Scraps Of Mind

The Kilmore Celtic Festival

The last weekend in June is always a standard booking in my calendar for the Kilmore Celtic Festival. I wrote about this last year and each year it just keeps getting better.

I enjoy Folk Festivals as a matter of principal. They always have a great vibe and I get to hear some wonderful and diverse music from acts I would not be able to watch elsewhere. But the Kilmore Celtic Festival is always special for me.

The event starts on Friday evening with a dinner and a free Celtic Old Time Dance and ends on Sunday with a Celtic Banquet including entertainment from a number of the Festival performers. And in between there’s Saturday!

Saturday is the main game. Starting with the traditional Poet’s Breakfast from 8am, the Festival performances start rolling out across three venues from 10am till 7pm. Followed by an evening Concert featuring many of the Festival headline acts.

Once again Allan and I rugged up warm in preparation for the traditional Kilmore Festival weather and headed 60km up the Hume Highway for our folkie fix. We were a bit disconcerted then when the weather turned out to be quite mild (for Kilmore in June); the only brief shower occurring whilst we were indoors watching an act. It felt a bit unKilmore-ish.

Fortunately we got over it and hopped into the music. Some of our favourite acts were there, including the inimitable Ced le Meledo and his band Bric-a-Brac, with their exciting blend of Louisiana , Quebec , Brittany , North African, Medieval and Cajun music, and Ced’s jokes delivered in his wonderful French accent. Another favourite of ours Braemar.  The duo that’s now a trio, played their great repertoire of traditional Scottish music. Their kilts combining with the height of the stage to raise the blood pressure of some of the ladies in the front row.

A performer that we heard for the very first time was Maria Forde. An Irish Australian (”packaged in Ireland, Delivered in Australia”) performing a great mix of traditional songs and her own compositions. And what a voice! Maria performed a number of songs, including Amazing Grace, without any musical accompaniment — always a great quality test for a voice. Absolutely superb.

Mandy and Helen performed a great set with a mix of traditional and their own compositions. Follow the link to hear a sample of their stuff. Mandy and I used to work together in another life so it was great to catch up with her and hear her play.

And the last act we caught, before heading off to Elaine and Greg’s place for a scrumptious dinner and a few wines, was Claymore. Claymore is a sensational Celtic Rock Band. They play fabulous music and are a wonderfully entertaining band to watch. They perform a mixture of traditional Scottish and Irish music with modern Celtic rock thrown into the mix for good measure.

So if you enjoy a bit of Celtic flavour to your music, check out the bands’ sites and sample some of their wares. I think you’ll enjoy.

And to everyone who lives in Melbourne or environs, I heartily recommend that you mark the last weekend in June in next year’s calendar and get yourself along to the Kilmore Celtic Festival. If you can’t make it for the whole weekend, get along for the Saturday. It’s a great value day.

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Celebration of Celtic-ness