More people than ever kicked up their heels at this year's edition of an area Celtic music bash.The 13th annual Water Valley Traditional Celtic Folk Music Festival attracted a record attendance on June 25.More than 1,100 spectators and 264 performers attended the up-tempo event featuring musicians, storytellers and dancers showcased at 10 separate venues.矛That is the biggest we've ever had,卯 said festival director Peter van Hal, who estimates last year's turnout to have been around 950. Van Hal said he attributes warm weather to the festival's larger draw.矛The weather is the big thing,卯 he said, adding that word of mouth is also hiking the festival's popularity.矛Everybody was extremely happy.卯In addition to attracting spectators and musicians from across Alberta, the festival drew people from as far away as Manitoba.矛There are a lot of performers that came from all over the place,卯 van Hal said.Included on that roster was Fiddler's Green, led by vocalist Ruth Purves Smith.矛I think it was very successful,卯 said the Carstairs-area product, who played her fourth set at the festival.矛The weather was perfect. It was beautiful.卯Fiddler's Green's stage was the Water Valley Saloon.矛It was packed the entire time,卯 Purves-Smith.Van Hal adds that for the performers, the festival has become a highly anticipated social gathering.矛These guys know one another. They correspond or see their videos. Once a year, they meet.卯Purves Smith agrees, adding that she enjoys the opportunity to take part in a Celtic cultural tradition called a session.矛It's where all the different instrumentalists all sit in a circle and each person takes a turn picking a song and then they all play along,卯 Purves Smith said.矛There were sessions going on all over the place.卯Reflecting on the event, van Hal said he was pleased with the number of new acts that joined this year's lineup of entertainers, but adds he was especially appreciative of the contributions by the Cremona-based Seven Fiddles Worth.矛They're a young group of teenagers and these kids are growing up playing the fiddle throughout all these years and they become better and better each year,卯 van Hal said, adding that festival fans have enjoyed watching the local group grow.David Settles founded the festival, after being inspired during a trip to Ireland. Settles took note of a small Irish community's decision to fuel a music festival with performances by local artists rather than importing high-profile bands.The festival is hosted by the Water Valley Community Association. For more information, visit watervalleycelticfestival.org
