Glasgow, Scotland - The Transatlantic Sessions return to Celtic Connections with an international cast of vocal talent, which includes the United State's Rosanne Cash and Bruce Molsky, Scotland's Karen Matheson and acclaimed Canadian trio the Wailin' Jennys. Under the original musical co-direction of Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and US guitar virtuoso Russ Barenberg, the 2007 gathering promises to rank among the most memorable yet.

Celtic Connections takes place in 12 venues all over Glasgow. The focal point of the festival is The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where performances take place in every available space, from workshops in the foyers to performances by world-class artists in the Main Auditorium. The City Halls and Old Fruitmarket, ABC, The Tron, The Piping Centre and Glasgow’s newest live venue The Classic Grand will all play host to Celtic Connections events this year over a period of nineteen days in January and February.

New Voices:
Calum MacCrimmon
Sun 4 February, 1:00pm
£7.50
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite

Every year Celtic Connections commissions three young musicians to present a specially written piece of work in its New Voices series. New Voices allows the festival to continue to support new music and help young talent to make their mark on the traditional music scene. This year, three New Voices concerts were featured in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – one on each Sunday of the festival. Outside the Circle, by Calum MacCrimmon, is last of this year’s commissions.

The concert draws from many different areas of traditional (and not so traditional) music, with a strong emphasis on rhythm, harmony and even choreography. This New Voices concert is diverse enough for all music lovers to enjoy not just the piping enthusiasts!

Taste of the Fest hosted by Ishbel MacAskill
Sun 4 February, 2:00pm
£10
The National Piping Centre

Danny Kyle's Open Stage hosted by Gibb Todd
Winners 2007
Sun 4 February, 5:00pm
Free
Exhibition Hall

Transatlantic Sessions hosted by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas
Sun 4 February, 7:30pm
£24, £22
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium

The second series of Transatlantic Sessions made fascinating viewing on Scottish television in 1998. It was fronted by Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and dobro wizard Jerry Douglas and featured a large group of top performers gathered together in a big house and making music.

Originally inspired by the eponymous landmark TV series in 1995 and 1998, the Transatlantic Sessions are now a key annual fixture of Celtic Connections' program, bringing together top folk and roots artists from North America and Scotland to perform in new and one-off combinations.

Under the original musical co-direction of Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and US guitar virtuoso Russ Barenberg, the 2007 gathering promises to rank among the most memorable yet.

A truly glittering cast of vocal talent includes the United State's Rosanne Cash and Bruce Molsky, Scotland's Karen Matheson and acclaimed Canadian trio the Wailin' Jennys.

Molsky and the Jennys will also be contributing to a similarly impressive instrumental line-up, with Bain and Barenberg joined by dobro genius Jerry Douglas, accordionists Donald Shaw and Phil Cunningham, percussionist James Mackintosh, and Michael McGoldrick on flutes, whistles and uilleann pipes.

Harry Manx and Michael Kaeshammer with Support
Sun 4 February, 8:00pm
£12.50
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Strathclyde Suite

Individually, Harry Manx and Michael Kaeshammer are both truly dazzling musicians. Spontaneous standing ovations are commonplace throughout their concerts, ignited by their sheer musical virtuosity – Harry on an assortment of instruments, including the exotic Mohan Veena guitar/sitar hybrid, Michael with his jaw-dropping dexterity on the concert grand piano.

This pairing makes for a fascinating juxtaposition of musical forms that meld together wonderfully. Harry Manx's intermeshing of traditional acoustic blues with Asian influences and overtones are intertwined with Michael Kaeshammer's outstanding piano skills in jazz and boogie-woogie stylings. Fans of either of these two artists are sure to embrace the heart and soul of the other's magnificent artistry.

This astounding concert package will showcase Harry Manx and Michael Kaeshammer each performing their own half-hour solo set. Then the two return to the stage together for a tour de force half-hour concert segment uniting their collective talents into a heart-stopping synergy of music and entertainment. This is a show destined to become a highlight for audiences of any concert season.

Kathleen Maclnnes with Support
Sun 4 February, 8:00pm
£10
The National Piping Centre

Tonight's performance will include tracks from her highly acclaimed new album Og-mhadainn Shamhraidh.

Klezmatics with Moishe's Bagel
Sun 4 February, 8:00pm
£15
Old Fruitmarket

David Munnelly Band with Laura McGhee
Sun 4 February, 8:00pm
£12.50
The Classic Grand

Celtic Connections Festival Club hosted by Gibb Todd
Sun 4 February, 10:30pm
£7.50
Holiday Inn - City West

• Celtic Connections 2007 Launches Tomorrow in Spectacular Fashion with a Torchlit Procession and Opening Concert
• Celtic Connections 2007 Celebrates Gaelic Roots
• Celtic Connections Announce EventScotland Funding
• Celtic and international folk, country and rock music stars on Thursday 18th at Celtic Connections
• Clannad, The Duhks and Bruce Cockburn Highlights of Celtic Connections' Friday 19th Concerts
• Celtic Connections 2007 Youth Concert
• Shooglenifty and Iarla O Lionáird at Celtic Connections 2007 Saturday 20th January
• Maggie MacInnes Presents Her New CD Òran na Mnà – A Woman’s Song at Celtic Connections
• BBC Radio 2 Radio Ballads at Celtic Connections 2007
• Celtic Connections 2007 Features Breton Night Fest, New Galician Folk and Fiddle Legend Frankie Gavin on January 21
• John Cale, Radio Ballads and Music of Scotland at Celtic Connections 2007 on Monday January 22nd
• Songs of Conscience and The McDades at Celtic Connections 2007 on Tuesday, January 23rd
• Master Pipers, Kate Rusby and Bela Fleck at Celtic Connections 2007 on Wednesday 24th January
• Showcase Scotland Concert at Celtic Connections 2007
• Legendary Boys of the Lough at Celtic Connections 2007 on Thursday 25th January
• Scottish Talent, Piper Tribute, Blues and Fiddlin' at Celtic Connections 2007 Friday 26th January
• Celtic Connections 2007 Presents Swedish, Breton and Scottish Acts and Pipe Band Extravaganza on Saturday January 27th
• A successful first week for Celtic Connections 2007
• Catriona Watt Wins BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award
• Celtic Connections 2007 events for Monday 29th January
• Ballads of the Book at Celtic Connections 2007
• Live Real World Party at Celtic Connections 2007 in Glasgow
• Flutes of the World and Ballads of the Book at Celtic Connections 2007
• Donegal Connections at Celtic Connections 2007
• Cowboy Junkies, Donegal Connections and Real World Artists at Celtic Connections 2007 on Wednesday 31st January
• The Unusual Suspects and Nashville Showcase at Celtic Connections 2007 Saturday 3rd February

Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office:

In person at: The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
2 Sauchiehall Street
GLASGOW
G2 3NY
Online at: www.celticconnections.com
By phone on: 0141 353 8000

Photo: Karen Matheson