The lights flickered again just as the band finished the Celtic song, and flickered a third time as they began a rock number.

Recorded at the Sharon Temple, Ontario, it consists of nine traditional Celtic songs.

He was raised in a house constantly flooded with music ranging from 200-year-old Celtic songs, to Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis and the Beatles.

On a recent bleak midwinter night, Mr. Russell played an ageless-sounding Celtic song on the concertina, then moved to the fiddle.

His repertory shows that even rural America was a musical crossroads for Celtic songs, blues, ragtime, country and pop.

He began to play the Celtic songs of his youth for his own enjoyment.

Celtic songs prize a clear melody and a good story, whether it's a tall tale, a lovesick plaint or a drinking song.

In September, a festival of Irish and Celtic song, dance and music is held in and around Old Town Fairfax.

Celtic songs tend to be ballads or other popular songs, or new songs in the same tradition with contemporary backing.

He wrote the popular Celtic song, "Song for the Mira".