Celtic Odyssee
City Halls, Glasgow
25th Jan, 2026
Glasgow Merchant square City halls is a wonder to see, the stage was set last night for a Celtic connections gig 2026. It was an evening called Celtic Odyssee and its epic presence lived up to the name. it was a night for stars to shine in their interminable way. The talent poured through the room to the high ceiling livening and aloud music that held the beauty of the festival gently in the palm of their hands.
It is now returning for it’s fourth year at this revered festival that takes place every year early winter and has been since 1994. The connections banner spanned the stage looming large and able to glow in different colours. The performance started and they filled the stage with every Celtic instrument, in an evening to celebrate all the Celtic nations, it felt enormous and we were glad to be there.
As songs went by every combination was brought to this large and rich venue. It looked like a starry night, sequin dresses and large personalities who played to the ability of each sound that billowed from a deep bass or a moaning violin.
This Odyssee was for the highest Celtic praise enjoying and sharing life as a native of Glasgow and beyond. There was an international presence, in the shape of music and vocals, then there was a traditional dancing performer clicking her boots to make the rhythms, bring the traditions and high tail the spectacle of seeing these performers make the music so loved in Glasgow at this time of year.
It is the Celtic Odyssee’s 4th year at the festival, and it is in the rendition of a staple for music lovers and goers. The folk music brought to life the ancient (if fresh) sounds of its very Celtic appeal. The musical inclusivity stretched out even further, the magnanimous soul in its journey. The footfall between these songs carried things further in the name of collaboration between artists at their peak.
In the means of shaping things up to even further heights the importance of spoken introductions proved invaluable in understanding the purposes and meanings behind the gorgeous music shared to an entirety in an almost sacred room. French songs were shared, the enigmatic original Celtic Gaelic, always sang with incredible beauty and these stars I mentioned kept coming and going as the rhythms of organisation flowed with some perfection.
It is still in celebration of the natural that is behind a lot of the lyrics and melodies you heard, praising characters and stories that have been on the go for life times. And the drive for a kind of sheer creativity coupled with a fusion of musical inspirations saw a stage transformed after an almost orchestra like presence to simple solos, face to face performing, from artists quite obviously filled to the bring in the name of the magic of music.
The Odyssee, as it was written so long ago, hailed the wonderer and adventurer, and brought the very gods into presence. This eve’s performance did that as homage to great life and dedication to this music, its assuredness shone with their capability, showing a large filled room just how strong, beautiful and powerful memory in music can certainly be.
Daniel Donnelly
themumble.uk 