www.celticfusion.co.uk

Celtic Fusion International Musical Arts Festival,Castlewellan
Thursday July 15th – Sunday 18th, 2010
Where Music & Memories Meet

The Mourne Mountains will come alive with the sound of music in July when the annual Celtic Fusion International Musical Arts Festival 2010 returns to Castlewellan for its ninth performance. Celtic Fusion will take place 15th-18th July and runs nicely into The Ulster Fleadh from Sunday 18th – Sunday 25th July, which means there’s music and events to keep your toes tapping for most the holiday month.
Keenly anticipated by music lovers of all ages, Celtic Fusion 2010 will once again unite the best artistes from the traditional and modern music scenes and this year’s line-up promises an uplifting, inspirational festival ‘where music and memories meet’.
The festival will open on a high note with Eddie Reader one of Scotland’s finest singers and most celebrated songwriters, performing at the Lodge Cultural centre on Thursday 15th July. With Eddies lush voice, quiet acoustic arrangements and gentle harmonies this is a not to be missed evening.

On Friday 16th The Lodge cultural centre hosts Mick Hanley and Arty McGlynn two gifted craftsmen at work. Hanly’s unique song-writing and story-telling skills, combined with McGlynn’s tasty virtuosity on guitar make for a very special coming together of two of the stalwarts of the Irish Music scene. Lately, they have rekindled a musical relationship that led to two of Hanly’s best albums, ‘Warts and All’, and ‘Happy Like This’. This show has all the hallmarks of a musical road well travelled.

Sharon Shannon has music at her fingertips….literally! The accordionist has achieved legendary status throughout the world and has made the much-maligned accordion ‘cool’ in her home country. Renowned for her collaborations, not just in Irish traditional music, but through all musical genres, Hip-Hop, Cajun, Country, Classical and rap, Sharon will perform on Saturday 17th.

This rounds off the trio of concerts proudly hosted by the Lodge cultural centre in Castlewellan but there is much more music to be had and back by popular demand are the ‘up close and personal’ gigs in Castlewellan’s local pub venues which enjoyed such a rousing response last year. Guaranteed to ensure intimacy between artiste and audience, these memorable gigs will re-create the intensified atmosphere of true traditional ‘sessions’.

To make Celtic Fusion accessible to all, there’s a number of free events on this year’s programme, including a free Open Air Concert at Main Street, Castlewellan on Sunday 18th July, featuring At The Racket, Donal Lunney’s, as seen on TV band, Cirrus, the winners of the US Battle of the bands “West of Galway” all the way from Florida, USA, street circus performers, Trad Music Session Trail and the non-stop music and craic at the dedicated Festival Bar are also absolutely free, so there’s no excuse. Get yourself down to Castlewellan in July for a fusion of family fun and fantastic entertainment - where music and memories meet!“

For a FREE festival programme, accommodation information or to book tickets contact: Festival Hotline +44 (0)28 4372 2222 and visit our www.celticfusion.co.uk

As Celtic Fusion draws to a close the musical focus switches to the 50th Fleadh Uladh , 18th – 25th July, a feast of traditional music ,dance, competitions and craic! This is the third year that Castlewellan has hosted the event and this year will be even more spectacular with street and pub sessions, open air ceili’s and a major night pageant and breath taking fire work show, checkout the website on www.fleadhuladh.com