TOM JONES TO PERFORM CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ‘PRAISE & BLAME’ IN ITS ENTIRETY AT CELTIC CONNECTIONS

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Celtic Connections 2011, sponsored by ScottishPower

13th – 30th January 300 events, 18 days, 14 venues

Sir Tom Jones is to appear at Celtic Connections this January in an exclusive one-off show as part of Glasgow’s annual folk, roots, traditional and world music festival. A musical icon and living legend, Tom Jones will perform his latest album Praise & Blame – a highly acclaimed collection of gospel, blues and spiritual songs – at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Monday 17th January. This very special performance is supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Tom Jones will join a stellar cast of globally renowned artists already announced for Celtic Connections 2011, which is sponsored by ScottishPower. His performance is part of the festival’s major gospel strand, which also features the likes of Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Bettye LaVette.

Praise & Blame is a back-to-roots collection of American gospel, blues, traditional and country songs, which features material sourced from the likes of Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, John Lee Hooker and Billy Joe Shaver. Tom Jones will be backed by a six-piece band for this exclusive Celtic Connections appearance.

Donald Shaw, Celtic Connections Artistic Director, said:

“Tom Jones is a true musical icon, and we are honoured to be able to bring him to Celtic Connections. This January, the festival pays tribute to the influence of the great gospel tradition, and Tom Jones’ performance of his stunning gospel, roots and blues album, Praise & Blame, forms part of this strand.”

Councilor George Redmond, the Chairman of Glasgow Life, said:

“Generations of music fans will be looking forward to watching Tom Jones at the Royal Concert Hall. From the Welsh valleys to Vegas and everywhere in between, he is a musical powerhouse and I’m sure that Glasgow’s music fans will enjoy what is destined to be a memorable performance.”

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said:

"Glasgow is fast earning its stripes as a major event city, and artists of this caliber provide it with an ideal platform on which to reach a world wide audience. This performance by Tom Jones will not only enhance Celtic Connections but will also reinforce the city’s credentials as Glasgow: Scotland with style.  Our aspirations for major events are to be the first, the only and the best and Tom Jones fits the bill perfectly."

The Celtic Connections programme was launched last month, with other festival highlights including The Waterboys: An Appointment with Mr Yeats, Rosanne Cash, Grant Lee Buffalo, Fran Healy, Richard Thompson, Zakir Hussain, Cheikh Lô, Fiddlers’ Bid, Treacherous Orchestra, Lau, a one night only Love and Money reunion, and Forever Young – A 70th Birthday Tribute to Bob Dylan featuring Rosanne Cash, Josh Rouse, Kris Drever, Tim O’Brien, Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire and more.

The festival, which was named Best Cultural Event at the prestigious UK Event Awards last month, runs from 13th – 30th January with around 300 gigs, one-off collaborative shows, ceilidhs, talks, workshops, free events and late night sessions taking place in 14 venues across Glasgow.

Tom Jones will perform Praise & Blame, on Monday 17th January, 7:30pm at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium.

Click here to for full line-up and ticket information