| Irish Music
Time to make the right connections again THE CELTIC heart melts when
it comes to traditional music and the Celtic Connections festival in
Glasgow has successfully tapped into an audience ravenously hungry for
every aspect of music and muse.
Even in the gale-driven sleet of January they come in droves.
Every part of the city’s Royal Concert Hall is utilised for a near
round-the-clock cycle of Celtic arts.
Celtic Connections is now in its 13th year and continues to not only
support the roots of traditional Scottish music but also brings some of
the best and most prominent world musicians to Glasgow.
Artists appearing at this year’s festival include The Waterboys, Roddy
Frame, Richard Thompson, Capercaillie, Donnie Munro, Johnny Kalsi,
Lunasa, Afro Celt DJ Set, Karine Polwart, Eddi Reader and Eric Bogle.
Celtic Connections will be utilising the recently re-opened Fruitmarket.
The first concert in the Old Fruitmarket is on Friday January 13 with
Irish band Lunasa.
Celtic Connections remains committed to encouraging new music and talent
in 2006.
The Young Tradition, Master and Apprentice, BBC Radio Scotland Young
Traditional Musician Final and Danny Kyle’s Open Stage all continue to
showcase up and coming artists. Moreover New Voices gives established
artists the opportunity to compose new pieces of work.
At the core of the festival is the education programme which last year
saw over 18,000 schoolchildren attend free concerts at The Glasgow Royal
Concert Hall.
This year the focus of Celtic Connections is to continue to play a vital
role in encouraging and fostering new and young talent.
For the last three years Celtic Connections has topped attendances of
100,000 bringing in visitors from across the world and affirming
Glasgow’s place on the cultural map. The festival exceeds its original
aim of filling a gap in the Concert Hall’s calendar in January and is
now an integral part of Glasgow’s cultural calendar.
Jimmy McHugh Annual Concert
ONCE more the cream of Irish traditional music will be travelling to
Glasgow from all over Britain and Ireland to pay tribute to the late
fiddler/composer Jimmy McHugh.
The seventh annual memorial concert is on January 14.
Many other top-class musicians — while not listed in the concert — will
be travelling to Glasgow for a great weekend of music and fun.
Much loved while with us, they travel to show that Jimmy and his music
are not forgotten.
Venue: Woodside Halls, Glenfarg St, Glasgow 8pm. Tickets £8
Telephone: 0845 3303501 0141 569 3557 / 07855 292062.
Booking advisable. Telephone 01706 215690 for further information.
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