Full Schedule of Exciting Events
Unveiled for CelticFest Vancouver
 LÚNASA has become one of the most sought-after bands on the international Celtic music scene. Based in Ireland, the band will perform this year at the Edgewater Casino CelticFest in Vancouver. |
VANCOUVER - The full schedule is now in place for the biggest and most exciting annual Celtic celebration in western Canada. From March 11 to 15, the sixth annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest Vancouver will feature some of the world's best singers, instrumentalists, dancers and spoken word performers along with some of Scotland's best uisge beatha "water of life."
More than 60 events are scheduled at 10 popular venues and two outdoor stages in downtown Vancouver.
This year's headliners come from across Canada and Ireland and include Ashley MacIsaac, Lúnasa (Ireland), the Duhks, Daniel Lapp, and The Paperboys together with Puro Son in a groundbreaking Celtic-Cuban Salsa concert.
The festival's 2009 Official Host is Irish-American comedian Maureen Langan who boasts an impressive array of live performances across North America and numerous television credits.
This year is the 250th anniversary of the birth of the great Scottish poet Robbie Burns and actor and writer John Hardie will perform his new play, King o' Men in tribute.
Other festival highlights include the annual Whisky Kiss Scotch tasting event at Morrissey Irish House (with added premium Irish whiskey samples), the lively Battle of the Bards - A Literary Pub Crawl, plus the traditional and interactive Great Big Session, free music workshops at Tom Lee Music, and free live concerts at the weekend's Celtic Village and at downtown pubs through the festival.
"One look at the 2009 CelticFest lineup will whet the appetite of all popular music fans," says CelticFest Artistic Director Tim Readman. "We're also proud to bring you the best of our local Celtic musicians. Our free musical workshops at Tom Lee Music will feature some instruments we've not had before, including the Celtic harp, piano accordion, bouzouki and bones.
"And there's much more than music. We are really excited about our Robbie Burns 250th Birthday Stage Play and Tribute show with the marvelous one man play King o' Men.
"We have a brilliant festival MC in Maureen Langan, a New York based Irish-American comedian who will make you laugh your socks off.
 IRISH-AMERICAN comedian Maureen Langan is the festival's 2009 Official Host. |
"The Scotch tasting event, A Whisky Kiss is incredible value and not to be missed.
"Our take on Dublin's literary pub crawl, The Battle of the Bards, now in its second year, is a tour of Granville Street's best Irish pubs, a poetry slam and a celebration of the greatest Irish and Scots poets all in one.
"And when you factor in all the free family and children's events which will take place in our Celtic Village Market on Saturday and Sunday, it's clear there is something for everyone to enjoy!"
The majority of CelticFest Vancouver events are offered free of charge, and this year two-thirds of the events will offer free admission.
The largest and most popular free event, the sixth annual St. Patrick's Day parade will travel a new route this year along Georgia Street from Broughton to Howe on March 15.
The Georgia Street route will offer more room for the estimated annual crowd of at least 350,000, as over 80 parade entries with 2,000 participants take to the streets.
The parade includes pipers, drummers, Celtic music groups, the Vancouver police drill team and fire brigades, stilt walkers, collector cars, Irish and Scottish dancers, multi-ethnic groups and much more.
Pre-parade entertainment starts at 10 AM and there will be free live entertainment presented after the parade and throughout the weekend at the Celtic Village.
There will be some road closures and transit re-routing associated with the parade, full details are available on the festival website at: www.celticfestvancouver.com.
The Celtic Village will be staged on March 14 and 15, and due to construction activity on Granville Street the Village moves to a new home this year on the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (Georgia & Howe Streets).
 THE PAPERBOYS' Juno-Award winning music has never stopped evolving. Tom Landa's band still includes plenty of original Celtic sounds in its eclectic repertoire, but there's much more on offer these days. The band will team up with Puro Son in a groundbreaking Celtic-Cuban Salsa concert at the sixth annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest Vancouver. |
This colourful annual event includes the Celtic Street Market with its beautiful wares and tasty food, and continuous free music performances, medieval sword fighting demonstrations, Irish storytelling, face painting and other interactive entertainment for the family over the weekend.
There are also free weekday lunchtime concerts on the Plaza at Granville Square, as well as free music and dance performances at participating pubs and clubs in Vancouver's Entertainment District throughout the festival.
For full information and ticket purchase for all concerts, visit www.celticfestvancouver.com. Tickets are also available through Tickets Tonight by calling (604) 684-2787, or in person at the Tickets Tonight outlet, located in the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, Plaza Level (200 Burrard Street).
Tickets for the Vogue Theatre event (The BIG St. Pat's Night Out! with Ashley MacIsaac, Lúnasa and Maureen Langan) are available through Ticketmaster at (604) 280-4444 and at www.celticfestvancouver.com.
Festival Program Guides are now available at most 7-Eleven outlets throughout the Lower Mainland and at participating venues.
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