BBC ALBA to showcase Celtic Connections’ stunning 30th anniversary concert from Glasgow
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BBC ALBA is to show highlights of a special Celtic Connections concert which celebrates 30 years of the iconic music festival, airing from January 28 at 9pm.
Celtic Connections, produced by Beezr Studios, features a host of stunning performances from the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, the spiritual home of the festival.
The opening gala concert for the festival was designed to mark the 30th anniversary of what is now regarded as the world’s finest trad and roots music festival.
The 90–minute programme explores Celtic Connections' past through interviews with the festival’s Creative Producer, Donald Shaw, and musician Laura J Wilkie, who admits Celtic Connections excites her more than Christmas.
Other performers include Duncan Chisholm and Karine Polwart, who are part of the fabric and history of the festival, international acts and emerging musicians from the trad scene.
The concert revolves around the Celtic Connections Big Band, starring a host of talented musicians who have embodied the spirit of the festival and whose skilful accompaniment of guest musicians and musical heft raises the roof.
Programme highlights include a rare appearance by singer Jenna Cumming – her voice hushing a packed concert hall; Kathleen MacInnes and Hothouse Flowers’ frontman Liam Ó Maonlaí delivering soulful Gaelic incantations; and bluegrass superstars Sierra Hull & Justin Moses’ blistering dexterity on mandolin.
Festival producer Donald Shaw said: “Essentially, it's a celebration of culture. A big, crazy festival of brilliant people. It's of cultural importance, not only for the musicians, but for the public as well. I would simply say it's just a celebration of our great music.”
The line–up encompasses the full bandwidth of Celtic music including festival veterans and performers, like Rachel Sermanni and Anna Massie, who have come of age with the festival.
Rachel Sermanni said: “It makes sense for an opening concert to be full of variety and offer a taste of what's upcoming. I would love to be at that [opening] gig. I wish I was there. I'll sneak out to watch, I'm sure, at some point.”
Musician Duncan Chisholm said: “Some of my most memorable performances have been at Celtic Connections and I think everyone raises their game when they come here. It's a place to make your mark and what Celtic Connections proves is that our musicians are world class, and we have a world class festival, right here in Glasgow.”
Performer Karine Polwart said: “I love Celtic Connections, I feel really fortunate to have played so many times, and every time I come here it's like meeting friends. I love the social, convivial aspect of things and that it's a celebration of Scottish music: everything from trad music to jazz and indie and all the other many flavours of music that overlap and intersect here in Scotland.”
