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
Evolve Festival and Luther Wright and the Wrongs. Elizabeth May of Green Party of Canada spoke at the 2007 event. In addition to its main stage, the festival also features several smaller stages genres such as electronic, bass, and indie rock. There are smaller yurt stages highlighting smaller acts from around the world. Canadian music video channel MuchMusic has covered the Evolve Festival on "Going Coastal". In 2010, over 115 acts performed. Evolve Festival Evolve Festival is an annual music and cultural festival which until 2016 took place near Antigonish, Nova Scotia. In 2016, the festival was moved to Jailletville, New Brunswick.