Celtfest 2019 — What a Line-Up! Ashley MacIsaac, Anna Ludlow, Mudmen and Many More! - theHumm June 2019
Celtfest 2019 — What a Line-Up! Ashley MacIsaac, Anna Ludlow, Mudmen and Many More! - theHumm June 2019
Each year, Almonte Celtfest attracts thousands of visitors to the Ottawa Valley for three days of Celtic music, dance and history. The celebration was created in 1997 by three young men — Brian O’Connell, Dan O’Connell and Terry Currie — who shared a deep appreciation for their Celtic heritage. Today, more than two decades later, the gathering is one of the best-reputed Celtic festivals in North America.
This year’s event takes place from July 5–7, and things get off to a rollicking start on Friday night with Celt-rockers the Mudmen along with Ottawa’s Les Rats d’Swompe.
Les Rats d’Swompe are a trio of proud French Canadians with a shared passion for traditional violin and the music of yesteryear. Most recently, they were nominated for the Country Music Association of Ontario 2019 Award for Francophone Artist/Group of the Year!
Next up is Canada’s Celtic rock warriors, the Mudmen. With 3,000 performances, nine CDs and six music videos to their credit, the brothers’ initial influences were The Irish Rovers, who gave them their start. That is, until a friend introduced them to AC/DC. Now that sounds like a party!
While Saturday and Sunday are entry-by-donation at the gate, Friday evening is a paid event in Gemmill Park with tickets only $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite, the Celtfest Facebook page, their website almonteceltfest.com , Crooked Mile Brewery and Baker Bob’s.
The music continues all weekend with over a dozen seasoned performers taking the main stage from noon until dusk, including Twin Flames — a powerful husband and wife duo and winners of the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriters of the Year.
Also performing on Saturday is Anna Ludlow. Drawing on the spirit of her working-class Nova Scotian ancestry, Anna fuses traditional Celtic tunes with a modern percussive vibe. Most recently, Anna was the lead fiddler in the hit musical Come From Away at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.
Saturday closes out with the main weekend headliner: Cape Breton’s own world-renowned fiddler Ashley MacIsaac. The name speaks for itself — plainly put, he’s a legend! Bring your dancing shoes and maybe an extra fiddle bow if you’ve got one.
Build Your Skills at Celtic College!
No Celtic music festival would be complete without a Celtic College. At Celtfest, aspiring musicians can register for workshops on Saturday morning from 10–11:30am at the Almonte Town Hall. Intermediate and advanced fiddle players have the opportunity to learn from a true Cape Bretoner, Anna Ludlow. Her students will focus on bowing techniques, ornamentation, ear-training and set-building. The goal is to build a new set in the class and add a “unique-to-you sound”, which is what Anna is all about.
Sweden’s own Silverfura, new to Celtfest this year, will be teaching Swedish tunes and demonstrating the difference between polska, släng-polska and a hambo. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from these amazing international artists.
Also accepting students is Graham Lindsay. Using the D whistle, the workshop will cover basic fingering, breathing and blowing technique, scales and scale exercises, and work on a couple of simple tunes to get you started. Participants will also get a demonstration on playing the Irish flute (bring one if you have one), pointing out not only the differences but also the important similarities between flute and whistle.
For those interested in a guitar workshop, Celtfest College presents Joe Campbell-McArdle. Joe is a guitarist, banjo player, mandolin player and singer and has been an active member of the thriving Irish traditional music scene in Belfast for over ten years. He co-hosts multiple sessions, including a weekly session in the famous Sunflower Bar every Sunday. Among his many musical projects he plays with Lonesome George, a critically acclaimed folk fusion/Irish traditional group who have been touring to showcase their new album of original music in Ireland, the UK and Germany.
And last but not least is Alistair Dennett, one of Prairie Oyster’s original members, conducting a workshop on the bodhrán. Alistair’s students will start from the ground up (literally), learning the fundamentals of keeping time with the foot, tipper (stick) hand technique and incorporating the left (tone) hand. They will explore modern bodhráns and playing styles and how they got this way. The workshop will also cover the basics of “pedaling” with the stick hand, accenting with the tone hand, and how they fit into playing jigs and reels.
The celebrations continue into Sunday with a Fiddle Mass at Holy Name of Mary Parish. The day continues with performances by the Monday Night Fiddlers, Celtic Cross Dancers, and Silverfura. Later in the afternoon, Celtfest guests will enjoy Perth’s own James Keelaghan. James is one of the most distinctive and identifiable voices in the Canadian singer-songwriter community. Closing out the weekend are The Fitzgeralds, Canadian Grandmaster Fiddle and Step Dance champions three times over!
Almonte Celtfest also hosts children’s activities, Celtic sports, craft artisans and much more. Hungry patrons can sample from the many food trucks, and those with a thirst will enjoy the two craft breweries on tap at the bar — Crooked Mile and Perth Brewery. An accessibility tent will be onsite for those needing additional services.
This year is shaping up to be the biggest Celtfest yet, and organizers are proud to bring these amazing artists to Almonte. They hope you will join them and experience all that Celtfest and Almonte have to offer. Don’t forget to take a walk down Mill Street, drop into the amazing shops, grab an ice cream cone, and listen to the many buskers that will be there to entertain you. For more information, visit almonteceltfest.com .
See you in Almonte!
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Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
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May 4 Outskirts
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
May 11 Engelbert Humperdinck & Tom Jones Tribute
May 16 MMLT Talk & AGM
May 24 Birds of a Feather
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
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- Volunteer Forum
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