Over the past 30 years Celtic Colours has featured hundreds of musicians from more than a dozen countries, and while there have certainly been some legendary performers, a few stand out as absolute legends. We’ve lined up three of them for this concert tonight. Bumblebees established themselves as absolute legends on day one when they arrived in 1997. They went straight for the tunes and played as if their lives depended on it with a joy that quickly spread through whatever room they were in. And they played anywhere and everywhere, any time of the night or day, on concert stages, after hours sessions and at house parties, always at a level that left anyone who witnessed it in awe. Bumblebees only played during the festival’s first two years, but they set the standard for years to come. They’re back tonight at SAERC where they performed both times they were here previously. Corrina Dawn and Dave Milligan first came to the festival in 1998 as a harp and piano duo. Harp players weren’t particularly common around these parts at the time, and nobody expected the dynamic, jazz-infused spin they put on familiar traditional Scottish tunes. They returned time and again performing as Bachué, and in various duos and trios. As Artists in Residence in 2004, they helped put together the 26-piece Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours, based on their concept of a big band/orchestra setting for folk musicians. If you include lasting impressions and cultural impact in your definition of an absolute legend, consider that the Unusual Suspects of Celtic Colours are at the festival for the fourth time this year. Heather Rankin’s history performing at the festival doesn’t stretch back quite as far, but as a member of multi-platinum selling, six-time Juno Award-winning Cape Breton group The Rankin Family, she helped spread Gaelic and traditional music across genres and around the world. A passionate advocate for the Gaelic language, she co-owns the Red Shoe Pub, a local hub for traditional music in Mabou. It’s been a pleasure to have Heather on stage at Celtic Colours in recent years and we’re happy to welcome this absolute legend back tonight.