American songwriter Lyle Lovett, Scottish indie singer KT Tunstall, and Grammy winner Madison Cunningham are among the headliners for the 2025 Celtic Connections festival.
The event, scheduled for January, will kick off with a special concert titled “a night of secret surprises” that celebrates Glasgow’s rich musical heritage.
Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis will also deliver a unique performance, collaborating with an orchestra.
The 18-day festival will feature around 300 events, showcasing more than 1,200 acts from 20 countries.
Organisers described the festival as a platform that brings together “international icons with emerging acts to create career-defining performances and never-seen-before collaborations.”
Celtic Connections will open on 16 January with a concert tied to Glasgow 850, a year-long programme celebrating the city’s 850th birthday.
The opening event will feature music, spoken-word, dance, and film, including performances from well-known faces, rising stars, surprise guests, and commissioned works.
Donald Shaw, the festival’s creative producer, highlighted the evolution of Celtic Connections: “Celtic Connections went from being primarily a Glasgow festival to a national festival, to an international flagship event. Like many acts on our line-up, we have expanded in size and ambition over the years, drawing inspiration from the old tradition and the boundless possibilities of contemporary music.”
Shaw added that the opening night would set the tone for the festival with “a real sense of magic and anticipation.”
One of the festival’s highlights will be Stornoway folk band Peat and Diesel headlining the first-ever gig at the Emirates Arena, a venue typically used for sporting events.
Lyle Lovett, a four-time Grammy winner, will headline at the Royal Concert Hall, while KT Tunstall will perform at the same venue, marking the 20th anniversary of her debut album Eye to the Telescope.
Madison Cunningham, winner of the Best Folk Album at the 2023 Grammys, will perform at the Pavilion Theatre.
Other performances include indie-pop veterans The Bluebells, a collaboration between folk band Breabach and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and world music artist Abi Sampa.
Scottish folk singer Karine Polwart will also headline at the Royal Concert Hall, accompanied by a 300-strong choir made up of choral singers from across Scotland.
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