Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Kilted Concerts

Highland Games Present Traditional and Modern Celtic Music

Story by Anna Oakes

Fast, raucous and beat-driven; tender, hauntingly beautiful and enchanting; and simple, folky and uplifting—all of these descriptors fit the music of the Scots. Flutes, bagpipes, drums, fiddles, guitars and other instruments, as well as the voice, are common in the Scottish musical tradition, and the genres attributed to Appalachia owe a lot to Scottish influence.

The music of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games pays homage to the traditional styles of the past, but also features modern Celtic as well as Appalachian musical styles. Most of the music takes place at MacRae Meadows at Grandfather Mountain, but additional music events will be located at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk and the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone.
Once only a secondary part of the Highland Games, musical entertainment has become a key attraction at the annual gathering, said Donovan Murray, director of concert production for the games.

“It’s come a long way since the early days,” Murray said. “It’s become much more of a draw in the last few years and is probably as much of a reason to be there as the other parts.”

On Thursday, traditional Celtic music will accompany the picnic in MacRae Meadows at 4:30 p.m.

Three Celtic Groves, surrounded by trees and boulders, provide live music from about 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at MacRae Meadows. The first Celtic Grove stage is reserved for traditional Celtic music, the second features Celtic rock and the third Grove features Celtic music with a strong bluegrass influence. Access to the Groves is available with general admission to the festival.

The Alex Beaton Stage, located behind clan tents 2-66 and 2-68, features Alex Beaton, the most popular and successful Scottish folk singer in North America. He will perform on the stage throughout the day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
From 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Friday is the Celtic Jam concert at MacRae Meadows, where attendees can hear most of the bands performing throughout the weekend. Each performer plays about a 30-minute set. For those not attending the Highland Games during the day, tickets to the Celtic Jam are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Locals wishing to attend the Highland Games for a day might favor Friday, when crowds are smaller and a majority of the weekend’s acts are performing, Murray said. “Fridays are a good day, especially for people in this region,” he said.

A concert and sing-a-long called a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), celebrating Scottish folk music, dance and folklore, will be held from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Lees-McRae College Hayes Auditorium in Banner Elk Friday and Saturday. Tickets, sold at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

The Scottish Country Dance Gala takes place from 8:00 p.m. to midnight on Friday at Lees-McRae’s Williams Gymnasium. Those who wish to take lessons in the traditional ballroom dances pay $20. Admission for spectators is $3. Tickets will be sold at the door.

On Saturday night at MacRae Meadows is the Celtic Rock Concert, a high-energy event featuring bands Coyote Run, Mother Grove, Barleyjuice, The Killdares and Albannach.

For those not attending the festival during the day, the Celtic Rock Concert is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Although parking is prohibited at MacRae Meadows during the day on Saturday, free parking is available at the field for the Celtic Rock Concert on a first-come basis. If satellite parking becomes necessary, a shuttle service will be provided.

From 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, a Piping Concert takes place in the Trillium Room at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone. Tickets, available at the door, are $10.

Alex Beaton & Friends perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Trillium Room at the Broyhill Inn. Tickets at the door are $10.

On Sunday, music continues to be featured at the Celtic Groves, at the 9:00 a.m. Worship Service, at the Parade of Tartans, taking place between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. after worship, and at the 4:00 p.m. closing ceremonies.

For a full schedule or more info, call 828-733-1333, click to www.gmhg.org or visit the Highland Games headquarters at 4210 Highway 221 in Linville.

The Musicians

The Highland Games is one of the most sought-after venues for performers of Celtic music. Each year, event organizers invite new artists as well as fan favorites to take the Grandfather Mountain stages.

Some of the traditional Celtic performers are folksinger Ed Miller and The Blessed Blend, a duo that blends Native American and Celtic music, creating a harmony of tribal sounds from two indigenous cultures. Jim Malcolm, originally from Perthshire and Angus, Scotland, began his career when he hosted the open stage at the Edinburgh Folk Festival. Today after his seventh solo album, Malcolm continues entertaining fans and has been dubbed the “new male voice of Scotland.”

Coyote Run from Williamsburg, Va., has been described as having “the take no prisoners approach to Celtic music.” This will be the third Grandfather Games for the group that performs new music inspired by the rich heritages of Celtic, Appalachian, folk and maritime traditions. The Killdares call Dallas home, but their music belongs just as much in the highlands of Scotland. The blend of driving beat, raw vocals, excellent fiddling and unique instruments gives The Killdares an unforgettable sound and a sensational live show.

Also returning to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is Winchester, England’s Colin Grant-Adams, now of Edinburgh, Scotland. Adams was exposed at a young age to the Scottish culture that would shape his career.

Known for having endless personality and musical expertise, Barleyjuice from Philadelphia is making waves throughout the Celtic community and will return to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games once again to wow spectators.

Mother Grove, from Noblesville, Ind., entertains its audience with high-energy kilt rock. Their music ranges from soaring ballads to raucous pub tunes to “rocked-up” traditional songs. Mother Grove’s lyrics are witty, insightful and downright fun.

Glasgow, Scotland’s Albannach, sporting medieval kilts, tattoos and animal skins, encourages audiences to “Keep it Tribal!” The Pictish drumming and energetic piping call to anyone with the soul of a Scot.