Festival Programme for 2025
30 May to 2 June 2025
Public Events are open for anyone and Student events are for students registered for instumental or singing classes at Ceol Aneas
Friday (30th)
Saturday (31st)
Sunday (1st)
Monday (2nd)
3:30 pm to 8:30 pm
8:30 pm to late
9:00 am to 10:00 am
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
7:30 pm to late
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
12:45 pm to 1:45 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
9:30 pm to late
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Showcase Tutors Concert
NCMA Auditorium
48 Nile Street
Date: Sunday, 1 June
Time: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Tickets: Book Now
Time: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Tickets: Book Now
New Zealand’s only traditional Irish music festival presents its annual showcase concert featuring all the guest tutors for the festival. Last year’s concert nearly sold out, so be in quick to avoid disappointment.
Adults: $35 (booking fees apply)
Students (with ID) or 18 & under: $20
Sessions
Sessions are a place for students and tutors to participate and are held Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until late at various venues around central Nelson. There will be some singing sessions and easier graded sessions for intermediate students.
Sessions are open to the public and are free.
Sessions are open to the public and are free.
Session Etiquette
As a student at Ceol Aneas you will have the opportunity to join in with the many Irish music sessions around town.
If you have never played in a session before here are some handy tips to help you best enjoy the experience.
Where to sit?
A session needs a critical mass of different types of instruments and abilities. Some musicians will know each other but many will be meeting for the first time. Be aware of where you are sitting during a session, it is usual for musicians to move about as the session speeds up or slows down.
What tunes will be played?
Many of the tunes played at Ceol Aneas will be well know tunes played all over the world. Session musicians do not use music sheets and a session is not for ‘jamming’, if you don’t know the tune, its better to sit back and listen. Some sessions will have obvious session leaders, and others will not, at Ceol Aneas you are encouraged to play in sessions and this includes playing the tunes that you know, so give it a go and start a set, but before you do you might want to ask those around you if they know the tunes so that you are now playing solo!
Can I record the session?
A session is a great place to collect tunes so that you can learn them and join in the next time. In general musicians don’t mind you recording them but if in doubt ask! Its not appropriate to post the recordings to public sites for professional reasons.
What instruments can play at a session?
At Ceol Aneas we welcome all traditional Irish music players. Some of the sessions at Ceol Aneas will have a lot of people playing and others will be smaller sessions. Session tunes are melody based, so it is important that the melody is not lost. Sometimes this can happen if there is not enough melody instruments, such as fiddle, flute, banjo etc and sometimes this is because there are too many backing instruments such as guitars bodhrán and bouzouki, or those instruments are playing to loudly. If you are playing a backing instrument, be mindful of your volume and let the melody lead.
If you have never played in a session before here are some handy tips to help you best enjoy the experience.
Where to sit?
A session needs a critical mass of different types of instruments and abilities. Some musicians will know each other but many will be meeting for the first time. Be aware of where you are sitting during a session, it is usual for musicians to move about as the session speeds up or slows down.
What tunes will be played?
Many of the tunes played at Ceol Aneas will be well know tunes played all over the world. Session musicians do not use music sheets and a session is not for ‘jamming’, if you don’t know the tune, its better to sit back and listen. Some sessions will have obvious session leaders, and others will not, at Ceol Aneas you are encouraged to play in sessions and this includes playing the tunes that you know, so give it a go and start a set, but before you do you might want to ask those around you if they know the tunes so that you are now playing solo!
Can I record the session?
A session is a great place to collect tunes so that you can learn them and join in the next time. In general musicians don’t mind you recording them but if in doubt ask! Its not appropriate to post the recordings to public sites for professional reasons.
What instruments can play at a session?
At Ceol Aneas we welcome all traditional Irish music players. Some of the sessions at Ceol Aneas will have a lot of people playing and others will be smaller sessions. Session tunes are melody based, so it is important that the melody is not lost. Sometimes this can happen if there is not enough melody instruments, such as fiddle, flute, banjo etc and sometimes this is because there are too many backing instruments such as guitars bodhrán and bouzouki, or those instruments are playing to loudly. If you are playing a backing instrument, be mindful of your volume and let the melody lead.
This year Public sessions will be on at:
Two Thumb Brewery Co
The Prince Albert
The Free House
Kismet Cocktail & Whisky Bar
The Prince Albert
The Free House
Kismet Cocktail & Whisky Bar
Ceili Dance
Trafalgar Hall
67 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Date: Saturday, 31 May
Time: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Tickets: at the door
Time: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Tickets: at the door
Family Fun Ceili Dance
“Ceili” (traditional Irish dance) derives from the Irish (and Scots) Gaelic word for a gathering or a dance. If you want to come along and enjoy dancing to some fantastic live Irish music, please join us. No previous dance experience necessary – we will teach the dances as we go. This is dancing at its best – fun, community activity, and great exercise too. Come on your own (no partner necessary) or bring your friends and family. All welcome.
Adults $15
Families $40
Students (with ID) or 18 & under $10
Tickets @ the door on the night – cash only please
Register for world class Irish music tuition
Early bird ends: 20 Apr 2025
Instrumental classes are designed for intermediate and advanced students.