Celtic Calling is a three day music, art, sport and heritage
event envisioned and brought about by a small but dedicated volunteer committee
with the assistance of The Charleston Convention and Visitor Bureau. The event
has met with the enthusiastic support of the Kanawha County Commission, Kanawha
County Library, Charleston Town Center Mall, Restaurants, Pubs, Merchants and
organizations like Friends of Old Time Music and Dance (FOOTMAD), Friends of
Spring Hill Cemetery and Park, West Virginia State University Capitol Center, and
WV Connecting Communities.
Contributors to this campaign will help bring to Charleston,
West Virginia, an annual festival that celebrates the contributions of the
hardy Scottish and Irish people who settled in West Virginia and have influenced
so much of our lives and culture!
The inaugural Celtic Calling will take over downtown Charleston, WV, March 4-6,
2016, and will include music from International and Regional Artists, dance,
education, athleticism and family fun! A program of events has been established
and put in place that features something for everyone:
Music:
- From the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Gaelic Supergroup Daimh
- Irish Music and
Dance from Pennsylvania's Poor Man’s Gambit
- Celtic Punk and
shenanigans from Bastard Bearded Irishmen
- Celtic
Americana and laughs from Father Son and Friends
- Appalachian
Celtic Consort, George Daugherty, Mountain Thyme, Pepper Fandango, Charleston
Rogues
- Bagpipers,
Traditional Celtic Music Sessions and Music and Dance, Workshops
Film and Play:
- Join a working class group of mates from Dublin as they seek fame as soul
singers, in the hilariously funny big screen showing of ‘The Commitments’.
- Watch ‘A
Murderous Wake,’ performed in the Globe theatre-like atmosphere of The Copper
Pint Irish Pub.
Athleticism:
- Don your kilt and join the challenge of a
‘Highland’ Kilt 5K Run/Walk
- Bike Rodeo
- Family Fun Bike
Ride for all, inspiring wellness and future Tour Stars
Downtown Tour:
- Enjoy a
specialty beverage or great meal at Restaurants and Pubs
- Shop at
Galleries and Merchants offering Celtic Calling specials
- 'Kirkin of the
Tartans' Church Service on Sunday
So why do we do
this?
The Celtic
Calling Committee always envisioned a crowd source funding campaign to finance
some part of Festival programming. The goal of the campaign is to ensure the
event runs smoothly by providing a buffer of financial security, to properly
remunerate artists at their professional rate, and to purchase more advertising.
There are some
wonderful rewards. Local artist Ashley Hoey’s design is featured on the Celtic
Calling T-shirt--we will be making every effort to mail your T-shirt before the
Festival so you can wear it proudly during the event. There are several Festival
Event packages of tickets, CDs, Meals, Drink and ‘Swag’ in different combinations. Feel like a Celtic Calling VIP!
Should the goal amount not be
reached, we will still be putting on the festival, but will have to reevaluate
its continuation.
The goal of the Celtic Calling Committee is to make this an
annual event in the City of Charleston. We hope you can support this with a
contribution, but if not there are other ways you can help! Please share
Festival information in your network of friends and on social media. Come to Events
and have fun!