Kinnaris Quintet & Guests with Ciaran Ryan Band and Gangar

Renowned for their euphoric, enigmatic and emotive style, Glasgow’s own Kinnaris Quintet have quickly become a must-see live act. Taking influence from traditional Scottish, Irish, Bluegrass, Classical, Scandinavian and Appalachian music, they create technically dazzling, evocative arrangements, while their performances are laced with a contagious on-stage exuberance and joyful enthusiasm. This boundary-pushing five-piece will be joined at Celtic Connections by special guests Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart.

Support comes from Ciaran Ryan and Norway’s Gangar.

A founding member of the world folk band Dallahan, Ciaran is quietly becoming recognised as one of the foremost tenor banjo players the UK has ever produced. His second solo album, Occupational Hazards, brings his prolific writing and stage experience firmly to the fore. 

Gangar, meanwhile, bring a fresh take on Nordic roots music to the festival. The young, five-piece ensemble digs deep into Norway's extensive folk music archives to come up with rare traditional tunes and give them new, modern arrangements influenced by rock, folk-metal, and jazz improvisation.