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
Windy City Burlesque Festival Angeles), Kellita of Hot Pink Feathers (San Francisco), The Amazing Tomas (Chicago), Penny Starr Jr. (Los Angeles), Coco Lectric (Austin, Texas) Windy City Burlesque Festival The Windy City Burlesque Festival is an annual three-day event in Chicago, Illinois occurring each spring which features live burlesque performances by local and international artists. The mission of the festival is to celebrate the present, honor the past, and showcase the future of burlesque performance. The festival was created in response to the resurgence of the classical theatrical styles and growth of the modern era of burlesque and attempts to encompass all of the