September festivals – Rockport Celtic + Lowell Irish
Rockport Celtic Festival – September 10-13
The Annual Rockport Celtic Festival welcomes Celtic culture lovers from throughout New England and the Canadian Maritimes. A continuation of the festival first created by the late radio host Brian O’Donovan, it celebrates the musical traditions of Ireland, Scotland and Celtic nations, as well as New England, Cape Breton and Appalachia. The Festival blends these various roots and branches along with Breton, Quebecois traditions, for a stunning presentation of music that is at once traditional, contemporary and ingenious.
Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist has assembled a veritable all-star cast of musicians from every corner of the Celtic world and beyond. This year’s artists include:
Maeve Gilchrist, artistic director & harp | The Louise Bichan Band | Logan Coale, bass | David Coffin, vocals | Copley Street | Seamus Egan, multi-instrumentalist | Edwin Huizinga & William Coulter (Fire & Grace) | Nuala Kennedy, vocals/flute | Oisín McAuley, fiddle | Alan Murray, guitar, bouzouki & vocals | Lindsay O’Donovan, piano/vocals | Caoimhín Ó Fearghail, uilleann pipes, glute, guitar, bouzouki, vocals | Sam Reider & The Human Hands | Madeleine Rogers, vocals | The Fretless | Trio Oko
Lowell Irish Festival – September 12
The Lowell Irish Festival features a family- friendly and fun-filled day of live Irish music from national, regional, and local acts, Irish-inspired culinary and beverage offerings, artisan vendors, family activities, Irish step dancing, and more. The day-long event is spread out across the Lowell Auditorium grounds – inside and outdoors – and is open to families and groups of all ages free of charge. The festival is considered as one of the Mill City’s great annual cultural events.
This year’s festival is headlined by Joshua Tree, the premier U2 tribute band in New England. Joining Joshua Tree is an exciting lineup of national and local talent, including JD and The Stonemasons, Rebel Collective, The Pourmen, Indiana Stones, Heavey Quinn Step Dancing, Clare Fraser & Simon Lace, Tom O’Carroll, Eamonn Sheehan, Shelagh Rose & Brendan Keenan, and Jimmy Kelly.
For more cultural activities throughout the year, visit Irish Boston’s Calendar of Events.
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