Transatlantic Sessions 2025 celebrates 30 years since the original TV series first aired. An annual focal point of Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and a highlight of the winter concert calendar, the line-up of Transatlantic Sessions combines international guest musicians with the virtuoso house band. Together they interweave original material with age-old tunes and songs as they explore shared roots and find new common ground, celebrating the rich musical traditions that connect Scotland, Ireland and the US.
Starting with two performances at Celtic Connections, the Transatlantic Sessions 2025 tour will then play in Perth, followed by six dates in England wrapping up at London’s Royal Festival Hall:
Anchored around the seasoned house band, guided as ever by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, and featuring renowned Celtic and Americana roots musicians Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro.
The Transatlantic Sessions tour always features an array of special guest and this year the line-up includes Loudon Wainwright III, Julie Fowlis, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, and Niall McCabe:
For the past fifty-four years, Wainwright has carved out a distinguished career as an idiosyncratic and original singer-songwriters. He’s released over thirty albums, won a Grammy, acted in films and TV shows.
Fowlis is widely heralded for championing traditional Gaelic. Her music is deeply influenced by the Hebridean islands where she grew up and by the Highland landscapes where she now resides.
Campbell and Williams bring their deep-rooted songs and instrumental virtuosity to the Transatlantic Sessions stage, honed by years of touring (both together and separately) with a who’s-who of North American music including Bob Dylan, kd lang, Levon Helm, Sheryl Crow, John Prine, Keith Richards, and Emmylou Harris.
Born on Clare Island, Co. Mayo, Niall McCabe grew up in the family-run pub awash with strong musical influences from traditional Irish and folk to rock and soul. He has performed extensively across Ireland, Europe and the USA.
As a taster here is the encore from the 2024 Glasgow show. Dates are as follows and tickets can be found at this link.
January 31 – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Celtic Connections)
February 2 – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Celtic Connections)
February 3 – Perth Concert Hall
February 4 – Gateshead The Glasshouse
February 5 – York Barbican
February 6 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
February 7 – Manchester Aviva Studios
February 8 – Oxford New Theatre
February 9 – London Royal Festival Hall
