The torch lit procession filled Glasgow's Buchanan Street

Celtic Connections was launched by Lord Provost Liz Cameron, who led two pipe bands and scores of people from George Square to Buchanan Street.

Festival organisers revealed 67,000 tickets have been sold to date.

The opening gig featured a performance of the tsunami benefit album Hands Across the Water.

Prior to the gig, at the Royal Concert Hall, scores of people gathered in George Square.

They were led through the centre of Glasgow by Ms Cameron and the Scottish Power and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Pipe Bands.

Children, from Parkview Primary School, in Summerston, Glasgow, also took part in the parade.

Benefit gig

Ms Cameron told the BBC Scotland news website: "I'm proud this is the 14th festival, we have a huge series of concerts.

"Celtic Connections provides a real economic boost to the city. It is fabulous because it is a culturally open and inclusive event.

"We welcome everyone from across the Celtic world."

Organisers announced record ticket sales and said the success of Celtic Connections was down to its varied programme.

Have your say: Celtic Connections

A "mini-festival" of Americana and Celtic music opened the 19-day event.

Artists performed, for the first time on stage, the Hands Across the Water album.

The benefit album has made $25,000 (�12,700) for children's charities in areas affected by the tsunami.

It was the brainchild of American singer and fiddler Andrea Zonn, who opened the event with Nashville songwriter and bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale with Standing Still.

Ms Zonn said the event brought together the whole family and people had been picking their jaws up off the floor during rehearsals.

Highlights on the night included an energetic and innovative performance by Irish American group Solus who raised the bar with Gossip.

Original songwriting

Concert-goers were told Beth Neilson Chapman was always there "whenever there was a need" and her soaring voice filled the hall.

Mary McCabe and Willie Douglas, both from Glasgow, said they enjoyed the variety offered by the opening concert.

"We like a lot of vocals, not instrumentals. There was strong and original songwriting.

Brian Innes, 47, from Glasgow, described the opening event as "bitsy".

On Thursday, Mary Chapin Carpenter takes to the stage at the Royal Concert Hall in her first Scottish appearance in five years.

And at St Andrew's in the Square, a tribute to Glaswegian poet and performer Matt McGinn is sold out.