Curtain up on Celtic Connections

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Scotland's largest winter music festival - Celtic Connections - is due to get under way in Glasgow.

About 1,500 artists will perform in more than 300 events across 19 venues in the city from 14 to 31 January 2010.

This year's programme celebrates the influence of Celtic music on cultures around the world and features acts such as Bobby McFerrin and Ry Cooder.

The event - originally a filler in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's winter programme - is entering its 17th year.

The festival will launch on Thursday afternoon with a torchlight procession through Glasgow city centre.

Bobby McFerrin is a 10-time Grammy Award winner

Pipers will lead the march from George Square to the steps of the Royal Concert Hall on Buchanan Street.

Celebrations will then begin inside the hall, as torch-bearers are invited to the Lord Provost's reception and the festival is pronounced officially open.

One of the headline performances at this year's event will see Irish group The Chieftains join forces with Mexican band Los Cenzontles and special guest Ry Cooder for a one-off show in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The 10-time Grammy Award-winner Bobby McFerrin will also play at the same venue.

Other acts appearing include Scottish singer-songwriter Horse and former 10,000 Maniacs singer Natalie Merchant.

More than 100,000 people attended the 2009 festival.

Results of an economic impact survey carried out in 2008 revealed that Celtic Connections generated a total of £7.9m of new output to Scotland.