Clyde and Shannonside

The Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland, begins today and lasts till the end of the month, with 2,000 musicians taking part in 300 events at twenty-six venues in that time, as well as a large workshop programme. The organisers are keen to receive feedback, as announced on their latest e-newsletter.

Allowing for some disparities of scale, the BIB considers that the Sixmilebridge Folk Club's Winter Music Festival, to be held in Sixmilebridge and Bunratty, Co. Clare, in a week's time (Thurs. 21 Jan.-Mon. 25 Jan.) stands up well in comparison, with eighty events - concerts, pub gigs, sessions, and shows - at twenty venues in the five days, and a core of traditional music (Irish and English) complemented by classical, mariachi, jazz, blues, bluegrass and Appalachian, poetry and humour, and more.

Of special interest to BIB readers are the bluegrass concert at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 24 Jan., with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado (USA) and Martin Gilmore with Nick Amadeo (USA) (both acts are playing other shows during the Festival), and shows by Rackhouse Pilfer from Sligo and Meascán, an Irish classical ensemble who tackle Appalachian music and Texas fiddle tunes. Full details, with artist bios, location maps, website links, and more, are on the Festival website and in the 32-page full-colour brochure which is now available. Keep a check, too, on the Festival Facebook.