A bottle of Tønder audience

There were some more Scottish acts, including the strong Old Blind Dogs, featuring since last year Jim Malcolm as new singer and Rory Campbell as piper and whistle player. They did a very convincing set; the audience loved it. Brian McNeill turned up with another great Scottish singer/songwriter, Dick Gaughan. Brian was last year with another band project at Tønder, Kavana McNeill Lynch Lupari. This year, there was a new offspring of that band, called Alias Da Dog, and featuring Ron Kavana, Gino Lupari and guitarist Andy Martin. They were allowed to play the other late night concert at the Vismøllen, lifting at 3 a.m. again the spirits of the folkies. Exciting and good fun.
The Bumblebees had this year two special guests, to fill the gap Liz Doherty left with her departure: Michelle O'Brien as one of the really great young Irish fiddlers, and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill of Bothy Band Fame. At the Sunday Ceilidh, the audience could experience a bit of reunion of the Bothy Band, with Triona meeting musically again with Paddy Keenan.

Tønder is always based on Irish and Scottish music, yet Carsten Panduro has an open eye what happens around the Celtic scene internationally. Galician music is these days already at a state that the Galician act may not be missing at a Celtic festival, and with Berrogüetto Tønder had one of the definite best ones on offer. From Nova Scotia, Sláinte Mhàt were back again with their eclectic and energetic modern Nova Scotian instrumental music featuring shuttle pipes, fiddles, step dancing and more.

The Sunday evening was closed this year by American guests, a bit away from Celtic music. Country Lady Emmilou Harris finished the night, following Tim O'Brien & The Crossing. At that time, I was already on my way back home, having seen in only two and a half day more music than you usually would plan for a full week.

P.S. Tickets were sold this year once again very quickly, with nearly all concerts being completely sold out.