The Blue Ridge Music Center will present the internationally acclaimed Seán Heely Celtic Band in concert with Roanoke-based Kinnfolk on Saturday, Aug. 22 in the venue’s scenic outdoor amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This year’s Deep Roots, Many Voices concert series marks the 25th anniversary of live shows at the Music Center.
The irresistible energy of the Seán Heely Celtic Band blends ancient melodies from Scotland and Ireland, vibrant rhythms from Galicia and Brittany, and original modern compositions in one powerful performance. From Scots Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ballads and sea shanties to pub songs and fiery fiddle and bagpipe tunes, the band brings the timeless spirit of Celtic folk music to life. Led by U.S. National Scottish Fiddle and Gàidhlig singing champion Seán Heely, the band includes acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, percussive dancer Agi Kovacs, bagpiper Tom Cangelosi, and bouzouki player Beth Patterson.
Seán Heely Celtic Band has performed in venues including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, and Hylton Performing Arts Center, has been featured at the Virginia Scottish Games and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland, and has performed annually as headliners at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games since 2023.
Kinnfolk, a Roanoke, Virginia-based Celtic folk duo, will open the show. The husband and wife duo of Josh and Julie Kinn weave octave mandolin, bodhrán (Irish drum), and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sea shanties and working songs to traditional tunes and old-time favorites, their shows feel like a kitchen party—where everyone is family, and there’s always room for a dancer.
Since forming Kinnfolk in late 2018, the pair have played at festivals and listening rooms across Canada and the United States. They have performed at Canada’s premier Celtic event, Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, and have been featured on the cover of the largest traditional music magazine in the world, Irish Music Magazine. In 2022, Kinnfolk received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Roanoke to create a body of work exploring the history, geography, and folk legends of their town, resulting in their latest studio album, “Star Above the Mountain”.
This concert highlights the significant influence of Celtic traditions on music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as Scottish and Irish settlers brought the fiddle and the tradition of ballad singing to the region in the 1700s. Visitors can learn more about the intercultural influences and evolution of the region’s music at the Music Center’s award-winning Roots of American Music Museum, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week through November 1.
Blue Ridge Music Center concerts are held rain or shine. The venue is accessible for people with disabilities and offers assistive listening devices for use during concerts. Food will be available for purchase during the concert from The Bluffs Restaurant. Concertgoers are welcome to bring picnics. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
Season sponsors for the concert series are WLA Trucking, Yadkin Arts Council, the National Council for Traditional Arts, and 88.5 WFDD.
