Friday 26 July 2013

Alistair Brown in Concert - 31 July 2013


From our friend Ian Robb...

I just wanted to let you know that my Friends of Fiddler's Green bandmate, Alistair Brown, will be performing an Ottawa concert on Wednesday July 31st 2013. at the Rosemount Hall, 41 Rosemount Ave., in Ottawa's Hintonburg neighborhood, The concert will start at 7:30 pm, and tickets are $15. The venue is quite small, so advance reservation is advised, and you can do this on line at www.ianrobb.com/tix

Those of you who know Alistair will also know to expect a bunch of grand songs and stories, old and new, by a veteran performer who is a fine singer and concertina player, and one of the best raconteurs and joke tellers on the folk scene. For those who don't know him, here's a bit of background:

Alistair Brown has been singing the old songs, and new songs written by people who like the old songs, since he was fifteen years old. He began his career helping out in the folk clubs of his native Scotland during the great folk scare of the 60s, opening bottles (and occasionally concerts) for many of the great names in folk music. 

From 1972 to 2002, he lived in Canada, where he was active in many aspects of folk song and dance, as a recording artist, radio broadcaster, reviewer, columnist, festival director, dance teacher, university lecturer, and program director at folk music and dance camps. With several visits each year, he continues to make regular appearances in North American folk clubs and festivals, performing solo, or with the Friends of Fiddler's Green, a band which has just celebrated its forty-second anniversary, without maturing in the slightest.

Audiences at concerts and festivals across North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have been entertained and engaged by Alistair's performances, covering the field from big ballads, comic ditties, songs of struggles (usually unsuccessful) against temptation, odes to conviviality and songs of unashamed sentimentality, to outrageously funny stories from a master of the art - all this accompanied by Anglo concertinas and button accordion.
"Little wonder that he enjoys a healthy reputation as a much-in-demand performer... replete with versatility and good humour - a true folk entertainer"
... Living Tradition Magazine
"He held our discerning audience in the palm of his hand whilst singing two sets of songs from the folk club tradition, beautifully accompanied on concertina and introduced with humour and authority. He would be welcome back here anytime"
... Roger Giles, Devonport Folk Music Club, NZ

nb: this concert will not be licensed, but there are plenty of places to have a beer in the neighborhood afterwards.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you there!
 

Celtic Cross Dancers fundraiser Pub Night - 27 July 2013


The Celtic Cross dancers will be hosting a fundraiser pub night on July 27th. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from myself (Erin: emcconn2@gmail.com). For the price of the ticket you receive admission, food, live music and dancing! There will be games, a silent auction and raffles. The event is taking place at the Montgomery legion (330 Kent Street). Doors open at 7:30 pm. If you have any questions or would like to reserve a ticket to be paid for either in advance or at the door, please contact me. A more detailed summary is included, below.

The Katharine Robinson School of Highland Dance and Celtic Cross Dance Troupe are going to SCOTLAND! We have been invited by the Sons of Scotland Pipe band to perform at Balmoral Castle for the Queen!

We are hoping you will come out to our Pub Night and support us on this journey across the pond!

For just $15/person, you will get:

Entertainment by Celtic Cross Dance Troupe, Occasional Pudding, and Beth Bisaillon!
A veritable feast of food provided by the dancers!
A chance to win some awesome door prizes!

There will also be:

A silent auction
50/50 draw
Games
A cash bar
Guaranteed fun all night long!

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Come Fly Away At 17th Almonte Celtfest - THIS WEEKEND!


The 17th Almonte Celtfest, July 5-7, celebrates the music, song and dance traditions of the Ottawa-Ottawa Valley region. 

Celtfest 2013 is thrilled to have Westjet offer 2 tickets to anywhere the airline flies to as the main prize offering for the Celtfest fundraising raffle. Limited to 2000 tickets at $10 per ticket, your purchase will make you a proud supporter of Celtfest and could take you to Hawaii, the Caribbean, or anywhere in the US and Canada.

Celtfest welcomes the return of The Town Pants as main stage headliners for this year’s festival. With over a decade worth of headlining Roots and Celtic festivals The Town Pants own brand of Celtic-Roots-Rock-Rebel spans six albums, and with a legendary live show that’s garnered them fans internationally from New York to Norway.

Celtfest commences on Friday night with music in area pubs. On Saturday, July 6th, Celtfest Instrument Workshops with excellent instructors are at the Almonte Old Town Hall from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, and these feature: Fundamental Fiddle with Don Fletcher, Piano Accompaniment with Jake Butineau, Basic Bodhran with Art Solomonian, Mandolin & Tenor Banjo, with Bruce Barton, Celtic Harp with Heather Flinn, Intermediate Fiddle with Cindy Thompson, Tin Whistle & Flute with Graham Lindsey, Intermediate Bodhran with Alistair Dennett, Guitar Accompaniment with Ben Deschamps. Fee is $20 per workshop (or $30 for two).

A Celtfest Special Storytelling Event at the Almonte Public Library features “The Tales of King Arthur” - a show of story and song for children and their parents presented by Heather Dale and Ben Deschamps on Saturday July 6th at 11 am, Admission is free.

A Storytelling Workshop follows at the Library at noon with Heather Dale ( 10 per adult plus $2 for each additional family member).

The great Valley MC’s Reg Gamble and Charlie Kitts host Gemmill Park’s Main Stage events on Saturday from 2:00 pm until dusk with The Barley Shakers, Dai Bassett, Corkery Road, Sarah Burnell Band, Heather Dale, Cindy Thompson and The Town Pants  

Celtfest Sunday Main Stage festival commences at Noon in Gemmill Park and extends to 6pm with the Monday Night Fiddlers, Celtic Cross Dancers, and return sets by Sarah Burnell Band, Heather Dale, Cindy Thompson and The Town Pants.  

Almonte’s downtown shops, restaurants and The Riverwalk are great complements to the activities in Gemmill Park. The Celtfest site features Artisans, children’s activities and an open “jam” session tent for all who bring instruments

There is a great variety of food and beverages for all. Come and celebrate the “unofficial” kick-off to summer in the Ottawa Valley. For more info see www.almonteceltfest.com .