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| Mike Katz, Battlefield Band |
Here at CelticFest Vancouver we are really looking forward to our Opening Night, and after you read this, you will be too. Once again we are throwing a party - The World’s Greatest Céilídh to be precise – featuring the Battlefield Band of Scotland with Tiller’s Folly, Stephanie Cadman, Qristina and Quinn Bachand, and Musical Host Jordan Seguin.
Last year at the Yale Hotel, we sold out our Opening Night Céilídh and there were line-ups round the block. This time we have moved to a bigger venue so we can fit you all in! It all happens on Wednesday March 12th at 7:00 pm at the Commodore Ballroom.
Before we go into any more detail we have to answer one key question: What is a Céilídh? Most people look at the word and their first question is not what is a Céilídh, but how do I pronounce that? If you are Scottish Céilídh (or Ceili) is pronounced “Kay-lay”, emphasis on 1st syllable. The rest of us tend to call it a “Kay-lee”.
In Gaelic, the ancient tongue of the seven Celtic nations, it means a visit. Over the years it has come to mean a house party, a kitchen party or a concert including music and dance. Céilidh music is usually traditional and may be provided by an assortment of fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, bodhrán, and in more recent times modern instruments have been added. Céilídh dancing is traditional style dancing just for fun.
Before discos and nightclubs, there were Céilidhs in most town and village halls on Friday or Saturday nights; they are still common today. Céilídhs are extremely popular all over Ireland, Scotland and Atlantic Canada. At a Céilídh anything can happen. Dances often alternate with songs, poetry recitals, story telling and other types of “party pieces”.
At our Céilídh we present Scotland’s Battlefield Band who are famous the world over. Their music has deep roots in traditional Celtic music, and they really know how to keep it fresh. They mix the old songs and tunes with new material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments: bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars and lots more. They are the only band in the universe that plays songs from the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie, as well as songs by Prince. Their version of ‘Kiss’ has to be heard to be believed. Battlefield Band’s new album Dookin’, and Battlefield Band fiddler Alasdair White’s solo album An Clàr Geal had their entries accepted for the Traditional Folk category for the 2008 Grammy awards. Although they didn’t make it through to the final nominations, it is still an incredible achievement for Temple Records, their small independent Scottish record label.
Also we learned recently that the CBC Galaxie Network Folk/Roots Channel’s most-played, high-rotation International album releases for December 2007 - January 2008 includes Dookin’, the latest CD by The Battlefield Band at a very respectable #2. The Folk/Roots Channel plays “All Folk, 24-hours a day”.
We’re also pleased to announce that Battlefield Band’s fiddle maestro, Alasdair White, has won the World Traditional Music category in the 7th annual Independent Music Awards for his album An Clàr Geal. It was selected by various esteemed music industry judges including Joe Boyd, Charlie Musselwhite, Ray Davies, Angelique Kidjo & Mavis Staples.
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| Tiller’s Folly |
Joining ‘The Batties’, as they are affectionately known, will be BC’s own Tiller’s Folly. For well over a decade, they have been consistently satisfying old fans and winning over new ones with their unique stories of BC history, strong musicality and engaging live performances and recordings. Bruce Coughlan, Nolan Murray and Laurence Knight are the force behind the band’s high-energy acoustic roots music – Canadian Celtic at its best! They’ll feature a special guest, champion step dancer and fiddler Stephanie Cadman who has thrilled audiences throughout North America, Europe and Asia with her award-winning Ottawa Valley-style stepdancing, along with her dynamic fiddling and wonderful stage presence.
Victoria’s amazing young sister and brother duo Qristina and Quinn Bachand are young in years, but they know exactly what it takes to leave an audience wanting more! They were recently invited to play at the Canadian launch party for YouTube after their musical videos became on of the most viewed items on this popular free video sharing website.
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| Qristina and Quinn Bachand |
Our MC will be by the festival’s musical host, piper Jordan Seguin. Jordan is the youngest Pipe Major attached to an army band in the entire Commonwealth, as well as being a promising actor and a great piper.
Once again the show will be recorded by CBC radio for national broadcast on Radio 2’s Canada Live which presents live concert footage from Canada’s premier musical events. It will also be beamed to satellite radio, digital radio and internet listeners world-wide.
So come on down to the fabulous Commodore Ballroom, where Vancouverites have danced for decades, and join the party. We are sure you’ll agree it more than lives up to its title. It is The World’s Greatest Céilídh.
We are dedicating the night to our good friend Oliver Schroer. Oli is a brilliant musician who was scheduled to perform at last years CelticFest. Early in 2007 he was diagnosed with leukemia and is now receiving treatment. We encourage everyone to support Oli through this time of illness. To learn more about the Oliver Schroer Fund, the Orange Ribbon Project and the Bone Marrow registry for donors please go to http://www.oliverschroer.com/leukemia.htm
