Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present a Celtic Music Festival featuring Cantrip, House of Hamill, and Hildaland, as part of the 2023 Next Stage “Bandwagon Summer Series,” on Sunday, August 13 at 4:00 pm at Scott Farm in Dummerston, VT. The triple bill features multi-instrumentalists and singers from both sides of the Atlantic who expand the boundaries of traditional Celtic music with original songs and tunes, innovative arrangements, and lush three-part harmonies.
Twilight Music and Next Stage Production Director Barry Stockwell notes that “the stars lined up for this Bandwagon event, with these three phenomenal bands all passing through New England and available to perform on the same day. They’re all breaking new musical ground, enhancing traditional Celtic music with elements of other musical genres – a magical mix of the old and the new.”
From the strong base of its Celtic roots, Cantrip branches out into the music of other European cultures. With swirling border pipes, raging fiddles, thunderous guitar, and four rich voices, Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Eric McDonald, and Alasdair White take audiences on a cultural journey, putting their own spin on each musical style. The band name is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell, or piece of mischief, and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in the quartet’s musical arrangements as well as the compelling potency of their musicianship. Sprung from a local music session in Edinburgh, Scotland nearly 20 years ago, Cantrip has toured throughout Scotland and the US and released six CDs.
Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding three-part harmonies to traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note. Rose Baldino, Brian Buchanan, and Caroline Browning also are half of the Toronto-based Celtic-rock band Enter The Haggis.
Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana (USA) mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken winds through Scottish, oldtime, and Swedish inspired music intertwined with contemporary compositions. Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly.
Scott Farm is located at 707 Kipling Road in Dummerston, VT. Tickets are $20 Advance / $25 At the Door, and kids under 12 are free. For advance tickets and more information, visit nextstagearts.org. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar, and food by Crossroads Tacos and Vermont Gelato will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating on the lawn.