NZ artists to take stage at major music festival in Scotland

January 29 2014

New Zealand artists to take centre stage at major music festival in Scotland

NZ takes the mantel this week to showcase our indie folk and roots music in exactly a year’s time at the world’s largest winter music festival, in Scotland.

Each year Celtic Connections in Glasgow engages with one international partner, to draw together Celtic and roots music strands from around the world; 2015 will highlight NZ indigenous artists through the Showcase Scotland programme.

Amongst the NZ performers confirmed for 2015 are taonga puoro composer and practitioner Horomona Horo, and Moana and the Tribe, with more artists to be announced over the coming months.

Over 100,000 tickets sold during the first few week’s of this year’s festival which features 234 delegates from 29 countries. More than three million dollars worth of artist bookings can be expected from the showcase.

British Council NZ is the delivery partner which brokered the NZ connection for 2015.

“The revival of folk music worldwide mirrors the interest in diaspora roots in countries like New Zealand. This, along with our historical links to Scotland and the whole of Britain, make the festival an inspiring way of exploring commonalities and culture through music,” said British Council NZ Country Director Ingrid Leary.

“Showcase Scotland at Celtic connections are delighted to be partnering with New Zealand in 2015. We are looking forward to learning and discovering the music and traditions of the nation,” said Lisa Whytock producer Showcase Scotland at Celtic connections.

The Showcase Scotland project is one of several artist links NZ has forged with Scotland, through a Letter of Intention signed last year between Creative New Zealand, Creative Scotland, and the British Council Head of Arts in London, brokered by British Council New Zealand.

The agreement saw a record 14 NZ delegates attend the Edinburgh Festival; and on St Andrews Day last year (November 30) a special festival was held in the Octagon to mark the Commonwealth Queen’s Baton relay.

Celtic Connections started in 1994 in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and has since been held every January. In the beginning it was held in just one venue and ran over 14 days. Since then it has grown even bigger and better now encompassing almost 20 venues right across the city of Glasgow and running over 18 days.

ENDS

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