General News
8 December, 2023
New name for Burns festival
FROM 2024, Camperdown's iconic Robert Burns Scottish Festival will be rebranded as the Robert Burns Celtic Festival and held from June 21 to 23
The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter literary and music festival, celebrating Scotland’s national poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown.
Festival coordinator Catherine O’Flynn said enjoyment of Robert Burns artistry, and appreciation of his independent philosophy saw enthusiastic embracement amongst his Celtic neighbours, especially the Irish in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
“Given the substantial Scottish and Irish migration to south west Victoria in the 19th century the festival committee has chosen to adjust describing its festival to reflect this, hence we now have a new name that captures Burns Beyond Scotland ‘The 2024 Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival’,” she said.
“This change to a Celtic festival expands our ability to include performers from Ireland, Wales and England while retaining connections to regular Scottish performers.”
With a new name and change in timing, the festival committee has already begun plans for the 2024 festival.
Festival committee chair Dr John Menzies OAM said The Melbourne Welsh Male Choir will 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,” he 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.”
Ms O’Flynn said the festival is expected to host Robert Burns World Federation president Neil McNair.
“He will be in Camperdown for the festival as part of his international tour, and it is hoped he will Address the Haggis at the Gala Dinner and speak at the festival lectures,” she said.
“Already booked to perform at the 2024 festival are The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Fiona Ross, exciting young band Melbourne Band Apolline Pete Daffy and Band, the Twa Bards, Merran Moir, and Tuniversal Music Group.
“All confirmed they are coming to the Camperdown in June with more musicians to be booked, the festival will be a weekend full of music.
“A new component will be a choir competition and with the formation of Camperdown’s own Celtic choir, invited choirs will perform on the Saturday.”
Ms O’Flynn said the popular Gala Dinner, lecture series, finale concert and performance at the statue are set to return next year.
“A series of concert performances and music will be at the Theatre Royal, Killara and local businesses,” she said.
“The Schools Arts project, Street Activation, market stalls, music in the avenue will continue and look out for flash mob moments and random performances over the weekend.
“Coming to Camperdown next year will be Highland and Irish Dancers, along with the Warrnambool Pipes and Drums.
“Peter Daffy will head a Celtic Ceilidh Band bringing together a troop of wonderful Musicians to perform over the weekend. A Family Ceilidh Dance on Saturday night is promising to be a great night.”
For the 2024 Robert Burns Celtic Festival updates, visit camperdownburnsfestival.com.au.
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