Start 2023 as you mean to go on by exploring some incredible music, theatre and exhibitions this month. Whether you’ve resolved to explore something new this year or want the chance to revisit old favourites, our list of recommendations is here to inspire you as you kick off a new year of culture.

Celtic Connections

Celtic Connections is Glasgow’s annual festival of folk, roots and world music, curated to celebrated Glasgow’s connections to global cultures. In 2023, it's celebrates its 30th anniversary with over 300 events at venues across the city . We’ve picked out a few of the gigs that we're most excited for below, but you can explore the full programme on their website.

30th Anniversary Concert

This milestone year opens with a celebratory gala bringing together the festival’s history with its future. It'll feature an incredible line up of artists who have been instrumental to the festival’s success over the past three decades, alongside emerging talent from the folk scene. Among the artists is International Festival favourite Karine Polwart, a singer-songwriter with deep knowledge and understanding of the folk tradition. She'll be joined by artists including Sierra Hull, Basco and Peat & Diesel, all accompanied by a live band of musicians assembled specifically for this performance.

Celtic Connections 30th Anniversary Concert takes place on 19 January at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Talisk and Project Smok

Two of Scotland’s most exciting trad music trios come together for one spectacular concert. Talisk made their International Festival debut in 2021, appearing both live at the Old College Quad and as part of our At Home season, delivering a fiery performance that had even a socially distanced, seated audience dancing in their chairs. Each member of the band also regularly performs as a soloist, but come together to create a powerhouse of contemporary traditional music.

Project Smok have risen to fame in the trad music scene over the last five years since winning ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’ at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2018. They're also known for their genre-pushing approach, taking the traditional sounds of piping, bodhran and guitar and using their unique production style to create something new.

With this exciting collaboration taking place in SWG3’s warehouse space, more often used for club nights, the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

Talisk and Project Smok perform on Friday 20 January at SWG3, Glasgow.

Workshop: Waulking Songs with Joy Dunlop

Waulking is the final stage of homespun tweed production, and waulking songs were the songs traditionally sung by the women and girls while doing this work. These songs have been passed down through the generations and have influenced many contemporary artists including Sian, who performed the traditional waulking song ‘Na Gamhna Geala' as part of our 2021 At Home programme.

This workshop, led by award-winning Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop, gives you the opportunity to hear more about the tradition as well as learning some of the music yourself. It also takes place in the stunning setting of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, so you can make a day of it and explore some of the art, or treat yourself to something from the café while you’re there.

The workshop takes place on 21 January at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Lament for Sheku Bayoh by National Theatre of Scotland

Originally performed at the 2019 International Festival, the National Theatre of Scotland’s Lament for Sheku Bayoh is coming to cinemas this January. Written and directed by Edinburgh Makar Hannah Lavery, who wrote and performed ‘Edinburgh is a Story’ as part of our 2022 At Home programme, the play is an unapologetic exploration of racism in Scotland today.

The play was written in response to the tragic death of Sheku Bayoh, a 31-year old Black man who died in police custody in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Bayoh’s family launched a campaign for justice, prompting an inquiry into whether Bayoh’s race had played a part in his death. The intimate production, featuring a cast of three actors and a musician, creates a poignant, powerful performance, demanding the audience to engage with the question of whether Scotland is a safe place.

Each screening is followed by a Q+A with Aamer Anwar and Hannah Lavery, so you can go behind the scenes of the creative process.

Lament for Sheku Bayoh is being screened on 17 January at Kino Cinema, Leven and 24 January at Cameo Picturehouse, Edinburgh.

Burns at the Edinburgh Playhouse

If you enjoyed Alan Cumming’s dance-theatre tale of Robert Burns in our 2022 Festival, you can continue to explore the Bard’s life in this new production at the Playhouse. Originally conceived by the film producer David Gest in 1993, the musical has been given new life through a collaboration with Scottish composer Tish Tindall.

The musical explores the lesser-known sides of Burns, with his fame shining a light on the darker elements of his personality. The production features an all-female cast, except for Burns himself, with composer Tish Tindall as the narrator. Travelling from Hollywood to Scotland, this is your chance to see a musical that has been 30 years in the making.

Burns is being performed from 20–21 January at Edinburgh Playhouse.

Turner in January at the National Galleries of Scotland

Scotland is home to one of the largest and most varied collections of Turner’s artworks in the world, donated by art collector Henry Vaughan. Vaughan divided his impressive personal collection of Turner's art between Scotland, Ireland and England, with each selection representing the variety of Turner’s work. In his will, Vaughan stated that the works must be displayed ‘free of charge during the month of January in every year…. and no longer time in every year’. January was chosen because this is when natural light is at its lowest, therefore preserving the brightness of Turner’s watercolours.

The collection has been exhibited at the National Gallery almost every year for over a century, with 2021 as the only exception, forming a uniquely Scottish January tradition. Thanks to Vaughan’s exacting stipulations, the watercolours have maintained their gloriously colourful nature, making this the perfect exhibition to brighten up dark January days.

Turner in January is on from 1–31 January at the Royal Scottish Academy.

Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Beethoven’s final piano concerto, nicknamed the 'Emperor Concerto’ for reasons that remain mysterious, is also regarded to be one of his best. The concerto denotes Beethoven’s distinctive ability for creating range within his pieces, with the striking opening and finale sandwiching a serene, hymn-like adagio.

Pianist Francesco Piemontesi brings this piece to life with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by longstanding friend of the Festival Thomas Søndergård. Alongside the concerto, the concert will feature new music from the winner of the 2021:22 Composer’s Hub and Brahms' epic final symphony.

Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto is on 27 January at Usher Hall, Edinburgh and 28 January at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow.You can also watch it online.

What are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? Let us know on social media using the hashtag #EdIntFest.