Celtic Connections 2009, sponsored by ScottishPower, starts today

Thursday 15th January – Sunday 1st February

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:

“With exciting events planned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national poet Robert Burns, Celtic Connections is playing an important role in kicking off Homecoming Scotland 2009.  As we celebrate some of the great contributions Scotland has given the world, the festival continues to demonstrate how Scottish music has influenced musical traditions all over the world.

“Now in its sixteenth year, Celtic Connections continues to go from strength to strength, attracting artists from all over the world to perform in Glasgow.  It is a great showcase of the music which is such an important part of our culture and of our national identity.”

Artistic Director Donald Shaw said:
“Glasgow’s biggest party has started… We’re hosting our boldest festival to date, and we’re looking forward to welcoming artists from all corners of the celtic diasporas. This year we’re delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate the 250th birthday of Robert Burns, with events that will please both purists of the Bard and those who seek an alternative Burns experience.”

Festival Round-up:
This morning in the Concert Hall, over 1000 Scottish school children clapped and danced at our first concert of the festival - The Cape Breton Connection which featured a dozen Canadian and Scottish musicians.

Sold out events include: Transatlantic Sessions – Bringing It All Back Home; A Highland Fiddler featuring Bruce MacGregor, Duncan Chisholm and Iain MacFarlane; Nanci Griffith; The Wilders; Mary Gauthier; Saint Andrew and the Rare Wee Helps; and many of the Celtic Connections workshops.
Music fans are arriving in Glasgow from across the world - including visitors from Australia, Africa and Asia.

Our most international programme to date gets underway with artists from Africa, India, Russia, Jamaica, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Norway, France, Afghanistan, the USA, as well as the cream of home-grown talent, performing in Glasgow this month.

Latest Press Office News
Photography opportunities are with picture desks – next photocall is our Torchlight Parade (starts today in George Square at 4.45pm)

Press Accreditation - www.celticconnections.com/onlineaccreditation - the road that leads to interview requests, review tickets, filming access and photography passes

Press Office is now open daily (between noon and 10pm) – we’re based in the VIP Room at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall