Almonte Celtfest joins Irish Music Ottawa supporters for Paddy Keenan Concert!

I would like to catch up on some recent news that the Almonte Celtfest has agreed to come on board for promotion of the Paddy Keenan concert, 26 November 2011. The Almonte Celtfest has earned credibility as a professionally organised showcase for Celtic music, dance, and craft, sourced mainly from talent within the Ottawa Valley and its environs. They also bring in 'outside' talent which only adds to the excitement. Admission to the Celtfest is by donation, and this makes it an incredible family-oriented event suitable for all budgets. Located in the beautiful Gemmill Park in Almonte, Ontario, the park provides an incredible naturally amphitheatre giving good acoustics and sightlines. It's a festival that you don't want to miss, and I am incredibly pleased that they are supporting the Paddy Keenan concert.

Not only does the Almonte Celtfest put on the annual festival, but throughout the year they host concerts within Almonte in support of their community activities. This last weekend I joined a full house of enthusiastic music and storytelling fans for the McGee Band's accompaniment for professor David Wilson's presentation of his latest book , Vol 2 in a series, on the life and time of the famous Irish-Canadian parliamentarian, "Thomas D'arcy McGee, the Extreme Moderate." This show exceeded my already heightened expectations in terms of an interweaving of new traditional music written in the traditional Irish style (James Stephens and Frank Cassidy, composers) and in-character readings from professor Wilson's book. Canadian history never sounded so good, EVER!

The McGee Band is comprised of James Stephens (fiddle), Frank Cassidy (whistles, banjo), Greg T. Brown (concertina, fiddle, banjo, vocals, accordion), Jeff McClintock (piano, harmonium, guitar) and for this performance Alistair Dennett (bodhran, snare drum). David Wilson played whistle as well!

Thank you to Jim Mountain and the Almonte Celtfest for helping to spread the word and keeping the music alive!

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The Gaelic Hour, heard Sundays 8-10AM, on 97.9 CHIN FM, is the official media supporter for the Irish Music Ottawa Paddy Keenan concert.

Click here for further information and a link to online ticket purchase.