(headline image: The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices)
The 2025 Celtic Connections festival, presented by Glasgow Life in partnership with Innis & Gunn, has unveiled over 40 new shows, enriching an already robust lineup. From January 16 to February 2, Glasgow will host 1,200 musicians from 20 countries across 300 events in 25 venues, underscoring the city’s UNESCO designation as a City of Music. The festival continues to champion roots, world, and folk music while spotlighting themes of environmental conservation and cultural heritage.
Key Highlights of the Expanded Lineup:
- Immersive Film and Orchestral Collaboration: A co-presentation with the Glasgow Film Festival will feature the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performing Jim Sutherland’s score for When Fish Begin to Crawl. This live cinematic event, showcasing the Flow Country’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, blends music and visuals in a compelling narrative.
- Premieres Celebrating Nature: Laura-Beth Salter and Ali Hutton will debut From the Ground, a tribute to Scotland’s landscapes, integrating natural sounds from Skye, Harris, and Glasgow. Composer John Metcalfe will perform his album Tree, which explores a day in the life of a tree, accompanied by stunning visuals from Jony Easterby.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations: Singer-songwriter Hayden Thorpe will perform NESS, a project co-created with nature writer Robert Macfarlane, alongside the Propellor Ensemble. Similarly, Hannah Read will showcase The Fungi Sessions Vol. 1, a fungi-inspired musical suite with visual projections.
- International and Cultural Influences: The Zawose Queens of Tanzania will bring East African music traditions to Òran Mór, while The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices will perform their renowned polyphonic choral works alongside new compositions by Georgi Andreev.
- Diverse New Platforms: Collaborations with We Are Here Scotland will highlight musicians of color, featuring talents such as Aref Ghorbani and Simone Seales. The Blues Hour will spotlight Ugandan-born singer-songwriter Jon Muq, whose music bridges personal and cultural experiences.
- Emerging and Established Talent: An Lanntair’s 40th anniversary will be celebrated with performances by Hebridean artists, while Song Club at Saint Luke’s will showcase rising UK singer-songwriters like Nell Mescal and Katie Gregson-MacLeod.
Festival Milestones:
Since its inception in 1994, Celtic Connections has grown into the world’s premier folk, roots, and world music festival. With its expanding lineup and a mission to present thought-provoking performances, it remains a cornerstone of Glasgow’s cultural identity.
Donald Shaw, the festival’s Creative Producer, emphasized the importance of presenting innovative works that resonate with contemporary themes, while Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, highlighted the festival’s role as a cultural beacon attracting global talent.
Celtic Connections 2025 runs from January 16 to February 2, promising vibrant performances and transformative experiences for audiences of all musical tastes.
More at www.celticconnections.com.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central