By Heather Hoelscher Assistant Features Editor The Celtic Music Festival, held by the Kern County Scottish Society at California State University, Bakersfield, was a huge hit Friday. People were dancing with their children, eating Scottish food, and enjoying the booths at this year’s festival.
The headliner Celtica had people on their feet doing Scottish dances. Duncan Knight is the main bagpiper for Celtica. He was accompanied by, Jane Espie, bag pipes, Harald Weinkum, bass guitar, Matthias Katzmair, drummer, and Gajus Stappen, guitar.
“The band formed at the end of 2009, the guitarist knew what he wanted to do so he looked for bag pipers in America and Scotland. He’s from Austria, he knew other musicians there to fill in the band. We are based in Vienna, Austria,” Knight said. Celtica has been traveling all over the world; this recent tour has kept them on the road since July.
“The first couple tours were mainly in central Europe. We played all over Central Europe. We came here in September 2009 and did a promotional tour. It worked really well so we got in touch with a lot of festivals. So since then we come every spring and fall every year,” said Knight.
They have played all over America at festivals and Celtic music events. Hartford, Conn., Tulsa, Okla. and Salt Lake City, Utah are among the cities they recently performed in. This is the first time Celtica has played in Bakersfield. Their next stop on the tour will be northern Italy.
Gaining new fans is what makes playing festivals so special for Knight. “You always take your music to new audiences. People are there at the festival to enjoy the festival; it’s not like going to see one specific band at a concert. You are always going to make new fans and meet new people.
There are people there at the festival that don’t know anything about you and you’re exposing your music for the first time so it’s really good.” Elizebeth Ann Bolton attends the Scottish games every year, but this is her first time at the Celtic Music Festival.
“Celtica was great, they had a lot of variety which appealed to the crowd,” Bolton said.
She also had a great time at the whiskey tasting booth. Among the whiskey was an aged Isle of Skye whiskey, and an aged Arran whiskey. “The whiskey tasting was a fun experience because they educated you on where the whiskey came from in different regions and how it was made,” Bolton said.
Amanda Wood enjoyed the Celtic music as well. “This was such a great time. I really liked the music today. The bands were so energetic and entertaining.I will definitely be back next year,” Wood said. Celtica’s new album, Legends and Visions, is available at festivals and on iTunes and will officially be released next year.
