Our friends in the UK are in for a treat soon, as the Transatlantic Sessions present the sounds of great music created by acoustic musicians from both sides of the pond.

The Transatlantic Sessions are put together by the Celtic Connections festival, but this year many of the musicians will briefly tour the British Isles, performing four dates in England and one in Ireland, in addition to the two consecutive nights of performance in Scotland at the Celtic Connections festival.

This upcoming run of the Transatlantic Sessions will feature a stellar cast of Bluegrass and Americana stars from here in America, along with some fine Celtic singers and musicians from the UK.

In an array of at least eight outstanding singers, at least half will also be joining in on the tunes – Nickel Creek vocalist/fiddler Sara Watkins; O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack star Dan Tyminski (aka the voice of George Clooney), on guitar and mandolin; Bruce Molsky (fiddle) and festival favourite Tim O’Brien returns – this time with one of Americana’s greatest interpreters – his sister Mollie, for her debut Transatlantic appearance. Further gracing the song department will be three of the most sublime female voices, between them spanning a rich and varied spectrum of traditional and contemporary styles: Scotland’s Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson (Capercaillie) alongside Ireland’s Cara Dillon.

On the instrumental side, expect bravura solos, jaw-dropping ensemble medleys and gorgeous song accompaniment from a mouthwatering house-band line up including such familiar – and formidable – figures as Danny Thompson, Darrell Scott, John Doyle, Russ Barenberg, Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick and James Mackintosh, plus joint musical directors Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas.

Bruce Molsky has all the dates on his tour schedule with links to various venues for ticket purchases.