The pipe major for the BC Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums band will have his hands full this weekend.
Not only is Matt Dolan responsible for piping in the haggis at Place des Arts’ fourth annual Celebration of Robbie Burns, he’s also in charge of reciting Address to a Haggis, a tongue-twister of a poem penned by the Scottish bard centuries ago.
It’s a performance Rosie Carver is looking forward to.
A faculty member at the Maillardville arts hub, the fiddler has seen plenty of Robbie Burns feasts in her day, having played in the Celtic band Blackthorn for the past 27 years.
And on Saturday, her four-piece ensemble will return to Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) to offer up a rousing post-meal concert, filled with Burns tunes and compositions off Blackthorn’s latest CD Open Skies.
“Place des Arts does it so well and it’s a nice place to celebrate Burns,” Carver said. “They have a modest peasant’s meal that really hits the spot. Then the guests are ushered into the Leonore Peyton Salon for two hours of music. It’s a lot of fun.”
Attendees are encouraged to wear their kilts and clan tartan. But for those who need to wash down their sample of haggis, whisky, wine and beer will be available at a cash bar.
For tickets for the concert and supper (at $35) or show only (at $15/$13), call 604-664-1636 or visit brownpapertickets.com.
Meanwhile, to honour Burns closer to his Jan. 25 birthday, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band will host its annual fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Executive Plaza Hotel (405 North Rd.) in Coquitlam.
The event will feature a show from the six-time world champion Grade 1 band with proceeds supporting the band’s youth program, the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Bands.
Last summer, pipe major Alan Bevan clinched fifth place at the Glasgow Green at the worlds; as well, its Nous Sommes Prets show at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall was a sold-out night.
For tickets at $80 (meal and show), visit sfupb.com.
