Celtic Connections launches the Homecoming  Scotland celebrations and salutes Robert Burns on the 250th anniversary of his birth

Celtic Connections has joined up with Homecoming Scotland to present some of the finest Scottish and international musicians in tributes to Robert Burns, and to celebrate the connections between Scottish music and traditions across the world.

Honouring the influence of Robert Burns on the eve of the 250th anniversary of his birth, Celtic Connections celebrates his legacy with its biggest event to date, Auld Lang Syne, in which some of Scotland’s leading musicians and singers including Dougie MacLean, Karen Matheson, Michael Marra, Karine Polwart, Dick Gaughan, John McCusker and Phil Cunningham unite to celebrate the spirit and songs of Scotland’s national bard. They will be joined by some very special guests, such as the legendary Odetta.

On Burns Night itself the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform the world premiere of The Homecoming Scotland Suite – a series of eight brand new commissions by leading contemporary composers working in the fields of traditional and orchestral music. Special guest musicians will join the orchestra to perform new works by composers including RSAMD graduate turned Hollywood composer Brian Byrne, Steve Forman (who has worked with John Lennon and David Bowie), Tommy Smith, Patsy Reid, Aidan O’Rourke, Greg Lawson and Chris Stout. The acclaimed New Orleans jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis will perform a piece written especially for him by Sally Beamish.

Elsewhere on 25th January, the Jamaican Burns Night at the Old Fruitmarket takes inspiration from what might have been had Burns made his planned trip to Jamaica. A unique mash-up of sounds, styles and flavours, the evening features Jamaican legends Sly and Robbie, who will arrive direct from Kingston to perform alongside a host of Scottish talent. Their performance will include specially arranged Burns songs in their acclaimed drum and bass style. Also performing will be Edward II and Glasgow’s Future Pilot Dub Orkestra featuring the evening’s curator Sushil K Dade.

As a fitting finale to Celtic Connections' celebration of Homecoming Scotland 2009, Transatlantic Sessions - Bringing It All Back Home highlights the traditional songs and tunes which crossed the Atlantic with Celtic immigrants to form the bedrock of American roots music. These two concerts feature Nanci Griffith, Kathy Mattea and Union Station’s Dan Tyminski (also known as the singing voice of George Clooney in the Coen brothers’ classic O Brother, Where Art Thou?) as well as a host of Celtic talent.

In addition to these four major Homecoming events, Celtic Connections will also pay tribute to Robert Burns with the Twelve Hour Burns Marathon organised in association with Dr Fred Freeman (producer of the Linn Records recording of the Burns repertoire), in which 250 Burns songs will be performed from 12 noon to 12 midnight to mark the bard’s 250th anniversary, Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns and an All Star Ceilidh in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Main Auditorium.

For more information about the Celtic Connections Homecoming programme and to buy tickets, click here

For general information about Celtic Connections 2009 programme, click here