About Beltane Celtic Music Festival
Celebrating the Return of Summer in the Old Way
Featuring:
Live Celtic Music over 2 stages
Beltane fire & performance
Medieval Faire
Maypole Dance
Community Feast
Kids activities
Happening at the magical Kohinur Hall
Saturday 2nd November
2pm - Midnight
Ticket price: $35 ($30 Early Bird)
(Kids under 16 free)
DRESS: Celtic/Medieval wear welcome
TICKET LINK
https://www.ticketebo.com.au/.../beltane-celtic-music...
LIVE MUSIC LINEUP:
- Lilt (featuring Greg Sheehan & Harry James Angus)
- Amaidí
- The Munsterbucks
- The Four Piece Clovers
- Lir
- Ren Waterfall’s Medieval Ensemble
- Leif & Matt
- Gair & Rosie
- Breandan An Piopbaire (Uillean pipes)
- Traditional jam sessions
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We invite the community to come together and celebrate the return of Summer, in the old-fashioned way.
Beltane, meaning “bright fire”, is one of the four quarter day festivals in the Celtic pagan calendar, traditionally celebrated on the eve of 1st May in the Northern Hemisphere with fire, music, dancing and feasting. It is a time to revel in the birth of Summer and the fertility of the land, and honour the magic and connectedness of all life.
We have curated a full afternoon and evening programme of traditional and contemporary Celtic music to warm your heart, lift your spirits and get those knees going. There will be an outdoor stage in the afternoon, set in the magical forested grounds of Kohinur Hall, and in the evening we will move into the hall itself as we raise the roof with wild music and dance.
National musical treasure and percussionist extraordinaire Greg Sheehan has created a unique show called “Lilt” for the event, featuring multiple drummers, fiddle and ex Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus on trumpet. This will be the finale act of the evening, driving the audience to untold musical and rhythmical heights.
https://gregsheehan.com.au
Meaning “folly/nonsense” in Irish, Amaidí are a dynamic young trio from Brisbane that have set alight the Celtic music scene in Australia. Blending the rich traditions of Irish, Scottish, and Australian music into a fast-paced, modern tapestry of sound, their infectious energy and contemporary twist on traditional tunes will be getting the party going.
https://www.folkfestival.org.au/artists/amaidí
The Munsterbucks are Tommy Donovan from Kerry (banjo and mandolin) Jack O’Leary from Cork (vocals, guitar and bodhran) and Sam De Santi (fiddle and guitar). All three of them have a rich heritage in playing traditional music, and have established a strong name for themselves on the Australian folk scene. While keeping true to their traditional roots, they bring a unique sense of style and an irresistible groove to their tunes and songs.
www.munsterbucks.com
The Four Piece Clovers are a local traditional Irish band known for their authentic and vibrant interpretations of Celtic music. Featuring fiddle, banjo, accordion, vocals, mandolin, and bodhran, the band invite audiences to experience the magic of Ireland’s musical heritage.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=QOvmaIy3EwqI1Uwv...
Lir, a traditional trio combining fiddle, flute and guitar, will transport you to the warm hearth of a good old country pub in Ireland.
Local Celtic troubadours Leif (Nimbin) and Matt Connolly (Mullumbimby) will take audiences on a rich musical journey through the mystical and poetic landscapes of yore, weaving traditional Irish jigs with haunting melodies and storytelling.
Ren Waterfall and friends will be coming from Nimbin, with their wonderful assortment of medieval instruments to bring us all back to the old days with their ancient sound and melodies.
We are honoured to have Irishman
Breandan An Piopbaire join us on the Uillean pipes, the traditional Irish pipes (similar but different to the Scottish bagpipes). Breandan is the only Uillean pipe player in this part of the country.
And finally, we will have the pleasure of listening to Welshman Gair and his daughter Rosie perform their own Celtic material, treating audiences to their magical father-daughter harmonies and powerful song-writing.
There will be a colourful Medieval Faire, showcasing olde world artisans, craftspeople, and producers. Expect artists, potters, jewellery makers, weavers, leathermakers, blacksmiths, healers, fortune tellers and the like.
Plenty of fun and creativity are to be had in the Kids Space during the afternoon, offering crafting activities, Celtic storytelling and traditional games.
Don’t miss the Community Feast, serving up delicious food and drinks to keep everyone full and merry.
Rarely seen in these parts, a traditional Maypole dance will also take place during the afternoon, including a smaller one for kids to participate in. The Maypole dance is an ancient folk dance performed around a tall pole garlanded with greenery or flowers and hung with ribbons that are woven into complex patterns by the dancers. In ancient times, this dance would have been performed around a living tree as part of spring rites to ensure fertility of the land.
And of course, at the heart of the event, we’ll have a large Beltane fire burning, honouring the growing power of the sun and offering an opportunity to cleanse, reflect and renew as a community. The fire will be accompanied by fire dancers and performers through the night.
Come and join us as we honour our Celtic ancestors and connect with the cycles of nature in joy and celebration, music & dance.
(and please feel free to dress Celtic or Medieval style!)
*Plus Booking Fee