CELTIC Fusion’s launch on Saturday evening featured the great Dougie MacLean from Scotland, who got full audience participation with his well-known song Caledonia and many other hits.
It’s now all systems go for the Celtic Fusion International Musical Arts Festival 2012, which takes place over the weekend from Friday, 29 until Sunday, July 1.
With top traditional act Guidewires, on Friday, June 29, Sharon Shannon and her band on Saturday, June 30 and top acts from Canada, USA and Ireland all day Sunday, Castlewellan gets the summer off to a flying start.
Guidewires are the hottest trad act on the scene today and have an all-star line-up including Pádraig Rynne, Breton`s Sylvain Barou, Tóla Custy on fiddle and Paul McSherry.
Sharon Shannon is winning awards and touring globally (with hits such as The Galway Girl) and is not to be missed in Castlewellan having sold out many times over in 2010.
Viper Central from Canada completes the paid gigs on Sunday with old time Bluegrass hits and a barn-burning tempo.
Sunday is largely free and open air with a fabulous marching band parade at 1.30pm followed by top acts including Ioscaid, winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, Mike Donaghy, Ashley Fayth and I See Hawks in LA.
The festival is run by the local community with support from Down Council and top music sessions can be enjoyed in Maginns, Mulhollands and The Kings Inn all weekend.
Visit www.celticfusion.co.uk for more details.
To purchase tickets phone 028 4461 0747 or call into the Newcastle Tourist Information Centre or JRs Discount store in Castlewellan.