| Passionate pipers and fine fiddlers join record number of acts from around the globe for winter’s hottest party |
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May 26th, 2010
The mercury might be dropping but things are warming up down in Portarlington as the beautiful seaside town prepares to host this country’s hottest winter craic, the National Celtic Festival 2010. Held over the long-weekend, June 11-14, the National Celtic Festival is Australia’s biggest celebration of Celtic music and culture, in all its wonderful diversity. The usually quiet hamlet of Portarlington – nestled between the Bellarine Peninsula’s renowned vineyards and the famous mussel farms of Corio Bay – will come to life with the music, dance, laughter and passion of the Celtic spirit. This year festival-goers will enjoy a bumper program – the largest in the festival’s history – including full-scale concerts, intimate jam sessions, special events, competitions and workshops beginning on Friday night and running right through until Monday afternoon. Hundreds of performers from over 60 individual acts will represent the cream of Celtic musicians, singers, poets, dancers and storytellers from across Australia and around the world. Festival director Una McAlinden says she’s proud to be assembling the biggest collection of Celtic culture in the land, which is an enormous but exciting task. “This year is going to be massive. We’re busy putting together the biggest program we’ve ever had,” Ms McAlinden says. “There’s going to be more acts and more fantastic venues operating for longer as we cater to our ever-growing audience.” Heading the line-up of international talent is hot young Irish group Beoga, as part of its Aussie debut tour; one of the world’s best loved singer/songwriters Eric Bogle is returning to the National Celtic Festival by popular demand; award-winning solo artist John Spillane (Ireland), rebel singer/songwriter Gary Óg (Scotland) and, fresh from the dark heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar district, The Craic Hooers (Ireland). While the Australian contingent will include the ever-popular Bushwackers, the traditional sounds of Conundrum, The Borderers, Fiddler’s Feast, The Go Set, Pearl, The Rumjacks, Cornerbrook, Bhan Tre and much more. “Our program includes a record number of young performers this year,” says Ms McAlinden. “We are passionate about supporting emerging younger artists so we feature lots of Celtic bands with crossover styles.” The festival’s many heated venues are all within easy walking distance and include The Ol' Duke, Celtic Club, Wine Bar and Parks Hall. There are also various intimate spaces around the town including some of Portarlington’s historic churches and, for the first time, a variety of acts will be performing on the tall ship Enterprize as it sets sail across the bay. Another exciting element of the program this year will be a series of instrument-themed concerts. Harpists from across the program will gather together for “Pulling on my harp strings”; while fiddle players, pipers and singers will also join forces for these unique concerts. Mostly made up of young virtuoso musicians, each promises to be both an informative and magical musical experience. “The concerts will be hosted by some of the festival’s best known musicians and singers. They will be chatting to the players throughout the performance so it will be wonderfully up-close-and-personal for the audience,” Ms McAlinden says. On Saturday the lightening fast fingers of the greatest fiddle players in Celtic music will be on show at the festival’s own Golden Fiddle Awards. This will be the first time the competition has been held outside its home in Tamworth, New South Wales and 2010 award-winner Catherine Fraser will be performing with her band. Fans of Scottish pipes bands will be in heaven on Sunday as pipers and drummers in full Scottish regalia gather from across the country to perform en masse in what is sure to be an awesome spectacle. Followed by expertly run workshops, competitions and a finale provided by the lords of Celtic rock Claymore. As always the National Celtic Festival features a large workshop program offering expert tuition in all manner of Celtic pursuits including learning musical instruments, Gaelic language, dancing and more – all included in the ticket price. There’s plenty of free entertainment too, with performances across the weekend on the Village stage; all the fun of the traditional ceili dance party; and the bigger-than-ever Celtic market bursting with trinkets, treasures, curious crafts and delicious foods. Then top it all off with a Haggis Burger from our Celtic butcher. For phone bookings call GPAC (03) 5225 1200. For online bookings, further information, or to view the program click here  |
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