Tag: Celtic Connections

Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership

Two of Scotland’s most dynamic festivals are joining forces to create ambitious new work at the intersection of literature and music.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections have announced a multi‑year partnership spanning 2025–2027, featuring a series of original commissions designed to celebrate Scottish creativity, reach new audiences, create new opportunities for Scottish artists, and reimagine what is possible when art forms meet in unexpected ways.

Headline Commission: Scotland and India   

A major highlight of this partnership will be the world premiere of The Golden Road at Celtic Connections 2026, a unique collaboration inspired by William Dalrymple’s award-winning book.

Following its debut in Glasgow, The Golden Road will evolve and return in an expanded form for a landmark performance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2026.

This journey from Celtic Connections to the Book Festival will see the project grow and develop, offering audiences a fresh and ambitious reimagining of the work at each stage.

Dalrymple will appear at the Citizens Theatre on 31 January alongside India Alba, a collective of Indian and Scottish musicians whose fusion of Indian classical and Scottish traditional backgrounds has created a unique exploration of world culture. Their debut album Reels and Ragas (2009) and follow‑up High Beyond (recorded in the Himalayas) revealed striking resonances between raga gats and Highland melodies, with the drone sounds of bagpipes and tampura forming a shared musical language.

For Celtic Connections 2026, India Alba will be joined by renowned cellist Su‑a Lee, guitarists Ali Hutton and Graeme Stephen, and further guests to be announced.

  • Sharat Chandra Srivastava (violin) brings over 35 years of performance experience, rooted in the Senia Gharana tradition and enriched by collaborations with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia.
  • Gyan Singh (tabla) is an accomplished Hindustani classical musician, trained under Ustad Abdullah Khan, Ustad Faiyaz Khan and Pt. Suresh Talwarkar.
  • Ross Ainslie, described by The Scotsman as “Scotland’s most sought‑after piper,” is a prolific composer and collaborator, performing with Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica and India Alba.

The Golden Road 7.30PM, Sat 31 Jan Citizens Theatre Tickets: https://www.celticconnections.com/event/1/india-alba-special-guests-with-william-dalrymple-the-golden-road/ 

Rhymes and Reels 

Alongside the headline commission, audiences can enjoy Rhymes and Reels on 27 January at the Mackintosh Church in Glasgow. This special performance will revive two EIBF‑commissioned works and premiere a new Celtic Connections collaboration.

Harpist Esther Swift presents her musical settings of Jackie Kay’s poetry, with Kay herself reading from The Heartstrings of Poetry, commissioned by EIBF and first premiered at the 2025 festival.

Another EIBF commission, award‑winning poet and novelist Angus Peter Campbell appears with his daughter Brìghde Chaimbeul, blending readings in English and Gaelic with accompaniment from small pipes.

Former National Poet of Scotland Liz Lochhead collaborates with renowned Highland fiddler Duncan Chisholm in a brand‑new Celtic Connections commission.

Rhymes and Reels 7.30PM, Tue 27 Jan Mackintosh Church Tickets: https://www.celticconnections.com/event/2/rhymes-reels/ 

Jenny Niven, Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival: “We’re delighted to embark on this multi‑year partnership with Celtic Connections, uniting two of Scotland’s most dynamic festivals in a celebration of creativity and collaboration.

“This new era for the Book Festival is about opening doors—bringing together writers, musicians, and audiences in ways that spark new ideas and reach further into our communities.

“Our recent Thistle Award win is a testament to the power of innovation and partnership, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we explore the rich intersections of Scottish literature and music together.”

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer, Celtic Connections:  “Celtic Connections has always been about forging new paths and bringing artists together across genres and traditions.

“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, allowing us to celebrate the stories, sounds, and voices that make Scotland’s cultural scene so vibrant.

“By working together, we’re creating space for ambitious new work and for audiences to experience the magic that happens when music and words meet on equal terms.”

Showcase Scotland EXPO at Celtic Connections

Scottish musicians will be in the global spotlight this month when more than 100 leading music promoters, record label representatives and agents from across the world will gather virtually, for the 21st annual Showcase Scotland event at Celtic Connections. 

From Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 January, the music industry delegates from 25 countries will experience performances from Scottish bands and musicians including Elephant Sessions, who will appear in a stream from Ironworks in their hometown of Inverness; Siobhan Miller, who was recently awarded BBC Alba Scots Trad Award’s Scots Singer of the Year, as well as emerging artists as part of the online Danny Kyle Awards. 

Each delegate will also have access to the full online Celtic Connections programme, bringing Scottish artists to a truly global stage. 

A virtual trade fair will also take place, allowing promoters to meet artists, their representatives and cultural organisations.  

The event, which is supported by Creative Scotland and organised by Active Events on behalf of Celtic Connections, provides invaluable opportunities for the artists to raise their profile and secure new opportunities, as well as highlighting the dynamic music scene in Scotland.  

The average annual income from gig and concert bookings and album sales generated for Scotland-based artists from the usual invited delegation to the Showcase is in the region of £3million. 

Each year, as part of Showcase Scotland, Celtic Connections partners with a country to help create new international links and advance opportunities for their musicians. In this 21st anniversary iteration of Showcase Scotland, Scotland is the selected country and a special focus on Gaelic artists will feature through a specially commissioned film, Gaelic the Untold Story. 

Produced with support from BòrdnaGàidhlig and Creative Scotland, Mary Ann Kennedy tells the story of the language, arts and culture in a 30-minute documentary, highlighting the importance of music and song in keeping the language alive. 

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections said: “It’s brilliant to see Showcase Scotland celebrate its 21st edition, albeit in a different way than originally planned. I am delighted to see the Gaelic language take centre stage as part of this year’s showcase.

“As a festival we connect with international cultures and indigenous languages through music, especially this year as we take Celtic Connections to the world, so using this opportunity to showcase one of the languages of our own culture to delegates and audiences on a global scale is fantastic.

“Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections continues to provide opportunities for Scottish musicians, and it is great to see it continue this year.” 

Alan Morrison, Head of Music, Creative Scotland said: “Showcase Scotland’s 21st anniversary presents a fantastic opportunity for us to come together from near and far.

“As ever, we’ll be shouting from the rooftops about Scotland’s traditional music and the world-class artists who are eager to get back out and performing in the months and years to come.

“At Creative Scotland, we’ve worked hard with the Scottish Government to keep the music industry afloat in this most difficult of years. We hope that Showcase Scotland will provide the bridge that’s needed to ensure our musicians have a bright future playing the towns and cities in your part of the world.” 

Lisa Whytock, Active Events said: “It’s important to stay connected with the international music industry and for our artists to remain in the spotlight.

“It’s been a very difficult year for a lot of people and for artists they have not worked since March. This edition will bring together the industry from as far away as Australia, the US and Canada to all corners of Europe in a very different, but immensely important edition of Showcase Scotland.” 

Brian O hEadhra, Partnerships Manager, BòrdnaGàidhlig said: “Gaelic is important to Scotland’s identity both at home and internationally.

“We are happy to support the Gaelic Showcase once again this year and hope that festival organisers will see the wealth of Gaelic artists there are, and in return give Gaelic artists the opportunity to take the language across the world.” 

Joe Frankland, CEO, PRS Foundation said: “Following a very successful Virtual Visit event in 2020 which set the tone for how the global live sector can engage with outstanding Scottish talent online, we are very pleased to be supporting this week’s Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections event.

“With so many barriers to music export, it’s vital Scottish artists and bands are seen by industry delegates around the world. The combination of virtual showcases, trade fairs and informal networking will no doubt get great results this year, and we can’t wait to gather again soon for more of the same.” 

Simon Thoumire, Hands Up for Trad said: “It’s brilliant to be going live for Showcase Scotland 2021! If we can’t be there in person at least we can bring you some live streamed music from afar.

“It will be great to see all the delegates again even if it is only one a screen!”  

Breabach’s Megan Henderson said: “It’s great to have such a brilliant focus on Scotland and in particular Gaelic artists this year.

“Showcase Scotland really delivers opportunities for artists and for us was the catalyst to collaborations with the likes of Sydney Opera House. It’s great to see it happening and to so many of the international music industry being involved.”