bands for festivals abroad in 2008. The 2008 festival opened with the Common Ground concert where many of the artists taking part in the event performed together. Donald Shaw, artistic director of the festival, spoke about the future of Celtic Connections as well as the 1,000+ acts and 300+ events taking place in 2008 exclusively online. By 2020 the festival included over 300 events spread over 29 venues, and reported attendance of 130,000, with a maximum daily capacity of 25,000. Shaw announced in February 2018 that he would be stepping aside as festival director, to be succeeded by Jade Hewat and a number of guest directors. He would remain as a "creative producer" responsible for special projects and one-off shows. By October 2020 Shaw, under his new title, remained the spokesperson for the festival. Artists Artists who have appeared at the festival in the past include Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion, Waiora, Julie Fowlis, Joan Baez, Bob Geldof, Clannad, Capercaillie, Luar na Lubre, Kate Rusby, Sinéad O'Connor, Alison Krauss, Shane MacGowan, Runrig, Eddi Reader, Evelyn Glennie, Carlos Núñez, James Grant, Dougie MacLean, Billy Bragg, Blazin' Fiddles, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Mariza, Seth Lakeman, The Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band, k.d. lang, Steve Earle, Idlewild, Teenage Fanclub, Snow Patrol, Bert Jansch and Bernard Butler, Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal, Malinky, Fran Healy, Alan Stivell, Alison Brown, Anna Coogan and many more. In 2014 they included Mary Chapin Carpenter & Barbara Dickson Bobby Womack and Del Amitri with for the first time performances in the new 12,000-seat Hydro Arena. In 2016, Rhiannon Giddens and The Milk Carton Kids performed. Venues The focal point of the festival is the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where performances take place in every space, from workshops in the foyers, to performances by world-class artists in the Main Auditorium. The Old Fruitmarket, City Halls, Barrowland Ballroom, Tron Theatre, Mitchell Theatre, National Piping Centre, Tramway, the Mackintosh Church, St Luke's and Òran Mór also regularly host Celtic Connections concerts. In the past, Celtic Connections events have taken place in the O2 ABC, the Classic Grand, the Tall Ship, The Arches and Glasgow Cathedral. Regular features Transatlantic Sessions Transatlantic Sessions was originally made for TV, the first series being broadcast in 1995. The concept was a set of traditional musicians from the USA, UK and Ireland being put together in a country retreat to make music, directed by Aly Bain and Jerry