THE countdown is on for the world-renowned winter festival Celtic Connections.

And this year indie legend and former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is joining the line-up.

The eclectic 18 day programme opens next month.

The festival includes some of the best-known musicians in traditional and roots music, world, indie, jazz, folk, soul and Americana.

More than 2000 musicians from every corner of the globe will come to Glasgow between Thursday January 15 and Sunday February 1, 2015.

The festival will take place in 17 venues right across the city and tickets are selling fast

Jarvis Cocker will be on the bill along with Karine Polwart and Eliza Carthy in a night celebrating Ewan MacColl.

The event on January 25 is being curated by his sons Calum and Neill.

Meanwhile, Carlos Núñez returns with a brand new commission, The Atlantic Corridor, and will be joined by a host of special guests.

Québécois quartet Le Vent du Nord will be joined by an array of guests including Emily Smith, Julie Fowlis, Sharon Shannon, Patsy Reid, Megan Henderson and Christine Hanson.

Southern, a brother and sister duo from Belfast, will be supporting Hudson Taylor in Oran Mor on January 31.

BC Camplight will be supporting Tucson-based collective Calexico in the Old Fruitmarket on February 1.

Dunblane born troubadour Aaron Fyfe is a 26 year-old singer-songwriter (and skateboarder-surfer). He will be supporting Diana Jones in the Glasgow Art Club on 28th January.

Irish rockers The Riptide Movement will be supporting Hayseed Dixie at the O2 ABC on 30th January.

Changes to the Programme

An extra date has been added for sold out show Frances Black & Kieran Goss's Reunion. There will be an additional concert on Monday 26th January in the Strathclyde Suite in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

There has also been a second night added for the sold out The Crew of the Puffer present Para Handy "A Highland Voyage" on Sunday 19th January in St Andrews in the Square.

Due to fantastic demand Justin Townes Earle and Lindsey Black will now be appearing in the O2 ABC on Saturday 17th January in order to allow more people to buy tickets.

Due to unforeseen circumstances The Idiot at the Wall will no longer be performed at the Tron on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th January.

Chastity Brown and Dean Owens & the Whisky Hearts will now be performing at Oran Mor on Saturday 17th January.

Homegrown Talent

Originally commissioned to mark 700 years since the Battle of Bannockburn, the epic creation by revered Highland piper and Gaelic scholar Allan MacDonald, The Bruce 700, features a cast of some 50 musicians, on pipes, strings, brass, vocals and percussion. Combining his wealth of historical knowledge with grand contemporary flair, the music, on which MacDonald collaborated with cellist and arranger Neil Johnstone, vividly and movingly evokes the sounds, action and emotions of battle.

Performers include Angus MacDonald, Iain MacDonald, Aidan O'Rourke, Lori Watson, Innes Watson, Christine Hanson, Fraser Fifield, Dick Lee, Duncan Lyall, Mary Macmaster, Donald Hay, Daniel Thorpe, Griogair Labhruidh, Kathleen MacInnes and Rod Paterson, together with Stirling youth music groups.

ENDS