Celtic Colours International Festival
170 George Street B1P 1J2 Sydney, NS, Canada

Don't forget! The Tree for Boston lighting ceremony, featuring performances by The Barra MacNeils, Sarah & Elizabeth MacInnis, and Jenny MacKenzie, will be broadcast tonight at 8PM ADT. https://www.wcvb.com//wcvb-to-air-holiday-lights-/34807468

This year's Tree for Boston celebrations will include a virtual tree-lighting ceremony on Thursday, December 3rd at 8PM ADT, featuring performances by Festival friends Sarah and Elizabeth MacInnis, Jenny MacKenzie, and The Barra MacNeils! Follow this year's tree, a 45-foot white spruce from Cape Breton, here on Facebook for details on how to tune in.

Congratulations to Natalie MacMaster for being appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia this year! Lieutenant-Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc made the announcement today that six Nova Scotians will be honoured for their significant and meaningful contributions to the Province. You'll find more infomation on all of this year's recipients by going here... https://novascotia.ca/iga/2020recipients.asp Video recorded during Celtic Colours 2018 featuring Natalie MacMaster and Mac Morin. ... Minnie & Alex’s Favourites: March of the Cameron Men / O'er The Moor Among The Heather / The Fir Tree / Willie Fraser's Strathspey (Donald Angus Beaton) / Dan R. MacDonald's Favourite (Donald Angus Beaton) / Devaney's Goat (Tommy Whelan) / Mrs. Norman MacKeigan (Dan R. MacDonald) / The Lasses of Stewarton / The Fairy Dance (Nathaniel Gow) **All tunes traditional except where noted

Make your way around the artisans’ loop, along the North Shore and up into the Highlands, exploring this inspiring and beautiful part of Victoria County. This episode features a stop in the community of Bay St. Lawrence, and a conversation with composer, author, and former lighthouse keeper Paul Cranford.

Who doesn’t love stopping by to see friends on a Saturday afternoon? When you hear the word céilidh you often think of a performance but it really means a visit. Join Ed, Hannah, Amber, and Colin at Highland Village Museum for a song and some stories.

Join Rodney MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, and Kenneth MacKenzie, Director of Education, as they give you an overview of Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College and its contribution to the preservation and promotion of Gaelic culture.

Today's the day! Check out who we have lined up to play Celtic Colours At Home this October 9-17. Head over to celtic-colours.com for all the details.

Sad today is the last day of Celtic Colours at Home? Well... look On the Bright Side we still have one more incredible concert streaming live tonight AND a big ol' late-night online party at the FESTIVAL CLUB at 10pm ADT. We do hope you'll join us Pre-show @ 7pm ADT Concert @ 7:30pm ADT Watch ---> celtic-colours.com on Facebook on YouTube #celticcolours #celticcoloursathome #capebretonisland

We are saddened to announce the passing of Theresa MacLellan, noted violinist. Alongside her sister Marie and brother Donald, the MacLellan Trio were legendary. Theresa was a pioneer in the industry and accomplished so much in her life. We are grateful for all of her appearances in the festival, for the time and energy she gave to each, and for her kind and encouraging words to all musicians coming up in the culture. If you have her and Marie's album, "A Trip to Mabou Ridge", give it a spin and remember her for her incredible sound and gift to Cape Breton and beyond.

The Bras d’Or Lake could be called the heart of the Island. This deep, vast, saltwater lake is surrounded by rich culture and beauty, and touches all four counties of the Island. Learn about two-eyed seeing and spend some time on Eskasoni’s Goat Island Trail with Kieran Johnson, in this episode.

For the past four years, Celtic Colours has welcomed a hand-picked group of students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to perform at the Festival. While it’s a different collection of students each year, the high calibre of musicianship has remained consistent as has the group’s ability to delight and impress audiences wherever they play. Last year’s group of performers included instructors Jenn Butterworth (guitar) and Emma Tomlinson (fiddle), Bradley Parker (pipes), Cameron Nixon (fiddle), Chloe Bryce (fiddle), Sophie Joint (keyboard), Terra Burgoyne (clarsach), and Jocelyn Pettit (fiddle) who wrote the first tune in this set recorded during Celtic Colours International Festival 2019. The Highway North: The North Creek Reel (Jocelyn Pettit) / Tommy’s Tarbukas (Alasdair Fraser)

Start your week off right with this new video from KINNARIS QUINTET! With three fiddles, mandolin and guitar, Kinnaris Quintet's fresh and invigorating take on traditional music combines Scottish and Irish folk with bluegrass and classical influences. You can sense how this Glasgow-based quintet is driven by the sheer joy of making music together in this set captured during Celtic Colours 2019. Gortavale Rock (Cathal Hayden and Sean Og Graham) / Road to Poynton (Robert Harbron)

Join Kenneth MacKenzie for this demonstration on the Highland Bagpipes which includes how they’re constructed, how to play them, and the role they have played in Gaelic culture. Filmed at Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College

When J.P. Cormier and Tim Edey took to the stage at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre during Celtic Colours last year, nobody could have expected what was about to happenpossibly not even J.P. and Tim themselves. Sitting side by side, kind of facing each other with their guitars, they started picking and strumming at a tune, sort of taking turns at who was leading and who was following as they shifted into another tune, and then another, and then another after that, ...playfully mixing and matching trad tunes with jazz standards and the occasional folk song or movie theme thrown in, for the next 45 minutes! This six-and-a-half minute excerpt captures some of the magic of this mighty medley. A Mighty Medley: Little Judique Jig (aka Buddy in Big Pond Jig) / Tea Gardens Jig (Angus Chisholm) / Combined Effort Jig (Jerry Holland and Paul Cranford) / Garcon Volage Jig / Poppy Leaf Reel

What’s in store tonight on Celtic Colours at Home? A Juno award winning singer-songwriter, innovative & exciting arrangements of traditional tunes, and a lively set of trad pop! Join us online Pre-show @ 7PM ADT Concert @ 7:30PM ADT celtic-colours.com on Facebook on YouTube #celticcolours #celticcoloursathome

Follow the lakes and rivers that lead you to Inverness and through the Margarees, finding rich heritage craft traditions and warm-hearted people along the way. Meet Mary MacNeil from the Visitor Information Centre, who shares her love of this region.

We're excited to share a few gems from last year's Celtic Colours International Festival including this incredible performance from Breabach! More to come over the next few weeks :) This beautiful and energetic melding of instruments and Gaelic song brilliantly reflects the musicianship, traditional roots and contemporary influences of award-winning Scottish group Breabach. Featuring Calum MacCrimmon (bagpipes, whistle), Megan Henderson (fiddle, vocals), Ewan Robertson (guitar), James Duncan Mackenzie (bagpipes, flute), and James Lindsay (double bass), it was recorded during the concert Causeway Ceilidh at Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre on October 19, 2019. Knees Up: Knees Up in Hanoi (Calum MacCrimmon) / Dochas Glan Na Faire (Ewen Henderson & Calum MacCrimmon

Songs are an important aspect of Gaelic life. Learn about the tradition and hear a beautiful Gaelic song from Ed MacDonnell, Hannah Krebs, and Colin Watson in this video filmed at Highland Village Museum.

This might just be what your Wednesday morning needs! Enjoy a couple of tunes with Tim Edey and Mohsen Amini

Tonight's show will prove that variety IS the spice of life! Join us online - Pre-show @ 7pm ADT Concert @ 7:30pm ADT Watch on our site on Facebook on YouTube #celticcolours #celticcoloursathome

A huge thanks to TD for their continued support of Canadian musicians, festivals, and events... including this year's Celtic Colours International Festival At Home!

Join Yvette as she explores some of southern Inverness County, where Gaelic music and local traditions flourish. This episode features a visit with Derrick and Melody Cameron, community volunteers and well-known performers.

FYI The Cape Breton Partnership is seeking artists from across the Island for two employment opportunities. Check out their post below or contact [email protected] for more information.

We are sad to have lost another vital culture bearer here on Cape Breton Island. Janet Cameron was a special force of kindness and acceptance and encouragement that was hard to match. A pivotal member of the Boisdale Trio, she graced our festival stages over many, many years. Our thoughts are with her family, extended family, and numerous friends that are feeling her loss.

Faced with the uncertainty of travel and restrictions on large gatherings continuing into the fall Celtic Colours International Festival will be doing things differently this year. With the safety of audience, artists, volunteers, and staff in mind, we will not be presenting a series of concerts around Cape Breton Island this October as we have done since 1997. Instead, we are excited to be working with long-time livestream partners Novastream to bring the spirit of the Festival online. From October 9th to 17th, Celtic Colours International Festival At Home, presented by TD Bank Group, will celebrate the Island’s music and culture with a series of nightly performances and stories from Cape Breton, to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. celtic-colours.com/at-home

Ashley MacIsaac will be coming to you live tonight with some special guests!

Congratulations to Rachel Davis of Còig for winning Traditional Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards for the album Ashlar. Here’s a video captured during Celtic Colours 2014 featuring Rachel’s beautiful vocals on Dougie MacLean’s She Loves Me (When I Try). https://youtu.be/V7qQqWTi6lw

Congratulations to Mairi Rankin & Eric Wright for winning Instrumental Group of the Year at Canadian Folk Music Awards / Prix de musique folk canadienne for their album "The Cabin Sessions".

The Once... tomorrow evening!

Dougie MacLean will be treating us all to a wee show tonight! Details in the post below. Thanks Dougie!

Ashley MacIsaac’s Quarantine Ceilidh starts soon! 8:30pm ADT. Cost is $4.20 USD/Approximately $6 CAD https://www.quarantineceilidh.com

J.P. Cormier will be doing a private concert this Friday night!