Traditional Scottish and Irish music are already brewed into the mix of American music. Country and old-time and bluegrass all owe a debt to those venerable dance tunes and ballads.
With players from from America, Scotland and Ireland, the Celts upgrade and update the cross-pollination with bits of electronica, pop and soul. And their holiday show is a wide-ranging yuletide musical blowout.
Christmas with the Celts first came to most people’s attention as a massively popular seasonal PBS fundraiser broadcast. There’s step dancing, pipes, fiddle, guitar, bodhran, banjo, singing and more.
The music can move from sad lamentations with those haunting drones, changing gears to raucous and speedy reels. Ancient Irish carols get sung alongside contemporary Christmas classics. The full range of emotions and eras get covered.
Christmas with the Celts is at Infinity Hall, 2 Front St., Hartford, Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $64. 866-666-6306 and infinityhall.com.
