DKOS Artists Saturday 31st January :- Mark Shears hailing from Glasgow. – Daria Kulesh hailing from Kings Langley – Ritchie Remo from Derry in Northern Ireland – Magnus & Jack Tait Westwell hailing from Helensburgh and Grúpa Beag from Northern Ireland……
MARK SHEARS
Marks music captures the spirit of traditional folk and topical songs and brings it into a modern context. His songs are often inspired by the turbulent events of today and are written with the intent to plant the seeds of change in those who choose to listen. He also use his music as a means to reflect on his own experiences in life, taking inspiration from his upbringing in the traditional music scene in Fife combined with his fascination with American folk songs, particularly that of the 1960s revival. He finds joy in meeting and playing with other musicians and collecting songs in the process and has recently moved to Glasgow in pursuit of this
DARIA KULESH
Daria Kulesh – “the voice of fairytales” – has been described by Mike Harding as “one of the finest voices and one of the most intriguing and interesting songwriters on the present folk scene”. Her debut release Eternal Child was described as “phenomenal” and her second album Long Lost Home has enjoyed rave reviews and multiple awards, including LCM Album of the Year. Her third offering Earthly Delights was named “one of the year’s finest albums” by Folk Radio UK, and her latest album MotherLand has been described as “astonishing” and “near perfect” by Liverpool Sound and Vision and “one of the albums of 2025” in a 5-star review by RnR Magazine. Recently, it’s been awarded Album of the Year by Celtic Music Radio.
Daria has toured extensively in the UK and Europe, sharing stories and songs that are deeply personal but feel universal and timeless. Every performance is an “emotional, compelling and uplifting experience”, leaving the audiences “completely spellbound”. Born in Russia but based in the UK for the last 15 years, she fearlessly explores her heritage and turbulent family history in Ingushetia (North Caucasus) with songs that “aren’t just sung, but lived” (FATEA).
RITCHIE REMO
With a new album on the horizon, Ritchie Remo is breathing fresh life into Irish country and folk music. His latest single, ‘Streets of London’, reimagines the classic folk anthem with heartfelt emotion, driving rhythms, and soaring fiddle lines. Blending his signature Country-Celtic fusion with one of the UK’s most beloved songs, Ritchie brings a fresh perspective and raw Irish spirit to this timeless tale of humanity and resilience. Already making waves for its bold and moving energy, Streets of London marks a powerful step in Ritchie’s evolving sound and the DKOS stage at Celtic Connections will be one of the first live platforms where audiences can experience this exciting new direction.
Originally trained on the fiddle from the age of twenty-six, Ritchie has long balanced deep musical roots with crowd-pleasing showmanship. From chart-topping hits to international tours, he’s built a reputation for connecting with audiences through authenticity, warmth, and high-octane performances. Now, he’s diving deeper into Ireland’s musical heritage, reviving old traditions with a modern twist. “Celtic Connections is the ideal space to launch this next chapter,” Ritchie adds. “There’s something timeless about Irish folk music. It speaks to people across generations and cultures. I want to honour that tradition, but also invite new audiences in.” Ritchie Remo’s appearance at Celtic Connections marks more than just a performance, it’s a heartfelt return to his roots and a bold step forward into a fresh, folk-inspired sound. Don’t miss the chance to see him live on the DKOS Stage this January and be part of the story as it unfolds.
MAGNUS & JACK TAIT WESTWELL
Magnus and Jack Tait Westwell began playing together in Orkney, influenced by the islands’ traditional music scene, and went on to perform together both within Orkney and across Scotland. They have supported Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, performed at National Accordion and Fiddle Club events broadcast on Take the Floor, and played at Jennifer & Hazel Wrigley’s nights at The Reel.
Jack currently works with Glasgow City Council’s CREATE, teaching piano and whole-class strings to primary school pupils across the city. Magnus works independently as a director and artist across contemporary dance, music and live theatre.
Having recently returned to playing together, their music is shaped by both their individual musical experiences and the traditional music of Orkney, the West Highlands, the North East, and Ireland.
GRUPA BEAG
Grüpa Beag is a group of young trad. players from the North- West of Ireland. They have featured regularly in festivals and events in Ireland, North and South, since their formation 18 months ago. Some recent highlights were featuring on the main stage at the acclaimed, international, ‘Mela’ and Halloween festivals in Belfast and Derry respectively.. While yet to feature abroad they had a great gig last summer on Tory Island and would relish the opportunity to travel on a much bigger ferry, this time heading east, to Glasgow to play at the Celtic Connections!
Please remember the DKOS hosted at Celtic Connections is held in the Exhibition Hall at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is still free but is now ticketed>
You can obtain tickets online from 12pm on the day of performance LINK