Every June I look forward to the Potomac Celtic Festival because it provides me the opportunity to enjoy celtic music, arts and crafts, story telling, and cultural organizations. For a year or two, the festival shrank from two days to one. This year it was back to two days, and they were both fabulous.
I hadn’t really planned to attend both days. I thought Saturday would be enough, but at the end of the day, I asked if I could pay the “two day” price and return the next day. The gate workers (all volunteers, of course) agreed and sold me the rest of the reduced price two-day ticket so I could return on Sunday.
My personal goals for the festival always include listening to lots of great music, but usally also include a purchase or two — usually either a new item of fabulous celtic pottery or jewelry. I won’t say which I purchased, but I will say it was from a vendor I’ve bought from before and he was gracious enough to give me a return customer discount. I’m very pleased with my purchase, too.
My other really big goal was to use at least part of my time each day working on my current manuscript so that I could have fun AND get more work done on one of the two books I’ve written and am now revising. Each day, I found a good spot in a particular tent, set myself up and stayed there most of the day. It was so ridiculously hot that I counted myself lucky to find spots both days near one of the large fans they had in all the music tents.
Saturday I camped out in the pub tent and listened to a steady stream of mostly local performers. It was a treat of traditional celtic music all day long! Lilt, Edsall Road, and Cuil Mor all gave great performances that kept me rollicking through my manuscript as I bounced in my chair to the music.
Sunday was less crowded (and hotter), so I spent the day in the Main Stage tent. I was treated to fun performances by Tinsmith, Iona, Billy McComiskey, Laura Byrne & Pat Egan, and lastly, by Liz Carroll and John Doyle. I’ve seen Tinsmith and Iona many times. I always enjoy their performances and have their CDs, but McComiskey, Byrne & Egan, and Carroll and Doyle were new treats for me.
I consider Liz Carroll and John Doyle to be my “find” of the weekend. I cannot believe I didn’t know them by name until this weekend, because their music is fabulous! Their original compositions are so traditional in structure that they sound like oldies, but performed with the nuances that only professionally trained musicians can manage. As you might imagine, I bought their CD before I left that afternoon and enjoyed it the entire drive home that evening.
I am already excited about next year’s Potomac Celtic Festival and wondering what new music I might find!
