Tewkesbury News, Tewkesbury Sport, Tewkesbury Leisure - From The Tewkesbury & Evesham Admag

Celts will gather for a Cotswold tradition

From the archive, first published Thursday 5th Feb 2004.

MUSICIANS from Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Cornwall are on their way to the Stour Valley for the Celts in the Cotswolds festival.

The annual event started in 1996 when Sue and Keith Finlay, of Stretton-on-Fosse, near Moreton, were asked to find a venue for a reunion of a group of Scottish and Breton musicians. From these beginnings the festival has grown to a two-day event drawing some of the brightest lights in the Celtic music scene to the Warwickshire countryside.

The festival opens on Friday, February 20, with a typically far-flung line-up. The evening at the Norgren Hall in Shipston will be headlined by Norwich-based Xim, who draw their inspiration from the traditional rhythms of central France. In support will be five-piece band Mabon from South Wales and youthful musicians Bim from Cornwall.

The daytime shift on Saturday will be filled with musical workshops on the fiddle, whistle, bodhran, guitar, melodeon and percussion. There will also be dance workshops in Appalachian clog and French step.

Saturday evening sees the return of folk-rock group Shkayla, featuring Irish fiddler Joe O'Donnell. They will be supported by Sarah Northcott and Matt Smith before the evening is rounded of with a traditional Scottish ceilidh led by Edinburgh-based Da Hooley.

Both evening concerts start at 7pm and tickets cost £10 for one night or £18 for two, if bought before Saturday.

For more information and to book tickets call Keith and Sue Finlay on 01608 661157 or visit celticspirit@lineone.net.

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