gr a ndfa ther mountain
Dozens of Scottish clans are represented at the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games, and each will have a display and volunteers working
at the festival. Within each clan there are many septs, which are family
names descended from a specific clan.
“Clan Donald, for example, might have 50 different names associated
with it,” says Frank Vance, general manager of the games.
“It’s a chance for you to talk to the people from your clan,” he says.
“They’ll have lists in their tent of the septs.” Scottish societies and asso-ciations
are there to help, too.
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24
WBM july 2012
FeFel-aGctood Proceeds from the
Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games
contribute to
scholarships for
Avery County
High School
students.
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Scotland’s Saor Patrol returns
this year.
TodAy, THE CELTIC INFLuENCE INFoRMS many
musical artists and genres — from the traditional balladeers,
tribal ensembles and piping bands to rock, bluegrass and fusion
bands.
“you can no longer put Celtic music into just one category,”
explains donovan Murray of Celtic Force Enterprises, who
books musical entertainment for the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games. “It’s not just a guy with a guitar singing a
ballad that makes you cry.”
Artists come from all over the country and world to perform
on the Celtic Groves’ three stages.
“We have bands that are willing to come in from Scotland,”
Murray says. “We only have so much real estate … but when
you take them and put them in that meadow down below the
top of Grandfather, there’s just something about the place that
makes the Groves extra special.”
This year, traditionalists will enjoy performances by Colin
Grant Adams and Ed Miller. For high-energy Celtic rock,
there’s uncle Hamish and the Hooligans, or hold on tight for
the Appalachian Celtic punk of Cutthroat Shamrock. Scotland’s
Saor Patrol, back by popular demand, is pure tribal, Murray
says. All the way from Michigan comes the Chelsea House
orchestra, a fiddle-powered ensemble of school children per-forming
Celtic with a kick.
And oh, the bagpipes — professional and amateur pip-ing
competitions are held on the festival’s East Meadow on
Saturday and Sunday.
Can’t decide which bands to see?
“If any way possible, come to the Friday night Celtic Jam,”
Murray says. “Everyone plays for about 30 minutes.”
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games takes place
Thursday to Sunday, July 12 to 15, 2012. For tickets and more
information, call (828) 733-1333 or visit www.gmhg.org.
highland79QV
games ŮŮ
july 12-15
•
JAMES SHAFFER
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HELEN MOSS DAVIS