From The Chronicle Herald

Celtic Colours International Festival will roll out the welcome mat for some of the event's favourite performers during the 2010 edition, taking place across Cape Breton Island from Oct. 8 to 16.

Now in its 14th year, Celtic Colours will be a homecoming for Cape Breton artists like Natalie MacMaster and Bruce Guthro, both of whom haven't performed at the festival in a couple of years, as well as familiar guests from overseas like Irish fiddler Liz Doherty and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser.

"It will be nice to welcome back some artists who have spent considerable time in Cape Breton and feel at home on the island," says festival artistic director Joella Foulds in a news release.

This year's peformers will also include Scottish guitarist Tony McManus, Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant, Irish flute player and Gaelic singer Nuala Kennedy and Irish-American guitarist-singer-songwriter John Doyle.

Natalie MacMaster, Rita MacNeil, Bruce Guthro and Mary Jane Lamond will perform during nine-day festival

By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Celtic Colours International Festival is taking a page from the songbook of the late John Allan Cameron who declared his "first and last thoughts" were of home, in the still widely-known and loved song, Heading for Halifax.

Festival officials announced the 2010 lineup Thursday night during A Taste of Celtic Colours concert that took place at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race celebrations. The concert featured performances by J.P. Cormier, the Colin Grant Band, Buddy MacDonald, Rachel Davis and Lewis MacKinnon, who will all take part in the 14th annual festival, set for Oct. 8-16 at venues across Cape Breton.

(Sydney, NS) Celtic Colours International Festival unveiled their line-up for 2010 during a concert Thursday night at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney.

"We're celebrating 'home' this year at Celtic Colours," says Joella Foulds, Artistic Director of the Festival, now in its fourteenth year. "It will be so nice to welcome home Cape Breton artists like Natalie MacMaster and Bruce Guthro, who haven't played at the Festival in a couple of years. It will also be nice to welcome back some artists who have spent considerable time in Cape Breton and feel at home on the Island, like Irish fiddler Liz Doherty and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser who are good friends of Celtic Colours."

Other names who will be familiar to Celtic Colours' audiences from years gone by include Scottish guitar whiz Tony McManus; Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant; Irish flute player and Gaelic singer Nuala Kennedy, Irish-American guitarist-singer-songwriter John Doyle; Donnell and Erin Leahy from the popular Canadian family band Leahy; Acadien group Vishten; and Cape Breton's own rising stars, The Cottars.

(Sydney, NS) One of the things that sets Celtic Colours International Festival apart from the vast majority of festivals is that it isn’t limited to just one location. Communities around Cape Breton Island host concerts and workshops at a time when the fall leaves are at their most brilliant and traveling around the island offers one breathtaking view after another. These communities have nurtured the culture for over 200 years, providing context for the roots of the music and celebrating each community’s contribution to the island’s living Celtic culture.

Each year, in January, the Festival advertises for expressions of interest from community organizations interested in hosting Celtic Colours concerts, workshops and other events. Venues are chosen based on suitability according to set criteria, and around the end of April, the venues are announced.

(Sydney, NS) In a year that, by all accounts, wasn’t expected to make a strong showing in the tourism industry, Celtic Colours International Festival bucked the trend. The Festival’s unique combination of culture, heritage, history and scenery, bolstered by new investment and marketing initiatives, found new audiences and increased visitorship to the island, resulting in a $5.5 million economic impact on Cape Breton Island in 2009.

“A good portion of the credit for this success goes to ECBC and The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage,” says Mary Pat Mombourquette, Business Director. “These partners funded new marketing initiatives that allowed us to reach a broader international audience.”

Dan Coffin, Marketing Manager, says this investment in new marketing initiatives enabled Celtic Colours to take advantage of new technology and social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Celtic Colours International Festival had another great year. The 12th annual festival, which took place in communities all over Cape Breton Island from October 10 to 18 created a great season for local businesses generating an economic impact of $4.5 million. In spite of a decline in tourism across the country, the festival sold 18,600 tickets, which is comparable to sales over the past few years. "Last year was a banner year and we almost reached 20,000 tickets, but 18-19,000 is our normal range so we're delighted to be holding our own when so many events are experiencing major declines," said Dr. Jacquelyn Scott, Chair of the Board of Directors.

By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

	Jerry Holland performs on the opening night of the Celtic Colours International Festival earlier this month at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. Holland will also be involved in the opening night concert of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland taking place in January. Photo by Laura Jean Grant - Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A group of Cape Breton artists will highlight the opening night show of the Celtic Connections international festival in Scotland early next year.

The Barra MacNeils, J.P. Cormier, Ashley MacIsaac, Mary Jane Lamond and Jerry Holland will share the stage at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Jan. 15, to kick off the 16th annual event with a show entitled The Cape Breton Connection.

“There was talk of me going over many times before and I don’t know whatever happened but I’m going this time and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Holland, a renowned fiddler, who will be taking part in the Scottish festival for the first time.

Celtic Connections — which features approximately 1,500 artists performing in 300 events over 18 days — announced its lineup of artists and shows Tuesday, describing the opening show as a natural choice during Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.

By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

	Rita MacNeil thanks the crowd and all the performers who took part in the Home She’ll Be: A Tribute to Rita MacNeil show, Saturday at the Sydney Marine Terminal as part of the Celtic Colours International Festival. Laura Jean Grant – Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A talented and diverse group of musicians came together on the final night of the Celtic Colours International Festival to pay tribute to a woman who transcends musical boundaries.

Home She’ll Be: A Tribute to Rita MacNeil took place Saturday night at the Sydney Marine Terminal with an eclectic and star-studded mix of performers taking the stage, from composer and musician Scott Macmillan to blues rocker Matt Minglewood.

“When they contacted me about doing this I said ‘I’m not exactly Celtic,’” said Minglewood with a laugh when he came on stage. “But when they said it was about Rita I said ‘I’m in.’”

And that was common theme throughout the evening as performers including MacNeil’s nephew, Ryan J. MacNeil, fellow Big Pond native Gordie Sampson, Raylene Rankin, The Men of the Deeps and J.P Cormier took their turn on stage, sharing their personal memories of the beloved Cape Breton singer and the impact she’s had on their lives and careers. Each performed a mix of their own material and “favourite Rita songs.”

Cormier, who went on tour with MacNeil in 2002, said he was “inspired by the genius of Rita’” and that she taught him to put everything he has into each song and each performance.

“I learned from Rita that nothing matters but the song,” he said.

Throughout the evening, and much to the delight of the sold-out crowd, MacNeil took the stage several times performing with her band some of her biggest hits from a career that has spanned more than 30 years and produced 22 albums.

She closed out the show with a performance of Home I’ll Be and returned for an encore group performance of Working Man.

“This has been an incredible evening,” said MacNeil, thanking all the artists for their touching tributes.

For Joella Foulds, artistic director of the Celtic Colours festival, the tribute show was a “full-circle moment.”

By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Cape Breton’s first lady of song will be celebrated in the grand finale of the 12th edition of the Celtic Colours International Festival.

Home She’ll Be: A Tribute to Rita MacNeil takes place tonight at the Sydney Marine Terminal beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The sold-out show will feature some of the biggest names on the island’s music scene including The Men of the Deeps, Scott Macmillan, J.P. Cormier, Gordie Sampson, Matt Minglewood, Raylene Rankin, Ryan J. MacNeil and Rita herself.

With 22 albums to her name, MacNeil is a national star who has received numerous awards and acknowledgements. She was named to the Order of Canada in 1992, has won several Juno Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards, 10 East Coast Music Awards, as well as the ECMA’s Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award. She also holds honorary degrees from five universities.

By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

	The Inverness Gaelic Choir joined a few local Gaelic singers for a traditional milling frolic, Wednesday afternoon at the Mira Seniors and Pensioners Centre in Marion Bridge as part of the Celtic Colours International Festival. Photo by Laura Jean Grant - Cape Breton Post

MARION BRIDGE — Their struggles to get here have only made the Inverness Gaelic Choir’s experience at the Celtic Colours International Festival that much sweeter.

The award-winning Scottish choir, which is wrapping up its visit to Cape Breton and the festival, enjoyed a relaxing afternoon performance at the Mira Seniors and Pensioners Centre in Marion Bridge, Wednesday. The choir members were joined by a few local Gaelic singers for a traditional milling frolic.

It’s the first trip to Celtic Colours for the renowned choir, which has won the prestigious Lovat and Tullibardine Shield five times at the Royal National Mod. They’ve also performed the opening of Scottish Parliament and at the Scottish Trad Music Awards.

The choir members were excited to add Celtic Colours to their list of appearances but an airline collapse in late August put the trip and years of planning, fundraising and saving money in jeopardy.