Home » What's On Glasgow West End: cinema, clubs, theatre, music, events, festivals, community and more » Celtic Connections 2018 Glasgow's winter music festival » Celtic Connections 25th Anniversary Opening Concert, review and photographs by Pauline Keightley

Celtic Connections 25th Anniversary Opening Concert, review and photographs by Pauline Keightley

Opening Concert 25th Celtic Connections, January, 2018

Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton. Scottish pipers, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

Celtic Connection’s Opening concert was organised by pianist Dave Milligan, one of the performers back in 1994. The world’s biggest folk, world and roots festival celebrated the launch of its 25th  Anniversary with a packed line up of talented international and local musicians.

Maya Youssef, Syrian musician, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

The line up for the opening concert included:

Eddi Reader, Scottish singer, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

First set: Pipers Tryst; Saltfishforty, who had flown down from Orkney, Siobhan Miller, winner of Traditional singer, sang Quiet Grave; the Michael McGoldrick Trio; Louis Abbott, singer Admiral Fallow; Maya Youssef from Syria; The String Sisters, international fiddlers and Far Far from Ypres with Ian McCalman.

Drever McCusker Woomble, Scottish musicians, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

Second set – Festival favourites Cherish the Ladies; Drever McCusker Woomble, indie folk Scottish trio; Sian Shian, singers from Highlands and Islands; Sharat Chandra Srivastava and Gyan Singh from India; Sharon Shannon, accomplished Irish accordionist; Eddie Reader, renowned Scottish singer; Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, innovative Scottish pipers.

Saltfishforty performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

The house band included drums, double bass, brass and guitars and the audience were treated to haunting harmonies and wonderful interpretations of song. A spectacular grand finale saw the entire ensemble of musicians and singers performing together with a rousing jam session!

Sharon Shannon, Irish accordionist, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

This concert held the promise of the future and was also reminiscent of past triumphs. Celtic Connections gives young talent a stage and many participants spoke of how they got their start at the festival and of how it brought musicians together.

Far Far From Ypres, with Ian McCalman, performed at the Glasgow Concert hall Opening concert Celtic Connections 2018.

Celtic Connections is a celebration of the best of talent. Back in 1994 few could have foreseen how the festival would grow – it now has over 2000 artists performing in 300 events at 20 venues over the 19 days of the festival. And includes Showcase Scotland, Danny Kyle’s open stage, late sessions, festival club, and more.  I was able to shoot the entire concert and obtain a rich tapestry of this unique and vibrant festival.

Congratulations to director Donald Shaw and the many who work to pull the festival together – delving into traditions and pushing the boundaries.

Review and Photos Pauline Keightley –
http://pkimage.co.uk/

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