Celtic Colours has been presenting a concert focussed on guitar since the first festival in 1997. The Guitar Summit, which has alternately been called Highland Guitar Summit and Celtic Guitar Summit, has become a staple of the Celtic Colours lineup each year, and is one of the most anticipated concerts in a festival that boasts so many must-see events. The Thursday night concert has, over the years, explored the ever-evolving role that this most ubiquitous of instruments has played in traditional music. Whether delving into sophisticated chording accompaniment, full-speed-ahead finger and flat-picking tunes, flavourful harmony lines, or sympathetic and syncopated rhythmic structures, the Summit never fails to deliver dazzling results from the stage. J.P. Cormier has always been at the helm of this one and he welcomes back some familiar faces this year. Scottish guitar player Tony McManus has been to this summit a few times since 1998, including in 2014 when he shared the stage with J.J. Chaisson. This is J.J.’s third time in the concert, the last one he played being in 2019, which was Jake Lauzon’s first time. Jake is also playing his third Guitar Summit this year as they all welcome to this stage Prince Edward Island guitarist Zak Cormier, best known around these parts for playing with Còig.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to eat before the concert, there’s a Roast Beef Dinner in Judique at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre with sittings at 4:30pm and 6:15pm.