Celtic Connections and is an integral and vibrant part of cultural life in Glasgow, with the economic impact on the city reaching £5.8 million in 2007. The festival actively promotes artistic links and cultural exchange across countries, reinforced by Showcase Scotland which brought 200 music industry delegates from 35 different countries to Scotland looking to book Scottish bands for festivals abroad in 2008. The 2008 festival opened with the Common Ground concert where many of the artists taking part in the event performed together. Donald Shaw, artistic director of the festival, spoke about the future of Celtic Connections as well as the
Dublin City Soul Festival Dublin City Soul Festival The Dublin City Soul Festival is an annual soul music festival held each spring in Dublin, Ireland. The festival was founded in 2007 by Chris Maher with Paul Slattery and Redmond O Hanlon. The festival motto is “a celebration of peace, unity and love”. The festival takes place all around Dublin City Centre. Since 2007 the locations that have hosted the Dublin City Soul Festival include The Grand Social, Merrion Square park and Meeting House Square. In 2007 the Dublin City Soul Festival won the Irish Times Living Dublin Award for Culture and Tourism. The festival