So what’s going ahead at festival?

NEARLY 60 events will go ahead in person at this year’s Celtic Connections after the First Minister confirmed that restrictions on indoor performances will be lifted from Monday. The Glasgow festival has had to cancel a large number of events and moved others online as a result of the public safety measures put in place due to the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid.

But as the current wave appears to have passed the peak and the Scottish government is easing restrictions, Celtic Connections has now confirmed that many shows will still go ahead in front of live audiences. Artists including Anoushka Shankar, who will perform with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra Qawwali at the Royal Concert Hall next Friday, Heidi Talbot, Arooj Atab. Here are the events that are going ahead in Glasgow in the first week:

Monday 24th Jan Johanna Warren and support – The Hug and Pint

Tuesday 25th Jan ‘Scotland Sings Nanci Griffith, Main Auditorium, Royal Concert Hall; Chloe Foy and support – The Hug and Pint; Brew & a blether - Mackintosh at the Willow

Wednesday 26th Jan ‘Bruce MacGregor & Friends - Strathclyde suite, Royal Concert Hall; David Latto and Support - Glad Café

Thursday 27th Jan Spell Songs: The Lost Words, Main Auditorium, Royal Concert Hall; Beyond the Swelkie – Celebrating ‘George MacKay Brown - Strathclyde suite, Royal Concert Hall; FARA and Michael Biggins - Mackintosh Church; AK Patterson - Glad Cafe; Brew & a blether with Adam Sutherland - Mackintosh at the Willow

Friday 28th Jan Anoushka Shankar & Scottish Chamber Orchestra and

Orchestral Qawwali, Main Auditorium,

Royal Concert Hall; Manran and Moxie, Tramway; Mec Lir with Kinnaris Quintet, Saint Lukes; Polly Paulusma and Support, The Hug and Pint; The Remedy Club and support, The Glad Cafe

Saturday 29th Jan Talisk and JigJam, Old Fruitmarket; Matt Carmichael with Seonaid Aitkin: Chasing Sakura, Mackintosh

Church; BEMIS, Tramway; Tinderbox Collective & Kathryn Joseph and Alas De Liona, Main Auditorium, Royal Concert Hall; Battle of the Folk Bands, Drygate; Paul McKenna Band with Heisk and Trip, Saint Luke’s; Ed Dowie and Support, The Glad Cafe; Kirsty Matheson: 100 day of music, Royal Concert Hall

Sunday 30th Jan ‘New Voices: Esther Swift, Strathclyde Suite, Royal Concert Hall; Fergus McCreadie Trio with Justyna Jablonska & Jyotsna Srikanth, Main Auditorium, Royal Concert Hall; ‘Frets;

Grant & Butler & Blake and Monica Queen, St Lukes.