Upcoming Traditional
Celtic Music Events

Golden Bough Bay Area trio Golden Bough brings a fresh feel and expert hand to the haunting ballads, beautiful airs, and lively songs of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, and Galicia. Tonight, Paul Espinoza, Margie Butler, and Kathy Sierra invite you to help celebrate the release of their new CD, Celtic Love Songs, a collection of favorite and rare love songs from the Celtic lands.  Golden Bough have made a name for themselves with their pristine harmonies backed by Celtic harp, pennywhistle, violin, guitar, accordion, mandolin, and bodhrán. Since their formation in 1980, the trio has traveled throughout the world and released 13 albums of traditional pieces and original compositions.

Campbell Highland Games Consolation Celtic Concert The Highland Games cannot be held in 2009 so there’ll be a big ol’ party with a no-host bar instead. Featured performers include accordionist Gary Innes direct from Scotland & a pair of transplanted Scots that can send you into transports of joy, fiddler John Taylor & singer/songwriter Peter Daldry and Bay Area band Hamewith..

Grammy-winning guitarist William Coulter, double-reeds, harp & flute player Shelley Phillips, cellist Barry Phillips & strings sensation from the ensemble Ancient Future as well as  Matthew Montfort

The esteemed English singer, songwriter & guitarist Richard Thompson will be giving a rare solo concert.

Old Blind Dogs   a Midsummer Night’s dream of a Celtic music concert by Scotland’s premiere traditional ensemble Old Blind Dogs with an opening set by Scots singer& songwriter Peter Daldry, accompanied by Christopher Scott Cooper on guitars & Tony Bishop on whistles Since forming in the early 1990’s, Old Blind Dogs have stood at the cutting edge of Scotland’s roots revival as the Top Dogs of traditional Scottish music. The brilliant band, winners of the prestigious Scots Trad Music Awards as ‘Folk Band of the Year’ in 2004 & 2007, has developed its own trademark style of an energetic mix songs & tunes featuring soaring fiddle & pipes, pulsating percussion & vibrant vocals. The Dogs, now 16 years old (112 in dog years), have released over 10 CDs but it is the impassioned frenzy of their ‘live’ shows that has won the Dogs such worldwide acclaim. Among the numerous critical ravings are the doggerel from The Scotsman, ‘ Old Blind Dogs play with a compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm as players and audience seem to share a wild ecstasy of emotion,’ & from Montreal Gazette, ‘A Scots neo-traditional super group with a bracingly modern musical attack.’ The Dogs will be proudly showing off their youngest pup, newest member, the hot, young piper Ali Hutton who joins the lustrous litter of original member & one of Scotland’s finest fiddlers & singer Jonny Hardie, Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ in 2005 Aaron Jones on guitar, bouzouki, mandolin & vocals & can’t-be-beat percussionist Fraser Stone. Ali is Border piper & whistle player right up The Dogs’ alley who is sure to add to the richness of their mongrel hoard. Hutton worked his way up through the ranks of the noteworthy Vale of Atholl Pipe band where he received tuition & guidance from the late Scots piping great Gordon Duncan, been a member of the traditional band Back of the Moon & performed also with The Dougie MacLean band & Capercaillie. How well Ali fits in is revealed in a concert review from earlier this year at Celtic Connections in Glasgow by Scotland’s Sunday Herald, ‘The Dogs turned in a stoater of a gig. Aaron Jones was in magnificent voice, while the fiddle/pipes chemistry between Jonny Hardie & new recruit Ali Hutton, fuelled by Fraser Stone’s agile percussion, was positively sizzling.’ We’re delighted to open the concert with a set by singer, songwriter, guitarist, bouzouki & mandolin player Peter Daldry. Originally from the town of Clydebank, 8 miles west of Glasgow, Peter’s residence in this area, coupled with the clarion quality of his vocals, has served to make him the singer of choice at Bay Area Scottish events, including Highland Games & Burns Suppers. With a voice brimming over with passion & power, Peter sings older traditional songs along with some striking self-penned material culled from the history & his memories of his hometown. Peter’s original songs are showcased on his new CD, ‘Familiar Roads,’ which should greatly enhance Peter’s ever-growing stature.

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay proudly present an evening of Scottish songs & instrumentals by two of Scotland’s finest musical exports, singer & guitarist Ed Miller & fiddler John Taylor  Hailed in Dirty Linen as ‘one of the best singers to emerge from the Scottish folk revival,’ Ed Miller is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Scottish folk songs, from ancient ballads, through Burns’ songs to covers of compelling contemporary compositions. Blessed with, in the words of The Scotsman, ‘the kind of voice that many a Scots singer must envy – firm, warm and springing from the soul,’ the Edinburgh-born, Austin, Texas resident Miller has released eight acclaimed CDs, including his latest gem, ‘Lyrics of Gold,’ an all-Burns affair, released as part of the worldwide celebrations this year noting the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet’s birth. Fine as Ed’s recordings are, they cannot capture the charismatic magnetism of his stage presence, easy audience rapport, wealth of beguiling stories & wry humor that combine to make his concerts such memorable events. Ed will be joined in concert, as he often is on his recordings, by John Taylor from the music-rich northeast of Scotland, now living in San Jose & a staple at Bay Area Scottish events. A walking encyclopedia of tunes, John’s reputation as one of Scotland’s finest fiddlers has soared since the release of his two latest recordings, ‘After the Dance’ and ‘The Road Ahead,’ both produced by Brian McNeill. It just doesn’t get much better, hearing two friends in an intimate, friendly setting, doing what they love most to do, making glorious music together.  .

42nd Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival . Featured are Athletics, Pipe band competitions, music by Ken O’Malley & the Twilight Lords, Molly’s Revenge and Ed Miller & John Taylor, Highland & Irish Step dancing, Sheepdog herding, Scottish & British food & drink, Celtic crafts & clan tents.  

Freight Fiddle Summit w/ Alasdair Fraser, Liz Carroll, & Darol Anger $22.50/$23.50

Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School concert - Under the direction of Alasdair Fraser, this year’s concert will feature fiddler Darol Anger, fiddler Liz Carroll, guitarist John Doyle, cellist Natalie Haas, and many other talented performers.

One of Ireland’s all-time best traditional band, Dervish,  After far too long an absence, the sizzling sextet from Co. Sligo, Dervish, makes an eagerly-awaited return to Santa Cruz, celebrating the release of their tenth CD, ‘Travelling Show.’ Dervish’s latest gem seems destined to join their earlier recordings as an ‘Album of the Year’ winner, receiving reviews from Hot Press as ‘moody, soulful and epic’ and The Irish Mail proclaiming ‘Dervish are at their best.’ Dervish has long stood at the very forefront of traditional Irish groups. Sometimes I think the word ‘stupendous’ was invented just for Dervish. Their high-energy, incendiary instrumentals are ignited by their arsenal of button accordion, fiddle, flute, bouzouki, guitar & bodhran & played with intuitive fluidity. (Indeed, when Dervish played once at a Sunday church service their musical tools were declared instruments of mass destruction.) The rip-roaring reels & jaunty jigs are balanced by the soaring, sultry singing of Cathy Jordan. Jordan’s masterful stage presence, her stories to the songs & interaction with the audience draw people into the music in a way that very few performers can achieve. The Irish Times described Dervish thusly, ‘The musical integrity makes the group a formidable heir to the throne abandoned by The Bothy Band, if not a serious contender for The Chieftains’ international space… simply a brilliant and uncluttered testimonial to music imagination and talent.’   [I just saw Dervish in Albuquerque in February, and rest assured, they are in fine form.]

15th Annual Sebastopol Celtic World Music Festival — a combination of three evenings and two full days of events  With a wide array of Celtic crafts and wares, fine foods, workshops, dancers, children's activities, microbrewed ale, and choice wines, The Sebastopol Celtic Festival has developed a reputation for presenting quality world-class entertainment in a warm and inviting setting, influencing many of the performers to stay during daytime festivities over the weekend. This year's performers will be Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Old Blind Dogs, Dervish, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, Vasen, Mike Marshall & Darol Anger, Baka Beyond, Alison Brown & Joe Craven & Molly’s Revenge with Moira Smiley. There are performances during the day, from 11am to 6pm on Saturday & Sunday and evening performances. Friday’s concert at 8pm features Old Blind Dogs and Hayes & Cahill. On Saturday, there’s a reception at 6pm & concert at 7pm by Fraser & Haas. Later on Saturday, at 8:15pm, there’s a concert by Dervish and Vasen with Marshall& Anger.

Oone of Ireland’s most innovative & exciting flute players Brian Finnegan & Santa Cruz’s guitar guru William Coulter For over a dozen years Finnegan, from Co. Armagh, was the creative & driving force of the inventive Irish band Flook. Brian has been described in Scotland on Sunday as ‘… a thrilling talent, marvelous technical dexterity, bold musical imagination and urgent tone combining in playing of breathtaking suppleness and delicacy’ & by Norman Chalmers in The List, ‘He stands out in a nation of wonderful flute players, as much more than a technical virtuoso, his playing having the freewheeling lightness of touch and inspired musical understanding that flows into improvisation in real time, at reel speed.’ When Flook members agreed to go their separate ways last year, any thoughts of Brian going gently into that good night so that in Finnegan’s wake we’d be overrun by a riverrun of other flute players that could rejoyce at a share of the spotlight were quickly dashed. As nearly momentous as when Harry met Sally, when Brian met William at the Boxwood Flute Camp on Nova Scotia, the kindred spirits kindled such spirited sparks it seemed kismet that they should tour together. While the Grammy-winning Coulter has released critically acclaimed solo recordings, including Gourd Music’s ‘The Road Home,’ musical collaborations have been the mainstay of his career. Going back to the 1980’s, William was a member of Isle of Skye & Orison, and then went on to tours with the Coulter/Phillips Ensemble. Other tours and CDs include ‘Songs for Our Ancestors’ with classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery, ‘Time to Sail’ & ‘One Sweet Kiss’ with Irish singer Eilis Kennedy, ‘Simple Gifts’ with cellist Barry Phillips, ‘Emma’s Waltz’ with mountain dulcimer maestro Neil Hellman & ‘A Celtic Christmas’ with Irish storyteller Tomaseen Foley. If just the mere first syllables of Finnegan & Coulter’s names can conjure something as mighty & Irish mythic as Finn (Mac) Cool, imagine the enormity of the magic that awaits you when their entire selves team together.

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay proudly present ‘Scotland’s national treasure,’ The Battlefield Band Under the banner of ‘Forward with Scotland’s Past,’ winners of the first Scots Trad Music Awards as ‘Best Live Act,’ Battlefield Band play Scottish music with rare passion & joy. Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music & fired by the strength of today’s Scottish cultural scene, battlefield band mix the old songs & tunes with new, often self-penned, material, performed on a fusion of ancient & modern instruments – bagpipes, fiddle, whistles, synthesizer, guitar, cittern, flute, bodhran & accordion. For over 30 years & with 30 albums to their credit, they still lead the way for Scottish music, the gold standard against which all other bands are measured. For more, visit www.battlefieldband.co.uk.

The Celtic Societyof Monterey  proudly present the return of the spellbinding seasonal Irish cultural traditions treat, told in stories, songs, instrumentals & dance, Irish Christmas in America  (Bob thought he should get word out on this as soon as possible so you can come to terms with celebrating Christmas in November! He continues: "Mind you, if this works, in December we’ll be having a Fourth of July concert".) Take a break if you’re weary from your early Christmas shopping this Thanksgiving weekend with this perfect anodyne where you’ll also have the lagniappe of being able to stock up on the merchandise at the duty free shop at the concert, which make lovely Christmas presents. Devised by All-Ireland Champion fiddler Oisin Mac Diaramada from the award-winning Irish band Teada, this year Oisin is fortunately not thinking outside the box as the featured performer will be the button accordion powder keg from Co. Kerry Seamus Begley, who is also one of Ireland’s top traditional singers in both Irish & English, making a rare U.S. appearance. As in past years, joining Oisin will be the nuclear core group of his fellow Teada members, Damien Stenson on flute, Sean McIlwain on guitar & Tristan Rostenstock on bodhran & narrations, along with harper Grainne Hambly & uilleann piper Tommy Martin. A highlight from last year’s concert, sean nos (old style) dancer Brian Cunningham will also be returning.

The Chieftains with Paddy Maloney   The original traditional Irish folk band, as far as anyone who came of age in the 1970s or 1980s is concerned, is the Chieftains. Their sound, built largely on Paddy Moloney's pipes, is otherworldly, almost entirely instrumental, and seems as though it comes out of another age of man's history.