Scotland’s biggest night of traditional music Hoolie in the Hydro will celebrate Glasgow comedy and folk music legend Sir Billy Connolly in larger-than-life style later this year, it has been announced.
Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin will take place in the city’s biggest venue, the OVO Hydro, on Saturday 13th December, as a ‘windswept and interesting’ cast of musicians pay tribute to Billy, his humour and his love and affinity for folk music.
The Billy Connolly Tribute will form the finale of the spectacular night and audiences can expect stand-out 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.
Once organiser and Scottish cultural luminary 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.
Hoolie in the Hydro organiser, broadcaster and musician Gary 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 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 has quickly become known as the world’s biggest ceilidh and will once again also feature a stellar line up from across Scotland’s vibrant folk and traditional music scene.
The sensational 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.
Explosive six-piece Trail West will also take to the stage, having played the event’s debut edition in 2022.With 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. The band’s dynamic fusion of folk-rock elements makes them a perennial favourite within the ever-evolving Scottish music scene.
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 13th December 2025 and tickets are on sale now at www.ovohydro.com/events/detail/hoolie-in-the-hydro-2025
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