Béla Fleck Fits In Obama Inauguration Gig In Between Celtic Connections Shows

Legendary US banjo wizard Bela Fleck will fit a performance at Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration festivities in between his two Celtic Connections concerts. Fleck, who is performing with an all-star African line-up of Toumani Diabate, Oumou Sangare and Bassekou Kouyate on January 17th in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, has been invited to perform with Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra in Washington D.C. on 19th January to celebrate Obama’s inauguration.

He’ll then fly back to Glasgow for his gig with Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet on January 21st at the ABC. As a result, the free screening of Fleck’s acclaimed documentary Throw Down Your Heart, which will be attended by the legendary banjo player himself (when he will take part in a Q&A) has been rescheduled from January 19th to January 16th.
Celtic Connections runs Thursday 15th January – Sunday 1st February, 2009