Published: 20 Oct 2015
The programme for Celtic Connections 2016 has been announced today (Tuesday 20 October) by Artistic Director, Donald Shaw.
From Thursday 14 to Sunday 31 January, 2,500 musicians from around the world will gather in Glasgow for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, workshops, free events, late night sessions and a host of special one-off musical collaborations.
Stars of world, folk and roots music, who will perform on 26 stages at venues across the city, include Rickie Lee Jones, The Chieftains, Lau, The Unthanks, Béla Fleck, Moving Hearts, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, Admiral Fallow, Toumani Diabaté, Karine Polwart, Boys of the Lough, and Larry Carlton.
With artists from Inner Mongolia to Armagh, Senegal to Italy, and Brittany to the Outer Hebrides to Southern Manitoba performing at the festival in 2016 Celtic Connections remains a hotbed of musical talent from cultures and countries from across the globe.
The Opening Concert will be celebrating 50 years of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland with musical director Siobhan Miller at the helm.
Family Ties will also be at the fore of this years’ festival, through shows including concerts by The Wainwright Sisters, and They Might be Giants performing a special matinee performance for children.
Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and John Grant are among the stars of New Americana who will take to the stage during the festival.
Pilgrimage will be explored through a series of performances, including the reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s 1976 album Hejira - which explores themes of the constant journey we are all on in life - by James Robertson.
While Drift is inspired by the true story of Betty Mouat, a crofter from Shetland, who spent eight days drifting alone in the North Sea.
Celtic Connections takes pride in looking to the future as well as celebrating the past. Matthew Welch’s Blarvuster, the Aidan O’Rourke Trio and Soumik Datta & Bernhard Schimpelsberger: Circle of Sound are among those who will step into the spotlight at a new venue for the festival Drygate Brewery to represent a new strand, The Shape of Folk to Come.
A series of major anniversaries will be marked, with celebrations of Aly Bain at 70 in a show entitled Le Grande Anniversaire where he will be joined by his long standing cohort Phil Cunningham to celebrate 30 years of performing together.
Bwani Junction will be performing Graceland 30 years after Paul Simon’s classic album was released. Four of the original members of the recording will be performing on this very special occasion.
A series of concerts In the Tradition will celebrate piping and Gaelic music. Nights dedicated to Gordon Duncan and the Armagh Pipers and a concert recalling the legendary Live in Ireland 78 will put the swirl and power of the pipes centre stage. A special 30th anniversary concert for Fèis Ros, music from Anne Lorne Gillies, and a show entitled Gàidhlig meets Gaelic Americana which brings together Gillebrìde MacMillan and Kyle Carey will be music to the ears of lovers of these two traditions, which remain as fresh, vital and entertaining as ever.
The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France will be centre stage at this year’s Showcase Scotland as the festival celebrates France as the partner country for 2016 and the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Glasgow and Marseille.
To celebrate the twinning with France, the festival is delighted to announce that Drygate Brewery is again creating a brand new craft beer with French hops, which will be available at festival venues.
Showcase Scotland is delegate based and hosted in the city of Glasgow over four days during Celtic Connections. Musical directors and programmers of leading festivals and venues from around the world attend the event where around 60 songwriters, bands and musicians are showcased. A Trade Fair is held to provide an additional platform for promoters to meet with artists and their representatives to discuss potential booking possibilities.
At the core of the festival is the award winning Education Programme, which sees thousands of children attend free morning concerts, experiencing live music from Scotland and further afield. Up to 11,400 children will take part in Celtic Connections Education Programme for schools during the 2016 festival, with opportunities including five free morning concerts.
Celtic Connections also continues to play a vital role in fostering new and young talent. Since 1999 in Glasgow alone the Celtic Connections Education Programme has delivered projects to over 80 per cent of Glasgow schools, with over 90 per cent of that figure being in primary schools, and a total of over 90,000 children and young people benefiting from the programme. Nationally, that figure rises to over 185,000 children and young people from all over Scotland.
In addition to the school workshops, there will be over 60 public workshops for all ages and abilities from dawn until dusk over each of the three weekends. Highlights include the Ukulele School hosted by Finlay Allison and The Fiddle Village hosted by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas.
We also welcome back the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
The final day of Celtic Connections, Sunday 31 January, includes a show at the Old Fruitmarket in aid of the Bert Jansch Foundation, whose charitable aim is to support the next generation of acoustic musicians. Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Archie Fisher, and Jacqui McShee will perform along with more special guests to be announced in Bert Inspired: A Concert for Bert Jansch.
Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections, said: “Celtic Connections is rooted in a love of traditional, folk and world music. Since our earliest days the passion, the skill, and the excitement that you find at a live concert at Celtic Connections has inspired us to put together the programme each year.
“For 2016, we are bringing superstars and cult heroes, new talent, and artists who were legends long before the first Celtic Connections was staged.
“This year we weave stories of pilgrimage, of crossing continents, we celebrate anniversaries and the Auld Alliance. We have a lot of amazing concerts to pack into 18 days, join us when Celtic Connections returns next January.”
Ian Smith, Portfolio Manager for Music, Creative Scotland, said: “Celtic Connections is one of the world’s great music festivals and to have established such a global presence in a comparatively short time underlines its place as one of Scotland’s creative treasures.
“Every January we gather in Glasgow in mid-winter to be thrilled and inspired by great music from around the world, but with its roots and traditions firmly in Scotland. We will see this as the TMSA celebrates 50 years in the opening concert. With Showcase Scotland at its core, Celtic Connections represents all that is great about Scotland’s cultural identity expressed so brilliantly through its music.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow is a welcoming city which is proud of its heritage and embraces diversity. Each January we host a festival which in many ways mirrors our home city.
“Celtic Connections brings together musicians from across the world for a celebration of musical traditions, the best of contemporary folk and world music, and the ways in which different musical cultures interweave and inspire and, always, entertain.
“The expertise and skill that drives Celtic Connections also shines through in a education programme that benefits thousands of children across Glasgow and Scotland. Invaluable opportunities enrich lives and offer chances to learn, to enjoy, to be part of the always unique, always brilliant musical happening which is Celtic Connections.”
View the full programme for Celtic Connections 2016.
Music industry delegates from across the world will gather in Glasgow from Wednesday 27 to Sunday 31 January 2016 to experience performances by songwriters, bands and musicians at the annual Showcase Scotland event
Taking place as part of the finale of Celtic Connections 2016, Showcase Scotland provides a platform for around 60 Scottish musicians and bands to perform in front of promoters, record labels, agents and media, helping raise their profile and that of Scotland’s vibrant music scene.
A Trade Fair is also held where promoters meet with artists and representatives to discuss potential booking possibilities.
Showcase Scotland will also present performances by an exciting range of musical talent from France - the partner country for Showcase Scotland 2016 – and artists with strong French musical connections.
An independently commissioned survey showed that £2.2 million is generated in fee income for Scottish artists from Showcase Scotland, as part of the event’s overall remit to build lasting cultural and trade links with Scottish artists, its industries and agencies.
This industry event, the largest of its type in Scotland, also provides fantastic exposure for acts from the festival’s partner country, and in 2016 aims to help create new connections between Scottish and French musical communities.
Zoufris Maracas’s singer Vincent Sanchez delivers the bands languidly exuberant pastiche of manouche, morna, Mexican cumbia and African rumba sounds in a warmly bemused voice dripping with the influence of Brel and Brassens.
Now based in a village in the North of France, singer songwriter Blick Bassy’s soulful music is performed in Bassa, one of some 260 spoken languages from his native Cameroon.
Audiences can also enjoy two of France’s new jazz stars Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien, who have joined forces in a multifaceted chamber-jazz duo paying tribute to the grand jazz and folk music history of their home country and transporting it into the here and now.
Senegalese singer, guitarist, percussionist and songwriter Cheikh Lȏ blends a West African interpretation of Cuban music with an international flavour strongly influenced by his time living in France and by the presence of French musicians in his ensemble.
Showcase Scotland is organised by Active Events on behalf of Celtic Connections. This four day event was initiated to provide a platform for promoting Scottish music and artists to new audiences across the world, and continues to prove hugely popular.
Up to 180 delegates are hosted each year, and within seven days of registration opening for this year’s event, 100 applications to attend had been received and industry experts from 15 nations are already confirmed as attending in 2016.
Delegates are encouraged by organisers to book at least two Scottish acts for their respective festival rosters and touring programme.
Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections, said: “The influence and inspirations of music that is uniquely, brilliantly French resonates through world music and it is fantastic that this year we are focusing on French artists and music and the interplay with other cultures and styles.
“This would not be possible without our partnership with Bureau Export France and I would like to thank them ahead of what is shaping up to be one of the best Showcase Scotland events we have ever staged as part of Celtic Connections.”
Ian Smith, Portfolio Manager for Music, Creative Scotland, said: “Celtic Connections is now established as one of the world’s greatest celebrations of a nation’s creative and cultural identities. We are proud that Scotland can claim that identity for our indigenous and traditional music and Showcase Scotland, now in its 17th edition is a critical part of that success.
“Hosted by Celtic Connections, Showcase Scotland has built an enviable and deserved reputation for not only promoting the great music of Scotland, but also that of our international partner, which in 2016 will be France. To celebrate the Auld Alliance in such a positive way with our French colleagues, ensures that, once again, Showcase Scotland will be the “go to” event for the world’s festival directors, promoters, and agents.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Each January, Glasgow welcomes music industry delegates from across the world to sample some of the best that Scottish music has to offer. This year we are also delighted to be welcoming a fantastic range of artists from and connected with France to perform across the city.
“Showcase Scotland is about putting Scottish music on the world stage, strengthening existing links between different international musical communities and creating new links. What better place than Glasgow to do this, what better time than during Celtic Connections.”
Eric Vandepoorter Director of the Bureau Export de la musique Française in UK, said: “We are very proud that some of France’s most talented artists will be represented during Showcase Scotland as partner country at Celtic Connections. There have been over 700 years of economic and cultural friendship between our countries. This event is a fantastic opportunity for our artists to perform, show their diversity and be part of this brilliant event and platform.”
Chaidh am prògram airson Celtic Connections 2016 aimneachadh an-diugh (Dimàirt 20 Dàmhair) leis an Stiùiriche Ealanta, Dòmhnall Seaghach.
Bho Dhiardaoin 14 gu Didòmhnaich 31 Faoilleach, bidh 2,500 neach-ciùil bho air feadh an t-saoghail a’ cruinneachadh ann an Glaschu airson 18 làithean de chuirmean-ciùil, cèilidhean, òraidean, taisbeanaidhean ealain, bùithtean-obrach, tachartasan an-asgaidh, seiseanan deireadh-oidhche agus raon de cho-obrachaidhean ciùil sònraichte eile.
Tha na rionnagan à saoghal tuath-cheòl is ceòl freumhaichte a bhios a’ coileanadh an cuid ealain air 26 àrd-ùrlaran aig ionadan-cruinneachaidh air feadh a’ bhaile, a’ gabhail a-steach Rickie Lee Jones, Na Chieftains, Lau, Na Unthanks, Béla Fleck, Moving Hearts, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, Admiral Fallow, Toumani Diabaté, Karine Polwart, Boys of the Lough, agus Larry Carlton.
Le luchd-ealain bho Mhongòilia A-staigh gu Árd Mhacha, Seanagal gu An Eadailt, agus A’ Bhreatainn Bheag gu Innse Gall gu Manatòba a Deas a’ coileanadh aig an fhèis, tha Celtic Connections 2016 gu bhith mar as àbhaist na fhìor fhèist de thàlant ciùil bho chultaran is dùthchannan air feadh na cruinne-cè.
Bidh A’ Chuirm Fosglaidh a’ comharrachadh 50 bliadhna de Chomann Òrain is Ciùil Traidiseanta na h-Alba (Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland) leis an stiùiriche ciùil Siobhan Miller aig an stiùir.
Bidh Ceanglaichean Teaghlaich follaiseach aig fèis na bliadhna seo cuideachd, tro thaisbeanaidhean a bhios a’ gabhail a-steach cuirmean-ciùil leis Na Wainwright Sisters, agus They Might be Giants a’ coileanadh aig nòin-chluich sònraichte do chloinn.
Tha Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson agus John Grant am measg rionnagan New Americana a bhios a’ gabhail chun an àrd-ùrlair aig an fhèis.
Thèid Pilgrimage a rannsachadh tro shreath de choileanaidhean, a’ gabhail a-steach ath-mheòrachadh air Hejira, an albam bho 1976 aig Joni Mitchell – a tha a’ rannsachadh thèaman an turais leantainnich againn uile tro ar beatha – le Seumas Robasdan.
Aig an aon àm, tha Drift air a bhrosnachadh leis an sgeulachd fhìor aig Betty Mouat, bana-chroitear à Sealtainn, a chuir seachad ochd latha air a siabadh leis an t-sruth leatha fhèin sa Chuan a Tuath.
Tha Celtic Connections a’ coimhead ris an àm ri teachd le moit agus uaill a thuilleadh air a bhith a’ comharrachadh an ama a dh’fhalbh. Tha Blarvuster aig Matthew Welch, an Aidan O’Rourke Trio agus Soumik Datta & Bernhard Schimpelsberger: Circle of Sound am measg iadsan a bhios fon an t-solas ann an ionad-cruinneachaidh ùr aig an fhèis, agus Taigh-grùide Drygate a’ riochdachadh dual ùr, The Shape of Folk to Come.
Bithear a’ comharrachadh sreath de chinn-bliadhna chudromach, le subhachasan de Aly Bain at 70 ann an taisbeanadh àrd-ùrlair fon tiotal Le Grande Anniversaire agus còmhla ris bidh a cho-oibriche fad-ùine Phil Cunningham, gus 30 bliadhna de bhith a’ coileanadh còmhla a chomharrachadh.
Bidh Bwani Junction a’ coileanadh Graceland, 30 bliadhna às dèidh don albam chlasaigeach aig Pòl Simon a bhith air a foillseachadh. Bidh ceathrar de na buill thùsail a bha sa chlàradh a’ coileanadh aig an tachartas fìor shònraichte seo.
Bidh sreath de chuirmean-ciùil, In the Tradition, a’ comharrachadh pìobaireachd agus ceòl Gàidhlig. Cuiridh oidhcheannan air an ainmeachadh fa leth dha Gordon Duncan agus Pìobairean Árd Mhacha agus cuirm-chiùil ag ath-chuimhneachadh an tachartais chliùitich Live in Ireland 78 a’ cur spionnadh is cumhachd na pìoba gu teis-meadhain an àrd-ùrlair. Bidh cuirm-chiùil shònraichte a’ comharrachadh na 30mh ceann-bliadhna aig Fèis Rois, ceòl bho Anna Latharna Nic’Illìosa, agus cuirm fon tiotal Gàidhlig meets Gaelic Americana le Gillebrìde Mac IlleMhaoil agus Kyle Carey, air am mòr-mheas leothasan a tha a’ leantainn an dà thraidisean sin, a tha fhathast cho ùr, beòthail agus tarraingeach ’s a bha iad a-riamh.
Bidh an t-Seann Chaidreachas eadar Alba agus an Fhraing aig teis-meadhain àrd-ùrlair Mòr-thaisbeanadh Alba (Showcase Scotland) agus an fhèis a’ comharrachadh na Frainge mar chom-pàirtiche dùthcha airson 2016 agus an 10mh ceann-bliadhna den chàraideadh eadar Glaschu agus Marseille.
Mar chomharradh air a’ chàraideadh leis an Fhraing, tha an fhèis toilichte ainmeachadh gu bheil Taigh-grùide Drygate a-rithist a’ cruthachadh lionn ciùird ùr le lusan leanna Frangach, a bhios ri fhaotainn anns na h-ionadan-cruinneachaidh aig an fhèis.
Tha Mòr-thaisbeanadh Alba (Showcase Scotland) stèidhichte air teachdairean agus air aoigheachd ann am baile-mòr Ghlaschu thairis air ceithir latha aig àm Celtic Connections. Bidh stiùirichean ciùil agus luchd-prògramaidh nam prìomh fhèisean is ionadan-cruinneachaidh bho air feadh an t-saoghail, a’ frithealadh an tachartais far am bi timcheall air 60 sgrìobhaiche-ciùil, còmhlan-ciùil agus neach-ciùil air an taisbeanadh. Bidh Fèill Mhalairt air a cumail mar àrd-ùrlar a bharrachd do luchd-adhartachaidh agus cothrom a thoirt dhaibh air coinneachadh ri luchd-ealain agus an riochdairean gus comasachd air tachartasan san àm ri teachd a dheasbad.
Aig teis-meadhain na fèise, tha am Prògram Foghlaim a tha air mòran duaisean a chosnadh, agus a bhios a’ faicinn nam mìltean de chloinn a’ frithealadh chuirmean-ciùil maidne an-asgaidh, a’ cur eòlas air ceòl beò à Alba agus àiteachan nas fhaide air falbh. Bidh suas ri 11,400 neach-cloinne a’ gabhail pàirt ann am Prògram Foghlaim Celtic Connections do sgoiltean tro fhèis 2016, le cothroman a bhios a’ gabhail a-steach còig chuirmean maidne an-asgaidh.
Tha Celtic Connections a’ leantainn air adhart le dleastanas deatamach a thaobh àrach tàlant òg agus ùr. Bho 1999 ann an Glaschu a-mhàin, tha Prògram Foghlaim Celtic Connections air pròiseactan a lìbhrigeadh gu còrr air 80 sa cheud de sgoiltean Ghlaschu, le còrr air 90 sa cheud den àireamh sin sna bun-sgoiltean, le àireamh iomlan de chòrr air 90,000 neach-cloinne is daoine òga a’ faotainn buannachd às a’ phrògram. Gu nàiseanta, tha an àireamh sin ag èirigh gu barrachd air 185,000 neach-cloinne is daoine òga bho air feadh Alba.
A thuilleadh air bùithtean-obrach sgoile, bidh còrr air 60 bùth-obrach phoblach do gach aois agus comas gan cumail bho mhadainn gu feasgar thar gach aon de na trì dheireadh-seachdainean. Am measg nan nithean cudromach, bidh Sgoil Ukulele air a stiùireadh le Finlay Allison agus The Fiddle Village air a stiùireadh le Alasdair Fraser agus Natalie Haas.
Tha sinn cuideachd a’ cur fàilte air ais air Orcastra Nàiseanta Rìoghail na h-Alba agus Orcastra Siomfanaidh Albannach a’ BhBC.
Tha an latha deireannach aig Celtic Connections, Didòmhnaich 31 Faoilleach, a’ gabhail a-steach cuirm san Old Fruitmarket mar thaic do Stèidheachd Bert Jansch, a tha ag amas air taic carthannais a chur ris an ath ghinealach de luchd-ciùil fuaime. Bidh Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Archie Fisher agus Jacqui McShee a’ coileanadh còmhla ri aoighean speisealta eile a thèid ainmeachadh ann am Bert Inspired: A Concert for Bert Jansch.
Thuirt Dòmhnall Seaghach, Stiùiriche Ealanta Celtic Connections: “Tha Celtic Connections freumhaichte ann an gràdh do cheòl traidiseanta, ceòl tuatha agus ceòl cruinneil. Bho thoiseach gnothaich, tha an dìoghras, an sgil agus am boil a tha cuirm-chiùil beò aig Celtic Connections a’ piobrachadh, air ar spreagadh gu am prògram a chur ri chèile gach bliadhna.
“A thaobh 2016, tha sinn a’ toirt còmhla rionnagan iomraiteach agus gaisgich chliùiteach, tàlant ùr agus luchd-ealain a bha ainmeil fada mus deach a’ chiad Celtic Connections a chur a-riamh air àrd-ùrlar.
“Am-bliadhna, tha sinn a’ fighe sgeulachdan taistealachd, trasnadh mòr-roinnean, tha sinn a’ comharrachadh chinn-bliadhna agus an t-Seann Chaidreachas. Tha àireamh mhòr de chuirmean-ciùil ri fhilleadh a-steach do 18 làithean, thigibh còmhla rinn nuair a thilleas Celtic Connections san Fhaoilleach seo tighinn.”
Thuirt Ian Smith, Manaidsear Fòilio Ciùil, Alba Chruthachail: “Tha Celtic Connections mar aon de na fèisean ciùil as fheàrr air an t-saoghal, agus tha a làthaireachd chruinneil a chaidh a stèidheachadh ann an ùine cuibheasach goirid, a’ dearbhadh a h-àite mar aon de ulaidhean cruthachail na h-Alba.
“Gach mìos Faoillich, tha sinn a’ cruinneachadh ann an Glaschu ann am meadhan a’ gheamhraidh gus a bhith air ar beò-ghlacadh ’s air ar spreagadh le ceòl iongantach bho air feadh an t-saoghail, ach le freumhaichean agus traidiseanan stèidhichte gu daingeann ann an Alba. Chì sinn seo agus an TMSA a’ comharrachadh 50 bliadhna sa chuirm fosglaidh. Le Mòr-thaisbeanadh Alba (Showcase Scotland) na theis-meadhain, tha Celtic Connections a’ riochdachadh na tha math mu dheidhinn dearbh-aithne chultarach na h-Alba air a chur an cèill cho fìor ealanta tro a chuid ciùil.”
Thuirt an Comhairliche Eàrdsaidh Greumach, Cathraiche Ghlaschu Beò: “Is e baile a chuireas fàilte is furan a th’ ann an Glaschu a tha moiteil às a dhualchas agus a’ gabhail gu dàimheil ri iomadachd. Gach mìos Faoillich, tha sinn a’ toirt aoigheachd do fhèis a tha ann an iomadach dòigh na sgàthan don bhaile againn fhìn.
“Tha Celtic Connections a’ toirt còmhla luchd-ciùil bho air feadh an t-saoghail airson comharrachadh de thraidiseanan ciùil, na nithean as fheàrr de na th’ ann de cheòl co-aimsireil tuatha is cruinneil, agus na dòighean sa bheil diofar chultaran ciùil ag eadar-fhighe, spreagail agus an-còmhnaidh tarraingeach.
“Tha an t-eòlas agus an sgil a tha a’ stiùireadh Celtic Connections, a’ deàlradh cuideachd troimhe ann am prògram foghlaim a tha na bhuannachd do mhìltean de chloinn air feadh Ghlaschu agus Alba. Tha cothroman thar luach a’ saidhbhreachadh beatha agus a’ tairgsinn chothroman airson ionnsachadh, tlachd, agus a bhith mar phàirt de thachartas ciùil Celtic Connections a tha an-còmhnaidh mìorbhaileach agus gun choimeas.”
ENDS
Photos credit to Ian Watson.
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