SATURDAY 11 | Before they fell to the conquering forces of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, vast swathes of central Europe were once ruled by Celtic speakers. They were a raucous bunch: classical writers describe them as fighting ‘like wild beasts’ (and occasionally naked) and they were accomplished head-hunters. Fast-forward through more than 2,000 years of turbulent history and Celtic-speaking peoples are today found only in the British Isles and western France. Now, the word ‘Celtic’ is used to describe not only this branch of the Indo-European languages, but also an extraordinary musical legacy. Enter Kheltica, who offer an ‘entente chordial of musical traditions from France and the British Isles’. Their eclectic mix of songs and dances from Brittany blended with traditional Irish and Scottish folk music is rivalled only by that of the band’s make-up: a singer and mandolin player from Scotland; a British piper; French drummer; Russian guitarist; South African bass player; Malaysian violinist and French flautist.
WHO: Kheltica
WHAT: ‘An entente chordial of musical traditions from France and the British Isles’
WHERE: The Village, #1 Street 360
WHEN: 8pm January 11
WHY: A musical maelstrom and swift-footed circle dancing