Glasgow’s annual celebration of roots and traditional music from around the globe opens for business this Thursday and then proceeds for the next three weeks with over 300 events scheduled to take place. Always a highlight of the cultural calendar it’s the largest festival of its type in the world showcasing world music, folk, roots, jazz, blues, Gaelic and Scottish music and, of course, Americana.
This year’s line up is impressive from the point of view of Americana UK readers with a long list of artists who have been featured here appearing. The list includes: Loudon Wainright III, Graham Nash, Steve Forbert, Judy Collins, Rhiannon Giddens, Ashley Monroe, The Delines, The Mammals, Chris Smither, My Darling Clementine, Blue Rose Code, Israel Nash, Amy Helm, Andrew Combs, Lonesome Ace Stringband, Gretchen Peters, Mary Gauthier, Edi Reader, Birds of Chicago, Rachel Baiman, May Erlewine, Sam Reider, The Andrew Collins Trio, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Kathy Mattea, and Nicki Bluhm. There’s even an appearance by The Dandy Warhols while there is also the world premiere of the album from Buffalo Blood, an international collaboration with Scottish musician Dean Owens and Nashville/Orphan Brigade’s Neilson Hubbard, Joshua Britt and Audrey Spillman.
Famed for their one-off showcases, Celtic Connections will present another episode of the well-loved Roaming Roots Revue, hosted and curated by Roddy Hart, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ album. In addition, the 10th anniversary of John Martyn’s passing will be commemorated in a show titled ‘Grace and Danger’ with a cast including Paul Weller, Lucy Rose, Eddi Reader, Ross Wilson, Rory Butler, Eric Bibb, John Smith and Katie Spencer and of course, Danny Thompson.
The shows are being held in 20 venues across the city, ranging from the Concert Hall to smaller venues such as Drygate (which is in a brewery folks!) There’s tons of free music via the Danny Kyle Open Stage and there are late night shenanigans at the Late Sessions (held in that Brewery) and at the Festival Club. Details and tickets for all shows are here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q51incm4hKA
