THE GOTHARD SISTERS will perform at Saltwater Celtic Music Festival in at Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick, July 20-21.
In only its third year, Maine’s Saltwater Celtic Music Festival has quickly earned a reputation that attracts one of the largest and most diverse lineups of Celtic musicians in the country. This year promises the festival’s largest lineup ever.
The Boston Herald called Saltwater
“the powerhouse lineup of all the summer festivals,” and suggested “those looking for some jigs with their lobster can head to Brunswick, Maine … for the annual Saltwater Celtic Music Festival at Thomas Point Beach.”
“Maine has deep ties to the traditional Celtic nations, especially to Ireland and Scotland, Wales and Brittany,” said Saltwater founder and promoter Randy Labbe. “Both traditional and contemporary Celtic music have strong followings here, and we believe that Maine is a natural setting and destination for one of the country’s leading Celtic music festivals.”
Recently added to the lineup are the Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps and New York’s Nassau County Fire Fighter’s Pipes and Drums. The groups share a noteworthy bond formed when the Maine corps used its annual fundraiser to support the Nassau County group’s Hurricane Sandy relief effort.
Headlining and making their Maine debuts are The Young Dubliners, whose style blends traditional Irish music with modern rock, and the Pacific Northwest’s Gothard Sisters, champion Irish dancers whose energetic live performances combine Irish step dancing with Celtic arrangements of traditional and popular music.
Returning festival favorites include Canadian Celtic rockers Enter the Haggis, Celtic pop/rock band Screaming Orphans, Quebec’s Raz-de- Maree, Scotland’s Paul McKenna Band, Maeve Gilchrist and the John Byrne Band. Local favorites Naia, The Squid Jiggers and others are also scheduled to perform at Saltwater’s Satellite Events.
Innovative singer, songwriter and harpist Maeve Gilchrist returns to emcee the festival on Saturday, and noted author and John F. Kennedy National Award recipient Kevin O’Hara will once again emcee the Sunday schedule. 2012 Artist-in-Residence and University of Southern Maine professor Michael Shaughnessy will return to supervise art projects and introduce the 2013 Artist-in-Residence, Judy O’Donnell.
One-day tickets are $25, and two-day tickets are $40 when purchased before July 15. Children under 12 are admitted free. Gates open at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 21. Tickets are available online at www.saltwaterfest.com and at Bull Moose locations.
Saltwater satellite events are scheduled at leading area venues during the week leading up to the festival.
Friday, July 19, events will be held at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, and Fisherman’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor.
Some satellite events require a separate ticket. Saltwater satellite event ticket and schedule information is available at www.saltwaterfest.com.
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