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The National Celtic Festival Is Back To Inject Some Culture

6 June 2017 | 3:11 pm | Louis Costello

"I think of it [Celtic] as a broad church and it can include traditional, folk and original music from many Celtic countries throughout the world."

The National Celtic Festival is once again around the corner, which means Celts and Irish/Scottish folk music enthusiasts from around the globe will be storming the small town of Portarlington over the course of the long weekend.

Among the thousands of festival-goers attending (around 15,000 people are expected to cram into the multitude of venues over four days) are bands both traditional and plucked from our own shores. Fiona Dalgetty is part of the organisation Feis Rois, originating from the Highlands of Scotland.

Feis Rois (Scottish Gaelic for 'festival' and 'Ross-Shire') was designed to "provide transformative opportunities for people of all ages to engage with traditional Scottish music and Gaelic culture," Dalgetty explains. "Last year...the organisation provided paid employment to 600+ traditional musicians!"

When asked to explain Celtic music, no one seemed to have a specific definition and Dalgetty described it as a "wide umbrella term." Paul McKenna, a singer-songwriter and fellow Scot from Glasgow, echoed Dalgetty's sentiment, stating "I think of it [Celtic] as a broad church and it can include traditional, folk and original music from many Celtic countries throughout the world."

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Despite its Irish origin, Celtic festivals can be found worldwide (which, considering this particular festival is held in Australia, isn't the most shocking nugget of information). "They are quite common especially in North America and Germany," McKenna explains, himself having played at festivals across the globe.

Huw Williams of the vibrant five-piece Calan, points out that "One of the largest [Celtic festivals] is held in Lorient in Brittany, France — another one of the Celtic countries in Europe".

Calan, uniquely known for all of its members speaking Welsh as their first language (if Gavin & Stacey has taught us anything it's that not even the Welsh speak Welsh), play every possible instrument that would spring to mind when you think 'folk music'.

"Fiddles, whistles, guitar, bagpipes and harp. Also a traditional Welsh instrument called a pigborn made from a wooden pipe and the horns of a bull," Williams lists.

Hailing from across the pond (is 'across the pond' acceptable terminology to use when referencing Ireland and Scotland? TBA) is Northern Irish quintet PORTS. Dubbed by Australian writer Kathy Lette as "the next U2", their debut album is gaining some serious traction. Guitarist Ryan Griffiths divulges, "We've been together for four years and released our debut album, The Devil Is A Songbird, last year and it was shortlisted for album of the year in Northern Ireland."

While Griffiths recommends the Andy Irvine/Paul Brady album as a good starter for those who may be unfamiliar with Celtic music, Australian duo Anna & Jordan take a slightly more mainstream approach.

"Honestly, Ed Sheeran is an awesome artist to listen to if you want to to break into Celtic music. He brings his Celtic roots into the pop scene, and obviously it's working," muses Anna Armstrong (the 'Anna' half of Anna & Jordan if you were wondering.)

You can catch all of the bands between 9-12 Jun when they perform, or, according to Anna, spot them simply strolling around the festival.

"We definitely enjoy wandering around and seeing new things, while exploring new clothing techniques to keep as warm as possible using Queenslander's clothing items."