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The National
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Glasgow's Hoolie in the Hydro reveals tribute to Billy Connolly
Returning to the venue for the fourth year, The Hoolie in the Hydro will be taking place on Saturday, December 13 Celebrating the Big Yin's comedy and folk music, the night has a line-up of 'windswept and interesting' musicians ready to share their favourite songs. (Image: Newsquest)Forming the finale of the Hoolie, audiences can expect Glasgow and Scottish talent to perform their favourite of Connolly's songs, including I Wish I Was in Glasgow and Glasgow Central. The celebration marks 60 years since Connolly formed the three-piece folk band The Humblebums and coincides with Glasgow's 850th birthday celebrations. READ MORE: John Swinney calls for Kneecap to be cut from major Scottish festival The Hoolie's organiser, broadcaster and musician Gary Innes, collaborated with The Big Yin himself as well as the performer's family. Innes said: 'Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. (Image: Newsquest) 'It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin.' Scottish fiddler Aly Bain is one of the performers already confirmed to be taking part in the tribute. Bain played alongside Connolly and is 'really looking forward to celebrating' his life and times. READ MORE: There is no sense of urgency from politicians for radical land reform He said: 'Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. 'Since then, Billy and I have shared more than 50 years of friendship and countless great memories.' Elsewhere on the line-up, Elephant Sessions (below) will be making their OVO Hydro debut with their award-winning combination of trad, funk, and electronica. Six-piece ceilidh folk band Trail West will be returning to The Hoolie after performing at the inaugural 2022 event, coming off the back of two sold-out shows in the Barrowlands Ballroom. Supergroup Mànran will bring their traditional-modern combination of folk rock and mix of Gaelic and English songs back to Glasgow. Beluga Lagoon round off the so-far-announced acts for the Hoolie. The musical project of wildlife filmmaker and cameraman Andrew O'Donnell, Beluga Lagoon's music centres the beauty of the Scottish landscape. READ MORE: Tommy Sheppard: Scottish independence and trade unionism must work hand in hand Innes said: 'I'm also delighted to have some of the brightest names on the Scottish traditional music scene join the bill and showcase the energy, ambition and fun to be found on the folk scene today so come join us for a good bit of nonsense and the ultimate celebration of Glasgow.' Earlier this month, the concept travelled across the pond for the Hoolie in New York. Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean and other Scottish stars took to the stage in one of the most prestigious music venues in the world, Carnegie Hall, for a night of traditional Scottish music. You can find tickets and further information about The Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin here.
Scotsman
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Musical career of 'Scottish hero' Billy Connolly to be celebrated at 'world's biggest ceilidh'
Billy Connolly started out as a musician on the Glasgow folk scene Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... He is a much-loved Scottish figure, best-known for his astute observational stand-up comedy. Now, the arguably lesser-known musical achievements of Sir Billy Connolly which launched his career as a performer are to be celebrated at an event in his home city of Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bill Connolly's life and music will be celebrated at the event. | Getty Images Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin will take place in the OVO Hydro, in December, where a cast of musicians will pay tribute to Sir Billy, his humour and his love and affinity for folk music as the night's finale. The line up of singers will play their part in marking 60 years since Sir Billy formed the beloved Humblebums and pay tribute to one of Glasgow's most iconic sons as the city celebrates its 850th birthday. Sir Billy, 82, was entrenched in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His folk roots and love for the banjo have remained close to his heart throughout his remarkable career, which has taken him to stages, screens and award ceremonies the world over. Organiser and Scottish cultural luminary Gary Innes said he had agreed the event with Connolly, who now lives in the US. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. 'It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday. As one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin.' Mr Innes added: 'We'll have some fabulous names to announce in the coming months who will join us for the tribute and share their most treasured Billy songs – I can't wait to see the Hydro all singing and laughing along this December. I'm also delighted to have some of the brightest names on the Scottish traditional music scene join the bill and showcase the energy, ambition and fun to be found on the folk scene today, so come join us for a good bit of nonsense and the ultimate celebration of Glasgow.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly | PA Renowned Scottish fiddler Aly Bain, who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will be part of the tribute. He said: 'Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. 'Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro.' Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro is known as the world's biggest ceilidh, featuring a line-up from across Scotland's folk and traditional music scene. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this month, the concept travelled across the Atlantic with the inaugural and hugely successful Hoolie in New York, which saw Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean and other Scottish stars take over Carnegie Hall - one of the most prestigious music venues in the world. Sir Billy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over ten years ago, has been based in the US for more than 30 years, with his wife, Pamela Stevenson.
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Hoolie in the Hydro to celebrate Sir Billy Connolly
The Billy Connolly Tribute will form the finale of the night and audiences can expect Glasgow and Scottish talent to share their favourite Big Yin songs like I Wish I Was in Glasgow and Glasgow Central. With a star-studded bill for the Billy tribute to be announced, the line-up of singers will play their part in marking 60 years since Sir Billy formed the beloved Humblebums and pay tribute to one of Glasgow's most iconic sons as the city celebrates its 850th birthday. Sir Billy was entrenched in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His folk roots and beloved banjo have remained close to his heart throughout his remarkable career, which has taken him to stages, screens and award ceremonies the world over. READ MORE: Hoolie in the Hydro returns to celebrate 100 years of Scotland's trad music scene Hoolie in the Hydro crossing the Atlantic for 'unprecedented' event in NYC Mural tribute to Sir Billy Connolly appears on Glasgow building Once Hoolie in the Hydro organiser, broadcaster and musician Gary Innes got the green light from the man himself, with the help of his family, it was full steam ahead with plans to honour one of Glasgow's greats. Mr Innes, said: 'Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. "It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin. "We'll have some fabulous names to announce in the coming months who will join us for the tribute and share their most treasured Billy songs – I can't wait to see the Hydro all singing and laughing along this December. "I'm also delighted to have some of the brightest names on the Scottish traditional music scene join the bill and showcase the energy, ambition and fun to be found on the folk scene today so come join us for a good bit of nonsense and the ultimate celebration of Glasgow.' Renowned supergroup Mànran will bring their electrifying live performance to Hoolie in the Hydro once again (Image: Hoolie in the Hydro) Renowned Scottish fiddler Aly Bain, who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will be part of the tribute. He said: 'Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. "He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro.' Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro will once again also feature a stellar line-up from across Scotland's vibrant folk and traditional music scene. Elephant Sessions will bring their high-octane live show to the OVO Hydro for the first time. Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, engulfing guitars, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica resulting in a new and exciting sound that has earned them a plethora of awards and a reputation for the best live set around. Six-piece Trail West will also take to the stage, having played the event's debut edition in strong links to the Western Highlands and Islands, Trail West are a band who continue to rise in popularity from their modest roots as a four-piece West Coast Ceilidh Band to a formidable, award-winning live act. Their performance at Hoolie in the Hydro will follow two sold-out shows at the Barrowland Ballroom in September. Renowned supergroup Mànran will also bring their electrifying live performance to Hoolie in the Hydro once again. Their innovative blend of traditional and modern instruments and outstanding Gaelic and English songs have won them international acclaim and fans worldwide. Finally, one of the most original and compelling acts in the Scottish music scene, Beluga Lagoon has also been announced as part of the bill. The musical project of Andrew O'Donnell, a wildlife cameraman and filmmaker, Beluga Lagoon's music encapsulates the beauty of the Scottish landscape and expresses the essence of Scotland's natural wonders. Hoolie in the Hydro was born out of an ambition to bring Scotland's own music to its biggest stage, and share the genre-bending diversity and electric atmosphere of live contemporary traditional music with the world. Earlier this month, the concept travelled across the Atlantic with the inaugural and hugely successful Hoolie in New York, which saw Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean and other Scottish stars take over one of the most prestigious music venues in the world, Carnegie Hall. Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin will take place on Saturday December 13, 2025. Tickets are on sale now at
