
Who’s taking part?
Catriona McKay will be right at the heart of the action, joining international sensations, rising stars and homegrown talent alike in entertaining loyal audiences flocking to Glasgow for the annual event.
Long-time musical associates, Catriona McKay and Shetland-born fiddler Chris Stout, will join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for Möder Dy (meaning Mother Wave), a celebration of contemporary folk and classical music, on Friday January 27 at City Halls.
This show will also take place in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall the night before their Celtic Connections performance.
It’s a rare opportunity to witness two of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians composing, orchestrating and performing their music with the world-class power of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Kirsten Adamson, who is the daughter of the late Skids and Big Country musician Stuart Adamson, will take to the stage at Oran Mòr on Thursday January 26.
Kirsten was the vocalist and keyboard player for indie-folkers Aberfeldy, before fronting country rockers The Gillyflowers and more recently half of alt-country duo The Marriage.
This special Celtic Connections show with her full band launches her new album, Landing Place.
Meanwhile, the Perthshire stars will also be right at the heart of the action.
Bridge of Earn’s Ross Ainslie will perform at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on three occasions – in the Celtic Connections 30th edition concert on Thursday January 19, as a special guest of Trio Da Kali on Friday January 20, and with Brìghde Chaimbeul and Steven Byrnes on Wednesday January 25.
Ross will also perform with Treacherous Orchestra alongside fellow founding member Ali Hutton on Saturday January 21 at the Old Fruitmarket, and the pair will team up with Owen Sinclair on Sunday January 29 at St Luke’s.
Ali Hutton, from Methven, will also be performing as part of Jason Wilson’s Ashara at Drygate Brewery on Saturday January 28, and alongside piping legend Allan MacDonald at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Strathclyde Suite on Wednesday February 1.
Folk singer Beth Malcolm is a 2020 Danny Kyle Open Stage winner, with her vocal and lyrical style having been compared to KT Tunstall and Karine Polwart.
Following two highly-praised EPs, and a number of exciting collaborations, her much-anticipated debut album is due in spring 2023.
Beth will perform a New Voices session at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Strathclyde Suite on Sunday January 22, as well as performing a special Burns Night concert with her parents, folk legends Jim and Susie Malcolm, and fiddle player Pete Clark at The National Piping Centre on Wednesday January 25.
Fiddle and bass player Charlie Stewart from Glenfarg, who won BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2017, will perform alongside Juliette Lemoine at City Halls’ Recital Room on Saturday January 21, as well as with John Doyle, Mick McCauley and Tina Jordan Rees at The National Piping Centre on Saturday January 28.
‘Special start to year’
Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming audiences from near and far to the 30th edition of Celtic Connections in Glasgow – it’s set to be a really special start to the new year.
“We’re always thrilled to be able to showcase brilliant Scottish artists from across the country and we’re looking forward to seeing them entertain crowds on this international stage this January.”
Tickets for Celtic Connections 2023 are available from www.celticconnections.com
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