The best roots festival in the world begins on Thursday, bringing together artists from Scotland and across the world to play in Glasgow. Every year I’m so thankful for this beacon of live music light in the January gloom, and the festival line up never disappoints.
There’s so many gems this year the only issue is deciding what to see. I’ve rounded up some of the women in Americana, indie and folk who are playing the event this year to give you a flavour of what’s on offer!
Firstly the headline act of the festival is country music legend Emmylou Harris, who will kick off her farewell tour of Europe with a show on January 16th. She played the festival in 1997 after being a part of Transatlantic Sessions in 1995, so it’s only fitting that she returns to grace this wonderful festival and its fans with her holy presence. Looking at her set lists from last year, she seems to enjoy varying things up in terms of song choices but what we can predict is that she will no doubt play a wide selection of songs from across her entire catalogue.
Emmylou’s friend and fellow legend Lucinda Williams will also be playing at the festival, launching her new album ‘World’s Gone Wrong’ with a show on February 1st. Her last appearance at the festival was charged with emotional power so here’s hoping for more of the same.
The aforementioned Transatlantic Sessions continues to showcase a brilliant variety of artists with this years featured female vocalists being Karine Polwart and Kathy Mattea on the 30th January and February 1st. Roaming Roots Revue has new young Scottish talent Rianne Downey and Alice Faye performing on the 25th and 26th.
Other Americana highlights are Amythyst Kiah supported by Liv Greene on the 24th, also appearing is the wonderful Kaia Kater at the Strathclyde Suite on the 20th. Playing at Cottiers theatre is Kelsey Walden on the 22nd, Kim Richey with Scotland’s Carla J. Easton on the 25th and finally Ashley Campbell is also making a welcome return to Scotland on the 27th.
New artists to me who I’m interested in hearing more from include Humbird who hails from the Midwest and is playing at the Drygate Brewery on the 16th January, as well as supporting Watchhouse on the 17th. Another interesting show is gospel soul group Annie & The Caldwells who are playing with Michelle Willis at St Luke’s on the 30th. I’m also really excited by what I’ve heard of the new Katherine Priddy album and she’s also playing the festival with a show at Strathclyde Suite on the 22nd.
Of course the festival will be showcasing much local Scottish talent and highlights include favourites like Siobhan Miller, Julie Fowlis, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and new talent like Alice Faye and Katie Gregson-Macleod. There’s also an album launch for the Hen Hoose Collective who are a diverse collective of women and non-binary artists including Jill Lorean, Emma Pollock, and Inge Thomson.
I’ve made a little playlist with some selected highlights from the artists mentioned above!
You can find the full line up of shows here:
Highway Queens 
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