PORTLAND — One Longfellow Square will be working with New England Celtic Arts director Phill McIntyre to bring a powerful and varied series featuring the many forms of Celtic music to Portland.

The series will launch on Saturday, June 6, with the highly acclaimed Irish vocalist and flautist Shannon Heaton on an inaugural tour with her new project “After the Morning.” “After the Morning” nestles stirring traditional melodies in a sublime string quartet bed. Imagine Beethoven meets Diane Reeves in a pub in Galway: a masterful fusion of contemporary sophistication and traditional folk music appeal.

McIntyre and OLS director Derek Lombardi have been planning the collaboration over the past year. NECA is a recognized leader in Celtic music networking with nonprofits and festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Based in Maine, McIntyre provides mid-week opportunities for artists touring in Maine and New England from Scotland, Ireland, France, Canada, and the U.S. Over the past decade he has developed a strong base of Celtic music fans and venues throughout the region. About a dozen concerts are planned for 2015.

Other performances scheduled are All Ireland step champions The Gothard Sisters on June 30; America’s premier American/Irish Folk trio Makem & Spain on July 17; Nova Scotia’s Stanfield’s on their first US tour on July 28; Scotland’s Dallahan on Aug. 3; New Brunswick’s Tomato/Tomato on Aug. 12; Juno award-winning Old Man Leudecke on Sept. 12 plus several others into the fall. A complete listing can be found at https://onelongfellowsquare.com/events/celtic