Officials were forced to cancel the opening night gig

They brought the curtain down on the performance after confirming that headline act, Galician piper Carlos Nunez, had cancelled his appearance.

It followed the decision by Catalan theatre company La Fura del Baus to pull out.

However, events at the other Glasgow venues were due to go ahead as planned.

Organisers - who had tried to find special guests to join Mr Nunez - insisted the opening night disappointment would not affect the rest of the festival, which celebrates music from around the world.

A torchlight procession to mark the start of the annual folk extravaganza - Britain's largest winter music festival - was due to go ahead as planned.

As many as 1,000 musicians will perform at venues across the city, including Richard Thompson, Steeleye Span, The Waterboys and Roddy Frame.

Now in its 13th year, the festival has grown from a small event to fill the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's winter programme to one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world.

There are now 12 venues hosting over 200 events, from a new folk club to a Victorian Fruitmarket, part of the refurbished city halls complex.