North music talent to look out for as Celtic Connections starts ...

This year marking its 30th edition, the 18-day Celtic Connections festival began in Glasgow on Thursday, with a host of Highland and north musicians appearing among the 1200 musicians who will take to the stage for 300 events at more than 25 venues in a multi-genre feast of music that runs until Sunday, February 5.

Here is a rundown of many of the events featuring the talents of the north in case you fancy going for a taste of the festival in its 30th anniversary year.

Some of the high profile moments for north musicians include the big 30th anniversary concert that happened on the first night (Jan 19) – with names including Peat & Diesel, Duncan Chsholm, Rachel Sermanni, Graham Mackenzie, TRIP (including Alasdair MacKenzie) and Anna Massie, to name a few – and luckily all those are featuring in other events across the festival to catch later!

Fiddler and composer Duncan Chisholm premieres his new album Black Cuillin (Thursday, Feb 2) at the Royal Concert Hall in a night also featuring Kim Carnie.

And Inverness fiddle-player and composer Graham Mackenzie is also launching an album, his second, The Dawning (Thursday, Jan 29), at the Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium. Assynt, in which he also plays, are also launching their album Where From Here (Wednesday, Jan 25) at the Royal Concert Hall’s Strathclyde Suite in a night with The Friel Sisters too. And Graham is teaching two online fiddle courses in Strathspey technique (Sunday, Jan 22 at 10.30am) and in developing bowing patterns for reels (same day, 1pm).

Project Smok with Dingwall’s Ali Levack plays with Talisk at the National Piping Centre (Friday, Jan 20) and appearing on the same day in the Mackintosh Church, Glasgow on the bill with Fergus McCreadie will be the players from Mr McFall’s Quartet with Grantown’s cellist Su-a Lee.

Peat & Diesel play the Royal Concert Hall (Saturday, Jan 21).

Carrbridge singer songwriter Rachel Sermanni guests with the Roaming Roots Revue at the Royal Concert Hall (Sunday, Jan 22). The same night, Julie Fowlis guests at the City Halls when John McCusker plays. Anna Massie is one of four guitarists playing Guitar Night (Tuesday, Jan 24) in the Royal Concert Hall’s Strathclyde Suite.

Fiddler Adam Sutherland will be hosting Brew And A Blether at the Mackintosh Church (Wednesday, Jan 25) at 1pm.

That evening Moray’s Americana and folk artist Malcolm McWatt plays the Glad Cafe. Findochty’s Ron Jappy showcases his last album, Vinacular, at the Scott Wood Band, Drygate Brewery (Thursday, Jan 26). Ron will also be presenting an online workshop (Sunday, Feb 5) on Shaking It Up With Guitar. From Elgin originally, Siobhan Wilson joins Adam Holmes that night at the Mackintosh Church.

Julie Fowlis appears (Sunday, Jan 22) with the line-up for the 30th anniversary for John McCusker at the City Halls. Also, at the Song Circle (Friday, Jan 27) with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Karine Polwart and Robert Vincent at Theatre Royal.

And the Ross-shire based musician is also on the bill as a special guest for Le Vent Du Nord at the Old Fruitmarket (Saturday, Jan 28). And Julie will also be part of the line-up of stars at City Halls (Saturday, Feb 4) to celebrate Sabhal Mor Ostaig @50 also with Margaret Stewart and Marc Clement.

Breabach share a night (Friday, Jan 27) with Dervish at the Royal Concert Hall. And that night the Scottish Dance Theatre will be soundtracked by Sian and TRIP featuring Ali Mackenzie at the Tramway.

Blazin Fiddles featuring Bruce MacGregor, Anna Massie and Rua Macmillan will play the Theatre Royal (Saturday, Jan 28) sharing the bill with Norwegians AEvssestaden. And on the same night, Westward The Light – with Charlie Grey and Joseph Peach – share their new album Flow Country at Royal Concert Hall's Strathclyde Suite.

In New Voices at the Royal Concert Hall's Strathclyde Suite hosts Malin Lewis from Skye (Sunday, Jan 29) will showcase her piece Halocline.

Sarah-Jane Summers with her husband is playing (Sunday, Jan 29) at the Royal Concert Hall alongside Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. Phil Cunningham's Beyond The Farther Shore has Session A9 and also Su-a Lee, Anna Massie and Innes White among the musicians performing (Monday, Jan 30) at the Royal Concert Hall.

Singer Margaret Stewart is a guest singer with Gillebride MacMillan in a night (Monday, Jan 30) also with Rachel Walker & Aaron Jones at the Mackintosh Church.

Kim Edgar's Consequences project (Thursday, Feb 2)with 12 songwriting collaborations will feature Rachel Sermanni at Saint Luke's.

CARA and Grainne Brady at Mackintosh Church (Friday, Feb 3) will also include Su-a Lee. And the Peatbogs will play the Old Fruitmarket (Friday, Feb 3).

Nae Plans with Adam Sutherland and Hamish Napier (Saturday, Feb 4) play Mackintosh Church.

If you know of other North musicians playing the Glasgow festival, and would like it added here, email: whatson@hnmedia.co.uk More info on Celtic Connections and for tickets: www.celticconnections.com

CATCH UP WITH: Inverness musician and composer Graham Mackenzie launches his new album at Celtic Connections on January 29 – he tells the story of getting The Dawning ready to share: https://www.whatson-north.co.uk/whats-on/news/the-dawning-finally-arrives-for-fidder-graham-300440/

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