Celtic musician Jamie Laval will give two performances at the Lanier Library on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
At noon he will introduce himself and give a short recital for the library’s monthly Brown Bag Lunch program and at 7 p.m. He will perform a special evening concert. Both programs are free and everyone is welcome.

Laval takes his audiences on a journey through the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Quebec. Described by the San Jose Mercury News as “One of North America’s finest practitioners of Scottish music,” he combines classical refinement with intense passion and transforms simple Celtic melodies into epic tonal narratives.
Laval’s trademark style began forming when he studied classical violin at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in British Columbia and became more refined through his numerous performances with symphony orchestras, folk clubs, dance halls, festivals and in recording studios.
In 2002 he won the U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship and began a touring career, which now includes more than 100 engagements a year in the United States and Scotland.
His critically acclaimed debut recording, “Shades of Green,” airs regularly on television and his duo album, “Zephyr in the Confetti Factory,” with mandolinist Ashley Broder, won Best World Traditional Song in the 2007 Independent Music Awards Vox Populi.
He has also collaborated on numerous television, film and CD recordings, including Dave Matthews’ “Some Devil,” Warner Brothers Pictures’ “Wild America” and the WB television series “Everwood.”
Laval now lives in Asheville and takes a keen interest in the musical and historical ties that connect Appalachia with the Celtic roots of many of its pioneers. He currently serves on the faculty of the Swannanoa Gathering, a summer institute for traditional arts and music.
The Lanier Library is located at the corner of Chestnut Street and Melrose Ave. in Tryon. For directions and more information, visit www.lanierlib.org. These programs are made possible by grants from the Kirby Endowment Fund and the Polk County Community Foundation.
– article submitted
by Frances Flynn