Artists from Dumfries and Galloway are set to perform at Europe’s largest winter music festival – Celtic Connections – taking place in Glasgow between Thursday 19th January – Sunday 5th February 2023.
Celebrated folk musicians Aaron Jones and Claire Hastings will join more than 1,000 fellow musicians from across the world, all taking part in the 18-day showcase of events spanning traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul and world music.
The UK’s premier roots music festival is set to brighten up the dark and gloomy winter nights with hundreds of performances, landmark musical collaborations, talks, workshops, theatre productions, ceilidhs, exhibitions, free events and late-night sessions.
Celtic Connections 2023 will be the 30th edition of the world-famous festival, and will recognise the advancements and achievements of the last 30 years and all that organisers have overcome to bring people together in a defining cultural celebration. It will also acknowledge and celebrate the resilience of the Scottish music scene, and the live entertainment industry, in the face of adversity.
Dumfries and Galloway natives Aaron Jones and Claire Hastings will be right at the heart of the action, joining international sensations, rising stars and homegrown talent alike in entertaining loyal audiences flocking to Glasgow for the annual event.
Claire and her band will take to the stage of the beautiful Mackintosh Church on Wednesday 25th January, performing tracks from her varied repertoire of folk, traditional and contemporary tunes. Claire has made a name for herself on the folk scene since winning BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2015. Since then, she has toured internationally as a solo artist, as well as with The Claire Hastings Band and the popular Top Floor Taivers.
Aaron will also play the same venue at the later date of Wednesday 1st February when he will perform music from his latest album with Gaelic singer Rachel Walker. Entitled Despite the Wind and Rain, the joint project celebrates influential and inspirational women from Scottish history. Adam has toured the world with his music and has recorded with many of the biggest names in traditional music, including Mercury Prize nominated singer songwriter Kate Rusby, Battlefield Band, Tannahill Weavers, Siobhan Miller, Emily Smith, Robyn Stapleton and many more.
Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming audiences from near and far to the 30th edition of Celtic Connections in Glasgow – it’s set to be a really special start to the new year.
“We’re always thrilled to be able to showcase brilliant Scottish artists from across the country and we’re looking forward to seeing them entertain crowds on this international stage this January.”
Tickets for Celtic Connections 2023 are available from www.celticconnections.com.
