Mec Lir with Astro Bloc

Following their euphoric Barrowlands debut in 2025, Mec Lir return to Celtic Connections to raise the roof once more - as only they can. 

Mec Lir, the genre-busting quartet from the Isle of Man and Glasgow, have spent over a decade frenzying festival audiences worldwide since their debut at Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Known for their tight, lightning-fast playing and huge sound, their music unapologetically fuses electric synths and drums with powerful trad fiddle melodies. The core quartet, fronted by virtuoso Manx fiddler Tomas Callister (Ímar), will be joined by regular collaborators Paddy Callaghan (accordion) and Lyle Watt (guitar). Their live shows, built on the critical success of their chart-topping album Livewire, are the stuff of legend and not to be missed.

Joining them is Astro Bloc, a bold and dynamic new folk band redefining the genre's boundaries. Featuring award-winning musicians, including BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year Eryn Rae, the quartet delivers a thrilling fusion of Scottish and Irish heritage with fearless, boundary-pushing creativity. Astro Bloc will launch their debut album at Celtic Connections, marking their arrival as one of the most original new forces on the folk scene today.