Celtic Connections 2016 which runs from Thursday 14 to Sunday 31 January, has revealed its line up which includes 2,500 musicians from around the world will gather in Glasgow for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, workshops, free events, late night sessions and a host of special one-off musical collaborations.

Stars of world, folk and roots music, who will perform on 26 stages at venues across the city, include Rickie Lee Jones, The Chieftains, Lau, The Unthanks, Béla Fleck, Moving Hearts, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, Admiral Fallow, Toumani Diabaté, Karine Polwart, Boys of the Lough, and Larry Carlton.

The Opening Concert will be celebrating 50 years of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland with musical director Siobhan Miller at the helm.

2016 will see a number of 'Family Ties' including concerts by The Wainwright Sisters, and They Might be Giants performing a special matinee performance for children.

Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and John Grant are among the stars of New Americana who will take to the stage during the festival.

Pilgrimage will be explored through a series of performances, including the reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s 1976 album Hejira - which explores themes of the constant journey we are all on in life - by James Robertson.

The festival also takes pride in looking to the future as well as celebrating the past. Matthew Welch’s Blarvuster, the Aidan O’Rourke Trio and Soumik Datta & Bernhard Schimpelsberger: Circle of Sound are among those who will step into the spotlight at a new venue for the festival Drygate Brewery to represent a new strand, The Shape of Folk to Come.

A series of major anniversaries will be marked, with celebrations of Aly Bain at 70 in a show entitled Le Grand Anniversaire where he will be joined by his long standing cohort Phil Cunningham to celebrate 30 years of performing together.

Bwani Junction will be performing Graceland 30 years after Paul Simon’s classic album was released. Four of the original members of the recording will be performing on this very special occasion.

A series of concerts In the Tradition will celebrate piping and Gaelic music. Nights dedicated to Gordon Duncan and the Armagh Pipers and a concert recalling the legendary Live in Ireland 78 will put the swirl and power of the pipes centre stage. A special 30th anniversary concert for Fèis Rois, music from Anne Lorne Gillies, and a show entitled Gàidhlig meets Gaelic Americana which brings together Gillebrìde MacMillan and Kyle Carey will be music to the ears of lovers of these two traditions, which remain as fresh, vital and entertaining as ever.

The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France will be centre stage at this year’s Showcase Scotland as the festival celebrates France as the partner country for 2016 and the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Glasgow and Marseille.

Full Line Up details