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As Scotland’s Year of Homecoming begins, what better way for Celtic Connections to launch its festivities than by welcoming an array of top artists from Cape Breton, the beautiful Canadian island where Scots and their music have long found a second home.

Performers include the revered godfather of Cape Breton fiddle music, Jerry Holland accompanied by Kimberley Fraser (piano) and Ross Kennedy (guitar), the outstanding singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist J.P.Cormier, and erstwhile enfant terrible Ashley MacIsaac, whose iconoclastic fiddle playing nowadays vies with his rock-oriented original songs. He will perform with our own multi-talented musician Phamie Gow. Gaelic singer Mary Jane Lamond – who guested on MacIsaac’s 1995 hit single Sleepy Maggie – performs with her trio, while six-piece family band The Barra MacNeils return to Scotland after celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2007.

Our Cape Breton visitors will be joined by some of the many Scottish musicians who have appeared there at the Celtic Colours festival, including harpist/singer Corrina Hewat, Gaelic singer Margaret Bennett and pianist David Milligan.

Tickets:  £22, £20, £18