RUMFORD — New England Celtic Arts will present Celtic guitar legend Tony McManus in concert Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 49 Franklin. The doors will open at 6 p.m., and the show will start at 7 p.m. 

McManus has come to be recognized throughout the world as the leading guitarist in Celtic Music. From early childhood, his twin obsessions of traditional music and acoustic guitar have worked together to produce a startlingly original approach to this ancient art. In McManus’ hands the complex ornamentation normally associated with fiddles and pipes are accurately transferred to guitar in a way that preserves the integrity and emotional impact of the music.

Self taught from childhood, initially through listening to the family record collection, McManus abandoned academia in his 20s to pursue music full time. The session scene in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, provided the springboard for gigs around the country and a studio set for BBC Radio, frequently rebroadcast, began to spread the word.

McManus’ work has come to represent Celtic music in the guitar world, making regular appearances at guitar specific events where just a few years ago jigs and reels would be unheard. He is invited annually to the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, has appeared at guitar festivals in Italy, Australia, France, Scotland, England and Germany. In 2004, he appeared at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, in the “All Star Guitar Night” featuring Steve Morse, Bryan Sutton, Muriel Anderson, Bela Fleck and Victor Wooten and headlined by the legendary Les Paul.

49 Franklin is at 49 Franklin St. Tickets are $15 and available at Bartash’s and All that Jazz in downtown Rumford.

FMI, tickets: 207-369-0129, www.49franklin.com.