Celtic Colours Music Festival Oct 2026
A 10 day trip to Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Day One- Thursday 8 October
Flight From Wash DC to Halifax NS
Port Hawkesbury
Lodging (Two Nights 8-9 October)
Day Two- Friday 9 October
Port Hawkesbury
Tonight’s Concert
Port Hawkesbury Civic Center
The Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours is a big band based on a concept commissioned for Glasgow, Scotland-based festival Celtic Connections back in 2003. The original idea for the Unusual Suspects, conceived by Musical Directors Corrina Dawn (Hewat) and Dave Milligan, was to put together a folk big band featuring a collection of Scottish trad and jazz musicians organized into fiddle, pipes and whistles, accordion, and horn sections along with piano, harp, vocals, guitar, bass, and drums and percussion to play big band arrangements of original and traditional Celtic tunes. The concept was repurposed to feature a mix of Scottish and Cape Breton artists as the Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours and they performed at the festival in 2004, 2006, and 2016. This year’s lineup includes Corrina Dawn (vocals/harp), Dave Milligan (piano), Mike Vass (fiddle, guitar), Patsy Reid (fiddle/viola), Lucy MacNeil (fiddle/vocals), Kathleen MacInnes (vocals), Alice Allen (cello), Roo Geddes (fiddle), Andrea Beaton (fiddle), Mairi Rankin (fiddle), Liz Doherty (fiddle), Boyd MacNeil (fiddle/bouzouki), Allie Bennett (fiddle/guitar/voice), Kenneth MacKenzie (fiddle/pipes), Matt MacIsaac (highland pipes/whistles), Maireard Green (pipes/accordion/voice), Neil Sutcliffe (accordion/voice), Mac Morin (piano), Daniel Lapp (trumpet/fiddle), Jeff Goodspeed (saxophone), Danny Martin (trombone), Luke Dobson (trumpet), Jamie Gatti (bass), Mattie Foulds (drums/percussion), Cathy Porter (percussion), with special guests Wendy MacIsaac (fiddle/dance) and Mary Jane Lamond (voice).
Day Three- Saturday 10 October
Louisbourg
Lodging (Two Nites 10 & 11 October)
Cranberry Cove Inn
Tonight’s Concert
Big Pond Community Center & Fire Hall
Nestled along the southeastern shore of the Bras d’Or Lake lies Big Pond, a community with a rich legacy of traditional tunes, celebrated songwriters, and lively dances. This afternoon’s concert reflects the place of importance music holds in this area, where the local Volunteer Fire Hall doubles as a Community Centre and was built with particular attention paid to the acoustics. Because that’s where they have the dances. Settle in for an afternoon of lively tunes with some of Cape Breton’s finest and one of Canada’s most accomplished songwriters. Prince Edward Island songwriter Lennie Gallant is at home with the best songwriters in the world and his songs resonate far and wide. Backed by fiddle, mandolin, keyboards, and percussion, Lennie and his guitar will take you on a journey from his Acadian-rooted, Prince Edward Island perspective, weaving stories in English and French of struggle, and survival, love and triumph in Atlantic Canada. Colin Grant—of Newfoundland’s award-winning group Rum Ragged, Hilda Chiasson—one our most sought after piano accompanists, and Brian Doyle—from the well-known musical family of Chisholm’s from Margaree, will kick the afternoon off in fine Cape Breton style with some tunes on fiddle, piano, and guitar. On her 1988 hit album, Reason to Believe, Rita MacNeil sang “and still the music’s going round again”. It sure is here today in her home village of Big Pond.
Day Four- Sunday 11 October
Louisbourg
Tonight’s Concert
Fortress of Louisbourg Chapel
Take a step back in time this evening as one of the Festival’s most popular concerts lets you to Step into the Past at the Fortress of Louisbourg. North America’s largest historical reconstruction, the Fortress offers a glimpse of life in colonial Cape Breton around the 1740s. The evening begins with an authentic, traditional 18th century meal, served in period costume and character by candlelight. After dinner, a walk guided by the glow of lanterns through the cobbled streets of the reconstructed town, takes you to an acoustic concert at the lovely chapel in the King’s Bastion. Set against the beautiful candle-lit backdrop of this historic chapel, a carefully chosen lineup of performers will complete this unique blending of music, history, and atmosphere. The sublime guitar-playing of Tony McManus, the hauntingly beautiful Gaelic song of Lili Watson and Hannah Krebs, and the inventive and innovative trad/classical/jazz-inspired fiddle-accordion duo of Roo and Neil will take Step Into The Past beyond being simply a concert. This will be a full sensory experience and a rare opportunity to hear timeless music in a place where the past still echoes.
Day Five- Monday 12 October
Mabou
Lodging (Two Nites 12 & 13 October)
Mabou River Inn
Tonight’s Concert
Judique
Judique Community Center
Tradition thrives when it has the opportunity to transcend generations and to exist within a community. Colaisde na Gàidhlig [the Gaelic College] is one institution among many on Cape Breton Island that plays an important role in ensuring that the traditional Scottish Gaelic music, dance, and language is maintained, nurtured, and grows. The College offers many programs throughout the year for youth to learn with local master musicians and tradition bearers. Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen will be working with a select group of those students in this concert. The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music [Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd]—located in the Northwest Scottish Highlands village of Plockton—has been a cornerstone of Scotland’s cultural landscape for a quarter of a century, preserving and promoting the rich heritage of traditional music while fostering innovation and creativity in the students who come from all over Scotland. Head of the Centre, Mike Vass, and in-demand Scottish accordion player and piper Mairearad Green will join a handful of Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd students on stage in Judique. Performing in a structured ensemble, like an orchestra, is another effective way to ensure that traditions are preserved and carried on, as we’ve seen with our own Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association. Daniel Lapp, founder of the British Columbia Fiddle Orchestra more than 30 years ago, is at the festival with about a dozen young fiddlers from the Orchestra. Tonight’s concert brings together three groups of mentors and their students from across the country and over the sea. You’ll find that the future of traditional music is good hands with this crop of up-and-comers.
Day Six- Tuesday 13 October
Mabou
Tonight’s Concert
Strathspey Performing Arts Center Mabou
If you have seen Cape Breton style step dancing, you’ll have noticed that all the movement is below the waist and the arms are kept as still as possible. The feet barely leave the floor and the heel is never higher than the toe. This is known as “close to the floor” and it’s the best compliment a Cape Breton step dancer can get. Like the Cape Breton style, Ottawa Valley dancing has roots in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, but is also influenced by the high kicks and moving steps of Irish dancing, the heel-and-toe rhythms of Quebecois dance, and some elements of American tap dancing. We’ll see both styles in fine form tonight. The Cape Breton style opens the night with a stage full of accomplished dancers. Andrea and Troy will keep it lively on fiddle and piano for Melody Cameron and Kelly Warner. Mac and Màiri will do double duty, joining in on piano, harp, and puirt à beul as well as showing off some steps themselves. The Fitzgeralds will take over the second set and share their Ottawa Valley-rooted steps and tunes. A family group consisting of three-time Canadian Grandmaster Fid
Day Seven- 14 October
Baddeck
Lodging (Two Nites 14 & 15 October)
Worn DoorStep Inn
Tonight’s Concert
Iron Mine
L’Arche Cape Breton Gathering Place
Since being added to the Celtic Colours lineup in 2022, the L’Arche Cape Breton Gathering Place has proven to be a popular place to get together for an October afternoon of music. You’ll find the venue west of Whycocomagh, just off the Trans-Canada Highway on the way to Orangedale. This afternoon’s gathering brings together musicians of all ages from both coasts of Canada. Daniel Lapp is a renowned musician and educator from Prince George, British Columbia, who founded the British Columbia Fiddle Orchestra and is the founding Artistic Director of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s School of Contemporary Music. Daniel is joined this afternoon by former student and British Columbia Fiddle Orchestra alum Tia Greenwood and current student and Orchestra member Max Francis. A spirited cellist with infectious energy and passion for traditional music, Tia is known for her fluid and relaxed style and innovative approach to trad cello. Max is the youngest ever Canadian Grand Master’s Fiddle Champion as well as an accomplished classical violinist and award-winning composer, and multi-instrumentalist. The fifteen-year-old released his Canadian Folk Music Award-winning debut album in 2024. Eliza Rhinelander is a young singer-songwriter with deep family roots in Inverness County. Born and raised in Halifax, she has composed Merritt Award-nominated scores for Shakespeare by the Sea Theatre Company—a 1920s jazz-inspired score for Twelfth Night and a folksy, banjo-led score for As You Like It—and last year released her debut, full-length album. A versatile writer, Eliza weaves elements of Celtic, indie, country, pop, and rock music into her lyrically powerful and original songs. Some tunes from legendary Cape Breton fiddle and piano duo Kinnon and Betty Lou Beaton will wrap up this afternoon gathering nicely
Day Eight- 15 October
Baddeck
Tonight’s Concert
Malagawatch Church Highland Village- Iona
When the Gaels arrived from Scotland, they brought their language, music, and culture to this new land. The community of Iona is one of the places where they settled. Rich in Gaelic heritage, the area has maintained close ties to the roots of its settlers, and Baile nan Gàidheal [Highland Village] has played an important role in maintaining that cultural heritage. There are few places more inspiring for a performance rooted in Gaelic culture and tradition than this unique living history museum that celebrates the story, language, and living culture of Nova Scotia Gaels. The Malagawatch Church, positioned high on the hill at the Village, boasts a view of all four counties of Cape Breton Island. This little wooden church is the perfect setting for an afternoon of tunes and songs from the Gaelic and folk traditions performed by artists from Cape Breton, mainland Nova Scotia, Scotland, and Ireland. Today’s concert will remind us all there’s so much more to a beautiful island than just the scenery.
Day Nine- Friday 16 October
Louisbourg
Lodging (One nite 16 October)
Cranberry Cove Inn
Tonight’s Concert
Louisbourg
Fortress of Louisbourg Historic Site
Picture the bustling French fortress town of Louisbourg on a Friday night in the mid-1700s. Singing and laughter spill out into the streets as villagers gather at the various pubs, restaurants, and taverns. Conversation mingles with music over a meal served on pewter dishes. Music drifts through the open window of the tavern on the corner while lively tunes draw dancers into the hall to fill the floor. Experience it all for yourself at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site as the restored fortress town comes back to life for one unforgettable night. This one-of-a-kind night on the town starts with an 18th century meal, then carries on into the cobblestone streets for music, dancing, and good times. As you travel from one reconstructed stone building to another, guided by villagers with lanterns, you’ll find music everywhere—songs in French, English, Gaelic, and Mi’kmaq, and pipes and fiddle tunes for toe-tapping and dancing. Bring comfy shoes and a sweater.
