Exploring Celtic Roots & Branches

Maeve Gilchrist, artistic director
September 11 – September 14, 2025

FEATURING

Maeve Gilchrist, artistic director & harp
Liz Knowles, artist-in-residence

Open the Door for Three | Le Vent du Nord |  Alexis Chartrand and Nicolas Babineau, violin, fiddle and guitar | David Coffin, vocals | Triton Trio: Tim Cummings, pipes, Jeremiah McLane, accordion and Alex Keller, nyckelharpa & fiddle  | Diarmuid ó Meachair, accordion and vocals |  Kyle Sanna, guitar | Ben Shattuck, narrator | Logan Coale, bass|  Mike Block, cello | Jenna Moynihan, fiddle | Abbie MacQuarrie trio, dance caller & band | Christina Day Martinson, violin | Michael Leopold, theorbo

Immerse yourself in a captivating weekend of music, storytelling and cultural exchange at the Rockport Celtic Festival, where tradition meets innovation in a stunning seaside setting. Led by artistic director Maeve Gilchrist, this year’s festival welcomes acclaimed artists from across the Celtic world and beyond, weaving together Irish, Scottish, Breton, and Quebecois traditions with fresh collaborations and bold new works.

Thursday, September 11 :: 7:30 PM
FESTIVAL CLUB: OPEN THE DOOR FOR THREE

An incredibly dynamic trio based between Chicago and Maine and representing the very finest of Irish Music in America. Fiddler Liz Knowles and piper Kieran O’Hare are two of the most sought-after traditional musicians on both sides of the Atlantic and, for a long time now, have paired their formidable instrumental skills with the timeless voice and bouzouki playing of Dublin-born Pat Broaders. The result is a dynamic, momentous sound paired with laugh-out-loud repartee between three old friends.

Friday, September 12 :: 7:30 PM
OPENING NIGHT: QUEBEC TO BRITTANY!

Don’t miss the spectacular power of Québec supergroup Le Vent Du Nord. Ferocious and fun in equal measure, this band will kick off our Friday night mainstage concert with unparalleled energy. The evening also features the innovative, Breton-inspired sounds of the trio Triton, featuring accordionist Jeremiah McLane, the small-pipes of Tim Cummings and Alex Kehler on nyckelharpa. A completely unique, reed-y sound with repertoire from the Celtic region of Brittany. And keeping us rooted in the traditional Irish repertoire from County Kerry Ireland, we feature one of the most exciting young accordionists and singers on the scene today, Diarmuid Ó Meachair in duo with Baltimore’s sought-after pianist Matt Mulqueen.

Saturday, September 13 :: 11 AM
SALON: THE CREATIVE PROCESS

In this hour-long presentation, we chat with artist in residence Liz Knowles and award-winning author Ben Shattuck about how Shattuck’s writing, the New England seascape and existence on the fringes of genre and sound have influenced Knowles’ music-making. Liz’s band, Open the Door for Three, will also discuss the presence of Irish Music in America and how it impacts the evolution of the music as a whole.

Saturday, September 13 :: 1 PM
CHANTEY SING WITH DAVID COFFIN

Bring your voices to a boisterous Chantey Sing with David Coffin. Sing along on the chorus of a hauling, stamping, heaving, capstan, what-have-you chantey. No experience required and lyrics will be provided. Let’s rattle the rafters!! Location: First Congregational Church Sanctuary, Rockport, MA

Saturday, September 13 :: 7 PM
CELTIC BAROQUE

Celtic Baroque offers an imaginative journey into the musical traditions of the 17th century, where the elegance of Baroque meets the spirited energy of Celtic folk. Handel & Haydn Society’s Assistant Concertmaster Christina Day Martinson and Orchestra of St. Luke’s theorboist Michael Leopold perform Baroque masterpieces, including Heinrich Biber’s Mystery Sonatas. In vibrant contrast, Montreal duo Alexis Chartrand and Nicolas Babineau bring fresh vitality to traditional Québécois repertoire—performed on Baroque instruments. Virtuosic harper, Maeve Gilchrist demonstrates the Baroque-era Irish harp repertoire in collaboration with Irish trio in residence, Open the Door for Three. Together, these artists create a one-of-a-kind evening that celebrates the beauty, contrast, and surprising connections of multiple musical worlds inspired by or derived from the European Baroque period.

Saturday, September 13 :: 9:45 PM
FESTIVAL CLUB: CEILIDH!

Grab a drink at the bar, bring your dancing shoes and join host Maeve Gilchrist for an exhilarating evening of fiddle music and dance! Enjoy the traditional session hosted by Abbie MacQuarrie along with some surprise special guests. And be prepared to grab a partner and dance as Abbie teaches some easy-to-learn traditional Ceili-dances. Pure-drop fun!

Sunday, September 14 :: 12 PM
WORDS & MUSIC: THE CELTIC SPIRIT

Join host Maeve Gilchrist, author Ben Shattuck and musical guests, Lindsay O Donovan, David Coffin, Pat Broaders, Jeremiah McLane and some special guests in this intimate hour-long celebration of the time-old relationship between words and music. During this meditative performance we ask our artists to share words of meaning: poetry and prose, personal stories and tales of the imagination. Set against a soundscape of songs, improvisation and melodies designed to move the spirit.

Sunday, September 14 :: 5 PM
WHERE THE SEA MEETS THE LAND

It has become a tradition that on the final day of the festival we acknowledge our home in Cape Ann and the rich nautical history of this stunning part of New England. We will welcome back the inimitable David Coffin along with the small pipes, nyckelharpa, and accordion of the Triton Trio. In addition, this year, we are thrilled to be presenting a brand new collaboration between our artist in residence Liz Knowles and critically acclaimed author Ben Shattuck’s newest collection of stories ‘The History of Sound’. This new piece of music, commissioned in the name of Brian O’Donovan, blends the spectacular depths of Liz’s fiddle with Kyle Sanna’s electronics, Maeve Gilchrist on harp, cellist Mike Block, fiddler Jenna Moynihan, and bassist Logan Coale.

Thank you to our Rockport Celtic Festival Corporate Partner!