FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
The Austin Celtic Festival is proud to offer students and interested parties the chance to be directed and counseled by some of today's leading experts in Celtic music. In general our paid workshops, led by our headliners are casual, question and answer arenas for persons already familiar with the subject instrument and are looking for progressive instruction or a chance to ask more complex questions. You should also be prepared for practical application of a particular technique or style favored by the headlining instructor.
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Direction and focus of the workshops can be fluid and develop based on the needs of the attending students. Although, they might not necessarily be needed, a well prepared student will have their instrument, pen and paper and a recorder with them. These workshops are limited to a smaller number to be more effective. Novice or beginners may purchase tickets and attend as observers.
REMINDERS
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You must purchase a ticket to the festival in addition to the workshop fee. Both must be purchased here online on the ticket tab.
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Click on the "Buy Tickets" button and scroll down to the workshop you wish to attend and purchase ticket
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If you have not already purchased a Festival ticket, you can do so at this time.
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If you have already purchased a Festival Ticket, there is no need to purchase another.
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Print out the email confirmation page from our ticketing system as proof of payment for the workshop.
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No unattended children at the workshops or on the festival grounds.
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Please refrain from trafficking in and out of the workshops out of respect for the instructors.
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE WORKSHOP FOR ALL AGES
Date: Saturday, November 5th, 2022
Time: 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m., Kelpie Dance Stage
Fee: FREE
Scottish country dance challenges both the body and the mind. The moves are known in advance, so you don't have to worry about making them up as you go along. Also, you get to meet new people and make new friends! No partner is needed because everyone dances with everyone else. So, come alone or bring a friend. Hosted by the Scottish Country Dance Alliance.
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BEGINNING IRISH GUITAR WITH JEFF MOORE
Date: Saturday, November 5th 2022
Time: 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Ainsworth House (Next to the Dancehall)
Fee: FREE
Jeff Moore is a highly sought-after accompanist living in Austin, Texas and has performed with many of the foremost Irish and Scottish music ensembles and musicians in the Southwest. An accomplished guitarist and singer, Jeff has also accompanied international touring musicians such as Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland, Dublin-born Irish accordion legend James Keane, master Irish fiddler James Kelly and most recently Irish music icon Joe Burke.
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INISHFREE IRISH DANCE FOR ALL AGES
Date: Saturday, November 5 2022
Time: 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m., Kelpie Dance Stage
Fee: FREE
With intricate and exciting choreography, rhythms, beautiful costumes and music, Inishfree Irish Dance showcases a brilliant mix between traditional style and modern athleticism that has made Irish dancing one of the most respected and exciting dance forms in the world.
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Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022
Time: 03:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., Ainsworth House
Fee: FREE
Join native speaker Mairtin in the Ainsworth House for a casual romp through the beginning studies of the Irish language. Fun for the whole family, take a dip in the charming and beautiful Gaelic language
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INTRODUCTION TO IRISH FIDDLE WITH CHRIS BUCKLEY
Date: Saturday November 5th, 2022
Time: 3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m., Kelpie Dance Stage
Fee: FREE
Chris Buckley grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His Irish music roots came under the tutelage of Martin Dowling, Liz Carroll, Brendan Mulvhill and James Kelly. Christopher has received numerous awards and recognitions for this outstanding achievements in Irish music. He competed in three All-Ireland world competitions. In 2001, Christopher moved to Austin and has been a member of and recorded with Cluan, Blaggards and Tea Merchants. He is one of the founding members of the Tea Merchants and The Here and Now.
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS
FUN WITH IRISH LANGUAGE WITH Mairtin De Cogain
INTERMEDIATE IRISH GUITAR WITH MICK MCAULEY
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Date: Sunday November 6th, 2022
Time: 12:15 p.m.- 1:30 p.m., Ainsworth House
Fee: $15 Purchase your workshop ticket on the ticket tab at the top of this page.
Multi-instrumentalist Mick McAuley brings his passion and deep appreciation to the roots of Irish tunes and songs to every performance and recording he does. In this workshop, Mick shares his creative process and unique style in creating new music as well as bringing traditional music to life.
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Mick McAuley was born into the well-known musical family from Kilkenny and has been playing Irish Music from a very early age. In fact, his first public performance was when he was featured on tin whistle by the late great Irish tenor, Frank Patterson at the tender age of five. Mick took up accordion at the age of nine and has since become one of the leading exponents on that instrument in Ireland. During his teenage years he mastered several other instruments and competed successfully in various competitions. By his late teens he had toured extensively throughout Europe at concerts and various cultural festivals as part of the family group, other ensembles, and as a soloist. Mick was well known as an indeliable part of the Irish supergroup Solas.
BEGINNING BODHRÁN (IRISH DRUM) WITH ROB FORKNER
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m., Kelpie Tent Stage
Fee: FREE​
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Rob started building his own drums many years ago and is now one of the most sought after builders of bodhrans in the world, particularly among modern style players.
Rob’s playing style is a mix of traditional and modern, with emphasis on drive and lift without getting in the way of the music. Rob has played and recorded music with more people than he can remember (Gaelic Storm, Liz Carroll, The Tea Merchants, The Here & Now, amongst many others), and his drums are played by many of today’s most notable players (John Joe Kelly (Flook); Colm Phelan (Goitse); Robbie Walsh (Four Winds); Kieran Leonard (the Recollective); Jim Higgins; Niall Preston; Ciara Connolly; and many others). Rob has taught bodhran at schools and festivals in Ireland (Ceolaras Coleman, Gurteen, Co. Sligo; BulaBuzz, Dublin), Europe (Vlaams Iers Vliers op Texel, Netherlands; Gooikoorts Music Festival, Belgium), and the US.
SCOTTISH TUNES ON ANY INSTRUMENT W/ IAN MACGILLIVRAY
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANDCED FIDDLE WITH MALCOLM BUSHBY
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 1:45p.m.- 2:45 p.m., Kelpie Tent Stage
Fee: FREE​
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Iain MacGillivray, consummate Scottish piper and fiddler and leader of Clan MacGillivray, has a deep understanding of Scotland’s traditional music. Bring whatever instrument you wish for a workshop covering some of Iain’s favourite tunes.
Iain is a bagpiper, fiddle and whistle player from Calrossie Farm near Tain in Easter Ross. He comes from a strong family line of piping; both his grandfather, Donald, and father Duncan are former world champions. His father Duncan, ex-Battlefield Band member and part of The Ghillies, was one of the first bagpipers in Scottish folk music.
Iain, who is also Clan leader of Clan MacGillivray, has been piping for many years entertaining audiences and ceilidh halls throughout Scotland and abroad. He appeared in hit series Outlander and Men in Kilts, has played in The Uist Pipe Band and Royal Burgh of Tain Pipe Band, and is Musician in Residence at Glenmorangie Distillery.
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 1:45p.m.- 3:30 p.m., Ainsworth House
Fee: $15 Purchase your workshop ticket on the ticket tab at the top of this page.
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Need help with your birls? The birl is a bowing pattern that many non-traditional players struggle with. Malcolm can help!
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Malcolm is a fiddle, bouzouki player and singer based in Glasgow. Originally from Tasmania, he comes from a very musical family with his father an instrument maker and both of his parents having run major festivals in Australia. However his family roots lie in Scotland, and Malcolm was always destined to be a Scottish musician. He studied with Chris Duncan and Anna-Wendy Stevenson, and is now a highly respected teacher himself. He has performed and collaborated with an extensive list of instrumentalists and singers from around the world, including Tom McConville, Aidan O'Rourke, Tony McManus and Catriona MacDonald to name a few.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE WORKSHOP FOR ALL AGES
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m., Kelpie Dance Stage
Fee: FREE
Scottish country dance challenges both the body and the mind. The moves are known in advance, so you don't have to worry about making them up as you go along. Also, you get to meet new people and make new friends! No partner is needed because everyone dances with everyone else. So, come alone or bring a friend. Hosted by the Scottish Country Dance Alliance.
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ADVANCED IRISH GUITAR WITH JOHN DOYLE
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 03:15 p.m.- 04:30 p.m., Ainsworth House
Fee: $15.00 Purchase your workshop ticket on the ticket tab at the top of this page.
When was the last time you could sit down and learn from a true master at their craft? Here's your chance. Legendary guitarist John Doyle explains the intricacies and nuances of his style of guitar playing...and possibly plays a tune or two. Doyle was exposed to music at an early age through his family. A dare from a childhood friend and lack of formal training allowed him to develop his signature left-hand finger picking style – a style that informed the sound of the first Irish-American super-group Solas. Since then, Doyle has continued to hone his craft on the road and in the studio, earning a Grammy nomination for his collaboration with fiddler Liz Carroll in 2010 on Double Play (Compass Records). He has also collaborated with some of the most revered names in the genre including Heidi Talbot, Tim O’Brien and fellow Solas founder Karan Casey and, from 2008-2010, served as band leader for folk icon Joan Baez on her worldwide tour.
INISHFREE IRISH CEILI DANCE FOR ALL AGES
Date: Sunday, November 6th, 2022
Time: 04:15 p.m.- 05:15 p.m., Kelpie Dance Stage
Fee: FREE
With intricate and exciting choreography, rhythms, beautiful costumes and music, Inishfree Irish Dance showcases a brilliant mix between traditional style and modern athleticism that has made Irish dancing one of the most respected and exciting dance forms in the world.
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