FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 Dahlonega Hosts First-Ever Celtic Music Festival March 8 – 9, 2008
Traditional and well-known Irish bands such as Altan, Highland Way, Emerald Rose and Shamrock perform at the Historic Holly Theatre.
Dahlonega, GA – January 21, 2008 - The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce presents the first annual Celtic Music Festival with performances at the Historic Holly Theatre.  Highlights of the festival are concerts by the traditional Irish bands Altan, Highland Way, Emerald Rose, Shamrock, John Maschinot and Katie Baughman of the Buddy O’Reilly Band and Celtic Fire. Appalachian St. Andrews Pipes and Drums and the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band will also perform.  Festival goers will also be entertained with Celtic-themed workshops, bagpipers, storytellers and arts and crafts vendors set up throughout downtown Dahlonega and around the historic town square.  To learn more about the festival, call 706-864-3711; or go to www.dahlonega.org; to purchase concert tickets, call 706-864-3759, or on-line at http://www.hollytheater.com/  
Accolades for these top bands include Ireland’s leading traditional band Altan. Irish Echo in New York says “They’re poised for greatness and under no circumstance should they be missed in concert”.  The Boston Globe says Altan is “The hottest group in the Celtic realm these days”; Highland Way from San Diego, under the direction of Brian Caldwell of Glasgow, Scotland has received rave reviews for their blend of traditional Scottish music, both instrumental and vocal, from the San Diego and Seaside Scottish Highland Games, with their superb blend of vocals, instrumentation, and unique arrangements. Highland Way is one of the most acclaimed on the southern California circuit;  North Georgia’s Emerald Rose is a four-man Celtic / American folk rock group with a strong original sound;  Shamrock is the traditional Celtic band from the talented Norgaard Jones Project started with the meeting of two world class musicians, Guitar Virtuoso Curtis Jones, and Fiddle Wizard Martin Norgaard;  John Maschinot and Katie Baughman have been performing together for over 10 years as a duo and with The Buddy O’Reilly band and Celtic Fire.  John is an accomplished uilleann piper and Irish flute player as well as teacher and concert producer.  He has produced for radio in the past and is an avid world-music aficionado.  Katie is a champion Irish step-dancer and accomplished violinist.  Katie and John endeavor to relive the old-time Irish music and dance in their program of Irish tunes, songs and dances.  
Adding to the fun of the festival are Celtic-themed workshops, bagpipers, storytellers and arts and crafts exhibitors displaying and selling Celtic themed items.