Alan Morrison selects some top shows from Celtic Connections in the week ahead

Cara Dillon

City Halls, tonight, 7.30pm

Her solo rendition of The Parting Glass, accompanied only by husband Sam Lakeman at the piano, was a haunting highlight of this year's Opening Concert. Here the Irish singer performs songs from her back catalogue with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Hamell On Trial

Oran Mor, Wednesday, 7.30pm

Readers of Uncut might remember Ed Hamell's spiky regular column from years past. There's punk spirit in his music's DNA too, and this gig's anti-folk status is guaranteed as Hamell is joined by the underground movement's godfather, Lach.

The Pictish Trail

Glasgow Art Club, Thursday, 7.30pm

The crown prince of Fence Records releases his new album, Secret Soundz Vol 2, tomorrow (see review on page 54), but his mix of hazy folk and electronic grooving takes on a different texture in the live arena, when he's backed by Edinburgh art-folkers Eagleowl.

Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Thursday, 8pm

If you were to choose one Celtic Connections concert on the strength of the setting alone, it might be this, in which the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Voice Choir shape their distinctive harmonies around the interior architecture of Glasgow's foremost museum.

Red Clydeside

St Andrew's In The Square, Friday, 7.30pm

Celtic Connections doesn't ignore the political seam running through folk music (see also Saturday's event with Tony Benn in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall at 12.30pm). Here the old guard (Roy Bailey, Arthur Johnstone) rub shoulders with the new generation's keepers of the flame (Ewan McLennan) through the work of the late Alistair Hulett.