Celtic Connections has unveiled its ambitious programme for 2025, with an estimated 1,200 musicians and artists playing around 25 venues across Glasgow.
The world’s leading folk, roots and world music festival will illuminate stages across Glasgow from Thursday 16 January to Sunday 2 February.
Now in its 32nd year and almost five times the size it was when it began in 1994, Celtic Connections anticipates around 110,000 visitors attending its performances this time around.
And as ever, the festival’s 2025 bill spans a myriad of genres, from acoustic, traditional, Americana and orchestral to indie, jazz, blues, experimental and more.
Artists
The event will welcome artists from around 20 countries around the world including Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, France, Italy, Nigeria, Spain, Wales, Ireland, Republic of the Congo and many more.
And more women than ever before will lead high-profile shows this year, reflecting the continued growth and wealth of incredible female talent, both new and emerging.
This year will also see the launch of a new under-26s pass, giving young music fans an opportunity to access rolling discounts on a mix of shows and ensuring the magic of the festival continues to be accessible to as wide a range of audiences as possible.
Glasgow’s much-loved venues, famous for having the “best fans in the world”, are set to give artists a welcome warm enough to heat the chilliest of evenings. Iconic locations the length and breadth of Glasgow are involved include The Old Fruitmarket, Barrowland Ballroom, SWG3, Saint Luke’s and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Celtic Connections will also make history when Peat and Diesel become the first band ever to play at the Emirates Arena in the city’s east end.
General tickets for the festival go on sale at 10am, Wednesday 16 October 2024 at www.celticconnections.com.
“Celtic Connections will have something for everyone, from intimate performances and exciting one-off collaborations to impressive large-scale shows.” - Bailie Annette Christie
Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “As a forward-thinking festival which always looks to embrace new opportunities and spaces for performance, we’re very excited to be staging a pilot music event in the Emirates Arena, creating a new experience for audiences and extending our reach into the east end of the city.
“In the last 20 years traditional music has entered the mainstream, it’s embraced in our pubs and biggest venues, and we will once again drive the genre’s appeal, profile and potential forward in our 2025 artistic commissions.
“If you think Glasgow in January isn’t the place to be – you just haven’t ever been to Celtic Connections.”
Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Celtic Connections will have something for everyone, from intimate performances and exciting one-off collaborations to impressive large-scale shows.
“None more so than the Opening Concert, which will kick off Glasgow’s 850th birthday celebrations in style.”
Creative Scotland Head of Music, Alan Morrison said: “If there’s one thing to look forward to as the nights start to draw in, it’s the knowledge that tickets will soon be on sale for next year’s Celtic Connections.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Celtic Connections continues to grow its global reputation as one of Scotland’s foremost festivals and an event we are proud to support, bringing together world-class talent and showcasing the very best in folk, roots, and international music.”
Celtic Connections 2025 programme highlights include:
- The festival’s iconic annual Opening Concert will once again raise the roof with an epic marking of Glasgow 850, heralding the start of the city’s year-long 850th birthday celebration.
- Multi GRAMMY-award-winning Americana singer Lyle Lovett will make his long-awaited debut at the festival when he headlines this January.
- Shows from KT Tunstall , Grammy award-winning American artist Madison Cunningham; the powerful jazz and soul singer-songwriter Lady Blackbird; Scots Singer of the Year Beth Malcolm
- Homegrown female talent in the form of Karine Polwart and Julie Fowlis will also bring landmark shows to the 2025 festival.
- Western Isles wonders Peat and Diesel will play their biggest ever show and make history as the first band ever to play at the Emirates Arena in the city’s east end
- Much-loved Glaswegian indie pop legends The Bluebells will have the Barrowland Ballroom crowd feeling ‘young at heart’ for their first ever outing at the festival.
- Iconic folk band Breabach will perform a specially commissioned show with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) featuring brand new arrangements by Big Band arrangers from around Europe.
- The very best in world music acts will once again be welcomed to the Celtic Connections line up. Fronted by London-born Nigerian singer Eno Williams, Ibibio Sound Machine will play the Tramway.
- Scottish folk four-piece Malinky will stage a special 25th anniversary concert, with a host of special guests lovingly performing their extensive back catalogue of material, which importantly carries the flame of tradition, cherishing folk songs, ballads and stories and the lessons they convey.
- Transatlantic connections will be upheld when American folk-roots pop singer-songwriter Josh Rouse celebrates the 10th birthday of his famous album Nashville
- Following on from last year’s televised sold out shows, Roddy Hart’s Roaming Roots Revue returns with Icons Vol. 1. Backed by a 60-piece orchestra of students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Roddy’s own house band Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire, this year’s show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will welcome Yola, Villagers, Nadine Shah, Hamish Hawk, Ed Harcourt, Jill Jackson, Withered Hand & Kathryn Williams, and Phil Campbell as they celebrate greats like Elton John, The Beatles and Bowie.
- Celtic Connections’ New Voices strand each year commissions groundbreaking new bodies of work from three emerging Scottish artists.
- Scotland’s Celtic cousins Ireland will be the partner country for this year’s Showcase Scotland – a part of the festival which fosters international collaboration.
- Other favourites across the festival will return including the In the Tradition series, dementia-friendly concerts, ceilidhs, late night sessions, and pop-up performances at the Festival Club, screenings, workshops, the Scottish National Whisky Festival and a thriving education programme including children’s concerts that will benefit thousands of youngsters across Glasgow.
