BBC TV Live at the Festival

Tue 22 January, 9pm
Free but ticketed
Old Fruitmarket

BBC Scotland feature some of the top acts appearing at this year's festival in a special free highlights show from the Old Fruitmarket. This programme will be broadcast at a later date on BBC 2 Scotland.

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd

Tue 22 January, 10:30pm
£3.50
Central Hotel

Get ready for some late night music!

Our late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.

With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.

Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.

Iain Anderson In Conversation

Aonghas MacNeacail & Chris Stout Wed 23 January, 12:30pm £3.50 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

BBC Radio Scotland's Iain Anderson hosts an eclectic mix of local figures as well as musicians performing at the festival for a lunch time blether.

Danny Kyle's Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd

Wed 23 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Hosted by Danny Kyle's good friends Gibb Todd and Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year's festival - and all absolutely free!

In partnership with the Evening Times

Ross Ainslie, Jarlath Henderson & Ali Hutton

Wed 23 January, 6pm
£10
City Halls, Recital Room The Ross Ainslie/ Jarlath Henderson Trio are Ross Ainslie (Scottish small pipes), Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes) and Ali Hutton (guitar and bodhran). The trio are "high energy pipe fiends from Scotland and Ireland".

BBC Radio 2 with Mike Harding featuring Martin Simpson

Wed 23 January, 7pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Twice named as Musician of the Year at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, English guitarist and singer Martin Simpson has won almost universal admiration over the course of his 30-year career. Equally informed by British and American influences, including Martin Carthy, Davy Graham, Blind Willie Johnson and Doc Watson, his immaculately controlled synthesis of fingerstyle and slide techniques, together with his subtly eloquent singing, find expression in a diverse transatlantic range of traditional, contemporary and original material.

His most recent release, 2007's 'Prodigal Son', was variously described as 'a quiet masterpiece' by Observer Music Monthly, 'magnificent' by the Telegraph, and 'his all-round best yet' by fRoots. He appears tonight with his band members Andy Cutting, Andy Seward and Kellie While.

Bert Jansch & Espers with Eliza Carthy

Wed 23 January, 7:30pm
£18, £16
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

An icon of the 60s and 70s, cited as a key inspiration by some of today's hippest musical talents, Scottish-born singer, songwriter and guitarist Bert Jansch has been enjoying a remarkable creative renaissance in recent years, sharing stages and studios with the cream of the nu-folk crop, including Devendra Banhart, Vetiver and tonight's Stateside guests Espers.

Based in Philadelphia, Espers weave pretty yet eerie, neo-psychedelic soundscapes out of influences ranging from Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band to medieval and Renaissance music.

Describing herself simply as a 'modern British musician', the twice nominated Mercury award singer and fiddler Eliza Carthy unveils the latest stage of her singular musical journey. She'll be previewing tracks from her forthcoming release Dreams of Breathing Underwater - her second album of original material, following 2000's Angels & Cigarettes - accompanied by her new band line-up of Phil Alexander (keyboards/accordion), Emma Smith (double bass) and Willie Molleson (drums).

Balkan Night featuring Balkanopolis & Kries

Wed 23 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC

A three-band bill of cutting edge music from the fringes of Europe, hosted by Mouth Music founder and cross-cultural pioneer Martin Swan.

Swan leads the Stobo Village Band, a genre-busting outfit playing fast hypnotic acoustic dance music with fiddle, accordion, tapan and darabuka. Mashing up Scottish/Irish tune-playing with the virtuoso traditions and percussion sound of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, they pursue the groove all the way down the easyjet route map.

Of the evening's two main performers, Swan writes "this summer I somehow ended up producing two amazing bands in the Balkans. Serbia's Balkanopolis is the brainchild of Slobodan Trkulja, wunderkind multi-instrumentalist and creator of the modern traditional sound in Serbia. His band have so much music oozing out of them they don't know where to put it, and their gigs are a euphoric swerving chase through folk, jazz, and rock, all performed with great style and emotion. "Kries are from Croatia, and their extraordinary live performances bring together the wild and beautiful singing of Mojmir Novakovic with a dirty indie band sound that's shockingly modern, and also feature Croatian folk instruments ljerica, diple and gajde. Their fusion is more daring than anything I've heard elsewhere, and it's so powerful because everyone in the band believes that the purpose of music is a spiritual thing. Both of these bands have incredible energy, and I guarantee this evening will leave people reeling ...."

Angus Lyon & Ruaridh Campbell with Haugaard & Hoirup

Wed 23 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tron Theatre

Accordionist Angus Lyon and fiddler Ruaridh Campbell breathe newly inventive life into this classic Scottish instrumental partnership.

"...full of invention, energy, musicality, subtlety, great ideas and the sheer joy of making music" The Herald.

The Danish fiddle/guitar duo of Harald Haugaard and Morten Alfred Hoirup create some of the most exciting sounds on the folk scene today, in a virtuoso blend of traditional and original material.

Heidi Talbot with Lissa Schneckenburger

Wed 23 January, 8pm
£12.50
St Andrew's in the Square

Tonight's show marks the launch of In Love and Light, the second solo album from Cherish the Ladies vocalist Heidi Talbot. Support comes from New England fiddler/singer Lissa Schneckenburger. She appears tonight with her band: Keith Murphy (guitar) Corey DiMario (double bass) and Stefan Amidon (percussion).

Songs of Scotland

Jacobite Songs hosted by Doris Rougvie
Wed 23 January, 8pm
£8.50
Universal

Over the last two years the Songs of Scotland series has looked at different regions of Scotland and the songs that have emerged from these areas.

For the 2008 festival the series looks at different themes that occur in Scots song, mixing Gaelic and Scots, and how they have inspired songwriters and singers throughout generations.

Each of the ten themes will showcase a selection of songs, so each night will see the audience taken on a journey of discovery through different languages, dialects and stories, all linked with one common theme.

Dougie MacLean with Cherryholmes

Wed 23 January, 8pm
£16
Old Fruitmarket

The range of artists who've covered Dougie MacLean's songs - including Mary Black, Kathy Mattea, Dolores Keane, Paolo Nutini and Amy MacDonald - testifies to the breadth and depth of his appeal, although most fans' favourite versions, of course, remain his own.

MacLean's 30-year career, stretching from his early days with the Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard to recent large-scale projects such as Rural Image, commissioned for Celtic Connections 2005, was recently celebrated on a double-CD retrospective, 'The Essential Dougie MacLean'.

His current band line-up features Greg Lawson (violin), Jamie MacLean (acoustic guitar/percussion), Ross Ainslie (pipes/whistles, bouzouki), Alan Sutherland (keyboards) and Chris Agnew (bass).

In a mere eight years since they first began playing together, the six-member family band Cherryholmes have taken the bluegrass world by storm. Their latest album, 'Cherryholmes II: Black and White', entered the Billboard bluegrass chart at No.1 last June, while a recent live review called them 'one of the most cohesive, creative and soulful acoustic bands on the continent'.

Boston Tea Party

Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani
Wed 23 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tall Ship

One of America's most famous incidents saw colonists, disdaining British taxes, destroy crates of tea aboard ships in Boston Harbour in 1773. Two centuries on, Boston was famous for a music scene that developed in its tea and coffee houses. Joan Baez, Taj Mahal, Tom Rush and Bonnie Raitt are just some who served apprenticeships on the local scene before gaining international recognition and today, Boston remains as vibrant as ever.

This Boston Tea Party, like the original, held aboard a sailing ship, features four names who are major creative forces among the current crop of leading Massachusetts singer-songwriters.

Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani present a programme that will show why leading radio presenters both here and in the USA are describing them as "wonderful", "outstanding" and "must-see", performing together over three nights in-the-round, sharing stories and collaborating on some of the finest music of our times.

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd

Wed 23 January, 10:30pm
£3.50
Central Hotel

Get ready for some late night music!

Our late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.

With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.

Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.

BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts

Iain Anderson

Wed 23 January, 10:30pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay

Iain Anderson presents a fine array of singers and songwriters from this year's festival in the fantastic new setting of BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.

Iain Anderson In Conversation

George Parsonage, Alex Gray & John MacKay
Thu 24 January, 12:30pm
£3.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

BBC Radio Scotland's Iain Anderson hosts an eclectic mix of local figures as well as musicians performing at the festival for a lunch time blether.

Danny Kyle's Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd

Thu 24 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Hosted by Danny Kyle's good friends Gibb Todd and Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year's festival - and all absolutely free!

In partnership with the Evening Times

Moving Hearts with Bodega

Thu 24 January, 7:30pm
£20, £18
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

Seismic, seminal, visionary, defining - Moving Hearts' impact on contemporary Celtic music can hardly be overstated. Originally blazing their brief but brilliant trail from 1981-84, they were the first to open up traditional Irish sounds to the bracing influences of rock, funk and jazz, paving the way for such subsequent fusioneers as Capercaillie, Sharon Shannon and Mike McGoldrick.

As announced by their triumphant reunion gigs at Dublin's Vicar Street a year ago, and a superb set at last summer's Hebridean Celtic Festival, the band are firing gloriously on all cylinders once again, in an all-instrumental line-up featuring Donal Lunny (bouzouki), Davy Spillane (uilleann pipes/whistles), Keith Donald (saxophones) Eoghan O'Neill (bass), Noel Eccles (percussion), Anto Drennan (guitar), Graham Henderson (keyboards) and Liam Bradley (drums).

Having met while attending the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, at Plockton High School, the Highland five-piece Bodega - winners of the BBC Young Folk Award 2005/6 - are one of Scotland's most exciting traditional bands. Mixing up bagpipes, fiddle, clarsach, guitar and djembe with Norrie MacIver's powerful singing, in English and Gaelic, their sound is as fresh as it's accomplished, matching youthful boldness with precocious maturity.

Showcase Special

with Shooglenifty, Daimh, Stereocanto, The Anna Massie Band & Emily Smith
Thu 24 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC

A bumper-explosive night of top-Scottish talent, featuring five contrasting acts at the forefront of the current Celtic scene. Shooglenifty lead the folk-fusion pack, cooking up tunes borrowed from a wide swathe of world traditions with influences as diverse as prog rock and urban breakbeats.

Highland sextet Daimh alternate blistering pipes 'n' fiddle-led instrumentals with spellbinding Gaelic songs, while Stereocanto is a new jazz/folk combo led by the mighty musical mind of Fraser Fifield, featuring his saxophone, bagpipes and whistles alongside fiddle, vocals, drums, bass and guitar.

Completing the line-up will be The Anna Massie Band and Emily Smith who have established themselves as some of Scotland's finest young talent.

The Sounds of New Scotland:

Bricolage, Wake the President, Zoey Van Goey & Santa Dog
Thu 24 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
The Classic Grand

While wearing their debt to Glasgow's Postcard scene proudly in their collective sleeve, Bricolage add their own post-Franz twists with sneaky dance grooves, feelgood tunes and witty lyrics.

Wake The President's local influences range from the acoustic whimsy of early Belle and Sebastian to the slam and snarl of Arab Strap.

Having assembled rather accidentally in Glasgow, Zoey Van Goey's members hail from Canada, Ireland, and England. Their recently released debut single, Foxtrot Vandals was produced by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian.

Completing the line-up will be Santa Dog, known for their sparkly, summer-soaked pop with chiming guitars and a sinister perimeter.

Fred Morrison with Djaerv

Thu 24 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Today's supreme heir to the Gaelic piping tradition of his South Uist home, Fred Morrison is also a thoroughly 21st-century musician. One of the few pipers successfully to straddle the formal competition circuit and the contemporary folk scene, Morrison's astounding technique and inspired improvisations - on Highland, Lowland and uilleann pipes, as well as whistles - have won rapturous international acclaim.

Djaerv are a new Swedish folk/jazz five-piece whose influences include Vaesen, Ale Moeller, Groupa, Pat Metheny and Jan Garbarek, with a line-up of fiddle, flute, soprano sax, guitar, nyckelharpa, bass, percussion and vocals.

Margaret Stewart with Roisin Elsafty

Thu 24 January, 8pm
£12 The National Piping Centre

From Lewis comes the exceptional sean-nos Gaelic singer, Margaret Stewart, who tonight will launch her new CD alongside special guests. Opening the evening will be Connemara's Roisin Elsafty, also renowned for performing in the ancient melismatic style.

Kaplin, Kane & Welch with Lissa Schneckenburger

Thu 24 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tron Theatre

Americana singer-songwriters Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch formed their trio with renowned multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin in 2003 to create an Americana super-group that makes music with roots parameters, but in the spontaneity and vibe of a jazz recording. Tonight they are joined by Kane's son Lucas on drums adding further rhythmic sinew to their gutsy yet lyrical sound.

Maine-born Lissa Schneckenburger's dulcet voice and vibrant, dance-driven fiddle work have made her a leading exponent of her native New England traditions. She appears tonight with her band: Keith Murphy (guitar) Corey DiMario (double bass) and Stefan Amidon (percussion).

Duncan Chisholm's Kin with Lori Watson & Rule of Three

Thu 24 January, 8pm
£12.50
St Andrew's in the Square

Premiered at the 2007 Blas festival, Kin is a multi-media meditation on family, landscape and culture, created by fiddler Duncan Chisholm. Borders singer/fiddler Lori Watson leads her talented young trio, also featuring Innes Watson and Fiona Young.

Songs of Scotland

Heroes and Heroines hosted by Doris Rougvie
Thu 24 January, 8pm
£8.50
Universal

Over the last two years the Songs of Scotland series has looked at different regions of Scotland and the songs that have emerged from these areas.

For the 2008 festival the series looks at different themes that occur in Scots song, mixing Gaelic and Scots, and how they have inspired songwriters and singers throughout generations.

Each of the ten themes will showcase a selection of songs, so each night will see the audience taken on a journey of discovery through different languages, dialects and stories, all linked with one common theme.

Fanfare Ciocarlia with Nuala Kennedy's New Shoes

Thu 24 January, 8pm
£16
Old Fruitmarket

Currently the hottest gypsy band on the planet, the 11-piece Romanian brass ensemble Fanfare Ciocarlia won a Radio 3 World Music Award in 2006, and were featured on the soundtrack to the hit movie Borat, performing their unique version of Steppenwolf's 'Born to Be Wild'.

Heirs to a tradition dating back to Ottoman army bands, which often featured gypsy brass players, they whip up a dizzying whirlwind of tunes and rhythms from Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia and beyond, together with Klezmer, rock and hip-hop influences, bringing the exuberant soul and spirit of a traditional village wedding to the world's most illustrious stages.

Acclaimed Irish flautist and singer Nuala Kennedy is joined by special guests Cathal McConnell and Troy MacGillivray. She returns to Celtic Connections with her band The New Shoes after her highly successful New Voices commission last year - which was heralded as 'breathtaking' and a 'triumph' by Scotland's national press.

Boston Tea Party

Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani
Thu 24 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tall Ship

One of America's most famous incidents saw colonists, disdaining British taxes, destroy crates of tea aboard ships in Boston Harbour in 1773. Two centuries on, Boston was famous for a music scene that developed in its tea and coffee houses. Joan Baez, Taj Mahal, Tom Rush and Bonnie Raitt are just some who served apprenticeships on the local scene before gaining international recognition and today, Boston remains as vibrant as ever.

This Boston Tea Party, like the original, held aboard a sailing ship, features four names who are major creative forces among the current crop of leading Massachusetts singer-songwriters.

Alastair Moock, Kris Delmhorst, Tim Gearan and Rose Polenzani present a programme that will show why leading radio presenters both here and in the USA are describing them as "wonderful", "outstanding" and "must-see", performing together over three nights in-the-round, sharing stories and collaborating on some of the finest music of our times.

BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts

Travelling Folk
Thu 24 January, 8pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay

Archie Fisher presents a special live show featuring some of the best music from this year's festival, from BBC Scotland's new headquarters at Pacific Quay. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd

Thu 24 January, 10:30pm
£5
Central Hotel

Get ready for some late night music!

Our late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.

With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.

Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.

Iain Anderson In Conversation

Elizabeth Cumming & Jim Sutherland
Fri 25 January, 12:30pm
£3.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

BBC Radio Scotland's Iain Anderson hosts an eclectic mix of local figures as well as musicians performing at the festival for a lunch time blether.

Masterclass of Breton Pipe Music with Jakez Pincet and Pierre Gallais

Fri 25 January, 1pm
£6
Central Hotel

Learn from the experts! Due to popular demand at last year's festival, the Breton judges of the Solo Piping Competition will show you exactly how it's done. Played with wonderful skill and passion, this makes for glorious music.

Danny Kyle's Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd

Fri 25 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Hosted by Danny Kyle's good friends Gibb Todd and Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year's festival - and all absolutely free!

In partnership with the Evening Times

Hurdy Gurdy Night

Fri 25 January, 6pm
£10
City Halls, Recital Room

In what's quite possibly a world first, tonight brings together four top exponents of this ancient European folk instrument: Frenchmen Patrice Villaume, Pascal Lefeuvre and Thierry Nouat, and Hungary's Andras Vigh, originally brought together by La Banda Europa project.

BBC Radio Ulster

Blas
Fri 25 January, 7pm
Free but ticketed BBC Scotland, Pacific Q
uay

Friday night is music night on Blas, BBC Radio Ulster's Irish Language Magazine. Lynette Fay presents a live one hour special from BBC Scotland's new home, Pacific Quay and showcases the best of Celtic Connections 2008.

Blazin' Fiddles Aged 10 Years

Fri 25 January, 7:30pm
£18, £16
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

2008 marks Blazin' Fiddles' 10th anniversary - a milestone little envisaged when they embarked on a 'one-off' tour of the 1998 Highland Festival. The instant chemistry between them, however, proved as incendiary as their name, and thus a band - not to say a legend - was born.

Ten years on, Blazin' Fiddles' career highlights include playing the Royal Albert Hall at the 2005 BBC Proms, and the acclaimed 'With Strings Attached' project at Celtic Connections the same year. Tonight's headline birthday guests - international fiddle stars Bruce Molsky, Liz Doherty, Annbjorg Lien, Harald Haugaard and Archie McAllister - have all featured as tutors at the band's acclaimed annual Blazin' in Beauly fiddle school.

Comprising fiddlers Bruce MacGregor, Aidan O'Rourke, Iain MacFarlane, Catriona Macdonald and Allan Henderson, with pianist Andy Thorburn and guitarist Marc Clement, Blazin' Fiddles will also be joined by cellist Christine Hanson, trombonist Rick Taylor and percussionist James Mackintosh, in a venue rechristened for the evening as the Glasgow Royal Village Hall.

Packway Handle Band with Harem Scarem

Fri 25 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
Oran Mor

Arriving all the way from Athens, Georgia, for their debut Scottish performance, the Packway Handle Band are a young five-member posse who've been causing quite a stir in bluegrass circles lately, combining classic close-harmony vocals and old-timey, round-the-mike stagecraft with stylish original material and livewire progressive attitude.

The Scottish quartet Harem Scarem, including past or current members of Daimh, the Poozies, Aberfeldy and the Karine Polwart Band, artfully mix'n'match original folk-pop songwriting, multi-layered vocals, sparkling instrumental work and tunes from diverse traditions, underpinned by both superb individual prowess and close ensemble rapport.

King Creosote with James Yorkston

Fri 25 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC

The wider world continues to wake up to the homespun maverick genius of King Creosote, aka Kenny Anderson, currently Fife's favourite son, and the founder of Anstruther-based musical community the Fence Collective.

2007 ushered in his second major-label release Bombshell, on Warners subsidiary 679, an album blithely unruffled by the plaudits heaped on its predecessor, KC Rules OK, and revelling in the full spectrum of its creator's mercurial songcraft. 'Lovelorn alt.folk with a dagger-like tartan twist,' enthused the Observer Music Monthly, 'Bombshell is his finest moment yet.'

Citing such seminal folk artists as Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy and Dick Gaughan among his wide-ranging influences, Anderson's Fence Collective homeboy James Yorkston interweaves haunting interpretations of traditional ballads among his own stirringly evocative compositions, with one critic describing a recent London show as a 'truly life-affirming celebration of great songwriting'.

Moishe's Bagel with Den Fule

Fri 25 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
The Classic Grand

When a classical/Latin pianist, a German-Jewish/Geordie violinist, a folk accordionist and a Brazilian bassist meet in a tango band, perhaps the only conceivable result is another band - completed by a Scottish tabla player - performing a headily unclassifiable brew of klezmer, Balkan, jazz, Latin and Oriental sounds, stirred together with bravura musicianship. Such is the singular story of Moishe's Bagel, one of Scotland's most successful world music groups, who released their second album 'Salt' in 2007.

The powerful Swedish supergroup Den Fule, recently reunited after a ten-year sabbatical, combines members of such ground-breaking acts as Filarfolket and Groupa, splicing rock riffs and jazz stylings with traditional tunes.

Grace, Hewat & Polwart - in Harmony with the Maria Dunn Trio

Fri 25 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Building on their previous collaborations in the Unusual Suspects and the Scottish Women project, three of Scotland's finest singers and harmonists - Annie Grace, Corrina Hewat and Karine Polwart - join forces for a show of bewitching vocal artistry. Interweaving traditional, contemporary and original material, sourced from anywhere that takes their collective fancy, the trio pool their formidable talents into something truly rich and rare.

Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Maria Dunn describes herself as a storyteller in song, often drawing inspiration from the history and folklore of her native western Canada, as on her widely airplayed 2004 release 'We Were Good People'. Tonight she will be accompanied by Fiona Coll (fiddle) and Andy Illig (guitar).

Urachadh

Fri 25 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tron Theatre

Commemorating and celebrating the history and heritage of North West Sutherland, Urachadh weaves together Gaelic music and song, narration and poetry, archive recordings and visual projections.

Renowned performers from the North, James Graham, James Ross, Carol-Anne Mackay, Catriona MacLeod and Rhona Sutherland, end the show on an apt note of renewal with a selection of newly-composed pieces.

Merry Muses

Fri 25 January, 8pm
£12.50
St Andrew's in the Square

Not for the easily offended, this adults-only Burns Night show highlights the bawdiest gems of our national bard's oeuvre, performed by Burns 'n' Blue members - Wendy Weatherby, John Morran, Fred Freeman, Sandy Brechin, Angus Lyon and Marc Duff.

Michael McGoldrick Band with Classic Album: Kris Drever's Black Water

Fri 25 January, 9:30pm
£16
Old Fruitmarket

Brace yourselves for the return of Michael McGoldrick's mighty big-band line-up, performing the uniquely compelling, cutting-edge Celtic sounds on his two solo albums, 'Fused' (2000) and 'Wired' (2005).

Accompanying his flute, whistles and uilleann pipes will be regular cohorts like Dezi Donnelly (fiddle), John Joe Kelly (bodhran), Ed Boyd (guitar), Neil Yates (trumpet), Parvinder Bharat (tablas) and James Mackintosh (drums), plus several special guests from the dynamic Manchester-Irish scene that originally nurtured McGoldrick's talents.

Billed as a 'Classic Album' gig, Orcadian singer-guitarist Kris Drever's opening set will comprise a full performance of his 2006 debut release Black Water, which - having secured him the Horizon prize for best newcomer at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, and a raft of critical raves - counts as an instant classic if ever there was one. Kris will be joined by some of the album's guests, including Ewen Vernal, Andy Cutting, Donald Shaw, Roy Dodds, John McCusker and Roddy Woomble.

Sponsored by Eskmills

Celtic Connections Festival Ceilidhs

Fri 25 January, 10pm
£8
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Get your dancing shoes on!

Enjoy the perfect post-concert fling or pre-festival warm up, with the fantastic Alasdair MacCuish and The Black Rose Ceilidh Band.

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd

Fri 25 January, 10:30pm
£7.50
Central Hotel

Get ready for some late night music!

Our late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.

With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.

Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.

BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts

Iain Anderson

Fri 25 January, 10:30pm
Free but ticketed
BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay

Join Iain Anderson in the sensational surroundings of BBC Scotland's new home at Pacific Quay where he is joined by some of the best songsmiths from Scotland and beyond. Live on BBC Radio Scotland.

come&try Stepdancing

Sat 26 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Here's a reel traditional fun way of keeping fit! All you need for this lively and spirited workshop are 2 feet (yours if possible), hard shoes and a sense of rhythm! Sandra Robertson, from the excellent dance group, Dannsa will teach a variety of strathspey and reel steps. You'll not only learn traditional Scottish steps but you'll have a great time and it will be good for your health! What's not to like?

Public Workshops

Introduction to Fiddle Set Up & Maintenance

Sat 26 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Buchanan Suite

Your fiddle deserves some tender loving care and this workshop will show you how to carry out some basic fiddle maintenance to keep it playing with as sweet a tone as possible. Vital fiddle questions will be answered by Bill McKenzie of The Violin Shop, Glasgow on basic fiddle & bow maintenance, set-up and repair. Bring along your fiddle & bow for a free health check.

come&try Accordion

Sat 26 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Lomond Foyer

No it's not Gandalf - it's the amazing accordion wizard Sandy Brechin! He will introduce you to some simple fingering for well-known tunes for complete beginners. Numbers are very limited because we don't have many accordions so if you can get your hands on one, please bring it along.

come&try Waulking

Sat 26 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Clyde Foyer

Here's a real treat! A workshop to try your hand at the ancient and traditional art of waulking (shrinking) the tweed. Chrissie Stewart-Skinner and Alpin Stewart will teach simple Gaelic songs to help you and the tweed along.

No knowledge of Gaelic is required and it really does shrink-we had to renew the piece of tweed this year because it had been waulked into oblivion!

The Annual Piping Concert

with The Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band & The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland
Sat 26 January, 12:30pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

A key fixture of every Celtic Connections festival since 1994, today's Piping Concert presents the customary diverse and distinguished line-up, headed by the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, who have been competing at Grade 1 level for more than a quarter-century. They enjoyed a particularly successful 2007 season, winning second and third place at the British and European championships, while the drum corps, under the leadership of reigning World Solo Drumming Champion Gordon Brown, were named Champion of Champions at the Cowal Gathering in August.

Formed in 2002, the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland are a non-competing ensemble aimed at nurturing and showcasing the country's best young pipers and drummers, aged 12-21, with their performances featuring material from across the spectrum of traditional and contemporary piping

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Ceol Mor and The Young Tradition

Sat 26 January, 1pm
£10.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Best likened to a youth version of the Unusual Suspects, Ceol Mor is a grand-scale gathering of traditional musicians aged 16-25, comprising players from Scotland, the US and Canada. Their programme will feature new compositions by Corrina Hewat, David Milligan and Aidan O'Rourke, as well as arrangements by musical director Harris Playfair.

Following their highly successful TMSA tour last autumn, today sees the six finalists from 2007's Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition reunited once more, with the winning Gaelic singer Catriona Watt performing alongside Mike Vass (fiddle), Calum Stewart (flute), Calum MacCrimmon (pipes/whistles), Martin Hunter (accordion) and Darren MacLean (Gaelic song).

come&try Shape Note Singing

Sat 26 January, 1:30pm
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall This gutsy American folk hymn style is accessible to all and a lot of fun to sing. Ability to read music is not essential, nor is a "good" voice, just a positive enthusiastic curiosity about this style of group singing. Muldoon's Picnic will teach some songs and explain their fascinating background.

Public Workshops

Session Fiddle

Sat 26 January, 1:30pm
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Buchanan Suite

Always wanted to take your fiddle to a session but lacked confidence? Learn the popular session tunes and the tricks to playing in a session with Lauren MacColl, winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2004/5. You'll never look back!

Public Workshops

Accordion Techniques

Sat 26 January, 1:30pm
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Lomond Foyer

Sandy Brechin has some stunning techniques which he is delighted to share with his students. These will help you develop your style of playing with special emphasis on the left hand. Please bring your own instrument.

Public Workshops

Singin On Yer Mammy's Knee

Sat 26 January, 1:30pm
£6 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Clyde Foyer

This workshop is for adults caring for young children (parents, childminders, playleaders). Lots of dandling songs, action songs and singing games for under 5s with an accompanying adult. Grown ups obligatory as they must come prepared to bounce the child on their knee. Chrissie Stewart-Skinner will teach lots of old favourites, all interactive and providing an insight into the developmental and social benefits of singing with young children. And it's fun and mushy too...

Danny Kyle's Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd

Sat 26 January, 5pm
Free
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Hosted by Danny Kyle's good friends Gibb Todd and Liz Clark, the Open Stage is a chance to see new musical talent as they try to win a coveted support slot at next year's festival - and all absolutely free!

In partnership with the Evening Times

The Laurels

Sat 26 January, 6pm
£10
City Halls, Recital Room

Comprising two-thirds of the Anna Massie Band - accordionist Mairearad Green and singer/guitarist Jenn Butterworth - with pianist Mhairi Hall, this new Scottish trio performs a largely song-based repertoire of both traditional and original material.

BBC Radio Scotland 92-95FM & 810MW Live Radio Broadcasts

Take the Floor

Sat 26 January, 7pm
Free but ticketed Central Hotel

The longest running radio show in Scotland visits the festival once again with presenter Robbie Shepherd and special guests. This programme will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland.

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas with Tony McManus & Friends & Oleman

Sat 26 January, 7:30pm
£16
City Halls, Grand Hall

The title of the new second CD by virtuoso Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and US cello prodigy Natalie Haas, In the Moment, certainly pinpoints where these two musicians are - along with their audiences - when they play together.

In Fraser's own words, 'She's so simpatico that we can have these wonderfully shared musical journeys that very rarely involve planning, other than to say, 'Here's where we're going to begin, here's where we're going to end up; we know the material - now let's just connect.'

Now based in Canada, Fraser's former duo partner Tony McManus - 'the best Celtic guitarist in the world,' according to one John Renbourn - appears tonight with a lavish array of like-minded souls he's met on his musical travels. They include singer and multi-instrumentalist American folk polymath Bruce Molsky and a string quartet led by Greg Lawson.

Formed at Stockholm's Royal Academy of Music, the Swedish/Norwegian quartet Oleman draw their repertoire largely from the southern border regions between the two countries. Comprising Olle Lindvall (guitar) Emma Johansson (flute/vocals), Anette Thorsheim (accordion) and Olof Misgeld (fiddles), they create fresh, original arrangements of dance tunes, love songs and narrative ballads.

Mindy Smith with Grant Campbell

Sat 26 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
Oran Mor

Mindy Smith's 2004 debut One Moment More saw her instantly hailed as a major talent, both for the silk-and-steel potency of her voice and the calibre of her songwriting, in a sure-handed blend of country, folk, gospel and Appalachian styles. After 2006's similarly assured Long Island Shores, a multi-faceted reflection on her birthplace, Smith makes a welcome visit to Celtic Connections with Lex Price on mandolin, having recovered from her illness last year.

With his grainily expressive voice and moodily soulful lyrics, Glasgow singer-songwriter Grant Campbell has been likened to Nebraska-era Springsteen. He recently released his second album Beyond Below, the follow-up to 2005's highly-praised Postcards From Nowhere.

Peatbog Faeries with Breabach

Sat 26 January, 7:30pm
£15
ABC

Having rocked Glasgow Green with their Highland-rave grooves at Proms in the Park 2007, Skye-based sextet the Peatbog Faeries return to Celtic Connections buoyed by the success of their recent fifth album, What Men Deserve to Lose. Long renowned as an awesome live act, the Peatbogs' core line-up of Peter Morrison (pipes/whistles), Adam Sutherland (fiddle), Tom Salter (guitar), Graeme Stafford (keyboards), Innes Hutton (bass) and Iain Copeland (drums), is nowadays boosted further by the Wayward Boys, a three-piece brass section led by trombonist Rick Taylor.

Hotly-tipped traditional five-piece Breabach won a Danny Kyle Award in 2005, and launched their debut release last summer, The Big Spree, with a powerhouse performance at the Cambridge Folk Festival.

Emma Pollock with Brendan Campbell

Sat 26 January, 7:30pm
£12.50
The Classic Grand

After more than ten years with Glasgow indie heroes The Delgados, Emma Pollock brings the full fruit of her musical experience to bear on her debut solo album, 'Watch the Fireworks', released on 4AD last September.

Ranging from sleek, sophisticated pop to bittersweet dreamy balladry, shot through with guitar-rock ferocity and framed by spikily intelligent lyrics, it prompted the BBC's reviewer to declare, 'There is no question: Emma Pollock is destined for big things'.

The fact that Brendan Campbell was recently signed by Keane's management company should offer a clue to the potent appeal of this young singer-songwriter's sound, which combines folk-inspired guitar-picking with dark-hued, poetic songcraft.

La Banda Europa

Sat 26 January, 8pm
£18, £16
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

Premiered in 2006 to rapturous acclaim, La Banda Europa is a 35-strong pan-European ensemble, created by the renowned Scottish producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jim Sutherland, forging brand-new music from a panoply of different instruments and traditions.

A founder member of groundbreaking Scottish folk band The Easy Club, Sutherland won a Creative Scotland Award in 2006 to develop the project, which builds on his widely-acclaimed soundtrack to Festival, the BAFTA-winning movie starring Daniela Nardini.

La Banda Europa was first heard as part of the outdoor theatrical extravaganza Before the Wolf - the title referring to the 'wolf notes' sounded by traditional instruments, which lie outwith the tempered classical scale.

Imagine a trans-Continental Unusual Suspects, uniting French hurdy-gurdies, Swedish nyckelharpas, Armenian duduks and Spanish bugles with bagpipes from Serbia, Slovakia, Galicia, Asturias, Ireland and Scotland, plus brass, strings and an international battery of percussion - and you'll maybe be halfway there: La Banda Europa must truly be heard to be believed.

Vaesen with Jenna Reid

Sat 26 January, 8pm
£12.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

Flying the Swedish flag tonight, the brilliant quartet Vaesen combine acoustic instrumentation - nyckelharpa, viola, guitar and percussion - with breathtaking virtuosity and freewheeling inventiveness, thanks to the near-telepathic attunement between Olov Johansson (nyckelharpa), Mikael Marin (viola), Roger Tallroth (guitar) and Andre Ferrari (percussion).

They will be joined on-stage by award-winning Shetland fiddler Jenna Reid whose profile has been rapidly on the rise in recent years, an ascent doubtless set to continue with tonight's launch of her hotly-anticipated second album, 'The Laughing Girl', featuring accompaniment from Kevin Mackenzie, Bethany Reid, Duncan Lyall, James Thomson, Iain Sandilands and Martin O'Neill.

Sylvia Barnes with Nordik Tree

Sat 26 January, 8pm
£12
The National Piping Centre

Ex-Kentigern/Battlefield Band vocalist Sylvia Barnes, Scots Singer of the Year at the 2006 Scots Trad Music Awards, shares tonight's bill with the inventive Swedish/Finnish instrumental trio Nordik Tree.

Griogair with Calum Stewart 3

Sat 26 January, 8pm
£12.50
The Tron Theatre

Continuing a long family tradition of singing and piping, rising Gaelic star Griogair Labhruidh is also a gifted guitarist and songwriter, who released his debut album Dail-riata in 2007.

Griogair appears tonight with Iain MacDonald (wooden flute), Allan MacDonald (jaws harp, whistles, vocals), Allan Henderson (fiddle, vocals) and Sile Denvir (clarsach, vocals).

Wooden flute player Calum Stewart, a Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist in 2007, appears with Lauren MacColl (fiddle) and Andy May (piano) marking the release of his much-anticipated debut album.

Teenage Fanclub with support

Sat 26 January, 9:30pm
£18
Old Fruitmarket

From their noisy, pre-grunge debut 'A Catholic Education' and the punkadelic 1991 classic 'Bandwagonesque' to the sparser, folkier feel of their most recent work, Glasgow's Teenage Fanclub have sustained both their core identity and a devoted fanbase thanks to the central songwriting triumvirate of Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, and Gerard Love.

Inspired by such classic 60s and 70s outfits like the Byrds, the Beach Boys, Big Star and Badfinger, the band have steadily honed their skills at crafting sharply of-the-moment songs awash with vintage chiming guitars, soaring tunes and lush vocal harmonies, earning the accolade from a certain Liam Gallagher of being 'the second best band in the world.'

The musical synergy among the band, nowadays again featuring original drummer Francis MacDonald, has latterly seen them likened to a contemporary Scottish Crosby, Stills and Nash, with their latest album, 2005's 'Man-Made', aligning ruggedly radiant songcraft with the subtly quirky production of Tortoise's John McEntire.

Celtic Connections Festival Ceilidhs

Sat 26 January, 10pm
£8
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall

Get your dancing shoes on!

Enjoy the perfect post-concert fling or pre-festival warm up, with the fantastic Alasdair MacCuish and The Black Rose Ceilidh Band.

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd

Sat 26 January, 10:30pm
£7.50
Central Hotel

Get ready for some late night music!

Our late night club ensures there is even more music to enjoy after all the gigs are over. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances or join in one of many sessions happening in the bars.

With food and drink in plentiful supply you can happily keep going into the early hours of the morning whilst witnessing some of the best musical collaborations of the festival.

Master of ceremonies, Gibb Todd returns to present each act on stage and Doris Rougvie hosts The House of Song in a peaceful oasis away from the main stage.

Public Workshops

Opening Your Voice

Sun 27 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Buchanan Suite

The supreme Harriet Buchan will lead you on a wonderful journey to release your voice. Find sweet sounds that you never knew you had. This workshop is not about learning songs - more about discovering your potential and releasing your capabilities through relaxation techniques. Prepare to be surprised and delighted with the voice you find. Loose comfortable clothing is advisable.

come&try Ukulele

Sun 27 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Lomond Foyer

Here is an opportunity to learn the arguably cutest of all stringed instruments. Lots of ukes will be provided but if you found one in your Christmas stocking, bring it along and discover its delights! Graham Gass is a tutor with Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and he will take you through the basics of this fine wee instrument.

Public Workshops

Whistle for Players

Sun 27 January, 11am
£6
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Clyde Foyer

Mark Dunlop from Malinky will teach players of the whistle how to extend their range of techniques and repertoire focussing on Scottish tunes. Low whistle players are also welcome to this workshop.

New Voices Series

Catriona McKay
Sun 27 January, 1pm
£10.50
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite

A member of the leading Shetland band Fiddlers' Bid, Catriona McKay is a fearless contemporary explorer on the Scottish harp, having collaborated with a wide array of folk, jazz, classical and experimental artists, as well as co-designing the new Starfish McKay harp, featuring an alternative tuning pattern, as heard on her recent solo album Starfish.

Her performance today reunites her with four previous or current duo partners, aiming to build on the musical synthesis already created with each one, her fellow adventurers being Fiddlers' Bid colleague Chris Stout (fiddle), electro-acoustic composer Alistair MacDonald (live electronics), Salsa Celtica's Phil Alexander (piano/accordion) and Vaesen co-founder Olov Johansson (nyckelharpa).

Sponsored by Sunday Herald

Gordon Duncan Memorial Solo Piping Competition

Sun 27 January, 1pm
£8
Central Hotel

The Perthshire piper Gordon Duncan, who died in December 2005, had a seminal impact on Scottish music and this afternoon's special piping event has been organised in his honour. Scottish pipers include Roddy MacLeod, Simon McKerrell and Willie McCallum with judges including Ian Duncan and Ian McLellan.

Breton pipers include Xavier Boderiou, Sylvain Hamon and Alexis Meunier with the Breton judging being undertaken by Jakez Pincet and Pierre Gallais. Representing Ireland are Ryan Canning, Alen Tully and Andrew Carlisle with judging from Harry Stevenson and Kenny Stewart. MC for the afternoon will be John Wilson and prizes will be presented by Jock Duncan, Gordon's father.

The Gordon Duncan Trophy has been donated by McCallum Bagpipes, Kilmarnock.