Heart Of A Festival

Episode 1.5 The last stretch leading up to any event can be hectic. The goal is to make it all look very smooth in the eyes of the public. But when you’re organizing a major international festival with more than 300 events in 60 communities, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. On this episode of “Heart of a Festival” we check in with festival staff in the midst of their “crunch time”, just days before the 20th Celtic Colours. Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Episode music from Celtic Colours Live Vol 4: “Grogan’s Set” – Liz & Doc Flock “Hungry As A Bear” and “Reel For Spanky” – The Unusual Suspects Of Celtic Colours Please take a minute and complete our podcast survey. It really helps a lot! Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016

Episode 1.4 So we know that all music festivals have Artistic Directors; but what do they do, exactly? On this week’s episode, we try to shed a little light on that. We’re listening in on a conversation between two Artistic Directors. A new one, and an old (er..experienced) one. Joella chats with Celtic Colours Artistic Director, Dawn Beaton. [editors note: that used to be Joella’s gig] Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Episode music: “Sir James” – Dawn & Margie Beaton – Taste Of Gaelic “The Hot Lunch Set” – Beolach Please take a minute and complete our podcast survey. It really helps a lot! Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016

Episode 1.3 The Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours: An epic showpiece for the Celtic Colours International Festival. This incredible undertaking is the brainchild of Corrina Hewat and David Milligan. It’s based on their own Unusual Suspects big band that they produced in Scotland. On this episode, Joella visits David and Corrina in their home in the beautiful village of Pathhead in Scotland to chat about it. Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Episode music: “Time Wears Awa'” – Corrina Hewat with The Unusual Suspects – Big Like This “Pressed For Time / Hulls Reel / St Kilda’s Wedding” – The Unusual Suspects – Big Like This “Trip To Windsor” – The Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours (archival) Please take a minute and complete our podcast survey. It really helps a lot! Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016

Episode 1.2 The stages of your life are like chapters of a book. This is part two of our conversation with festival co-founder, Max MacDonald. We pick up right where we left off in this fascinating discussion of the early days of Celtic Colours. The subject moves to next chapters as Joella and Max chat about not only the legacy and the future of Celtic Colours but also their thoughts on passing the torch down to the next generation. Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Episode music: “Hoireann Ó Rathill Iù Ó (Live)” – Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac “Shove the Pig’s Foot a Little Further in the Fire / Fine Times at Our House (Live)” – We Banjo 3 Both of these tracks are also available on Celtic Colours Live Vol 3 Please take a minute and complete our podcast survey. It really helps a lot! Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016

Welcome to the Heart Of A Festival podcast Episode 1.1 It was a beautiful summer afternoon for a drive. So we took a road trip to visit Max MacDonald at his new gig; Beanie’s Bistro in Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia. Max and Joella founded the Celtic Colours International Festival in 1997. Max has an interesting perspective. He’s been away from it for a while now, and Joella finds herself preparing for a life outside of Celtic Colours. This was the first real conversation about those early years that they’ve had since Max started this new chapter in his life. It’s an incredible conversation and makes for the perfect start to this new podcast. Enjoy! Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Episode music: “Sabrina” – Paddy Keenan and John Walsh “The Last March/High Bass Set” – Shelly Campbell and Allan Dewar Both of these tracks are also available on Celtic Colours Live Vol 3 Please take a minute and complete our podcast survey. It really helps a lot! Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016

Music festivals are odd beasts. No two are alike. They have thousands of moving parts; all contributing to the whole. It’s an intriguing and complicated system. On Heart Of A Festival, we try to get to the bottom of what makes the Celtic Colours International Festival so special. Why does this festival attract the biggest celtic acts in the world? And what goes into putting this festival together? You’ll probably find out some secrets and get a peek behind the scenes to meet the people that make it all work. Check out our teaser below and be sure to subscribe on iTunes , Google Play or wherever you download podcasts. Episode 1 will be released August 25th with new episodes every two weeks. Theme music: “Meals By Maurice” by The East Pointers from Celtic Colours Live Vol 3. Produced by Jamie Foulds for Soundpark Media ©2016