Several of India’s most talented music acts have been selected to perform at a major arts festival, Scotland’s External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf said today.

Saurav Moni, Ruhaniyat, Suhail Yusuf Khan, The Raghu Dixit Project, Parveen Sabrina Khan, Asin Langa and Bhungar Manganiyar will take their place in the spotlight during the next Celtic Connections – the world renowned folk music festival held each January in Glasgow which attracts more than 100,000 people each year.

Mr Yousaf announced the significant Indian presence in next year’s Celtic Connections line-up during a visit to India, during which he has been highlighting and strengthening business, education, diplomatic, and cultural links between the two countries.

The Minister was speaking ahead of a collaborative folk concert to be held in Mumbai tonight, at which Bangalore folk rocker Raghu Dixit and contemporary dance artist Mayuri Upadhya will perform together. Scottish folk group, Kaela Rowan and the Menagerie will also perform.

The concert has been organised to highlight and celebrate existing and emerging cultural ties between Scotland and India and is one of the highlights of Folk Nations, the British Council’s three-year programme focusing on folk music in India and the UK.

Within the Celtic Connections festival programme, which launched today in Glasgow, a series of concerts will be held in January under the banner of Showcase Scotland, which aims to promote some of the country’s finest musical talent alongside noted musicians from around the world.

In January 2014, Showcase Scotland will specifically highlight musical talent from Scotland, India and Australia.

The Indian acts appearing at Celtic Connections through Showcase Scotland can expect to perform to music lovers, media and more than 200 music industry delegates from around the world.

The surge of Indian talent performing at the Glasgow festival follows the signing of a historic three-year reciprocal performing agreement between Celtic Connections and Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) last year. Celtic Connections also marks the beginning of the cultural calendar for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Humza Yousaf, Scottish External Affairs Minister, said:

“Both Scotland and India are world-renowned for their rich, vibrant and diverse culture. The partnership agreement between Celtic Connections and the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, and the focus Celtic Connections will place on India in 2014 through Showcase Scotland, are just two examples of this. Tonight’s folk concert in Mumbai is another.

“I have been overwhelmed by the friendly welcome I have received in India, and I am delighted to invite some of the country’s outstanding musicians to come to Scotland next year and my home city of Glasgow for Celtic Connections, where they can certainly expect to receive a very warm Scottish welcome.”

For the full media release, see the external link below.

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Indian-musicians-to-perform-at-Celtic-Connections-52a.aspx