By Heather Hoelscher
The 6th annual Celtic Music Festival will be held at the California State University, Bakersfield’s amphitheater Friday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Celtic Music Festival is held by the Kern County Scottish Society. They hold many events throughout the year that include music and dancing as well as Scottish games. Tickets for the festival will be sold online at Kernscot.org or at the gate. Students with their student I.D.’s will receive a discount at the door. If you’re coming for the music only on Friday tickets will be sold at
$10, if you’re there for the scotch tasting tickets are sold at $29. And on Saturday tickets will be $20. The festival is going to have food, drinks, vendors, refreshments, raffle prizes, haggis, beer, and more. They will showcase The Celtica’s from 6-10pm on Friday.
“With their unique sound of blazing bagpipes, mighty drums and the power of a rock band, Celtica takes by storm all audiences from Highland Games and town festivals, to bankers and punk rockers,” written about the band on the Kernscot.org
On Saturday the bands that will be performing include, Wrenwood, Banshees in the Kitchen, Molly’s Revenge, Tempest, Whiskey Galore, and Celtica.
David Stroud, the event’s organizer, puts together the entire event.
“This is the 6th and make a music event. We have the Ceilidh at our Scottish games which is an evening event which is just music. It was becoming very successful. So we transferred that into an event its own. We still hold the Ceilidh but this is our fall event. So its music, food, refreshments, and more,” Stroud said.
He continues to talk about the event and mentions what he thinks makes the event special. “It’s Celtic music, which you don’t see often, there are a few Celtic bands in town but you don’t get to many events where there is nothing but Celtic music. This is an outdoor event in the cool part of the year where you can sit on the grass and enjoy fun music all day long. It starts with traditional Irish and works its way to Celtic rock. Really there is something for everyone there,” Stroud said.
Karen Abercrombie, the Chieftain (president) of the Kern County Scottish Society, recruits and schedules volunteers for the event and helps whenever she is needed.
When talking about what her favorite moments of the event she said, “The variety of bands brought to the event. Watching the crowd enjoying the music or having their first bite of Haggis.”
The Celtic Music Festival will have entertainment for all. Come to enjoy the music and food at this Scottish event.
