Transatlantic Sessions

Transatlantic Sessions returns in 2027, celebrating decades of rich musical heritage from both sides of the Atlantic.

The night is a perpetual highlight of the Celtic Connections festival and annual tour – and it’s easy to see why, with a roll call of Grammy-winning performers, some of the world’s most influential names in roots music, and a 21-year-long track record of sensational, sell-out shows.

Bringing together the premier custodians of Scottish, Irish & North American acoustic roots music onto one stage, the show will once again showcase extraordinary artists from both sides of the pond and celebrate their close musical and cultural links.

Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, activist and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell from Canada has been at the forefront of the new generation of Americana musicians, having graced stages across the world with bands like Po' Girl, Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters before her hugely successful solo career - her second album The Returner received 4 Grammy nominations and won the award for best American roots performance for Eve Was Black.

Jeff Hanna is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of the legendary country-rock group, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Over a career that spans over six decades, he has helped pioneer the modern Americana genre and won multiple Grammy Awards.

One of Scotland’s foremost guardians of Gaelic song and tradition, Kathleen MacInnes brings the beauty and depth of her Hebridean upbringing to the bill with her stirring, mesmeric Gaelic songs. Recent accolades have included starring in the acclaimed production of Macbeth with David Tennant and featuring on the soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood.

Ireland’s Declan O'Rourke is renowned for a style of acoustic folk which is rich in storytelling and historical themes, and is recognised as one of our finest contemporary songwriters – Paul Weller described his song Galileo as “possibly the greatest song written in the last 30 years”

The legendary house band, which serves as the all-important backbone to an incredible night of music, will be led by Scottish traditional music legend Aly Bain (fiddle) and roots master Jerry Douglas (vocals and guitar).

Completing the bill for an unmissable evening of virtuoso acoustic music is John Doyle (vocals and guitar), Michael McGoldrick (pipes and whistles), Tatiana Hargreaves (fiddle), Allison de Groot (banjo), John McCusker (fiddle), Donald Shaw (piano and accordion), James Mackintosh (drums) and Daniel Kimbro (double bass).

“A phenomenal group of musicians. . . The synchronicity and tightness of the band was incredible… an evening of spectacular traditional music-making from both sides of the great ocean.” (The Arts Desk)