DUMMERSTON — Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present a Celtic Music Festival featuring bands Cantrip, House of Hamill, and Hildaland, as part of the "Bandwagon Summer Series," on Sunday, August 13, at 4 p.m. at Scott Farm, 707 Kipling Rd. The triple bill features multi-instrumentalists and singers from both sides of the Atlantic who build upon traditional Celtic music with original songs and tunes, innovative arrangements, and three-part harmonies.
Twilight Music and Next Stage Production Director Barry Stockwell said in a news release that "the stars lined up for this Bandwagon event, with these three phenomenal bands all passing through New England and available to perform on the same day. They're all breaking new musical ground, enhancing traditional Celtic music with elements of other musical genres - a magical mix of the old and the new."
From the base of its Celtic roots, Cantrip branches into the music of other European cultures. With border pipes, fiddles, guitar, and four voices, Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Eric McDonald, and Alasdair White "take audiences on a cultural journey, putting their own spin on each musical style," says Stockwell.
The band name is an old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell, or piece of mischief, "and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in the quartet's musical arrangements as well as the compelling potency of their musicianship." Sprung from a local music session in Edinburgh, Scotland nearly 20 years ago, Cantrip has toured throughout Scotland and the U.S. and has released six CDs.
"Whether they're ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding three-part harmonies to traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note." Rose Baldino, Brian Buchanan, and Caroline Browning are also half of the Toronto-based Celtic-rock band Enter the Haggis.
Orkney-born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken winds through Scottish-, old-time-, and Swedish-inspired music intertwined with contemporary compositions. Stockwell characterizes Bichan's fiddling as "a melodic foil to Setiawan's counterpoint and harmonic depth," and says the two "weave in and out seamlessly."
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and kids under 12 are admitted free. For advance tickets and more information, visit nextstagearts.org. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar, and food by Crossroads Tacos and Vermont Gelato will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating on the lawn.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.