Concert: 7–7:45 pm

Cèilidh: 8–10:30 pm

UICC’s St. Patrick’s Room

This Cèilidh (kālē) features participatory and social dances from Scottish traditions, with live music featuring the renowned accordionist, Gary Blair with dance caller Summer McCall. No experience is necessary – all dances will be taught and led by Summer.

“Today, the term Cèilidh dance refers to an informal way of dancing socially in Scotland. Cèilidh dancing offers an excellent way of becoming familiar with the common social Scottish dances and dancing to Scotland’s amazing music, so why not have a go and dance Scottish!” – Royal Scottish Ceilidh Dance Society

Gary Blair is a lover of all styles of music and this reflects in his performing a wide variety of styles. He has been Guest Artist at many accordion clubs, festivals and Cèilidhs. In the past, he used to organize the South Scotland Accordion Championships having taken over from his late father and mother, who both taught the accordion. Gary has been actively involved in the last 26 U.K. Accordion Championships, be it competing, adjudicating, performing or organizing. He is currently an Executive Committee member of the National Accordion Organization of Great Britain and the Gary Blair Cèilidh Band have performed for the UK Championships Gala Evening on six occasions.

In between his rather hectic schedule of band gigs (Cèilidhs, weddings etc.) he has performed recently in Dubai and at both international accordion festivals held at Blackpool (3 performances) and Caister England (4 performances).

The Gary Blair Cèilidh Band have a CD available and there is also a solo cassette recorded by Gary Blair.

With an enthusiastic and infectious love for movement, Summer McCall has found herself with long standing experience and joy calling traditional dances for Scottish Cèilidhs (pronounced kālē). With a background of well over a decade in ballet, modern, middle eastern, Irish/Scottish step dancing and tap, calling for dances came natural in her early teens. Starting as a dance caller at Alasdair Fraser’s Sierra Fiddle Camp in 2012 she has since been asked to lead dances at multiple festivals, various camps around the country, private events, KVMR Celtic Festival and throughout Europe as of 2023.