This has been a year of milestones and memories for Celtic Colours. While the festival itself isn’t celebrating a particular milestone, other than making it to its 29th year, a lot of artists who have performed at the festival are. And after 28 years, there are plenty of Celtic Colours memories to go around. Tonight’s artists are both celebrating significant milestones, for Lucy MacNeil, it’s the release of her first album, and for Madison Violet it’s one last tour before wrapping up a successful 25-year career. After more than 35 years performing with her brothers in The Barra MacNeils, Lucy MacNeil released her debut solo album, Angels Whisper, in 2024. The album went on to win two 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Lucy comes from a long tradition of Cape Breton music and dance and has vivid memories of music always being at the centre of her childhood home in Sydney Mines. She’ll be joined by Boyd MacNeil, Lisa MacArthur, and Rob Durando to showcase songs from the album tonight. Madison Violet have had an impressive career in music after a chance meeting led Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern start playing music together. The JUNO Award nominated duo has released more than 10 albums together, won a Canadian Folk Music Award, reached the top 5 on the Canadian iTunes download charts, amassed over one million streams on Spotify, and have placed on CBC’s Top 20 multiple times. Come on out to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Lucy’s hometown and celebrate these milestones and memories with these amazing performers.