The essence of the Atlantic Ocean takes center stage for the Rockport Celtic Festival’s finale, complete with never-before-heard artist collaboration, narration by Ben Shattuck and some very special guests.
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 (Jeremiah McLane, Timothy Cummings and Alex Kehler) with a special cameo of fiddler extraordinaire Jenna Moynihan.
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 memory of Brian O’Donovan, blends the spectacular depths of Liz’s fiddle with Kyle Sanna’s electronics, Maeve Gilchrist on harp and cellist Mike Block. Commissioned as part of the new Brian O Donovan commission series, Liz has created a stunning piece of music that explores the ‘in-between’ places of creativity is so beautifully outlined in Ben’s writing. With narration by Ben Shattuck you can expect words that evoke the Salty Atlantic Ocean and notes that cut to the depth of your soul.
ABOUT THE NEW COMMISSION
Fós Gan Ainm (“still without name”)
Irish music for me is an exploration of repetition. Repetition creates a familiarity which encourages deeper understanding—an unearthing—which in turns reveals the interactions amongst the unearthed landscapes of a tune. Much like a shoreline and its tides, these tune landscapes are a liminal space where things interact, overlap, envelop, embed, dissolve, and transform. Each tune for me is constantly in a state of ‘in-between’—always in motion, always transforming, evolving, and becoming. Each tune is a story that has many possible outcomes—a reality which mirrors one of the many themes of Ben Shattuck’s book, The History of Sound. This piece, Gan Ainm Fós (Irish for ‘as yet unnamed’), explores story, repetition, melodic transformation, layering in excerpts from Shattuck’s book and delving into the in-between places.
Composer by Liz Knowles
text by Ben Shattuck from The History of Sound
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Maeve Gilchrist, artistic director
September 11-14, 2025
In partnership with Rockport Music, Edinburgh-born harpist/composer Maeve Gilchrist proudly presents the 6th annual Rockport Celtic Festival which welcomes acclaimed artists from across the Celtic world, weaving together Irish, Scottish, Breton, and Quebecois traditions with fresh collaborations and bold new works.
FESTIVAL MUSICIANS
Maeve Gilchrist, harp | Liz Knowles, fiddle (artist in residence) | Open the Door for Three | Le Vent du Nord | Alexis Chartrand and Nicolas Babineau, viola, fiddle and guitar | Members of the Handel and Haydn Society | David Coffin, vocals | Triton: Tim Cummings, pipes, Jeremiah McLane, and Alex Keller | Diarmuid ó Meachair, accordion and vocals | Kyle Sanna, guitar | Ben Shattuck, narrator | Logan Coale, bass| Mike Block, cello | Jenna Moynihan, fiddle | Abbie MacQuarrie, dance caller
ROCKPORT CELTIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
WINDOW NOTICE: Due to the volume level of certain concerts, the curtain may be closed over the window for acoustical purposes. All efforts will be made to keep the view available prior to the concert.
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Thank you to our Rockport Celtic Festival Corporate Partners!
