Boston's Celtic Music Fest Set for 1/10-11

Celebrating the Boston area's abundance of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and other Celtic-related music and dance traditions, BCMFest (Boston's Celtic Music Fest) begins its second decade on January 10 and 11, 2014. A program of Passim, the Eleventh Annual BCMFest will bring together dozens of the best local musicians, singers and dancers to three locations for dozens of performances as well as participatory music and dance events right in the heart of Harvard Square

Marking the start of the Harvard Square Business Association's Winter Carnival, Passim's BCMFest is family-friendly and genuinely grassroots. The festival kicks-off Friday, January 10 with the "Roots and Branches" concert featuring three cutting-edge acts at Club Passim.

Around the corner, BCMFest's popular Celtic dance party, Boston's Urban Ceilidh will take over The Atrium at 50 Church Street. Boston's premier Celtic musicians play high-energy Celtic dance music from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton with the dance floor filled with beginners and veterans alike.

Passim's BCMFest continues Saturday, January 11, when Boston's best Celtic musicians, singers and dancers join together for Dayfest. Starting in the morning with songs, storytelling and other family entertainment, continues all day with four stages of exciting performances, participatory dance and jam sessions at Club Passim, and First Parish Church, Cambridge.

Passim's BCMFest concludes Saturday with the "BCMFest Nightcap" concert at First Parish Church. The BCMFest finale concert will celebrate Celtic dance traditions, and the music linked to them, featuring solo, duet and group dances from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton. An all-star house band will accompany a troupe of some of the most accomplished dancers from the Greater Boston area." The finale concert will be produced by Jackie O'Riley and Rebecca McGowan, and emceed by Brian O'Donovan, radio host of WGBH-FM's "A Celtic Sojourn."

"At the core of what Passim does is to continually seek to build a vibrant music community through the club, music school, Iguana Fund artist grant program, outreach initiative and programs like BCMFest," said Dan Hogan, Executive Director of Passim. "BCMFest ultimately brings together a music community across generations and different musical backgrounds and traditions."

Club Passim also plays host to BCMFest Sessions on the second Monday of every month. The sessions spotlight local Celtic musicians and singers. BCMFest organizes the Celtic Music Cruise and Boston Urban Ceilidh.

For tickets and further details, visit http://passim.org/BCMFest.

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