A torchlit procession and international concert heralded the beginning of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow last night.
A torchlit procession and international concert heralded the beginning of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow last night.
A total of 1500 artists will take part in 260 performances in venues across the city over the next 18 days.
A pipe band led the procession from George Square to the festival's main venue, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, before the curtain-raising performance.
The hall hosted the opening show featuring Scottish and American artists in the Hands Across the Water concert.
Other venues include ABC, City Halls, Old Fruitmarket and St Andrews in the Square. Capercaillie were among the acts on the first night bill, which included Beth Neilsen Chapman and Jim Lauderdale.
The festival, in its 14th year, boasts a diverse range of Scottish talent including festival regular, Eddie Reader, former Belle and Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole.
Top names from the US are also on the bill, including Roseanne Cash, daughter of country legend Johnny Cash, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
The festival is this year under the direction of artistic consultant Donald Shaw, who has added a more international flavour to the festival's traditional Scottish and Irish folk roots.
A range of come and try sessions, to encourage budding musicians, to learn tips from professionals have been set up to generate greater participation in live music.
Celtic Connections runs from January 17 to February 4.
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