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    Castlebay

    • Home
      • Recordings
    • Schedule
    • Press
      • BIO
      • Photo Gallery
      • EPK
      • Robert Burns, Man, Myth, Music
      • Irish Bards & Blarney
      • Music of the Maine Coast
    • Contact
    • News
    • The Grand Design
      • Grand Design Audio
      • Grand Design Video
    • Weddings

    We have an on-line concert on Friday, December 11 at 7:30. This will be streamed live from the Camden Opera House

    Castlebay has been musically weaving together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands since 1987. Members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee have loved and researched traditional music for most of their lives and blend history, legend and experience into their personable performance style. Their concerts feature poignant ballads sung in Lane's ethereal soprano and Gosbee's rich baritone interspersed with joyous dance tunes played on Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and tin whistle. Castlebay treats the audience to a musical journey through time and across the Atlantic. The duo also presents special theme concerts on various aspects of Celtic lore, nautical life or Colonial America.

     

    "What captivated [the audience] were Julia and Fred's musicianship, the apparent casualness with which they weave their listeners into magical worlds of storytelling, song, and harp, and their down-to-earth (and sea) Maine coast and Celtic tunes, tales, and salty humor".

    Castlebay has toured the Eastern U.S., Ireland, England and Scotland playing at festivals and arts centers, as well as on radio and television. The duo maintains a commitment to cultural education, exchanging music and lore with colleagues. They provide folklore and music programs for schools, museums, libraries and Elderhostels exploring Celtic lore and tradition throughout the eastern US and the British Isles. Castlebay has released 35 recordings including both original and traditional songs, Christmas harp recordings, and the "Tapestry" collection, a 6-part instrumental series.

    None of this would be possible without the help and support of many friends. Our thanks to you all.

    Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee are members of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000.

    Why Tradition?
    The people who inhabit a region resonate to their environment, working with it to survive and even to enrich their lives. Work habits and social behaviors arise according to their relationships with seasons, weather and the condition of the land. From these come belief systems, folklore, art and music. Immigrants carry the ancient traditions of their race as well as internalizing the influences of the new place.

    In the drive for "progress and success" awareness of connections and responsibility for each other and our environment has been obscured. One of our biggest needs is to understand and appreciate community and resources, both environmental and spiritual. The knowledge of these relationships is paramount in Celtic tradition and has relevance in modern society.

    The music and lore of both the Celtic lands and New England is alive with imagery associated with our relationships to each other and the natural world. The stories and songs are a vehicle for explaining them and attempting to transform, or be transformed by them. Hearing and understanding ancient stories and music inspired by elemental experience can help us refill our own wells of creativity and reweave the web of connection. They are timeless, and provide revelation, and even healing, for both the bard and the audience.

    Castlebay is eligible for funding support from NEST Roster - New England Foundation for the Arts and is listed in the Maine Arts Commission Artist Directory

    Julia and Fred are members of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000 and are eligible for funding through the Music Performance Trust Fund

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    We send out the newsletter 6-12 times a year. You will get a bit of news about our adventures, pre-release info about our recordings and a summary of upcoming concerts. You can opt out of our mailing list any time.

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    CONCERTS

    Previous events

    Drive Cold Winter Away” — songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.

    Drive Cold Winter Away” — songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.

    Thursday, December 17, 2020 @ 7:00PMThu, Dec 17, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Boothbay Opera House, 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

    Maine’s premier Celtic duo, Castlebay, will “drive cold winter away” with joyous and mysterious seasonal songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles. The lilting sound of Celtic harp, Irish flute, fiddle and guitar will mingle with vibrant songs of revelry and wonder. Come celebrate, sing along and experience a little Celtic enchantment. LIMITED SEATING. All Reserved, Socially Distanced. Masks required. Windows open, so bring jackets and blankets. 7 PM Concert, doors open at 6:30. Bar serving refreshments. Advance tickets are $20, and available only directly from the Box Office at 207-633-5159.

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     ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England

    ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England

    Friday, December 11, 2020 @ 7:30PMFri, Dec 11, 2020 @ 7:30PM

    Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street, Camden, Maine

    Seasoned with heritage and humor, Castlebay’s ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England program features both colonial and contemporary music, poetry and stories of winter in New England. Songs and traditional tunes accompanied with guitar, Celtic harp, fiddle and woodwinds lift the spirit and warm the heart. Due to Covid19 concerns there will be no in-house audience. The show will be livestreamed on our the Camden Opera House facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/camdenoperahouse

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    Castlebay Samhain Concert

    Castlebay Samhain Concert

    Friday, November 6, 2020 @ 7:00PMFri, Nov 6, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Cadenza, 5 Depot Street, Freeport, ME

    Castlebay will present a concert of both traditional and contemporary songs in celebration of Samhain, the late autumn Celtic holiday known to most people as Halloween. This special concert will explore the many aspects of the Samhain celebration through songs, poetry and stories of harvest and the twilight of the year.

    $12 advance / $15 at the door

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    Aug8

    Bremen Historical Society Concert

    Saturday, August 8, 2020 @ 1:00PMSat, Aug 8, 2020 @ 1:00PM

    Old Bremen Town House, Rte 32, Bremen, ME

    Another concert of historic Maine songs. We always try to find some local songs.

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    Aug6

    Castlebay Maritime Concert

    Thursday, August 6, 2020 @ 7:00PMThu, Aug 6, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine, 86 Court Street, Castine, ME

    Join us for an evening of traditional seafaring songs of Maine with Castlebay. The concert will take place from 7-9 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine at 86 Court Street. The event is free and open to the public.

    These songs are part of a rich heritage of singing and storytelling that came with immigrants to Maine from Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. Some retain the original lyrics and melodies. Others have been changed as memory and environment have dictated. These songs give us a window into history, romance, anxiety, and humor shared by our ancestors at work and leisure.

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    Jul30

    Ladies of the Lake

    Thursday, July 30, 2020Thu, Jul 30, 2020

    Time and Location TBD

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    Jul29

    Bygone Ballads

    Wednesday, July 29, 2020 @ 7:00PMWed, Jul 29, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME

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    Jul26

    Cushing Historical Society Concert

    Sunday, July 26, 2020 @ 4:00PMSun, Jul 26, 2020 @ 4:00PM

    Old South Church, Salt Pond Road, Cushing, ME

    We will be doing a program of historic songs from Maine.

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    Jul18

    Private Event

    Saturday, July 18, 2020 @ 3:30PMSat, Jul 18, 2020 @ 3:30PM

    Pemaquid Lighthouse Park, Bristol, ME

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    May15

    Cancelled!

    Friday, May 15, 2020 @ 8:00PMFri, May 15, 2020 @ 8:00PM

    Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ

    This is a great place to play and the folks are wonderful. It happens to be my birthday, too.

    Concert admission for most shows is $25 for non-members, $20 for members, $10 for students aged 12 - 22, and $5 for children eleven years of age and under. Tickets for most shows are not available in advance - they are sold at the door starting about 40 minutes before the performance.

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    May14

    Cancelled!

    Thursday, May 14, 2020 @ 7:30PMThu, May 14, 2020 @ 7:30PM

    The Atrium at Navesink Harbor, Red Bank, NJ

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    May2

    Village Cosseehouse Beltane Program

    Saturday, May 2, 2020 @ 7:30PMSat, May 2, 2020 @ 7:30PM

    First Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester, ME

    The Village Coffee House in New Gloucester is a great, intimate setting to settle in and hear some fine, fine music. Let's have a ball! Village Coffee House 19 Gloucester Hill Rd., New Gloucester, ME. Tickets $10 at the door, coffee and tea are hot and free; munchies for a little donation.

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    Apr26

    Cancelled!

    Sunday, April 26, 2020Sun, Apr 26, 2020

    Wolfe Neck Woods State Park, 426 Wolfe's Neck Rd, Freeport, ME

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    Mar27

    Cancelled!

    Friday, March 27, 2020 @ 6:30PMFri, Mar 27, 2020 @ 6:30PM

    Trinity Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Blvd, Charleston, WV

    This will be a concert following a public dinner. Depending on numbers we will be in either the annex or the sanctuary.

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    Mar26

    Cancelled!

    Thursday, March 26, 2020 @ 7:00PMThu, Mar 26, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Rowan Public Library, 201 West Fisher Street, Salisbury, NC

    This quite a nice venue where we have performed several times.

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    Mar24

    Cancelled!

    Tuesday, March 24, 2020 @ 7:15PMTue, Mar 24, 2020 @ 7:15PM

    Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Ashville, NC

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    Mar23

    Cancelled!

    Monday, March 23, 2020 @ 7:00PMMon, Mar 23, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    River Landing at Sandy Ridge, 1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, NC

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    Mar19

    Cancelled!

    Thursday, March 19, 2020 @ 8:00PMThu, Mar 19, 2020 @ 8:00PM

    Country Club of Salisbury, 747 Clubhouse Drive, Salisbury, NC

    This dinner and concert is hosted by the Salisbury Branch, ESU. The ESU celebrates English as a shared language to foster global understanding and good will by providing educational and cultural opportunities for students, educators, and members. That sounds like a good idea.

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    Mar18

    Cancelled!

    Wednesday, March 18, 2020 @ 3:00PMWed, Mar 18, 2020 @ 3:00PM

    Well-Spring Retirement Community, 3560 Wildflower Drive, Greensboro, NC

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    Mar17

    Cancelled!

    Tuesday, March 17, 2020 @ 7:00PMTue, Mar 17, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Penn-Griffen School, 825 Washington Street, High Point, NC

    Penn-Griffen is a magnet school for the arts, so there will be student performances. Sue Richards, a well-known harper, will be there. We'll do a couple of songs and there will be a closing number that includes everybody.

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    « First ‹ Prev 1 2 … 39 Next › Last »

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      1. 1
        The Winter Moon/Huron Carol 5:26
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      2. 2
        The Mary L. McKay 4:57
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      3. 3
        John, Come Kiss Me Now 4:37
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      4. 4
        The Banks of Newfoundland 4:45
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      5. 5
        The Dark Eyed Sailor 3:26
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      6. 6
        The Boxer and the Enterprise 5:04
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      7. 7
        The Irish Rover 3:58
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      8. 8
        The Green Bed (or Pretty Polly) 0:30
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      9. 9
        If I were a Blackbird 5:38
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      10. 10
        The Schooner Fred Dunbar 4:29
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      11. 11
        Mary's Dream 5:31
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      12. 12
        The Capture of the Crown 3:55
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      13. 13
        Blow Ye Winds Aye-O 4:36
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      14. 14
        Bound Away 3:15
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      15. 15
        McLeod's Welcome 1:03
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      16. 16
        Miss Hamilton 1:17
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      17. 17
        March of the King of Laois 1:06
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      18. 18
        All In a Garden Green 1:01
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      19. 19
        Castle of the Faerie Queen 1:38
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      20. 20
        Arms Around My Jo 1:48
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