Everyone loves an Irish… Scottish...Festival!
The 2010 Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games are hitting Rillito Raceway Park this weekend.
Being half Irish myself, I’ve been to my share of Celtic Festivals. From the bagpipes to the meat pies to the highland dances, in every direction awaits an activity to engage the senses.
This weekend’s event will showcase all of the above and more from Friday November 5th through Sunday November 7th. If you’re anything like me, the Highland Athletics and Games will be the highlight.
I never cease to be amazed at the strength of the athletes participating in the form of heavy athletics. My particular favorite event is caber toss. It’s just so mesmerizing to see the 20+ foot tree trunk being hoisted into the air. And even more so, the fact that the hulky, strong men participating all don traditional Scottish kilts throughout competition.
A Celtic festival wouldn’t be complete without music ringing throughout the grounds. The Festival this weekend will certainly not be lacking in that department. While bagpipe and drum competitions will provide the sounds of the region, several popular acts are also scheduled to perform. Here is a little info about the premier acts taking the stage this weekend.
Tempest - Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy folk rock fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 22 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release twelve critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,000 gigs.
Jed Marum and Lonestar Stout- take a fresh look at the traditional sounds of Celtic and American folk-roots music. Veteran musician, Jed Marum teams up with Hugh Morrison, Mason Brown and Rodger Harrison to bring a mix of original and traditional music to the stage – with powerful vocals, superlative musicianship and an easy humor. From driving, up-beat airs to beautiful, narrative songs. They make a fast connection of Celtic to American Celtic roots with unique instrumentation and refined musicianship.
Skean Dubh - As one of the most enjoyable acoustic bands in the Rocky Mountain region, their diverse repertoire spans centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, Scottish ballads, Irish pub-songs, and gorgeous slow airs. These versatile musicians have received accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances. The music may be Folk, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to full on rock. Skean Dubh has continually delighted audiences both with their musical styling and with their unusual instrumentation (a unique blend of traditional and modern instruments) including: fiddle, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, Uilleann pipes, whistles, mandolin, bodhran, djembe, doumbek, and accordion.
To Learn More
The 2010 Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games, www.tucsoncelticfestival.org.
