By Councillor David McDonald
IT’S not over yet. The final weekend of Celtic Connections 2020 promises dozens of fantastic events, including Quebecois folk sensation Le Vent Du Nord, Tennessee’s Sierra Hull and Simon Thacker’s Indo-Scottish phenomenon, Svara-Kanti.
Each will provide a powerful shot of the cross-cultural, collaborative spirit for which the festival is famous. But music fans take note: tickets are going fast. Some events sold out within hours, which is why this newspaper’s reviewer urged readers to “beg, borrow or steal” tickets for the second of two Roaming Roots Review tributes to Bruce Springsteen.
Russell Leadbetter was lucky to join the throng during Born To Run’s first, sold-out performance in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where he witnessed “sporadic outbreaks of dancing” in the audience. “It was that kind of show,” he added.
Celtic Connections is that kind of festival, drawing people from across Scotland and around the globe, inviting them to mingle and enjoy a feast of fabulous music.
For Glasgow, and for Scotland, Celtic Connections arrives like a late but welcome Christmas present, injecting dark January days with sparkling entertainment.
For the economy, Europe’s top winter music festival is an effervescent tonic. Celtic Connections 2019 attracted 38,000 visitors to Glasgow. More than two-thirds were from outside Glasgow and 15 per cent from outside Scotland, generating £5.6m for the city and boosting the wider Scottish economy by an additional £1.78m.
But the benefits go far deeper. Celtic Connections is good for the soul and science backs this up. Research suggests that attending live music events significantly boosts emotional and psychological wellbeing. It may even help you live longer.
Celtic Connections is delivered by Glasgow Life with funding from Glasgow City Council and support from Creative Scotland as well as the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo fund, which this year, funded six brand new musical compositions.
Inspired by the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, those new pieces premiered at Celtic Connections’ opening concert. Grit’s vivacious performance that night reminded me of why music matters, and why improving access to the arts is central to Glasgow Life’s vision.
Glasgow is proud to be a Unesco City of Music and Celtic Connections exemplifies arts enriching lives. Through the festival’s education programme, thousands of children attend free concerts and try out traditional Celtic instruments under expert supervision.
Then there’s the Celtic Connections in the Community programme. It works with ethnic minority voluntary sector support organisation, BEMIS, to involve people from diverse cultural communities in music workshops. This year it culminated in showcase celebrations of Roma, Irish, African and Afghani musical traditions. Free family ceilidhs in Pollok Community Centre and Maryhill Community Central Hall also help spread the festival spirit more widely.
Celtic Connections shows how grassroots traditions influence a wide range of musical styles, letting audiences experience a dizzying variety of first-class artists, all sparking off each other to produce a creative, magical fusion.
The famous names performing in Glasgow this past fortnight has been dazzling. But the festival is also a platform for emerging talent. Take Rura, who debuted on Celtic Connections’ Danny Kyle open stage in 2010. This Sunday, at their celebratory concert in the Old Fruitmarket, ticket-holders will witness just how far these multi-award-winners have come.
The festival is a boon for Scotland’s music scene: artists, technicians, stage managers and those who dream of working in the industry. As for those of us who simply love music, perhaps the best thing about Celtic Connections is that it’s happening right now.
Celtic Connections runs until Sunday, February 2. For full programme and ticket information visit www.celticconnections.com
Councillor David McDonald is deputy leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow Life
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