Zeltik Makes Dudelange Dance

Dudelange's annual Zeltik festival once again took place at the weekend over three days, in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day.

Held at Opderschmelz, the Celtic music festival was sold out, with around 200 people already present shortly before the start of the programme on Saturday evening. The lineup featured an array of acts coming from Ireland, Detroit and Brittany.

On Saturday evening, the festival's closing day, Blackthorn, a traditional folk music band based in Detroit, opened the programme with a variety of tunes – from classic favourites such as the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” to folk songs such as “Those Were the Days”. The public welcomed them with hand clapping, foot tapping and dancing. Next up, broadcast live and performing in the nearby Kantin venue, the Irish-born international musician and entertainer Brian Brody played several energetic songs.

These lively acts were followed by a performance from The Kilkennys, Irish “balladeers” playing songs such as the heartfelt “Dirty Old Town” and the jaunty “You Couldn’t Have Come at a Better Time”. For their song “The Chandler Shop”, the four-piece traditional Irish ballad group asked the audience to be the “band” by clapping along with the rhythm. Next, they played a beautiful tin whistle tune from Inisheer, creating a thoroughly Celtic atmosphere. Their performance included more spirited songs such as “The Galway Girl” and classic, sorrowful songs such as “Will You Go Lassie Go”.

The audience was then treated to a unique combination: NOON, a Breton band combining electronic music with bagpipes. Their colourful, powerful performance surprised the audience with unusual, well-harmonised acts using various types of bagpipes.

Next year’s event's dates were already announced – the next Zeltik is set to take place from 13 to 15 March 2025.