AcousticMusicScene.com » Celtic Corner

Celtic Music Fills Harvard Square During BCMFest, Jan. 6-7, 2012

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:18:39 +0000

A wide array of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Appalachian and other Celtic and Celtic-inspired music and dance is on tap during Boston’s annual Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest), Jan. 6-7, 2012. The grassroots, musician-run, family-friendly winter Celtic music festival takes place at three venues in Harvard Square that are all within easy walking distance of one another – a change from previous years when not all the events took place in Cambridge. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

Online Voting Runs Through Jan. 12 for 2011 Irish Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:16:05 +0000

Online voting began December 1 and extends until January 12, 2012 on nominees in 18 categories for the fourth annual Irish Music Awards presented by the Independence, Missouri-based Irish Music Association. [To read the article and see the list of nominees, click on the headline.]

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 23-25, 2011

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:52:56 +0000

The 24th annual Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for September 23-25 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature four stages of continuous entertainment. {To read the full article, click on the headline.]

Boston Irish Festival 2011 Set for June 17-19

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:40:48 +0000

Black 47, Enter the Haggis, Joshua tree, The Makem & Spain Brothers, The Prodigals, The Screaming Orphans and Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones are among the artists slated to grace the main stage during the 21st annual Boston Irish Festival. Set for Friday evening June 17 through Sunday evening, June 19, in Canton, Massachusetts, the festival also will feature Irish dancing, films, sports, art, food, an O’Connell Street Marketplace, book readings and sales, genealogy research, and children’s activities. A number of other local and touring artists also will perform during the event. [To view the entire article, click on the headline.]

Quick Q & A with Aoife Clancy

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:07:46 +0000

Irish and contemporary folk music courses through Aoife Clancy’s blood. Clancy, who hails from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary, Ireland and now calls Massachusetts home, is the daughter of Bobby Clancy (of the celebrated Clancy Brothers), with whom she began playing in local pubs as a young teenager. Over the years, Aoife Clancy has shared stages with some of Ireland’s most noted artists, was part of the acclaimed all-female Irish-American group Cherish The Ladies, and has toured extensively as a solo artist. She also collaborates with other artists as part of The Clancy Legacy and The Jammin’ Divas, as well as playing duo shows with Robbie O’Connell. Kathy Sands-Boehmer posed a few questions to Aoife Clancy recently. [To read Kathy's Quick Q & A with Aoife Clancy, click on the headline.]

Irish Echo Names Joe Derrane Trad. Artist of the Year for 2010

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:50:02 +0000

Joe Derrane, a Boston-born button accordionist and composer, has been named top traditional artist of 2010 by the Irish Echo, the largest circulation Irish-American weekly newspaper. He is the first to receive this honor twice since its inception in 1993. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Boston Celtic Music Fest Set for January 7-8, 2011

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:08:22 +0000

A wide array of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Appalachian and other Celtic-inspired music and dance is on tap during the Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest). Boston, Massachusetts’ annual grassroots, musician-run, winter Celtic music festival takes place Jan. 7-8, 2011. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

RUNA Wins a Bevy of Montgomery Bucks Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:30:06 +0000

RUNA, a Celtic vocal and instrumental ensemble from the Philadelphia area, was the top winner in the 2010 Montgomery Bucks Music Awards held Nov. 8 at the Triumph Brewing Company in New Hope, Pennsylvania. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Celtic Classic On Tap for Sept. 24-26 in Bethlehem, PA

Michael Kornfeld — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:21:53 +0000

Throngs of people are expected to converge on Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 24-26, for the 23rd annual Celtic Classic. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage. [To view the article, click on the headline.]

Burning Bridget Cleary is Top Winner in Celtic Radio Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:00:22 +0000

Burning Bridget Cleary, a contemporary Celtic group from southeast Pennsylvania, has won Album of the Year and two other honors in the 2009 Celtic Radio Music Awards. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Irish Music Awards Presented

Michael Kornfeld — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:16:36 +0000

The second annual Irish Music Awards were presented by the Irish Music Association on January 27 at O’Malley’s Pub in Weston, Missouri. Harpist and singer Orla Fallon, formerly of Celtic Woman and Anuna, won awards in all four categories in which she was nominated. Irish folk musician Donal Lunny -- who has been a part of such groups as Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts and Mozaik, played on a number of Christy Moore albums, and has produced albums for other artists -- was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. [To see a complete list of award recipients, click on the headline.]

Nominees Named for Irish Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:19:02 +0000

Online voting continues through January 8 on nominees in 17 categories for the second annual Irish Music Awards presented by the Independence, Missouri-based Irish Music Association. Harpist and singer Orla Fallon is nominated in four categories, while Luka Bloom, Martin Hayes, The High Kings, Van Morrison and The Wolfe Tones each received two nods. [To see the list of nominees, click on the headline.]

Boston Celtic Music Fest Set for Jan. 8-9, 2010

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:33:10 +0000

The annual Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest), now in its seventh year, returns to its roots January 8 and 9 with a “back-to-basics” focus on dyed-in-the-wool core traditions of Celtic music and those who help keep the Boston area’s rich heritage of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and other Celtic music and dance traditions alive. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

KVMR Celtic Festival Takes Place in California, Oct. 3-4

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:04:17 +0000

Strains of “Caledonia” will fill the air in Grass Valley, California, Oct. 3-4, where leading Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean is among the headliners in the 13th Annual Celtic Festival & Marketplace. Produced by and benefiting KVMR Community Radio (89.5 and 101.5FM in Tahoe/Truckee and streaming at www.kvmr.org), the festival takes place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 25-27

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:10:41 +0000

Throngs of people are expected to converge on Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 25-27, for the 22nd annual Celtic Classic. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage. Its six stages of continuous entertainment will feature performances by Albannach, Barley Boys, Barleyjuice, Blackwater, Bua, Burning Bridget Cleary, Fil Campbell, Gaelic Storm (who close out the festival on Sunday night), Ontario’s Glengarry Bhoys, Kane & Beatty, Seamus Kennedy, Malinky, McPeake, Timlin & Kane, Town Pants, and Robert Watt & Charlie Zahm. Other musical attractions during the weekend include The Celtic Classic Invitational Pipe Band Competition and a fiddle competition. Irish and Highland dancers also will take part in the festivities. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Irish Music Festivals On Tap

Michael Kornfeld — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:05:35 +0000

Sounds from the Emerald Isle – including bagpipes, bodhrans, button boxes, fiddles and more -- abound this summer, with a number of Irish music festivals taking place across the U.S. Here’s a glimpse at a few, with web links for a dozen more. [To view the entire article, click on the headline.]

Co-Host of WFUV’s ‘Ceol na nGael’ is a Rose

Michael Kornfeld — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:31:56 +0000

Ashling Colton, a recent Fordham University graduate, who co-hosts Ceol na nGael (“music of the Irish”) on WFUV 90.7 FM in New York, will represent New York in the Rose of Tralee International Festival, in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland late next month. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Music Festivals Set for April in Texas

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:04:43 +0000

Two music festivals of note take place in Texas in April -- the roots and Americana-oriented Old Settler’s Music Festival in Texas Hill Country and the very eclectic Houston International Festival, which spotlights Ireland this year. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Q & A with Matt and Shannon Heaton

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:32:40 +0000

Guitarist-singer Matt Heaton and Irish flute player-singer Shannon Heaton have been playing music together since 1992, although the two did not begin to focus their creative energies on their duo until 2003. Since then, they have released four albums. Their latest is a collection of traditional love songs and tunes entitled Lovers Well. Kathy Sands-Boehmer recently posed questions to Matt and Shannon. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

BCMFest Celebrates Celtic Music and Dance in Boston

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:34:31 +0000

A wide array of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Appalachian and other Celtic-inspired music and dance is on tap during BCMFest, Boston, Massachusettsâ€™ annual grassroots, musician-run, winter Celtic music festival, Jan. 9-10, 2009. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Celtic Music Nights Launched in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:48:21 +0000

Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA), the folks behind the annual Celtic Classic that draws throngs of people to historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania each fall, have partnered with Bethlehem BrewWorks to present a new monthly Celtic Music Nights series. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA in Late September

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:49:13 +0000

Throngs of people are expected to converge on Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26-28, for the 21st annual Celtic Classic. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage. Its six stages of continuous entertainment will feature performances by The Tannahill Weavers, Teada, The Elders, Bodega, Seamus Kennedy, Charlie Zahm, Clandestine, Malinky, Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers, Cantrip, Prydein, Slide, The Town Pants, button accordionists David Munnelly and John Whelan and their bands, as well as Irish and Highland dancers.

[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Ronnie Drew, Founding Member of The Dubliners, 1934-2008

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:33:36 +0000

One of the most recognizable voices in Irish folk music has been quieted. Ronnie Drew, a founding member of The Dubliners, died in a Dublin hospital on August 16, just one month shy of his 74th birthday. The gravelly-voiced folk singer had suffered a long bout with throat cancer. Drew was a pioneering and much revered and loved figure in Irish folk music since helping to form The Dubliners, in 1962. â€œRonnie Drew was an iconic figure in Irish music over the last five decades,â€ said Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen in a prepared statement. â€œWhether as part of The Dubliners or during his solo career, Ronnie will also be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world.â€ [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Irish Festivals Springing Up Across the Northeast, Midwest

Michael Kornfeld — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:35:47 +0000

Several Irish festivals will be taking place in the Northeast and Midwest over the next few weeks. These include the 31st Annual East Durham Irish Festival in New York's Catskill Mountains, May 24-25; the 22nd Annual Gaelic Park Irish Fest outside Chicago, May 23-26; and both the Fairfield County Irish Festival in Trumbull, Connecticut and the 15th Annual Riverfront Irish Festival in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, June 13-15. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

‘Absolutely Irish’ Concert Film Airs on Public TV Stations

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:06:32 +0000

With the St. Patrick's Day season upon us, public television stations across the U.S. are airing Absolutely Irish this month. The 90-minute concert film and documentary features some of the world's leading traditional Irish musicians. Filmed live last April during a concert at the Irish Arts Center in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood by Academy and Emmy Award-winning director Paul Wagner, Absolutely Irish is replete with jigs, reels, airs, ballads, contemporary versions of familiar old tunes, and instrumental jams featuring some fine players -- young and old alike. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Celtic Festivals On Tap in Pennsylvania This Winter

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:27:02 +0000

Pennsylvania can be pretty cold during the wintertime. But there will be plenty of Celtic music to warm your souls. The 16th Annual Greater Philadelphia Mid-Winter Scottish and Irish Music Festival takes place at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Friday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 17; while the 2nd Annual Winter Classic: a Gathering of the Celts is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2 at Lehigh University's Rauch Field House in Bethlehem. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

World Folk Music Association to Pay Tribute to Tommy Makem

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:59:13 +0000

The World Folk Music Associationâ€™s 23rd annual benefit concert is slated for Jan. 19, 2008 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on Northern Virginia Community Collegeâ€™s Alexandria campus. Benefit tickets are priced at $40-$90. Performers will include Liam Clancy, Danny Doyle, Hot Soup!, The Makem & Spain Brothers, Modern Man, Schooner Fare, The Shaw Brothers, Side by Side, Jack Williams, Bethany Yarrow & Rufus Cappadocia, among others. Special tribute will be paid to Tommy Makem, the singer-songwriter widely regarded as the godfather of Irish folk music, who passed away earlier this year. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Boston Area Hosts Annual “Cool” Celtic Fest

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:37:06 +0000

BCMFest, Boston, Massachusettsâ€™ annual grassroots, musician-run, winter Celtic music festival marks its fifth birthday on Jan. 11-12, 2008 with an array of Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton music and dance. More than 100 performers, a mix of established artists and new or emerging acts â€“ including fiddlers, flutists, accordionists, guitarists, singers and other musicians, as well as dancers -- who reside in the Boston area or are active in its Celtic music community will be featured. A tribute to the 1976 release by Paul Brady and Andy Irvine, regarded as one of the landmark albums of the Celtic music revival, and an â€œOpen Stageâ€ for both individuals and bands also are on the docket. A month earlier, a festival sneak preview is slated for Monday night, Dec. 10 at Club Passim in Harvard Square, across the Charles River, in Cambridge. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Austin Celtic Festival on Tap, Nov. 3-4

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:04:05 +0000

Long regarded by many as the â€œLive Music Capital of the World,â€ Austin, Texas plays host to some leading Irish and Scottish musicians next month. The Austin Celtic Festival, billed as â€œthe largest gathering of Celts in central Texas,â€ takes place at Fiesta Gardens on the shores of Town Lake (recently renamed Lady Bird Lake) on Nov. 3 and 4. The rain or shine festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with performances under four covered stages. Among the artists scheduled to perform are Irish music legend Joe Burke, trad. Irish music supergroup Patrick Street (featuring Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, John Carty and Ged Foley), Irish rock â€˜nâ€™ reelers Seven Nations, Jim Malcolm (former lead singer of Scotlandâ€™s Old Blind Dogs), and Gregory Grene (leader of New York-based jig-rockers The Prodigals) with Darren Maloney, Ed Kollar and Andrew Harkins. Regional performers include such touring notables as David Llewellyn and Ed Miller. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Fiddler’s Green Festival Performances Stream Online on BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘Folk Club’ with Colum Sands

Michael Kornfeld — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 03:31:03 +0000

For eight days and seven nights in late July, Rostrevor, a scenic village in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains overlooking Carlingford Lough on Northern Irelandâ€™s County Down Coast, was home to the 21st Annual Fiddlerâ€™s Green International Festival... Upcoming editions of â€œFolk Club,â€ a weekly program on BBC Radio Ulster hosted by Colum Sands, will feature recorded performances from the festival. These include singer Cara Dillon and her band (August 11), former DeDanann fiddler Frankie Gavin and Hibernian Rhapsody (August 18), and Belfast-born singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy (August 25). Streaming on the Web at www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/folk_club, each of the shows will be archived for seven days following the initial broadcast and can be accessed using the BBC Radio Player. Also archived is a performance by The Sands Family, featuring Columâ€™s brother Tommy, from last yearâ€™s festival. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].