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Maine's premier Celtic folk duo, Castlebay, will be performing a tribute to Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, _________o'clock on ______________ at ___________________.

The poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) collected and wrote new lyrics for hundreds of traditional Scottish folk tunes which he felt were falling into obscurity. Working in the Scots language of the "lowlands", which is distinct from the Gaelic of the highlands and islands, he produced many masterpieces of 18th century poetry and song. Among these are My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, Comin' Through the Rye and Auld Lang Syne, popular even today at New Year's celebrations. His short but colorful life has become the subject of both legend and scholarly documentary.

The duo Castlebay (Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee) have studied the man,the myth, and the music. They have presented lecture/performances for elder hostels, libraries, and schools in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. In their program romantic love songs are interspersed with lively dance tunes as well as poems and anecdotes about the Scotland's National Poet. In 2009 they are touring their program, Robert Burns, the Man, the Myth, and the Music to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Burns's birth.

Castlebay is well known for their sensitive arrangements of traditional Scottish music. Both Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee are fine vocalists and support their singing with a variety of instruments including Celtic harp, 12-string guitar, fiddle and woodwinds. They have toured the British Isles annually since 1993 playing at folk clubs, art centres, and festivals.

Castlebay's Celtic tours have inspired the duo to create much original music, including a collaboration with Scottish musicians in the southwest of Scotland, where Robert Burns lived and worked. This work, The Sang O the Solway, combined original instrumental compositions written by the duo with traditional songs from the region. Castlebay performed this work with Scottish colleagues several times in 1999 and 2000 throughout southeastern Scotland, and in 2001 at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. They have recorded several albums of both traditional and original work including Ae Fond Kiss which features seven compositions by Robert Burns.

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