2026 Fall Concert and Ceilidh
The Old World Meets the New
Featuring
Alasdair White and Eric McDonald
with Stephen Thomforde (pipes)
Highland Dance Boston
Boston Scottish Country Dancers
Ceilidh Dancing for all!
Sunday November 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Regent Theater, 7 Medford St, Arlington MA 02474
The Tartan Army has left town, but Boston’s celebration of all things Scottish continues as the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Boston Branch presents its annual Concert and Ceilidh, titled “The Old World Meets the New”. Join us for a joyous afternoon of music, highland dancing, and country dancing - onstage and for everyone! The bar will be open, and snacks will be available. Bring the kids, bring the grandparents!
About the artists
Alasdair White and Eric McDonald
Alasdair White & Eric McDonald are a duo whose music bridges the deep roots of Scottish tradition with the dynamic pulse of North American folk. Together, they create a sound that is both timeless and adventurous — blending masterful fiddle and expressive guitar in a collaboration marked by nuance, energy, and an abiding respect for tradition.
Alasdair White, originally from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, is widely regarded as one of the foremost Scottish fiddlers of his generation. A long-time member of the legendary Battlefield Band, Alasdair has toured the world and recorded with many of Celtic music's finest artists. His powerful command of west coast Scottish music and his innovative compositions — including the acclaimed An Iuchair — have made him a leading voice in the tradition. Visit Alasdair's Bandcamp page here.
Eric McDonald, based in Montréal and originally from Boston, is a versatile guitarist and mandolinist known for his subtle accompaniment and strong knowledge of traditional music. A former student at Berklee College of Music, he has toured internationally with bands like Cantrip, The Outside Track, The McDades and Kalos, and is a sought-after collaborator in both performance and studio settings. Eric’s background spans Celtic, folk, bluegrass, and classical influences, giving his playing a rich and responsive character. Visit Eric's website here.
As a duo, Alasdair and Eric bring decades of shared experience to the stage, weaving together soaring melodies, intricate harmonies, and an intuitive musical dialogue. Their partnership highlights the expressive power of traditional music — rooted, resonant, and vibrantly alive. Visit the duo's Bandcamp page here.
Stephen Thomforde
Stephen began playing the Great Highland pipes at age twelve and has since a
dded small and border pipes to his repertoire. Growing up near Philadelphia,
Stephen was immersed in the vibrant folk scene from a young age. He began with
contra and English dancing and discovered Scottish country dance while working
at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth in 2010. He's been hooked ever since. In addition
to playing with the Catamount Pipe Band in Montpelier, VT, Stephen is an accomplished
dancer, having performed with the Red Thistle Dancers in Palo Alto, CA, and the Boston
Scottish Country Dancers. Stephen also handcrafts Scottish bagpipes and pipe-themed gifts.
Visit Stephen's website here.
Highland Dance Boston
Highland Dance Boston is a performing company that specializes in the traditional
and contemporary dances of Scotland. The company includes competitive highland dancers,
teachers of Scottish dance, and musicians. Their repertoire includes many exciting
choreographies of traditional highland and step dances, as well as some original pieces
based on highland dance vocabulary. The group was formed in 2002 by Robert McOwen and
Karen Campbell Mahoney. It has performed at the New England Folk Festival and
Gaelic Roots and in all the Boston Branch’s November celebrations. Their founder,
Robert McOwen, is once again Artistic Director of this year’s concert.
Visit Highland Dance Boston's website here.
Boston Scottish Country Dancers
The Boston Scottish Country Dancers are the performing group of the Boston Branch
of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS). The group has performed at
the New England Folk Festival, the Dance for World Community, highland games,
Burns’ Nights, town fairs, retirement communities, children's events, church
functions, and weddings. Audience participation is the highlight of many performances.
Visit the Boston Scottish Country Dancers web page here.
About the Regent Theater
Since its grand opening over a century ago, the historic Regent Theatre remains true to its roots as a vibrant vaudeville house presenting live music concerts, theatre, dance events, family entertainment, comedy, independent films, film festivals, and more. Today, the Regent is an intimate 450-seat performing arts and cultural center with excellent acoustics, superior sightlines, state of the art audiovisual systems, and comfortable seating.
Conveniently located just off Mass Ave - minutes from Cambridge and Boston - the Regent is MBTA- and handicap-accessible with affordable street parking and a large municipal lot across the street.
Regent Theater websiteGoogle Maps directions to the Regent Theater
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