Second Date for Gerry Rafferty Concert Announced

We are delighted to announce that, due to outstanding popular demand, there will be a second night of the Bring It All Home - Gerry Rafferty Remembered concert. This bonus second night will take place on Monday 23 January 2012 in the Main Auditorium at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. 

The night promises exciting performances from a number of the Paisley-born singer-songwriter's friends, family, bandmates, collaborators and admirers. Curated by Gerry Rafferty’s daughter Martha and long-term friend Rab Noakes, the extensive performers list will include The Proclaimers, Ron Sexsmith, Barbara Dickson, Maria Muldaur, James Vincent McMorrow and Jack Bruce to name just a few. 

Tickets are now on sale. 

The countdown has begun for Celtic Connections 2012! 

Since our launch in October there have been a number of new shows added to the festival including a special 40th anniversary concert for the Average White Band with special guests including Michael Marra and Niki King and others TBA (3 February 2012, GRCH). Returning to the festival direct from Shetland performing on their 21st anniversary of forming as a band are Rock Salt & Nails (3 February 2012, Oran Mor) and A Celebration of the Dewar Awards (23 January 2012, St Andrew’s in the Square) features some of Scotland’s best new talent. Celtic Connections will celebrate the increasing popularity of club culture with Beat Bothy Club Night which takes place at The Arches (3 February 2012) which includes a special set by Mylo. 

There have been some changes to show venues at the festival 

Change in Venue for JAADU: Faiz Ali Faiz Concert 

The JAADU: Faiz Ali Faiz concert on Monday 23 January 2012 has been moved from the Main Auditorium at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to Grand Hall, City Halls. The concert will start at 7.30pm and tickets will be priced at £20. 

The Box Office is currently contacting all patrons who have already bought tickets for the above concert to advise them of the change in venue. 

Change in Venue for The Big Breakthrough! 

The Big Breakthrough! concert has been moved from the Grand Hall, City Halls to the Auditorium, Mitchell Theatre. The ticket prices will remain at £13 and the concert will still start at 7pm. 

The Box Office is currently contacting all patrons who have already bought tickets for the above concert to advise them of the change in venue. 

Gaelic at Celtic Connections 

As part of Glasgow Life’s Gaelic Arts programme, Celtic Connections is delighted to be working in partnership again with Ceol ‘s Craic over three packed days at the Centre for Contemporary Arts.  As the social hub and platform for contemporary Gaelic Culture in Glasgow, Ceol ‘s Craic will play host to a number of established and emerging artists on the Gaelic folk scene, including Anne Martin, Glasgow – based Breton band Askolenn, Kaela Rowan, Alix Quoniam & Yves Pucher, Donald Macdonald & the Islands and Willie Campbell. The three day event, which runs from 26th – 28th January, will also feature pre-concert Gaelic Arts events including lectures, workshops, the Gaelic conversation cafe and film screenings. 

Some of the line-ups at the festival have changed 

New artists announced for The Singing Land 

It has been announced that Isla St Clair will be narrating the evening while Captain Stuart Samson MBE (previous Pipe Major of the Gordon Highlanders) will be joining the impressive line-up at the Old Fruitmarket on Wednesday 1 February 2012. 

Support announced for James Vincent McMorrow 

James Vincent McMorrow will be joined on stage by the Irish, Mexican and Canadian singer songwriter Lindi Ortega at his concert in The Mitchell Library on Saturday 21 January 2012. 

New Act Announced with KAN 

Bard, the London–based band is set to launch their much-anticipated debut album at Celtic Connections. They are performing alongside KAN and Guidewires at this show at The Arches on Friday 27 January 2012. 

Change in Mary Gauthier and Darrell Scott Line-Up 

Unfortunately Darrell Scott has had to withdraw from his concert with Mary Gauthier on 4 February 2012 at St Andrew’s In the Square due to unforeseen circumstances. 

This change was entirely due to circumstances beyond the festival’s control. 

The Box Office is currently contacting all patrons who have already purchased their ticket to advise them of the change in line-up. 

Change in Admiral Fallow, Dry the River and Chasing Owls Line-Up 

Unfortunately Dry the River has had to withdraw from their appearance in the above concert on Friday 27 January 2012 at the O2 ABC due to unforeseen circumstances. This change was entirely due to circumstances beyond the festival’s control. 

The Box Office is currently contacting all patrons who have already purchased their ticket to advise them of the change in line-up. 

Celtic Connections Presents Transatlantic Sessions on Tour: Shetland 2012 

In this the Year of Scottish Islands Transatlantic Sessions are performing their first ever show in Shetland, the home of Transatlantic stalwart Aly Bain, on Friday 3 February 2012 at the Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lochside, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PJ. Tickets will be priced at £24. 

From the award-winning Pelicula/BBC TV series, the Transatlantic Sessions continue to revisit shared roots and forge new common ground between today’s finest Celtic and Americana musicians. Fresh from the success of last year’s sold out tour are musical directors fiddle maestro Aly Bain and dobro legend Jerry Douglas.  

Making their Transatlantic Sessions debut are Grammy-winning ex-Mavericks frontman Raul Malo, the Wailin’ Jennys’ dulcet soprano Ruth Moody and Irish balladeer Declan O’Rourke. 

Futher gracing the stage are Scottish stars Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson, while the Stateside posse features Tim O’Brien and Bruce Molsky, flanked as ever by the ultimate house band of John Doyle, Russ Barenberg, Phil Cunningham, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick and James Mackintosh. 

Celtic Connections at Glasgow Loves Christmas 

Celtic Connections are hosting a number of fantastic performances throughout the Glasgow Loves Christmas in George Square. Every Saturday night between now and Christmas there will be two Celtic Connections acts performing from 7pm. Each act will be doing a 50 minute set each. Please see the list below for performance information. 

26 November 2011

George Square

7pm – 9pm

  • Jarlath Henderson Trio (performing at Celtic Connections on Saturday 28 January 2012 at The National Piping Centre)
  • RURA (performing at Celtic Connections on Saturday 28 January 2012 at the Old Fruitmarket 

3 December 2011

George Square

7pm – 9pm

  • Finlay MacDonald and Chris Stout (performing at Celtic Connections on Wednesday 25 January 2012 at The National Piping Centre)
  • Washington Irving (performing at Celtic Connections on Sunday 22 January at the O2 ABC and Friday 3 February at the O2 ABC) 

10 December 2011

George Square

7pm – 9pm

  • Kitty the Lion (performing at Celtic Connections on Wednesday 1 February at O2 ABC2)
  • Dead Man’s Waltz (performing at Celtic Connections on Sunday 5 February at O2 ABC) 

17 December 2011

George Square

7pm – 9pm

  • Finlay Wells and Sorren MacLean (performing at Celtic Connections on Thursday 26 January at The National Piping Centre)
  • Chasing Owls (performing at Celtic Connections on Friday 27 January at O2 ABC) 

24 December 2011

George Square

7pm – 9pm

  • Niteworks (performing at Celtic Connections on Saturday 21 January at Oran Mor)
  • Jo Mango (performing at Celtic Connections on Saturday 21 January at Platform and Tuesday 31 January at O2 ABC) 

Festival Artists Receive Major Awards Recognition 

Throughout Celtic Connection’s existence it has been able to include in its line – up a number of artists who have been honoured with an array of prestigious awards and nominations for major accolades. Celtic Connections 2012 is proud to introduce a number of festival artists that have been nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Nominated artists for this award who are performing at the festival include Jackie Oates, June Tabor, The Unthanks, Martin Simpson, Bella Hardy, Steve Tilston, Emily Smith and the Peatbog Faeries.