New England Celtic Arts will present Cape Breton super group Còig at two local venues. 

The group will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Old South Congregational Church, 235 Main St., Farmington; and on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Mexico Congregational Church, 163 Main St., Mexico.

 

The shows are at 7 p.m. A prejam session will precede each performance at 6 p.m.

 

Còig, one of Atlantic Canada’s premier traditional groups, is an ensemble of East Coast musicians who originally formed to promote the Celtic Colours International Festival. What was once solo acts on stage has amalgamated into one electrifying super group, picked as Penguin Eggs magazine’s 2014 No. 1 New Discovery internationally. With the fiery Celtic style as its musical core, Còig easily shifts between century-old tunes of past generations to original and contemporary compositions, featuring the band’s range of more than a dozen instruments.

 

Each of Còig’s talented musicians has released his own successful solo albums and has toured both at home and abroad before coming together as this super group. Còig’s much-anticipated debut album was released on June 10, 2014. That album won Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year at Nova Scotia Music Week; the Canadian Folk Award; and the East Coast Music Award for the same category in 2015.

 

Their Christmas album “Carols” puts a new spin on some very traditional tunes and songs. Featured are “The Wexford Carol,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” “Oh Holy Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Swingle Bells.”

 

The event in Farmington will benefit the ECU HEAT, a fuel assistance ministry for low-income neighbors who live in Franklin County. Dubbed “$50 for 50,” the program provides one 50-gallon fuel delivery per heating season. The applicant pays $50 toward the cost and the Franklin County Ecumenical Heating Fund pays the remaining balance. All forms of fuel energy are covered, from oil to wood. Last year’s concert raised $2,700.

 

Tickets are $20. To reserve tickets for the Farmington performance, call 207-491-5919; for the Mexico performance, call 207-562-4445.

 

FMI: www.necelticarts.com.