Yn Chruinnaght, the annual Manx Inter-Celtic festival, kicks off this Monday, with what promises to be an action-packed programme. Around 50 performers from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany will be participating in this year’s festival, as well as a host of Manx artists. Monday 18 July sees a prestigious opening to the festival, when internationally renowned Scottish super-group, Capercaillie perform at the Villa Marina. Support will be from David Kilgallon and Some Thoroughly Nice Folk – a new collaboration between some first-class Manx musicians. Tickets for Capercaillie are priced from ?16, and can be purchased from the Villa Marina box office on 600555, or online at www.villagaiety.com On Tuesday 19 July, the festival heads to Ramsey for the Ian O’Leary Lecture, held at Ramsey Town Hall at 7:30pm. This year’s speaker is Cass Meurig, who is a respected academic and performer from Wales. She will be giving a lecture recital on ‘The Crwth and Welsh Music.’ The talk is free, and provides a unique chance to hear this ancient stringed instrument played. Afterwards, there is a chance to join in a singing session at the Brittania Hotel in Ramsey. This is led by Manx choir, Cliogaree Twoaie and starts at 9pm. Bring a song to share, join in the choruses, or simply sit back and listen! The ever-popular Breton dance night takes place at the Freemason’s Hall in Ramsey on Wednesday 20 July at 8pm (tickets ?5/?3). Music comes from talented Breton duo, Landat-Moisson, led by well-known singer, Lors Landat, who has appeared at Yn Chruinnaght before. Also performing will be Manx dance group, Ny Fennee, and young Irish band, Mo Chara. Making a welcome return to the festival will be The Whitehouse Experience, a group of friends who have been playing Manx music together in sessions for over 40 years! During the afternoon of Thursday 21 July and Friday 22 July there will be regular bite-sized performances at the House of Manannan in Peel by Irish band Mo Chara. On the Thursday evening there will be a free concert of Celtic music at St. John’s Church, starting at 7:30pm. This has always proved a popular concert in the past, so get there early to ensure a seat. There will be an eclectic mixture of music from around the Celtic world, including Cornish pipe music, Irish unaccompanied singing, and another chance to see Cass Meurig play the crwth. From Friday 22 July, the festival box office will be open all day in the Atholl Room of the Centenary Centre in Peel. Drop in to buy tickets, Yn Chruinnaght merchandise and a range of CDs. At 6pm on Friday, there will be a free talk by Mererid Hopwood in the Atholl Room, entitled Singing in Chains: the art of Welsh poetry. Mererid is a Welsh poet, academic and TV presenter, who has the distinction of being the first woman to win the bardic Chair at the Eisteddfod Geneglaethol. On Friday evening the superb Irish band, Guidewires, will be performing at the Centenary Centre, Peel at 8pm (tickets ?12.50/?7.50). They have been described as ‘they freshest sound in Irish music’ and play a lively mix of music from Ireland and Brittany, as well as their own original material. Supporting Guidewires is new Manx band, Scammylt, led by talented Manx fiddler Katie Lawrence. Yn Chruinnaght hits Douglas on Saturday 23 July for a day of dancing. There will be displays at the War Memorial on Douglas promenade and on North Quay (outside St. Matthew’s Church) starting at 12 noon and 2pm. The dance groups involved will be Perree Bane and the Manx Folk Dance Society from the Isle of Man, Kemysk from Cornwall, and Shoostring, a troupe of Appalachian clog dancers from Wales. Kemysk and Shoostring are also holding a free dance workshop at St. Matthew’s Hall at 3:30pm, where people have the opportunity to learn some of the dances they might have seen in the displays. Another workshop on Saturday is being held at Douglas Masonic Hall at 6pm. Declan Dillon from Irish band Mo Chara is offering people the chance to try the Irish bagpipes. He is bringing some practice sets over with him, so anyone is welcome to come and have a go. Saturday is rounded off in Douglas with a Giant Ceili in Douglas Masonic Hall, starting at 8pm (tickets ?6/?4). Shoostring and Kemysk will give displays, before a ceili, led by Kemysk, and the Tarroo Marroo band from the Isle of Man. There is an optional fancy dress theme based around flags from the Celtic countries! The final day of the festival, Sunday 24 July, starts off in Ramsey, with a relaxed afternoon of music and dance in the Mooragh Park, starting at 2pm. Performing at the outdoor bandstand will be Shoostring, Ny Fennee, Kemysk, and the popular Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums. The festival finishes on a high note, with the beautiful Gaelic singer, Maeve Mackinnon, who will be performing at the Centenary Centre, Peel, at 8pm (tickets ?12.50/?7.50). Maeve has been recognised in the Traditional Music Awards, and as Gaelic Singer of the Year. Support will be provided by Manx band, Staa. For more details on the festival and the performers see www.ynchruinnaght.com or search for Yn Chruinnaght on Facebook. Tickets are available from Shakti Man (Ramsey), Celtic Gold (Peel), Thompson Travel (Port Erin) and Peter Norris Music and Mostly Manx (Douglas). Or phone the Yn Chruinnaght hotline on 425957 for more information and tickets. The festival is offering a special discount to people buying tickets for both Guidewires and Maeve Mackinnon. The price for both concerts is ?22/?14. ENDS