Hi,

The KVMR Celtic Festival draws over 10,000 people to the Nevada County Fairgrounds for headline music and festivities on the last weekend in September. It's the biggest single fundraiser for community radio KVMR - a stunning event and a defining moment for the community.

Please contact me for a feature story on the event. I'll gladly provide press passes and line up advance interviews with headliners. LOTS of great photos available.

THANKS,

Peter

Peter Wilson 530-477-0708 - office 530-913-5534 - cell [email protected]

WHO: Community Radio KVMR 89.5 FM

WHAT: 17th Annual KVMR Celtic Festival

WHEN: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 27-29 10:00 am to 10:00PM on Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00PM on Sunday Seniors are admitted at 9:00 am on Sunday only for complimentary coffee, scones and preferred seating. Friday, September 27, 4:00 to 7:00PM - FREE Youth Arts Program 7:30 to 11:00 – Ceilidh Dance

WHERE: Nevada County Fairgrounds 11228 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95949

TICKETS: $10 - $48, Camping and RV hookups are available Tickets at http://www.kvmr.org/celticfestival/tickets.htm or by calling 530-265-9073 Information at [email protected] or 530-265-9073

WEBPAGE: www.kvmrcelticfestival.org

CONTACT: Peter Wilson, [email protected], 530-913-3345

HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS - http://www.kvmr.org/celticfestival/press.htm LOTS of great photos available in the festival gallery - call for high resolution - http://www.kvmr.org/celticfestival/gallery2011.1.htm

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The 18th annual KVMR Celtic Festival and Marketplace mixes and magic September 26, 27 & 28 in Grass Valley, California at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, a bucolic setting on 100 acres among giant ponderosa pines . There are eight stages and performance areas. Our main stage hosts many of the best Celtic musicians on the world stage.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is transformed into a Celtic Village and headline concert venue. World-famous Celtic musicians perform on our main stage to. Mainstage musical headliners for this year include festival favorite Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac, McLean Avanue Band, Screaming Orphans, Nuala Kennedy, Runa Hanz Araki Band, 1916, Tempest and many more.

Shopping and dining opportunities abound with over 50 vendors and a complete Irish Pub. Hundreds of regional performers, singers, bagpipers, actors, jugglers and storytellers roam the fairgrounds.

We will again be offering our Free Friday Youth Arts Program, giving local students ages 10-18 the opportunity to participate in workshops with headline performers. Also returning will be the Friday night Ceilidh – a Celtic party with music, dancing and revelry under the stars.

Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in with jam sessions and workshops scheduled throughout the weekend. History buffs can explore several encampments of “Guilds” who re-create points and places in time. Exciting and educational, the Celtic Animals exhibit houses falcons, eagles, hawks, owls, sheep and ponies.

Revelers make music into the night in the campgrounds complete with tall trees and a lake. Camping and RV hookups are available on-site.

Amateur and professional athletes test their strength and skill in Scottish Games. Children are kept engaged with arts and crafts, story telling, and romping on the straw bales.

We hope you and your family will join us for this year’s KVMR Celtic Festival.

FREE YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM - Friday, September 26 from 4:00 to 7:00PM The Celtic Festival's Friday Youth Arts Program has grown to be a wonderful afternoon of music, magic, dance and arts instruction for aspiring artists. Participants, ages 10-18, learn from world-class artists and festival headliners. Youth participants in the program can take 1-3 consecutive workshops of their choice.

The FREE program includes workshops and a discounted youth day pass for attendees.

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FRIDAY NIGHT CEILIDH - Friday, September 26 from 7:30PM This year the KVMR Celtic Festival will get a running start on Friday night with our first-ever Friday Night Ceilidh - an evening of Celtic music and dance featuring of Seven and internationally acclaimed dance caller Linda Henderson.

Reel of Seven is considered one of the country’s premier Celtic dance bands featuring Andy Imbrie on piano, fiddler Deby Benton Grosjean, cellist Renata Bratt, with percussionist Gary Campus keeping the beat. They've released two CDs and have collectively performed throughout USA and abroad.

There’ll be line, circle, and couple dancing for all ages and abilities. No need to come with a partner - it’s a great way to socialize and meet friends.

The Friday Night Ceilidh will be held at the Ponderosa Hall at the Nevada County Fairgrounds with indoor space for dancing, an outdoor deck with food and a full service pub, and beautiful garden space for relaxing and enjoying the evening.

KVMR CELTIC FESTIVAL MUSIC HEADLINERS

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Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac

“Mary Jane and Wendy’s set left me awestruck.” – Roots Music Canada

Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac have a great love and respect for Nova Scotia tradition, and for each other. This is a powerful collaboration borne of a long-time friendship and a shared love of Celtic music. Whether it’s the mesmerizing Gaelic vocals of Mary Jane, or the superb and true musicianship of Wendy on the , these ladies have been making their mark with traditional audiences worldwide for over two decades. http://maryjaneandwendy.com/

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Screaming Orphans

“…unique in all the world. No one else can quite create their pop, rock and Gaelic-influenced songs.” – That Mag

The Screaming Orphans are four sisters with the good fortune to have been raised in the magic of Bundoran in County Donegal, . While they can never forget their roots in traditional Irish music, the Screaming Orphans draw on a diverse set of influences ranging from Simon & Garfunkel, The Bangles to The McNulty Family, with a strong focus on melody-driven songs with pop and rocks strains. http://www.thescreamingorphans.com/

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McLean Avenue Band

From White Plains New York the McLean Avenue Band has over fifteen years experience and over three thousands performances under their belts. They've shared the stage with legends including River Dance, Cherish The Ladies, The Sawdoctors, , The Prodigals, The Wolfe Tones, Andy Cooney and more. They masterfully combine traditional Irish tunes and ballads with elements of rock, pop and R&B. http://www.mcleanavenueband.com/

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Nuala Kennedy

"...frisky, excitingly vital and wonderfully original..." - Songlines

Nuala Kennedy is an Irish singer and player with hauntingly beautiful vocals, adventurous instrumentation, and an imaginative mix of influences. Nuala Kennedy's singing and flute playing springs from the traditional and Scotland, and from the fathomless realms of her own imagination. A consummate performer with a buoyant personality, her music has been described as unique, evocative, and soul-satisfying. http://www.nualakennedy.com/

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Runa

“There is truly a mystical quality to their playing. They create a lyrical sound that is at once unique as well as seamless.” –Irish Philadelphia

Runa offers a contemporary and refreshing approach to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. Through their repertoire of both highly energetic and graceful, acoustic melodies, this vocal and instrumental ensemble gives its arrangements of traditional songs and tunes a fresh sound. Members of RUNA have played with Solas, , Slide, Clannad and Eileen Ivers. http://www.runamusic.com/

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Hanz Araki Band featuring Colleen Raney and Cary Novotny

“…splendid, absolutely fabulous”– BBC Wales

Award-winning traditional Irish flutist Hanz Araki returns with vocalist and bodhrán player Colleen Raney, and guitar virtuoso Cary Novotny. Araki is known for his fresh an innovative approach to traditional Irish and Scottish music. Colleen Raney is among the finest interpreters of traditional songs of her generation. Cary Novotny’s distinct style of guitar playing has made him one of the most sought after accompanists in traditional Irish Music. http://hanzaraki.com/

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1916

Festival favorites 1916 return with more laced with kilted flair. Since 2006 1916 has garnered well-deserved attention with music comparable to and . Their high energy 2013 KVMR Celtic Festival performance brought the crowd to its feet with calls for more. www.1916rocks.com

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Tempest

"...Tempest leans towards the music's timeless joy and drive." - Rochester City Paper

Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 24 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release fifteen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,000 gigs. It's also enjoyed an evolving line-up that's enabled musicianship and creativity to rise with each new member. http://www.tempestmusic.com/

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A Thousand Years at Sea

"To put it lightly the boys tear it up.” - The Equal Ground

Fiddle, guitar, singers, and songwriters, Colin Cotter and Ethan Lewis do it all in high-energy, passionate performances where they hold nothing back uplifting audiences with heartfelt traditional and original tunes. Cotter and Lewis form the core of this ever-evolving group playing of contemporary American songs blended with Celtic music’s living tradition. They are joined once again by percussionist/groove-master Isaac James. http://www.athousandyearsatsea.com/