Thursday, Sept. 12; Stratton Brook Hut — “Peaks with Perks”

This is the essence of Crossroads, our goal is to allow you the chance to experience the nooks and crannies of Western Maine. Stratton Brook, the newest hut in the Maine Huts and Trails system, provides access to incredible hiking along the Appalachian Trail in the Bigelow Preserve. Additionally, the hut draws mountain bikers seeking full-day adventures amid 20 miles of trails at the nearby Sugarloaf Outdoor Center.

Hike in three miles through breathtaking vistas and spend the afternoon in joyous song and dance. For a once in a lifetime experience, stay for dinner and overnight. Sing your heart out with Maine’s first family of Old Timey Downeast Music, the Gawler Family. Taylor made for the adventurer and those looking for a truly unique experience. Access by three mile hike or bike only. The tickets are limited to 50 and start time for this concert is 2 p.m. Ticket price is $30 for the concert only or $110 for concert plus dinner and overnight.

Thursday, Sept. 12: Route 27 Arts Stratton, Me — “Fiddles on the Frontier”

Western Maine’s vast border touches the Eastern Townships in Quebec for hundreds of miles. Fiddle music has been a part of this region since the early 1800s. This show features a variety of styles from Cape Breton to Quebec to France and back again. Three duos take the stage for this lively look at the music of the Frontiers. Buddy MacDonald and Rachel Davis will weave their magic spell with song and stories. Don & Cindy Roy’s wonderful compositions tying in our Franco roots, and finally Cape Breton’s incomparable Dwayne Cote and Newfoundland’s Duane Andrews will take one on a whirlwind tour of Europe and North America. Ticket price is $15 with curtain at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 13; Phillips Area Community Center Phillips, Me — “Boys will be Boys”

When it’s all boys on stage, madness and mayhem won’t be far behind. PEI has produced some of the finest musicians to ever come out of Canada. The name Lennie Gallant is a household name to our North. His nephews are making waves all over the North East as Ten Strings and a Goat Skin. Steeped in the Acadian/Irish traditions of the North Side of PEI, these boys deliver. Maine natives Dave Rowe and Troy Bennett have carved a niche for themselves not only in Maine but also on the festival circuit.

As the “Squid Jiggers” they deliver boisterous songs of the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Now turn the stage over to Ireland’s David Munnelly, who is considered one of the most powerful box players performing today and Mick Connelly, one of the most acclaimed and respected fiddle players in the Irish tradition. Ticket price is $15 with curtain at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 13; Outdoor Center at Sugarloaf USA – “History take a Turn”

To this show is brought the element of history. F.O. Stanley, co-inventor of the world-famous Stanley Steamer, was an avid fiddler and in later life turned his talents to fiddle making. He made approximately 25 concert-quality violins from the ancient violin wood he purchased in Italy back at the turn of the last century. Stanley & Grimm’s Nikki Engstrom owns three of the coveted instruments and she and her daughter will perform with veteran Irish singer songwriter Sean Brennan.

Irish/Maritime fiddler Kathleen Gorey-McSorley will join in and add some steps to the fray; T’ Acadie, one of New England’s finest Contra Dance Ensembles bring merriment and the passion of Cajun music; The Franklin County Fiddlers will be on hand to end out the evening after the regular show with an hour of Contra dance called by Cynthia Phinney and Bill Olsen. Cape Breton master caller Burton MacIntyre will be on hand to call a traditional Cape Breton square set. Carrabassett Valley will be alive with music and dance. Tickets are $15, curtain at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14, Church of the Good Shepard Rangeley, Me. — “Lumber is King”

Partnering with arts societies in the region is paramount to the success of the Crossroads. Rangeley Friends of the Arts is host of this event. We’ll start the night with Frank Ferrel of Maine, considered one of the seminal traditional New England and Maritime fiddlers. Then on to Maeve Gilchrist who is on the cutting edge of Celtic music in New England. Her highly acclaimed trio will fill the church with the sounds harp and strings.

The theme of the evening will be met head on by Maine’s own Lissa Schneckenberger and husband Cory Demarco with guest Bethany Waickman. Schneckenberger has recently completed a major work on the tunes and songs of the logging camps at the turn of the last century. The Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum is helping out with slides of days gone by. While the pictures of yesteryear parade on the screen one can go back in time to the music of their forefathers. Tickets are $15 with curtain at 7 p.m.

Tickets, start times and information for all events at www.crossroadscelticfestival.com.

The festival, slated for September 11-15, 2013, covers both Franklin and Oxford counties and offers a total of 18 live shows and more than 100 artists from across Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Scotland, and Ireland, as well as from across the U.S.

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