Celtic Corner – AcousticMusicScene.com

Irish fiddle phenom Eileen Ivers performs during the Milwaukee Irish Fest (Photo: Tim Reilly)

St. Brigid’s Day Concert Livestreams on Feb. 1

Post published:January 29, 2022
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner

A wide array of female Irish musicians will participate in a free, online St. Brigid’s Day Concert on February 1, 2022 at 8 p.m. EST, in celebration of the Irish patron saint and Celtic goddess. Presented by the Association of Irish & Celtic Festivals, with support from the Embassy and Consulates of Ireland in the U.S., the concert will be co-hosted by noted artists Eileen Ivers and Joanie Madden.

Remembering Robin Morton, 1939-2021

Post published:October 6, 2021
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner

Robin Morton, who played an integral and pioneering role in traditional Celtic music as a founding member of Boys of the Lough, manager of Scotland’s Battlefield Band, avid song collector, and founder & owner of the Scottish label Temple Records, died on Oct. 1, 2021. He was 81.

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 24-26

Post published:September 17, 2021
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

The 2021 Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for Friday-Sunday, September 24-26 in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free annual event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature five stages of continuous entertainment – including traditional Celtic music, Celtic rock and folk.

2021 Celtic Roots Virtual Festival Streams Online, Aug. 6 & 7

Post published:July 27, 2021
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

For more than a quarter of a century, lovers of Celtic music, crafts and culture have gathered each August at a park along the shores of Lake Huron in Goderich, Ontario for the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. Like a number of other music festivals forced to cancel or postpone over the past 17 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival’s organizers have arranged an online festival in its place. Featuring pre-recorded musical performances and live hosts, the 2021 Celtic Roots Virtual Festival will stream on Friday, August 6 from 7-11 p.m. EDT and on Saturday, August 7, from 1-5 p.m. EDT. [Click on the headline to continue reading about this virtual festival and a few workshops that precede it.]

Liam Reilly, Songwriter & Lead Singer of Bagatelle, 1955-2021

Post published:January 4, 2021
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner News - U.S. National

Liam Reilly, an acclaimed songwriter and former lead singer of the Irish folk-rock band Bagatelle, died on New Year’s Day 2021 at age 65. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view a few videos.]

Michigan Irish Music Festival Hosts Virtual Celebration, Sept. 17-20

Post published:September 13, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing guidelines associated with it prompted cancellation of the Michigan Irish Music Festival that is held annually at Heritage Park in Muskegon. Determined to help keep Irish in y(our) hearts during the “weekend that would have been,” festival organizers have arranged a virtual celebration featuring special online musical and cultural performances that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home, Sept. 17-20, 2020.

Goderich Celtic Roots Festival Streams Online

Post published:August 2, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

For more than a quarter of a century, lovers of Celtic music, crafts and culture have gathered each August at a park along the shores of Lake Huron in Goderich, Ontario for the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. Like a number of other music festivals forced to cancel or postpone this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival’s organizers have arranged for an abbreviated festival online in its place. Featuring pre-recorded musical performances and live hosts, Celtic Roots 27.5 Virtual Festival will stream on Friday August 7, 2020 from 7-11 p.m. EDT and on Saturday, August 8, from 1-5 p.m. EDT. [Click on the headline to continue reading.]

Top Albums and Songs of February 2016 (FOLKDJ-L)

Post published:March 3, 2016
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves Celtic Corner

Solas, an Irish-American band currently marking its 20th anniversary, had the most-played album (All These Years) on folk radio during February 2016. Boulder, Colorado-based singer-songwriter Rebecca Folsom’s “Better Times” was February’s most-played song. So say charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio. [The February 2016 FOLKDJ-L Top Albums and Songs charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission. To view them, click on the headline or link below.]

Winners Named in Sixth Annual Irish Music Awards

Post published:January 29, 2014
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Celtic Corner

The sixth annual Irish Music Awards were presented by the Irish Music Association on January 25, 2014 at O’Malley’s Pub in Weston, Missouri. The awards were determined through online voting by the association’s members. [To continue reading the article and see the complete list of winners in 17 categories, click on the headline.]

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 27-29, 2013

Post published:September 19, 2013
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus News - Northeast U.S.

The 2013 Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for September 27-29 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance and now in its 26th year, the free annual event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature several stages of continuous entertainment. [To continue reading a short preview of the Celtic Classic, click on the headline.]

The Kennedys (Photo: Jeremy Lebled)

Folk Music Fills the Streets of New Bedford, July 6-7, 2013

Post published:July 1, 2013
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus News - Northeast U.S.

The New Bedford Folk Festival, formerly known as the Greater New Bedford Summerfest, is one of the Northeast’s most pleasant, refined and enjoyable music festivals. Slated for July 6-7, 2013 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the festival takes over the cobble stoned streets of this historic New England port city –which is part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

Irish, Irish-American Artists Shine During APAP Conference

Post published:February 2, 2013
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Conferences of Note Featured

Although New York City’s demographics are changing, Irish arts and culture have long been a part of its fabric. This was particularly evident January 11-15. That’s when a number of Irish and Irish American folk artists were in the Big Apple to showcase their talents during the 56th annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP). {Click on the headline to read a conference recap that also features information on the annual Folquebec showcase and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash's closing keynote.]