Tickets for Billy Bragg and Joe Henry’s concert at Celtic Connections 2017 are now on sale.
Celtic Connections 2017 takes place from Thursday 19 January to Sunday 5 February.
The programme will be announced this October but festival fans already have a chance to book their place at the unmissable annual celebration of world, folk and roots music.
Billy Bragg and Joe Henry will be performing songs featured on their album Shine A Light, which was recorded on a four day rail trip across America, along with favourites from their own back catalogues on 26 January at the Old Fruitmarket.
The UK’s number one star in the blues rock world Joanne Shaw Taylor, will be at the O2 ABC on 20 January.
The following night The Felice Brothers bring their classic American music to the O2 ABC, playing songs from their acclaimed latest album, Life in the Dark.
Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel will be at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 23 January, with each show featuring improvised sections no show is ever the same from a musician who captivates audiences across the world.
Each January more than 2000 musicians from across the world take part in more than 300 events in venues across the city as Glasgow hosts the UK’s leading celebration of Gaelic music.
There were more than 120,000 attendances at last year’s festival – while nearly 10,000 school children attended free morning concerts as part of the festivals award winning Education Programme.
This summer one of the sensations of Celtic Connections 2015 – the orchestral reworking of legendary musician Martyn Bennett’s final album GRIT – is also on the road, with two sold out concerts.
The GRIT orchestra conducted by Greg Lawson performed at Charlton Park, WOMAD on Friday 29 July, and will take to the stage of the Edinburgh Playhouse on Tuesday 23 August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections said: “It is fantastic to be able to bring GRIT to new audiences – it’s a show which captures the excitement of bringing together brilliant musicians and different styles of music to create something truly special, that is at the heart of Celtic Connections. Experiencing the show at WOMAD and the hugely enthusiastic response of the audience, and looking ahead to next week’s performance in Edinburgh, sets the pulse racing a little faster at the prospect of Celtic Connections 2017.”
Councillor Archie Graham, OBE, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Celtic Connections is a must see event that will already be marked in the calendar of music lovers across the world. If you’ve never been before, then I would encourage you to join us in Glasgow to experience what is not only the UK’s leading celebration of Celtic music but also now one of the best music festivals in the world.”
To book tickets and keep up to date on all the details for Celtic Connections 2017 visit www.celticconnections.com
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Media contact: If you would like more information on Celtic Connections please contact Brian Maycock
Email: Brian.Maycock@glasgow.gov.uk
Telephone: + 44 (0)141 287 5973 / + 44 (0) 7884 116 421
Notes to Editors
Shine A Light. In March 2016 Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, guitars in hand, boarded a Los Angeles-bound train at Chicago’s Union Station looking to reconnect with the culture of railroad travel and the music it inspired. Winding along 2,728 miles of track over four days, the pair recorded classic railroad songs in waiting rooms and at trackside while the train paused to pick up passengers. http://shinealight-joehenry.billybragg.co.uk/
Celtic Connections is promoted by Glasgow Life. Glasgow Life and its service brands (found at www.glasgowlife.org.uk) are operating names of Culture and Sport Glasgow (“CSG”). CSG is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland with company number SC313851 and having its registered office at 220 High Street, Glasgow G4 0QW. CSG is registered as a charity with the office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (No SC037844).
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland