The Celtic Fiddle Festival are celebrating their 20th anniversary with tours on both sides of the Atlantic accompanied by the release of a new CD, “Live in Brittany” this week. Devon Leger posted a review of this album in the last few weeks and it is well worth checking out. In addition we have added some of their tracks to our Spotify Playlist. This new album, their sixth, was recorded during January 2013 when the group visited Brittany for a series of recorded performances in the town of Guéméne-sur-Scorff. For the three fiddlers this will be their third CD together but for Nicolas “Live in Brittany” will be his first recording with the group.

Today’s Celtic Fiddle Festival line up features Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaitre (Brittany) and André Brunet (Quebec), together with the wonderful Breton accompanist, Nicolas Quémener. In its earliest days, twenty years ago, the line up included, as well as Kevin & Christian, the exhilarating Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham and ace guitarist John McGann of Massachusetts. Sadly, the two Johns are no longer with us having passed away as a result of both parties suffering sudden and tragic illnesses. For a brief time it appeared as if the Celtic Fiddle Festival would no longer continue but morale was soon restored. Both Kevin and Christian embraced the addition of André Brunet’s energetic Quebec fiddling and, most recently, Nicolas Quémener's warm and imaginative accompaniments have brought a rich musical confidence to the group.

The inspiration behind the formation of the Celtic Fiddle Festival has proven to be an innovative and enduring concept – to highlight the unique qualities of the three distinct fiddle traditions while at the same time showing the strength and power that can be generated when they come together.

The Celtic Fiddle Festival combination of music, musicianship and love for their respective traditions is once again exciting audiences worldwide as will be heard in this anniversary year both in concert and with the release of “Live in Brittany” from Loftus Music.

The Celtic Fiddle Festival Catalogue

Live In Brittany (2013 Kevin Burke, Christian Lemaître, Andre Brunet, Nicolas Quémener)

Équinoxe (2008 Kevin Burke, Christian Lemaître, Andre Brunet, Ged Foley)

Play On (2005 Kevin Burke, Christian Lemaître, Andre Brunet, Ged Foley)

Rendezvous (2001 Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham, Christian Lemaître, Ged Foley)

Encore (1998 Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham, Christian Lemaître, Soïg Siberil)

Celtic Fiddle Festival (1993 Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham, Christian Lemaître)

The Players 1993 -- 2013
Kevin Burke
Johnny Cunningham (RIP 2003)
Christian Lemaître
John McGann (RIP 2012)
Soig Siberil
Tony McManus
Ged Foley
André Brunet
Nicolas Quémener

Concert dates

May 2013

Wed 29. The Gaiety Theatre, Carrick St, Ayr, Scotland KA7 1NU

Tel: 01292 288235 Tickets £18.50 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Thurs 30. Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland KY12 7JA

Tel: 01383 602302 Tickets £15.00 -- From 7.30 p.m. 

Fri 31. @ 11.00 a.m. Appearing live on 'The Sally Naden Show' BBC Radio Lancashire

BBC Radio Lancashire, 20-26 Darwen St, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 2EA

Fri 31. Otley Courthouse Courthouse Road, Courthouse St, Otley, W. Yorks LS21 3AN

Tel: 01943 467466 Tickets £14.00 -- From 8.00 p.m.

June 2013

Sat 1. @ 11.30 a.m. Appearing live on 'The Billy Butler Show' BBC Radio Merseyside

BBC Radio Merseyside 31 College Lane, Liverpool, Lancs L1 3DS

Sat 1. The Arts Centre, Edgehill University, St Helen's Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP

Tel: 01695 584480 Tickets £16.00  -- From 8.00 p.m.

Sun 2. Staveley Village Hall, Abbey Square, Staveley in Westmoreland, Cumbria, LA8 9LY

Tel 01539 822 483 Tickets £16.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Mon 3. National Centre for Early Music, St Margret's Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL

Tel: 01904 658338 Tickets £17.00 -- From 8.00 p.m.

Tue 4. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK17 8LU

Tel: 01908 280800 Tickets £16.00 -- From 8.00 p.m.

Wed 5. St George's Theatre, King’s St, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 2PJ

Tel: 01493 331484 Tickets £14.00 – From 7.30 p.m.

Sat 8. The Watermark, Erme Court, Leonard’s Road, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 0SZ

Tel: 01752 892220 Tickets £18.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Sun 9.The Subscription Room, Kendrick St, Town Centre, Stroud, Gloucester GL5 1AE

Tel: 01553 760900 Tickets £17.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Mon 10. G Live, London Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2AA

Tel: 08447701797 Tickets £18.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Tues 11. Talking Heads, 320 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2TD

Tel: 02380 678 446 Tickets £12.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Wed 12. Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary's St, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2DL

Tel: 01780 763203 Tickets TBA -- From 8.00 p.m.

Fri 14. The Apex, 1 Charter Sq, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk  IP33 3FD

Tel: 01284 758000 Tickets £16.00 -- From 8.00 p.m.

Sat 15. The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, Herefordshire HR4 9JR

Tel: 01432 340555 Tickets £16.50 – From 7.30 p.m.

Sun 16. Buxton Opera House, Water St, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6XN

Tel: 0845 1272190 Tickets £16.00 -- From 8.00 p.m.