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Glasgow’s Hoolie In The Hydro Honors Billy Connolly This Weekend With Martin Compston Co-Hosting

The salute highlights the Big Yin’s cultural imprint during his long fight with Parkinson’s.

Overview

  • Organisers say the annual traditional-music showcase will honour his “immeasurable” contribution to Scottish culture on Saturday in Glasgow.
  • Co-host Martin Compston called Connolly “incredibly brave” in living with Parkinson’s and said he keeps “cracking jokes that only Billy can.”
  • The bill features Elephant Sessions, Trail West, Mànran and Beluga Lagoon, with appearances by Elaine C Smith and Still Game actor Gavin Mitchell.
  • Murals of Connolly have become fixtures on Glasgow tenements, reflecting sustained public affection for the Big Yin.
  • Connolly, 83, disclosed in his book that his prostate cancer was successfully treated and that his Parkinson’s “just rumbles along” after his 2013 diagnosis and 2018 retirement.