If you’re Scottish, of Scottish descent or a Caledophile, it’s time to get the whisky and neeps out.
January is the month when Scots around the world celebrate the birthday of the country’s national poet: Robbie Burns.
And, at Place des Arts, the Coquitlam venue will again mark the occasion with a concert from the Celtic band Blackthorn.
On Jan. 14, the quartet — made up of Place des Arts' fiddling instructor Rosie Carver, as well as Centennial Secondary graduate Michael Viens (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Michelle Carlisle (vocals, flute, whistle); and Tim Renaud (bass, vocals, bodhran, cittern) — will return to the Maillardville facility to pay tribute to the Scottish Bard.
Viens told the Tri-City News that the group will play Burns' songs and poems set to music plus some contemporary Scottish tunes.
Burns, he said, “has a deep catalogue” of work that we continue to enjoy today.
Scottish native Ed Mornin, a professor emeritus at UBC, will deliver the Address to the Haggis while retired constable Tim Fanning of the Vancouver Police Department Pipe Band will pipe in the pudding for the audience to taste during intermission.
Viens said the show will be intimate, "like in a big living room or folk club."
"It will be high-quality entertainment," the Vancouver resident said.
"We put a lot of work into the arrangements into everything we do and I think people appreciate that."
Tickets to see Blackthorn at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave.) to celebrate Robbie Burns on Jan. 14 are $21/$16. Call 604-664-1636 or go to eventbrite.ca.
