Community
5 December, 2024
Date set for Burns Festival
CAMPERDOWN’S Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee has officially announced the dates of the festival for 2025, with the program under development and some acts confirmed for the next festival.
The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter festival celebrating Scotland’s national Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown, and is set to run from June 27 to June 29 next year.
The 2024 event changed the theme to a Celtic festival, which expands the ability to include other Celtic nations with performers from Ireland, Wales and England while retaining connections to regular Scottish performers.
Festival chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said the 2024 festival was a “wonderful success” and planning is already under way with performers booked for the 2025 Robert Burns Celtic Festival.
He said he was delighted to announce the Melbourne Welsh Male Choir is returning to Camperdown to perform at the Festival Finale Concert.
“Since its inception the choir has grown into one of Australia’s acclaimed male choirs, known for the quality and spirit of its four-part harmonies,” Dr Menzies said.
“The choir is steeped in the choral traditions but is still proudly Australian and has many members from diverse nationalities.
“It honours its Welsh roots by singing at least 25 per cent of its repertoire as Welsh songs, with at least half of these in the Welsh language, Europe’s oldest living language.
“The choir has travelled and performed internationally including London’s Royal Albert Hall.”
The Gala Dinner and the festival history talks, along with multiple festival performance spaces will see new performers at the 2025 festival.
Festival co-ordinator Catherine O’Flynn said a number of festival favourites have been booked for the 2025 festival.
“Already booked to perform at the 2025 festival are the Melbourne Male Welsh Choir, Luke Plumb, and Peter Daffy and Fiona Ross,” she said.
“New acts include The Raglins - an exciting young band from Melbourne, Rhys MacCrimmin, Pete Daffy’s Celtic Band, the Twa Bards, Merran and Peter Moir.
“Don Stewart will present a contemporary show celebrating Australian Poet Henry Lawson with music and songs.
“Burns Poetry with Dr Val Taylor, Harpistry, Tuniversal Music Group and the Camperdown Lakes and Craters Band, The Australian Irish Dance Company, the Geelong Scottish Dance Group and the Warrnambool Pipes and Drums have confirmed they are coming to the festival, with more musicians to be booked.”
Dr Menzies said events from the 2024 Robert Burns festival, such as the James Blair Memorial Solo Piping competition at St Patrick’s Primary School, will return alongside festival regulars such as the Robert Burns Golg Ambrose.
“After the success of the choir competition, and with the formation of our own Camperdown Celtic Choir, invited choirs will perform on the Saturday,” he said.
“It was a great inclusion at this year’s festival with the visiting choirs performing at the Theatre Royal to a full house.
“At Robert Burns Statue festival favourites the Twa Bards will present Burns songs and poetry, and the Festival Finale Concert on the Sunday will complete a full festival program.
“Over the weekend a series of Concert performances and music will be at the Theatre Royal, Killara and local businesses - the schools arts project, Street Activation, market stalls, and music in the Avenue will also be happening.”
Mrs O’Flynn said a family Celidh dance will also form part of the festivities.
“Watch out for early bird tickets being released in February,” she said.
For updates about the 2025 Robert Burns Celtic Festival updates, visit camperdownburnsfestival.com.au.
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