October 5th – 13th, 2012
www.celtic-colours.com

2011 was a banner year for the Celtic Colours International Festival. Celebrating its 15th year, the Cape Breton Island-wide event partnered with 130 non-profit organizations and venues to present more than 300 performers in 45 concerts and 298 Community Cultural Experience events. More than 2,000 volunteers contributed almost 27,000 hours toward making the event a success. Held in 76 communities, the Festival attracted visitors from all Canadian provinces, 50 US states and territories, and 19 other countries. 18,323 tickets were sold, and more than 12,000 people attended Community Cultural Experience events. An additional 6,649 people from all over the world tuned in to the Festival as nine concerts were streamed live online.
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September 6th – 9th, 2012

www.gignthebann.com

Now in its thirteenth year the Portglenone Cross Cultural Music and Dance Festival has established itself as one of the premier and much anticipated events on the festival calendar. It has evolved into an annual event that is attended by people from the locality, from the length and breadth of Ireland and from as far as away as Canada and the USA. The festival has built a reputation for offering a highly impressive line – up of top performers spanning Traditional, Scottish and Folk Music circles.
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July 16th – 21st, 2012

www.sssschool.org

Nestled at the foot of the Ox Mountains, with easy access from all parts of the country and only a fifteen minute drive from Ireland West International Airport, the south Sligo town of Tubbercurry is the setting for the 26th South Sligo Summer School of traditional music, song & dance this July. Classes are held each morning in several traditional instruments including fiddle, flute, tin whistle, harp, concertina, uilleann pipes, traditional guitar, traditional keyboard accompaniment, banjo, bodhrán and piano & button accordians. Singing classes in sean nós and traditional styles are available also and include a focus on mouth music/lilting. (more…)

June 29th – July 1st, 2012

www.celticfusion.co.uk

The Celtic Fusion International Musical Arts Festival 2012 comes early to Castlewellan in County Down, Northern Ireland for its eleventh memorable year. Celtic Fusion will take place over the weekend from Friday 29th June until Sunday 1st July and this year the main event is preceded by Celtic Fusion Showcase on 26th May when Dougie MacLean (Caledonia etc…) makes a welcome return to launch the festival. With Guidewires on Friday 29th June, Sharon Shannon on Saturday and top acts from Canada all day Sunday, Castlewellan gets your summer off to a flying start.
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June 1st – 17th, 2012
www.galwaysessions.com

A cultural agreement was signed on March 16th by Mayor Hildegarde Naughton and Provost Fergus Wood cementing the growing relationship between Galway and Stirling. The joint festival, now in its 3rd year will take place in both cities over a two week period from June 1st - 17th, 2012.
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www.westlandstudiosdublin.com

Westland Studios, known for its history, client list and crucial role in the Irish music industry since 1976 has recently had a new lease of life with updated equipment and staff. “Many people thought I was crazy taking over Westland last year and although it’s definitely been hard work, the support from former clients has been fantastic.” says new manager and producer Alwyn Walker. “When I took on the studio, I wasn’t aware of the extent of its heritage, but I keep seeing it in photos and films and it’s a nice feeling to think that we’re continuing that.”
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www.museum.gov.ns.ca

The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society has created Stóras na h-Òigridh (Treasures of Youth) a fund to ensure that cultural skills based on Gaelic traditions continue to flourish with the youth of Nova Scotia.

The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support and assistance to up-and-coming Nova Scotia youth between the ages of five and twenty-one, who are keen to advance their skills in the Gaelic tradition including: fiddle, pipes, piano, language, storytelling, song, and step dance.
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www.timedey.co.uk

An evening in Manchester at Salford’s Media Village for this year’s BBC folk awards, has certainly left Tim Edey with a smile on his face! The Multi-instrumentalist and Composer, being no stranger to the worldwide folk music scene over these past 15 years, picked up the coveted award for Musician of the Year. (more…)

May 9th – 13th, 2012, Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland
www.fiddlefair.com

The remarkable festival that is the Baltimore Fiddle Fair celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and promises to be a very special birthday party. From humble beginnings in 1992 this unique festival has grown a little in size and a lot in stature, and is now a key fixture on Irish and international music calendars. To celebrate this landmark edition they have invited back some of their favourite acts from the past 20 years to showcase wonderfully varied and eclectic music that is the heart of this festival. The result is a programme that is truly astounding. (more…)

The Solo Album From Fionnuala Gill
OUT FRIDAY, 27TH APRIL 2012
www.fionnualagill.com

Available from Celticnote.com, stores nationwide, IrishMusicShop.ie, iTunes and other digital outlets.

From founding member of internationally acclaimed Anúna, to lead vocalist of phenomenally successful Riverdance to performing with Eurovision-winning Secret Garden to solo career – Fionnuala Gill is an accomplished and versatile artist.   Fionnuala Gill releases her solo album WHISPERS OF LOVE on Friday, 27th April 2012.
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