Celtic Folk holds 4 gatherings a year, and the 2011-2012 year is about to start. The first night is September 24th. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door. Further details can be found at <a href="http://www.celticfolkcalgary.ca/">their website</a>.
I was a guest performer at Celtic Folk for their November 2010 gathering. During the 2010-2011 season, they had a large number of soloists and groups performing. Most groups perform common (within the Celtic community that is) tunes, and you will find the audience singing along with the performers. For my performance, I intentionally chose tunes I knew to have words, and I wasn’t disappointed as the audience sang along as I piped. Many of the performers are guitars and vocals, and a few of them could give Great Big Sea and the likes a run for their money. One night they even had some step dancers perform.
Their house band, who play the first hour of every gathering, is the Sunday Night Band. They are definitely one of the groups that could challenge GBS, especially live. Their fiddle player can play the jigs and hornpipes with the best of them, making many a piper envious with the finger control demonstrated.
Hope to see you at their events!