The countdown is on to Celtic Connections 2024!

Preparations are well underway for Glasgow's world-renowned music festival, Celtic Connections, which is set to warm up the dark winter nights with a vibrant programme of sensational live sounds from Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February.

Much-loved venues across the city, including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Barrowland Ballroom, Pavilion Theatre and Barony Hall, are counting down to welcome audiences for what will be one of the biggest capacity Celtic Connections to date.

Glasgow’s UNESCO City of Music status will be highlighted as 1200 musicians perform at over 300 events over the course of the 18-day festival hosted by Glasgow Life. Audiences can expect workshops, recitals, screenings, dementia-friendly performances, full-scale concerts and intimate gigs, spanning genres of traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul, rock, orchestral, experimental and world music.

Among the many must-see shows from artists - not only from Scotland and the UK but also from as far afield as North America, Australia and West Africa - are:

• Wild Child - a dynamic act of celebrated singer-songwriters who have garnered a dedicated following for their thought-provoking, nostalgic music - bring the spirit and true grit of Americana music to Glasgow’s CCA on 19 January.
• Leading lights in Breton music, Skolvan, join forces with multi-instrumentalist Irish group Shorelines Trio on 19 January for a spellbinding performance at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
• John Francis Flynn - an exceptional figure in folk music whose solo debut album earned two RTE Folk Awards and was The Guardian's top Folk Album of 2021 - will showcase his talents and prowess in traditional Irish folk at an intimate performance at Drygate Brewery on 20 January. 
• Berlin's Jembaa Groove - also performing on 20 January - will stage their vibrant debut album, with the pulsating rhythms of West African highlife blended with the essence of classic US jazz and soul. 
• Award-winning Kyiv world music quartet DakhaBrakha bring their astonishing trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture to The Pavilion Theatre on 20 January. 
• Rising Scottish star Rosie H Sullivan - a promising young musician from the Isle of Lewis whose two EPs have received widespread acclaim - showcases her exceptional talents at the CCA on 26 January. 
• GRAMMY-winning musician and producer Alison Brown - performing at The City Halls on 26 January - is celebrated for her banjo artistry which has garnered accolades from many prestigious worldwide titles.
• An Dannsa Dub - renowned for embodying fusion music and merging traditional Scottish folk, dub reggae and dance through a blend of cèilidh and sound system sessions - are preparing for a vibrant set at Oran Mòr on 27 January supported by illustrious Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop.
• In a commemorative celebration, the Traditional Music and Song Association - at City Hall on 3 February - will stage Scots Women : Generations o' Change to honour Scottish female folk singers with an esteemed line-up in a vibrant, collaborative journey through Scottish folk music.
• Bríghde Chaimbeul - widely celebrated for her experimental Celtic music - and the renowned Maxwell Quartet unite at The Mackintosh Church on 3 February for an extraordinary performance, Thar Farraige (Over Sea).

Along with the extensive roster of established and emerging musicians making their way to Glasgow for Celtic Connections 2024, an anticipated 110,000 attendees are expected at what is the biggest winter music festival of its kind. 

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said:

"As we gear up for Celtic Connections 2024, the anticipation is palpable, not just for those of us who have been working behind the scenes, but across Glasgow as a whole. We are so looking forward to welcoming folks from near and far – musicians and audiences alike – to the city’s iconic venues for a celebration of music from across the globe. To the incredible musicians and dedicated Celtic Connections team, I extend my heartfelt thanks.

"A huge amount of effort goes into a festival of this scale, and everyone has been working extremely hard to make this year’s 18-day event one of our most memorable. With a diverse line-up being staged across the city, world premieres and rare performances from some of the most acclaimed artists in the world, there's truly something special for everyone. Here's to an incredible Celtic Connections, and to the joy of music bringing us all together on cold winter nights; we’ll see you all very soon!"

When Celtic Connections began in 1994 it offered 66 events at one venue. Since then it has grown more adventurous, experimental and diverse every year, with an unwavering ambition to showcase the very best traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul, indie and world music - and nurture unique local, national and international cultural partnerships.

Celtic Connections 2024 takes place from Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February. The programme can be viewed in full and tickets purchased at www.celticconnections.com.