2008 Entertainers

Take a great baritone voice, add a kilt and a guitar and what do you have?

Whether you are at a Highland Games in the wilds of North Carolina, or a Burns Night in California chances are you will hear Alex Beaton.

Alex is the quintessential entertainer who is at home on the concert stage as well as clubs and on the banquet circuit.  His virtuoso guitar playing and engaging stage presence compliments his rich baritone voice.  This winning combination has made him the most popular and successful Scottish folksinger in North America with a large and loyal following all across the continent.

Alex was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and began his professional career with the Cumberland Three, one of Britain's most popular folk singing acts of the sixties.  He launched his solo career in New York in 1968 appearing in clubs and in concerts throughout the United States. During the seventies Alex displayed his versatility performing Country and Pop music to audiences nationwide.

Although he enjoyed his success as an entertainer he recognized that there was a desire among American audiences for traditional Celtic music.  He knew that the natural outlet for his music was the Highland Games that can be found all over the continent, wherever there are people of Scottish heritage.  He founded Glenfinnan Music Ltd. and began to open a market for the traditional singer at the gatherings.  Now, at every one, the folksinger is there along with the athlete and the piper.

Alex has met with international acclaim and has made numerous radio and television appearances both in America and Great Britain.  His repertoire includes a wide range of musical expression from poignant ballads to rousing Celtic classics.

If you want to spend some time immersed in the sounds of Scotland, and know more about the land that gave birth to the ancestors of many Americans, sit in the audience and experience Alex Beaton. 

Rathkeltair

Taking top honors for "Best Celtic Rock Band" of 2006 in the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine Annual Audience Poll, RATHKELTAÍR (pronounced rath-KELT-ur) enjoys a loyal and growing international fan base.

RATHKELTAÍR consists of bagpiper Neil Anderson and drummer Nick Watson, two original members of America's ground-breaking Celtic rock supergroup 7 Nations, and guitarist Trevor Tanner, front-man/lead guitarist/songwriter for The Bolshoi, one of the most influential UK rock bands of the late ‘80’s.

2006 was a crazy year for RATHKELTAÍR, with 'piper Neil Anderson being called up for a tour of duty in Iraq. The band down-shifted temporarily while Neil went off to serve his country. Neil's recent return home has kicked the band into high gear again, with a new CD and lots of new dates in the works.

The name RATHKELTAÍR comes from drummer Nick Watson, a native of County Down, Northern Ireland. It means "hill of the Celts" and is an ancient archeaological site near the village where Nick grew up.

Sterling Swordplayers

Is this how you have imagined yourself lo these many years or as you watch Lord of the Rings, Pirates of The Caribbean, or Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck?  Then the Sterling Swordplayers offers the perfect entertainment for you! 

From the Washington, DC suburbs, the Sterling Swordplayers bring their own brand of unique comedy and entertainment to festivals up and down the Mid-Atlantic.

Professionally trained in the art of stage combat and theater, the Swordplayers combine sword play with comedy, providing fun entertainment for families and children of all ages.  If you are not careful you might just learn a thing or two about sword play and history from the troupe’s performers!

The Swordplayers have something for everyone.  Come one, come all and make ye merry!