McFerrin to play Celtic festival

Bobby McFerrin is a 10-time Grammy Award winner

Bobby McFerrin, Ry Cooder and Natalie Merchant are among the headline acts announced for next year's Celtic Connections festival.

About 1,500 artists will perform in more than 300 events across 14 venues in Glasgow from 14 to 31 January 2010.

This year's programme celebrates the influence of Celtic music on cultures around the world.

The event - originally a filler in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's winter programme - is entering its 17th year.

One of the headline performances at this year's festival will see Irish group The Chieftains join forces with Mexican band Los Cenzontles and special guest Ry Cooder for a one-off show in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The 10-time Grammy Award-winner Bobby McFerrin will also play at the same venue.

'Exciting and diverse'

Other acts appearing include Scottish singer-songwriter Horse and former 10,000 Maniacs singer Natalie Merchant.

Celtic Connections artistic director Donald Shaw said the programme would examine the influence of Celtic music on cultures around the world by bringing in acts from South America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

"It's astonishing how the world on a musical scale continues to embrace all roots music in such exciting and diverse ways," he said.

More than 100,000 people attended the 2009 festival.

Results of an economic impact survey carried out in 2008 revealed that Celtic Connections generated a total of £7.9m of new output to Scotland.