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
The Celtic Social Club and guests chosen for their diverse backgrounds such as Rock, Folk, Blues, Reggae or Hip Hop. Seduced by the idea, several actors (a festival, a concert hall, a booking agency and a record label) have joined together to produce an album and a show that is the new creation of the Vieilles Charrues Festival (Old Ploughs Festival), the largest music festival in France, for its 2014 edition . The idea of the Celtic Social Club was germinated in February 2012 when Manu Masko and Jean-Pierre Riou From the Breton band Red Cardell moved to New York City to mix an