RENOWNED folk, roots and world music festival Celtic Connections has opened in Glasgow.
The 18-day festival will run until Sunday, February 4 and will showcase the city's UNESCO City of Music status with what will be one of the festival's biggest-ever capacity programmes.
Delivered by Glasgow Life, Celtic Connections attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees each year and over the next two weeks 1200 artists will give world-class performances at more than 300 events.
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The festival will kick off tonight (January 18) with the sold-out European premiere of ATTENTION! at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The remarkable new symphonic work from American Grammy winner Chris Thile will also welcome the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra to the stage, with guests including festival favourites Rachel Sermanni, Dreamers' Circus and Sarah Jarosz.
Donald Shaw, creative producer for Celtic Connections, said: "As the name affirms, this festival has always been about connecting people and nations, uniting them through a shared love and appreciation of music and culture.
"This year's line-up, one of our biggest and most ambitious to date, is packed with amazing talent from across Scotland and all over the world, reflecting just how far the festival has come over the past three decades, and underlining our ambition to showcase music of all genres and backgrounds.
"I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those whose efforts have made this year's festival possible. Your support has allowed us to curate an exceptional event that represents the heart and soul of Celtic, folk, roots, jazz and world music.
"It’s incredibly exciting to see proceedings kick off today; I know our musicians and everyone involved in the festival is ready to make this one to remember. If there is still a show you would like to see, I would urge you to buy yourself a ticket – you most certainly will not regret it."
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Bailie Annette Christie, Glasgow Life Chair, said: "Audiences from near and far really are spoiled for choice by this year’s wonderfully expansive Celtic Connections programme which features a wide range of musical genres and an incredible line-up of home-grown and international artists.
"Shining the spotlight on Glasgow’s global status as a UNESCO City of Music, and the city’s richly deserved reputation as an outstanding destination for events and entertainment, Celtic Connections is renowned for showcasing outstanding established and emerging talent.
"The fact that the festival attracts such a high calibre of acts is testament to how well-regarded it is by musicians, not only in Scotland and Europe but worldwide, and how great the appeal of its diverse programme is to lovers of live music.
"As an annual highlight of Glasgow’s rich cultural programme, which attracts thousands of visitors and enriches the lives of so many, Celtic Connections is hugely important to the city, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone attending this year’s festival."
You can view the full programme at www.celticconnections.com.
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