Saltfishforty Big Band & Special Guests

Saltfishforty play the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday 30 January, part of the Celtic Connections festival. The duo — Douglas Montgomery and Brian Cromarty — are usually a two-piece, but for this one-off festival celebration they're expanding their sound, joined by a specially assembled big band and a range of guest performers. Polenta will also be on the bill.

If you've heard them before, you'll know the core of what they do: folk music that draws on Orkney's traditional heritage, mixed with original songs and inventive arrangements. They've built a reputation for balancing raw energy with warmth and nuance, moving from lively dance tunes to the quieter, more reflective moments that evoke the landscapes, stories and communities of the islands. It's a sound that works just as well in a small room as it does on a larger stage.

For this particular night, they're scaling that up. The big band brings a different kind of weight to the mix, with soaring fiddle and viola melodies and driving rhythms amplified by the power and colour of a larger ensemble. It's billed as a winter showcase of the duo, and since it's a one-off, it's a bit of a departure from their usual format. The evening forms part of the Celtic Connections festival, which runs across the city throughout January.

It starts at 7:30 PM at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3NY. Entry is free.