www.celtic-colours.com
Celtic Colours International Festival organisers are pleased to release their line-up for 2009 and are excited about this year’s focus on the ties to and influence of Irish music and culture.
The festival kicks off with Island to Island: The Cape Breton-Ireland Musical Bridge, in Port Hawkesbury on October 9th. It’s a concert that goes to the root of it all, says Artistic Director Joella Foulds. “In 1993, a group of Cape Breton musicians were invited to Ireland to put on a Cape Breton festival in Cork. Now, we have invited the Irish here to share their cultural traditions in this concert and throughout the nine days of the Festival.”

Twenty-four artists from Ireland will be participating in the Festival this year which runs from October 9th to 17th. Their presence will contribute to an exploration of tradition and culture and how that is maintained through generations and in communities. People might not recognize the names of some of the Irish artists, but they are the people who are carrying on the tradition. “We want our audience to experience the real thing,” Foulds continues, “just as they would with our Cape Breton artists. These Irish artists represent the best of the various traditions including Donegal fiddling, the Irish harp, uilleann piping, Irish Gaelic and sean nós singing, accordion, sean nós dancing, and storytelling.”
For those who want to experience the festival more deeply, there is once again an extensive program of hundreds of Cultural Opportunities available in communities all around the Island.

For the full schedule and line up of artists visit the website: www.celtic-colours.com. Tickets went on sale in July. They can be purchased online through the Celtic Colours website or by phoning the Box Office at 567-3000 locally or 1-888-355-7744.