Scottish trad band treats Glasgow to open top bus concert ahead of Celtic Connections
Top Scottish traditional band Gnoss was captured putting on an open-top bus concert in Glasgow city centre ahead of the opening of the Celtic Connections Festival.
Celebrating the much-loved annual music festival, the gig on Saturday (January 11) was the brainchild of Scottish brewer and headline sponsor, Innis & Gunn, and saw the "jig on jig off" service carted folk fans between the brewer's taprooms on West Nile Street and Ashton Lane.
Glasgow-based Gnoss performed sets at both venues - as well as the bus ride in between, which was provided by City Sightseeing Glasgow.
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Known for their dynamic fusion of traditional Scottish folk and contemporary flair, Gnoss will take to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on February 1 in a sold-out gig.
The band’s guitarist and vocalist Aidan Moodie said: “What a laugh playing our music round the streets of Glasgow!
"We've been locked in the studio recording some new tunes, so it was great to get outside for a breath of fresh air. Even if it was baltic.”
"Celtic Connections is one of our favourite festivals and we loved kicking it off with the Innis & Gunn bus tour. We’re playing our biggest headline show to date at the festival, alongside the incredible Lauren MacColl, which sold out the other day.
"And we’ve just been invited to play The Barrowlands on Friday, January 24, alongside some of our Orcadian musical pals, The Chair and FARA. It’s going to be one hell of a month!”
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Dougal Sharp, Master Brewer and founder of Innis & Gunn, said: “We’re all about good beer for good folk! While there’s plenty of chatter about Dry January, we wanted to start 2025 with a bang – and what better way to do it than by partnering with Celtic Connections? It’s a standout moment in Scotland’s cultural calendar, and we’re proud to be the headline partner.
“But for us, it’s never just about putting our name on something – it’s about getting stuck in and going all out. That’s exactly what we did with this bus tour. Having the hugely talented Gnoss perform a live, rolling gig on one of Glasgow’s iconic sightseeing buses was pure magic, not to mention the buzz in our taprooms.
“Folk music is infectious, lively, and bursting with energy – a perfect antidote to the darkest month of the year. Paired with a great beer and good company, it’s the ultimate winter pick-me-up, and we’re thrilled to be part of it.
“Homegrown talent isn’t just something we celebrate – it’s who we are. Like Gnoss, Innis & Gunn was born and brewed right here in Scotland. It’s a match made in heaven.”
Celtic Connections kicks off on Thursday, and will feature internationally renowned music, exciting new performances, unique showcases and one-off collaborations.
The festival, delivered by Glasgow Life, will fill around 25 venues with around 300 events across 18 days, anticipating around 110,000 visitors and an estimated 1,200 musicians and artists.
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