SPANISH PEAKS CELTIC FEST SEPTEMBER 21-24
The GOTHARD SISTERS – FREE – 6th STREET HOOLEY
Friday September 22, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
MINER’S PLAZA 6 th ST, WALSENBURG
Although The Gothard Sisters Sunday (Sept 24) concert at La Veta Mercantile is Sold Out, you can see, hear, and dance with this awesome group throughout the Fest. Check schedules at www.CelticMusicFest.com , and come to the outside concert at Miner’s Plaza for a performance by the Gothard Sisters Friday September 22, 5-6PM! Credit: Ruth H. Photography

DAY 2 (Friday Sept 22) AT SPANISH PEAKS CELTIC FEST (SEPT 21-24 2023)
This is what the Fox Theater in Walsenburg will look like on the second day of the Spanish Peaks Celtic Fest on Friday, September 22, 7:00PM, when The Byrne Brothers (photo above) take to the stage. Other great performers on the bill include Patsy O’Brien , Jerry O’Sullivan, Sean Gavin, Barry Shears, John Williams. (Get You Tickets now at www.CelticMusicFest.com).
After a day of enjoying and learning about music, dance, and traditions throughout the day, what a great show to end the day…. But wait!- the Fun does not stop there!…. Post show Sessions will be at the Crafty Canary, 170 E. 5th St. in Walsenburg and also at La Veta Mercantile, 300 S Main St, La Veta, CO!
Enjoy the rest of the Fest as it continues through Sunday September 24, with much more music, dance, workshops, Demos, with some great people in beautiful Huerfano County. For lists of free and ticketed events go to www.CelticMusicFest.com

Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival this weekend, September 8-10, 2023, at Estes Park’s Fairgrounds Arena.
Featuring, various Celtic rock, folk and traditional musicians, athletic games and pipe bands, as well as jousting and dance competitions!

Experience Scotland at the Denver Polo Club, August 5-6, 2023!

Visit the spirit of Scotland in Colorado’s own backyard at this special event. The St. Andrew Society of Colorado is proud to announce the 59th Annual Colorado Scottish Festival will be held at its new location at the Denver Polo Club, August 5-6, 2023. Coupled with the warm hospitality and sophistication of the Denver Polo Club, this event provides an excellent opportunity to explore several interesting aspects of Scottish culture, traditions and history, while nourishing the community with a variety of engaging experiences.

The festival is a family-oriented, family-friendly event, and although the flavor is Scottish, there’s something for all cultures and every age group. We invite you to get away from the everyday and experience our new home at this high-class oasis, just 30 minutes from downtown Denver. The Denver Polo Club is known for its beautiful grounds on 30 acres, friendly atmosphere and cordial members who help make this the best international club in the area. The club has created many traditions for players and fans alike, and now they will share in helping to foster fond memories for a new summer tradition – hosting the Colorado Scottish Festival.

For the best experience, join the festival’s Thistle Club and get an exclusive VIP Package to enjoy during the entire weekend. The Thistle Club provides a friendly atmosphere featuring Scottish music in the background, complimentary Scottish food and adult beverages, including single malt whisky. Members are treated to a special welcome reception on Saturday morning, private access to a late afternoon reception featuring a performance by our own Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers and close-in, private seating at the outdoor concert Saturday night with the exciting local Celtic rock group, Angus Mohr. In addition, members will receive a commemorative gift, a Tartan Badge, free whisky tastings and a great place to relax and enjoy a pleasurable respite during the festival. Greasaibh oirbh (hurry up), Thistle Club tickets are limited – when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Throughout the weekend, enjoy Scottish athletics, piping and drumming band contests, solo bagpipe and dance competitions/performances, whisky tastings, clans/genealogy, living history, re-enactments, Scottish and Irish music, Celtic merchandise, beer and food vendors, children’s activities, dogs, cars and more. Also, our new location provides an opportunity for the festival to include novel, additional events such as polo and rugby matches. As a special treat, you’ll be able to watch one of the most coveted tournaments in the Denver area, The United States Polo Association Governor’s Cup, where teams compete with passion, grit and intensity. More information will become available on the club’s website as the date draws nearer (denverpoloclub.com).

And with room to grow, the Colorado Scottish Festival hopes to offer even more events and attractions for their 60th anniversary celebration in August of 2024.

The festival’s Scottish Games allow spectators to watch professional and amateur athletes, both women and men, compete for top honors in unique sporting events. Many of the games involve throwing and lifting; collectively known as heavy events, they include the caber toss, weight for height and hammer throw. A plethora of pipers will transport you to Scotland while you take in the sight of dancers flinging and jigging to the enjoyment of everyone. Besides traditional Scottish Highland dance competitions, visitors can observe demonstrations of traditional Irish Step Dancing by the Heritage Irish Stepdancers. After the Parade of Clans, stop by one of the many Clan Tents, where you’ll find plaid-clad docents eager to share their respective history. They will help attendees piece together the twigs and branches of a family tree, trace lineages back to ancient Scottish roots and locate your clan’s unique tartan.

There will be vendors selling all manner of Scottish and Celtic merchandise and crafts. In addition to food vendors, you’ll have an opportunity to savor the famous Scottish dish of haggis, grab yourself a “bellywasher” at the beer tent, or for a bit of great craic, sample a wee dram at one of our Whisky Tastings. Yes, “whisky” is how the Scots spell it, and it’s single-malt Scotch. Purchase your tickets in advance online to reserve your spot for our always-popular whisky tastings, as there is limited availability. The tasting is more of a classroom-like setting where participants sit for about an hour while our whisky concierge and tasting leader (or is that, “litre”?), Buz Dabkowski, will instruct you how to taste, judge flavor profiles, identify aromas and gain a better understanding of “the water of life”. Educate your mind and your palate while having fun. The instructions are fairly simple: “See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor, Repeat”. Our long-time partner and sponsor for the tastings is Edrington Brands, an international spirits company. Edrington’s acclaimed banner of brands include Highland Park, Macallan, Glenrothes Scotch and American Noble Oak Rye.

Observe Highland life from the time of William Wallace through the Jacobite uprising in 1745 through the village setting of the Renaissance Scots Living History Association. The RenScots have been delighting Celtic festival guests with their re-enactments for 23 years. Besides sharing Scottish history, you’ll find demonstrations on heritage crafts such as weaving, leather working, basketmaking, blacksmithing, traditional culinary dishes and traditional Celtic folk music. And for a little more excitement, check out the fighting element of the RenScots, the Wolves of Dunvegan, a skilled display of ancient combat and swordsmanship. They’ll educate the public on their arsenal of broadswords, claymores and other assorted, historic weaponry (renscots.org).

Events of the first day will wrap up with a Highland Rock & Roll concert Saturday night featuring Colorado’s own, Angus Mohr (7-9 p.m., included with admission). Angus Mohr revitalizes traditional Celtic music’s brogue with an American blues accent while rejuvenating rock ’n roll’s broad spectrum with bagpipes and pennywhistles. But their set list is also peppered with songs penned by Dylan, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash and the Ramones. Angus Mohr crosses musical boundaries to pull in a diverse audience where fans steeped in blue collar classic rock, hippies old and young, and grown-up metal heads dance to timeless music about timeless ideas (www.angusmohr.com). Besides the concert, there will be plenty of traditional Scottish and Irish folk music throughout the weekend provided by local musicians such as Avourneen, Nerea the Fiddler, Wolf Loescher, Skean Dubh, Down the Back Lane, Gobs O’Phun and more.

Other events include a Bonnie Knees Contest (Saturday), the Parade of British Dogs (10am both days), and of course, there’s plenty of children’s activities, field events and historical information to keep your wee bairns excited and engaged. And dinnae forget to haste ye back on Sunday morning for the Kirkin’ of the Tartan and Blessing of the Dogs. Afterwards, car enthusiasts can get revved up by our display of British cars on Sunday as well.

Tickets are available at the gate or through the website (www.scottishgames.org) and parking is available at a nominal fee. Join the Colorado Scottish Festival for a fun-filled weekend and a bonnie good time for the entire family!

We can use your help. As a non-profit organization, volunteers are crucial to the success of the Festival. Without this wonderful group of people, it just wouldn’t happen. If you would like to volunteer your time on the committee or at the Festival, let us know your interests and we’ll find the best fit for you. Please visit our website and click on the “Volunteer” button, or email [email protected]

SPONSORS: Denver Polo Club, Renaissance Scots, Edrington Brands, Scottish Kings Gin, Belhaven Scotch Ale, SCFD, Men in Kilts and Renewal by Anderson, with more to be announced as the festival draws nearer.

FESTIVAL DATES & TIMES: August 5-6, 2023; 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday

LOCATION: Denver Polo Club, 6359 Airport Road, Sedalia, CO 80135

ADMISSION FEES AND PARKING:
For information regarding ticket costs, parking, or to order advance tickets online, please visit www.scottishgames.org

Gaelic Storm
Boulder Theater
2032 14th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
FRI JUN 23, 2023 – 8:00 PM Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Ages: All Ages
Advance Tickets $22.50 – $27.50 at:
https://www.axs.com/events/476083/gaelic-storm-tickets?skin=bouldertheater
by phone at (303)-786-7030 or online at www.bouldertheater.com
Door Price: Starting from: $27.50

Chart topping Celtic band: 7 times billboard #1 world music, on tour 200+ days a year
for 20+ years! More fun than a barrel of drunken monkeys.
It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but
that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. This multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows
stronger with each live performance, and as you can imagine, after two decades and over
2000 shows, it is a true force to be reckoned with. With their latest release, Go Climb a
Tree, their music has never sounded more representative of themselves as musicians
and as live performers.
The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a
well-diversified crowd for sure. The country-music folks adore the storytelling, the
bluegrass-heads love the instrumentals, Celtic fans love their devotion to tradition, and
the rockers simply relish the passion they play their instruments with. Each band
member, in their own way, expresses a deep gratitude for their fans, but it’s best
summed up in the words of Patrick Murphy: “The fans are the ones that have given us
this life. We’re here for them.”
On Go Climb a Tree, co-founders of Gaelic Storm, Steve Twigger and Patrick Murphy,
along with longtime friend and co-writer Steve Wehmever, are again at the helm of
song-writing duties. The album has everything —party drinking songs (“The Beer
Song”), patriotic anthems (“Green, White and Orange”), beautiful folk songs (“Monday
Morning Girl”), spritely instrumentals “”The Night of Tomfoolery”), perfectly poppy
songs (“Shine On”), and even a raucous pirate song (“Shanghai Kelly”). When speaking
of the overall concept of the album, Patrick Murphy gives some insight: “With all the
craziness and division in the world, we wanted to make an album about ‘contemplative
escapism.’ Go Climb a Tree certainly isn’t about dropping out of the conversation, it’s
just about taking a short hiatus to recharge the batteries before you take on the world
again.”
Gaelic Storm takes a true blue-collar, hard-nose approach to touring, consistently
traveling the US and internationally over 200 days a year, forging a unique path in the
Celtic music world. “You have to see us live. We are the true working-mans’ band,” says
Ryan Lacey, who joined the lineup in 2003. “We still, and most likely always will, tour
most of the year, and that’s how we constantly hone our craft.”
The dedication to live shows date all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Gaelic Storm
kicked off its career as a pub band in Santa Monica, California. Due to their discovery at
the pub, by the end of the decade, the musicians had appeared in the blockbuster film
Titanic (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class”). This laid the groundwork
for a career that would eventually find them topping the Billboard World Chart six
times, making appearances at mainstream music festivals, and regularly headlining the
largest Irish Festivals across the country, all the while gaining a reputation as a
genre-bending Irish rock band, whose songs mix Celtic traditions with something
uniquely creative.

Also perform in Colorado at:
Aggie Theater in Fort Collins, Thursday June 22 , 8pm, https://www.axs.com/events/476780/gaelic-storm-tickets
Whittle the Wood Rendezvous , Craig, CO, Saturday June 24

Pikes Peak Celtic Festival June 16-18, Western Museum of Mining & Industry, Colorado Springs, CO TICKETS SOLD ONLINE ONLY- No tickets will be sold at the festival. Various pricing depending on Day pass,Weekend pass, and Age. Entertainment schedule online (Enter the Haggis pictured). Tickets and info: https://pikespeakcelticfestival.com
Fest email: [email protected]

SKERRYVORE – The Tempus Tour 2023
In concert, Wednesday, April 12 , 7:30pm. Doors at 6:30pmAt Soiled Dove Underground 7401 E. 1st Ave Denver, CO 80230
$25 advance reserved seats/ tables available at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skerryvore-tickets-513262340477
or www.soileddove.com or call 303-830-9214.
(Free parking. Food and drink available upstairs at the Tavern at Lowry prior to show)All Ages show (Under 21 with Parent or Legal Guardian).

Take two brothers, Daniel (Accordion) and Martin Gillespie (pipes, whistles and accordion), steeped in the Scottish west coast ceilidh tradition on the Isle of Tiree, and add in friends Fraser West (drums) and Alec Dalglish (guitar and vocals), with a background in brass bands, wind bands, jazz bands, and with blues, folk and country influences, and you have the 2005, embryonic Skerryvore. Fast forward 10 years, add Craig Espie (fiddle) and Jodie Bremaneson (bass), bring in your album producer Alan Scobie on Keyboards and mix in the Glasgow music scene – from University Applied Music courses and Traditional Music courses at the Royal Conservatoire to sell out gigs at O2 ABC – and you have a band that has already won Scottish Traditional music’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ in 2011 – they were to win it again in 2016 – and who, rightly, celebrated their decade by launching their own 6000 capacity festival.
By the time the 2019 version of that festival – now christened ‘Oban Live’ – comes around, that evolutionary development will have added BBC young traditional musician of the year finalist Scott Wood (pipes and whistles), produced ‘EVO,’ their latest album, and the curtain will have fallen on their EVO world tour which took their high energy, musically expansive set not just throughout UK and Europe, but also to USA, Canada and Australia. Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music, with a growing fan base worldwide including Denver, Colorado. Skerryvore is celebrating the release of their new album Tempus which will be available at their concert.
The Pipes (drums, guitars, fiddles, accordions, whistles) are calling!

All the best, Pat [email protected] www.CelticConnection.com https://www.facebook.com/celtic.rockies

Colorado Tartan Day Festival April 8-9, (Open at 9a. Close 5p Sat, 4p Sun)at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. This free event will have plenty of vendors, Angus Mohr, Gobs O’Phun, more music, clans and Renaissance Scots Living History for your fun and enjoyment.

SKERRYVORE – The Tempus Tour 2023
8 Lads from Scotland…
In concert, Wednesday, April 12, 7:30pm. Doors at 6:30pm
At Soiled Dove Underground 7401 E. 1st Ave Denver, CO 80230
$25 advance reserved seats/ tables available at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skerryvore-tickets-513262340477
or www.soileddove.com or call 303-830-9214.
(Free parking. Food and drink available upstairs at the Tavern at Lowry prior to show)
All Ages show (Under 21 with Parent or Legal Guardian).
Take two brothers, Daniel (Accordion) and Martin Gillespie (pipes, whistles and accordion), steeped in the Scottish west coast ceilidh tradition on the Isle of Tiree, and add in friends Fraser West (drums) and Alec Dalglish (guitar and vocals), with a background in brass bands, wind bands, jazz bands, and with blues, folk and country influences, and you have the 2005, embryonic Skerryvore. Fast forward 10 years, add Craig Espie (fiddle) and Jodie Bremaneson (bass), bring in your album producer Alan Scobie on Keyboards and mix in the Glasgow music scene – from University Applied Music courses and Traditional Music courses at the Royal Conservatoire to sell out gigs at O2 ABC – and you have a band that has already won Scottish Traditional music’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ in 2011 – they were to win it again in 2016 – and who, rightly, celebrated their decade by launching their own 6000 capacity festival.
By the time the 2019 version of that festival – now christened ‘Oban Live’ – comes around, that evolutionary development will have added BBC young traditional musician of the year finalist Scott Wood (pipes and whistles), produced ‘EVO,’ their latest album, and the curtain will have fallen on their EVO world tour which took their high energy, musically expansive set not just throughout UK and Europe, but also to USA, Canada and Australia. Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music, with a growing fanbase worldwide including Denver, Colorado. Skerryvore is celebrating the release of their new album Tempus which will be available at their concert.
The Pipes (drums, guitars, fiddles, accordions, whistles) are calling!

Rodger Hara, one of the DJs of Seolta Gael on KGNU Radio every Wednesday night 7-8pm ( 88.5 FM Boulder, 1390 AM Denver, www.kgnu.org streaming live) interviewed Alec form Skerryvore last week prior to the bands April 12 concert at The Soiled Dove in Denver. Listen at this link:
https://aa.kgnu.net/audioarchives/SeoltaGael/2023/SeoltaGael_2023-04-05.mp3?x-kgnu=after-fm-download

Denver Gaels will be recruiting Saturday April 8, 10A-2P Ralston Rec Area 64th & Simms, Arvada
Mens, womens. and youth teams. No Experience Necessary!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023 AT 6 PM Free Event -Rocky MTN PBS presents a Prescreening and Panel Discussion: The Lost Irish Miners of Leadville
Old Church of Leadville, Northwest corner of 8th and Harrison

Colorado Dulcimer festival this May 5 and 6, at St James Presbyterian Church in Littleton
(workshops and concerts https://coloradodulcimerfestival.com )

Scottish Fiddle Club of Colorado’s Spring Concert!
Saturday, May 13, 2pm, St. Philip Lutheran Church 7531 South Kendall Blvd., Littleton, CO 80128
COST: FREE Come enjoy the fiddle, dance and vocal music of Scotland, Ireland and America performed by some of the best professional, amateur and student fiddlers in Colorado. www.scotsfiddle.org www.facebook.com/ScotsfiddleColorado/ Questions to [email protected] or 303-234-0469.

Elders at Soiled Dove – May 26 8pm
Gaelic Storm : Aggie Theater in Fort Collins, Thursday June 22 , 8pm, https://www.axs.com/events/476780/gaelic-storm-tickets
Boulder Theater, Boulder, Friday June 23
Whittle the Wood Rendezvous , Craig, CO, Saturday June 24

John Doyle, The Byrne Brothers, Winifred Horan, Gothard Sisters, Bowtides and more will be teaching and performing at the Spanish Peaks Celtic Festivals September 21-24, 2023. Look for more information soon at www.celticmusicfest.com

All the best, Pat [email protected] www.CelticConnection.com https://www.facebook.com/celtic.rockies

www.durangocelticfestival.com

Celtic Connection/Celtic Events are delighted to present TALISK in their Denver debut Saturday, March 25 7:30pm (6:30 pm doors)
at the Soiled Dove Underground in Denver. Opening the evening will be very Special Guest, comedian Dr. Kevin FitzGerald,
Reserve your seats/ tables in advance at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talisk-tickets-506711737447 or by phone at 303-830-9214
(All ages show -under 21 with guardian)
Critics are raving about TALISK: “Extraordinary” -BBC Radio 2
“Doubling the power of three”- The Scotsman
“incredible!” – Rolling Stone
“an exciting sound that, in this case literally, drags an audience out of its seats.” – The Glasgow Herald
“Stunning! They were amazing – it was a love fest all round!” – Philadelphia Folk Festival

Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year 2018), Graeme Armstrong and Benedict Morris (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019) fuse concertina, guitar and fiddle to produce a truly innovative, multi-layered signature that has captivated audiences around the globe. At its core, three seemingly acoustic instruments – but in the hands of three master craftsmen; one unmistakable, bold sound and a captivating live show.
Alongside extensive touring, Talisk have stacked up major awards for their explosively energetic, artfully woven sound – including Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, and the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation. Appearances at leading festivals across multiple continents have amassed a die-hard following – including closing out Saturday night’s main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysian Borneo, WOMADs UK, Chile and Las Palmas, Edmonton Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, three back-to-back years at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and six appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.

Note: The Soiled Dove Underground is located at 7401 E. 1st Ave Denver. Parking is free and food will available upstairs at the Tavern at Lowry before the show. Doors to the Dove will open one hour before show time with a bar and limited menu.
General venue information/tickets at www.SoiledDove.com
Celtic Connection/Events 303-777-0502