CeltFest 2011 Sunset & Stars GALA

"The old country can be proud that its fine Celtic traditions have been passed on to such a deserving lot. 10 tartans and shamrocks out of 10"  - Peter Rusland, Cowichan News Leader 

For the eleventh year running, the Celtic cultures merge spectacularly in this CeltFest 2011 Vancouver Island finale, an exciting NEW showcase of world-renowned Celtic musical artists from east to west in Canada and around the world.     

Among them are Champion fiddlers, dancers, pipers, drummers, Juno Award winners--over 30 artists who will be teaching and performing at the CeltFest 2011 international summer school & concert series at Vancouver Island University that week. Just some of the all-star lineup includes: The Outside Track, Creative Scotland's "best pick" 5-piece band, that boasts band member from not only Scotland, but Ireland, and both coasts of Canada, including Mairi Rankin from Cape Breton, and Edinburgh's truly brilliant harpist Ailie Robertson.  The young Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship finalist Trent Freeman, Gold Medallist pipers Alex Gandy from Halifax and Ken Eller from Ontario,as well as Gaelic songstress, Mary Mc Laughlin from Ireland, will grace our stage for the first time. Canadian Folk Music Awards'  nominee, Trish Clair-Peck, from Nanaimo, and pianist-fiddler Geoff Horrocks, from Ontario,  be also be making a first appearance at CeltFest Gala, alongside CeltFest veteran, master Irish Uillean piper, Martin Nolan, and ever-popular BC "local heroes"  Rene Cusson, Alan Walters and John Fisher, who will be returning by popular demand. This year a special feature of the  Gala will be a Tribute to the Military Tattoo with a performance by the Pacific Tattoo Dance Team, comprised of dancers from all over BC.

 Often sold out, this crowd-pleaser event-- widely acknowledged as the best Celtic

variety show in the west--- is not to be missed!  It is one the whole family will enjoy, a guaranteed toe-tapper that will leave you with a smile on your face!

NOTE *Purchase of Sunset & Stars Gala ticket permits  free admission to CeltFestival Club ceilidhs (concert/party) Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights at the VIU cafeteria following performances

Tickets: $33 | Children 12 or under - $25 | Group of 10 or more- $28 each, plus HST& box office fee

For tickets call (250) 754-8550, or go directly to PURCHASE ONLINE or visit 125 Front Street, Nanaimo.

For the COMPLETE CELTFEST experience--all 2011 concert & participatory activities --at a discount, you may purchase, a FestiValue Pass, giving you admission to~

the  Wacky Jig & Hornpipe Contest Family Pub Night,  The Celtic Women II,   PLUS the CeltFest 2011 Sunset & Stars Gala Finale, ceilidhs to follow and special participatory workshops--Go to Buy Concert Tickets for details.