Exploring Celtic Roots & Branches
After a spectacular inaugural festival in 2019, Brian O’Donovan and Maeve Gilchrist return for their 2nd Annual Rockport Celtic Festival, created in partnership with Rockport Music. The 2021 Festival will trace the connections between Celtic music and other musical cultures, as well as bring back the sea shanties, work songs and nautical music and lore. The Festival also brings the Words and Music program, which was a favorite in 2019.
Friday, August 20 :: 4:30 PM & 8 PM
Opening Night: Cultural Connections
This celebratory, upbeat, and diverse concert will introduce many of our 2021 festival artists. The night will bring together some of the finest proponents of Celtic and American folk music today. This concert will pay homage to the deep rooted musical traditions from the artists’ respective countries while also illuminating traditional instruments in a new, cutting edge light. This is after all, what our festival is about!
Opening Night Artists
with Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford, Dan Trueman, Hanneke Cassel, Yann Falquet, Keith Murphy and Nic Gareiss
Saturday, August 21 :: 11 AM
Salon Session with Brian O'Donovan
Brian visits with Cillian Vallely and Kevin Crawford for an exploration of uileann pipes, flute, low whistle, and the impact of the super group Lunasa on traditional Irish music world-wide. Guests from other parts of the festival might also drop by.
Saturday, August 21 :: 4:30 PM & 8 PM
Strings on Strings
In this groundbreaking concert we bring together the best of the best in both the traditional and classical string worlds. New compositions will feature Maeve Gilchrist’s Harpweaver based on the eponymous poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Strings on Strings Artists
with the Rasa Quartet, Dan Trueman, Cillian Vallely, Windborne, Yann Falquet, Keith Murphy, Nic Gareiss, Katie McNally and Neil Pearlman
Sunday, August 22 :: 12 PM
Words & Music: The Celtic Spirit
Sunday, August 22 :: 4:30 PM & 8 PM
Songs & Stories of the Sea
This concert showcases the evolution of Irish and Scottish music as it made its way from Ireland and Scotland through emigration in the 18th and 19th centuries. We will explore the common sources of music from the Maritimes, down thru French Canada thru the mountains and fishing villages of New England Coast and to to the dance halls of America. And then we will further trace it into the hills of Appalachia and even to the immensely popular Bluegrass and Country music of today. David Coffin, himself a Cape Ann resident with an expertise around sea-faring songs, will co-host.
Songs and Stories of the Sea ArtistsThe Festival is made possible by the generous support of Naomi and Jeff Stonberg and John and Susan Driscoll.
Thank you to our Celtic Festival Corporate Partners!
