Celtic Connections 2012 line-up announced
Glasgow traditional music festival features 2100 artists and 300 events over 18 days in 20 venues
With winter in the offing, and the arrival of darkness during our mornings and evenings, one thing certain to lighten your mood is the Celtic Connections festival, held in January each year. The Glasgow-based festival focusing on the roots of traditional Scottish music, international folk and world music, celebrates its 19th birthday this year, and the 2012 line-up is amongst its best yet.
Highlights include Béla Fleck and the original Flecktones, The Aaron Neville Band, Bruce Hornsby and guests, Jack Bruce (Cream) with Lau, a Woody Guthrie Centennial, Orchestra Baobab, The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, Song for Ireland, a one-off reunion gig for Glasgow’s The Big Dish, and Floating Palace featuring KT Tunstall.
An all-star line-up will also perform this year in celebration of the life of the late Gerry Rafferty, who died immediately prior to last year's festival. The bill will include his daughter Martha Rafferty, long-time friend Rab Noakes, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Maria Muldaur and Ron Sexsmith.
Leading the charge for the political strand of the festival is a celebration of the Woody Guthrie Centennial with his granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion both performing.
The festival celebrates the vibrancy of the folk and traditional scene with performances by Shooglenifty, Session A9, Blazin’ Fiddles, Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica, Dónal Lunny, Cherish the Ladies, Matt Molloy Trio, whilst world music will be represented by Omar Sosa, Emir Kusturica & the No Smoking Orchestra, Vieux Farka Touré, Faiz Ali Faiz, Orchestra Baobab and Sol i Serena. The soul, gospel and blues side of the programme features Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Cedric Watson, Moussu T, Pura Fé and John Trudell.
New venues for the 2012 outing of the festival include the Mitchell Theatre, Brel, St Mary’s Cathedral, Platform and Apollo 23 – the new home of the Celtic Connections Festival Club.
The will festival will run from Thu 19 Jan to Sun 5 Feb 2012 and is sponsored by ScottishPower.