The history is as important as the music, and the music is as important as the history. That history being of Western Europe, in particular Scotland and Ireland, a history that at times is celebrated and remembered via music the of that region. Celtic music is what spawned American bluegrass, and much like its twangier, rougher around the edges American cousin in bluegrass, Celtic music is a style that has been passed on for generations, a style of music that tells of a rich history as much as it entertains.
If you go
WHAT: Durango Celtic Festival with Old Blind Dogs, Dàimh, Heron Valley.
WHEN: Friday and Saturday.
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive.
TICKETS: Prices range from individual shows to daily/weekend passes.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.durangocelticfestival.com.
Celtic music will be celebrated in Durango this weekend with some of the best in the business coming from the Celtic music heartland, as Old Blind Dogs, Heron Valley and Dàimh pull into town for the annual Durango Celtic Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, mostly in the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, along with other sessions at Hillcrest Golf Course and the Strater Hotel.
These songs tell stories as much as they may inspire drinking and dancing, as one aspect is vital to the other.
“They just come hand in hand, it’s really that you learn them at the same time,” said Abigail Pryde, who handles the fiddle, guitar and vocals for Scotland’s Heron Valley. “We obviously learn about Scottish history in school, but until you’re hearing the songs, it’s mostly like you’re hearing them from the mouth of the person that wrote them because they are so meaningful. So yeah, it’s really important to all of us when we’re hearing these tunes that we pass on. We want to remember the places where they’re from with fondness, and always have them with us, even if we’ve left.”
Heron Valley had humble beginnings in Scotland, starting as a “Ceilidh” band, which is a band playing traditional folk music for dancing and entertainment. It was that start that set Heron Valley on their path, which included steady growth, some lineup changes and, ultimately, its members, who in addition to Pryde are bagpipes and whistle player Kenneth MacFarlane, pianist Ben Muir, bass player Callum Cronin and drummer Darren Brown, committing to playing this music and keeping the traditions of this music very much alive.
“It was for dancing, playing birthdays and weddings and things like that. It was very traditional in the sense that we only played in the halls,” Pryde said. “And the band started to expand, and then we played festivals and things like that. So it’s a nice journey that the band has been on. We were just teenagers when we started out, then people grow and go into different kind of lives and so we’ve had a couple of lineup changes. The heart of the band has never really changed and I’ve always been the singer in this band as well, which has been lovely. It’s been a crazy journey. We’ve been going to the States since 2018, and we’re still learning.”
One thing about the Durango Celtic Festival is its organizers and the people booking the bands are locked into the international Celtic music scene. They’re bringing the best of the best when it comes to highlighting this type of music, showcasing top-tier musicians who keep this music alive. While the musicians are all colleagues, they’ll also show a little bit of starstruck fandom when it comes to who they’re sharing the stage with.
“There are a couple of bands that I’ve grown up listening to, which is awesome,” Pryde said. “It’s so great to play with them. And I just love going across the States and being friends and listening to their music. It’s just so cool, I love it.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
