Celtic Connections gets under way

A procession, featuring musicians and festival goers, has taken place

Scotland's largest winter music festival - Celtic Connections - gets under way on Thursday.

About 1,500 artists are expected to perform in more than 300 events across 14 venues in Glasgow between the 15 January and 1 February.

The acclaimed Senegalese singer and percussionist Youssou N'Dour is one of many headlines acts.

The festival coincides with the start of Homecoming events to mark the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth.

Celtic Connections is entering its 16th year in 2009.

The winter festival has grown dramatically since it first began as a way of filling the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's January schedule.

Inauguration concert

Among those appearing at this year's event is US banjo player, Bela Fleck.

He is scheduled to make two appearances at the festival, in between an appearance at the inauguration concert of US President-elect Barack Obama.

Scots singer Eddi Reader has added a second concert of Burns songs due to demand.

Other Homecoming events include a Jamaican Burns night, a 24-hour poetry marathon and a massive ceilidh, which will see the removal of all the seats from Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.