Fifty to 60 distributors are anticipated to take part within the Aztec Highland Video games & Celtic Pageant Saturday and Sunday in Riverside Park. (Courtesy picture)
Conventional video games and music deliberate at Riverside Park
Anticipate to see kilt-wearing athletes competing in heavy lifting, distributors galore, conventional Scottish music and dance on the Aztec Highland Video games this weekend at Riverside Park in Aztec.
Proudly, Aztec claims New Mexico’s solely Celtic competition, amongst a whole lot throughout the US.
The 2-day competition kicks off at midday with opening ceremonies, a mass band, youngsters video games and beer gross sales.
Jessica Polatty, seasoned volunteer and occasion committee chairman, mentioned her 11-year involvement as a volunteer and organizer has taught her the significance of group, planning and relationships.
“The whole lot in life is all concerning the relationships,” Polatty mentioned. “Folks could have your again if you want it.”
“Final yr was fairly nice as a result of individuals have been lastly popping out of COVID … and I feel this yr can be good too,” mentioned Polatty.
Organizers count on “stunning climate” and decrease temperatures.
“October is without doubt one of the finest months round our space so individuals need to get out and do stuff,” Polatty mentioned.
Fifty to 60 athletes, 25 dancers and about 25 distributors, together with clans, have signed up. “We normally do over 500 spectators,” Polatty mentioned.
Athletic occasions embody: sheaf toss, weight for top (or weight over bar), Braemar stone (or stone put), mild and heavy Scottish hammer throw, mild and heavyweight for distance (or weight throw) and caber toss.
Members can enroll at aztechighlandgames.com/the-games.
The caber toss, historically a log toss, is a crowd favourite, together with the hammer throw. The target and strategy of tossing a caber is “to flip it 360 levels and land at 12 o’clock midday,” in line with Polatty.
Angus Mohr will carry out on the Aztec Highland Video games and Celtic Pageant Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2 by the banks of the Animas River in shady Riverside Park.
The Denver-based band Angus Mohr will enliven with an eclectic sound described as “Rock ’n’ Roll with bagpipes” by lead vocalist and bass participant Paul McDaniels.
“Probably the most prevalent sound could be exhausting rock, however there are particular parts of punk, with a nod to metallic and a touch of thrash,” he mentioned. “We will’t overlook about nation both, as nation has loads of Celtic affect in it. … The widespread thread is social commentary and the necessity to get a message throughout at a primary human degree. The exception to that’s music that’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable to not play.”
The band shaped seven years in the past, however three members have carried out collectively since 1980. Angus Mohr arose from a six-piece band referred to as Ricky Hearth and the red-hot Voodoo Devils, which performed common rock and blues.
McDaniel’s son Matthew, the newest and fourth member of the band, pumps within the Celtic sound on bagpipes, including to the band’s numerous vary. He could play pipes, guitar, keyboards and pennywhistle – all in a single tune. Rising up in Oklahoma with mother and father as music lecturers and farmers with Scottish-Irish roots, McDaniels plans to remain on his present artistic path, however dabbles in nation and even ambient kinds.
“Viewers response is what precipitated us to grow to be Angus Mohr,” McDaniels mentioned. “It’s what retains us going. It’s why we do what we do.”
After shedding two members from a disagreement about musical type, they solid forward with a brand new moniker, Angus Mohr, by taking the title of a tenth century pragmatist who stopped the Vikings attacking his area by marrying the daughter of a Viking king, thus making a household alliance.
The four-piece group contains drummer Steve Mossholder, who holds the rhythm regular. Michael Aggson provides edgy guitar on covers of songs by Dylan, Pink Floyd, Johnny Money and the Ramones.
You would possibly catch them do Ring of Hearth or I Wanna Be Sedated with bagpipes.
Polatty mentioned the band has needed to play this venue for years and “they’re actually, actually excited.” Three phases will characteristic quite a lot of Celtic rooted music that includes bagpipes and drums to encourage dancing performers.
Trophies comprised of weathered willow, created by native artisan Nathenia Roberts, will create lasting reminiscences for the victors. Requested whether or not there’s ever been any critical accidents to the athletes or individuals, Polatty mentioned, “Not a one.”
For Polatty, recruiting volunteers has more and more been her greatest problem. Sporting and numerous actions plus household commitments preserve potential volunteers on the go. “You may come as much as the entrance gate, we’ll offer you a volunteer T-shirt … and we’ll discover some place to place you,” she mentioned.
“We’d like to see all people out and about,” Polatty mentioned, including that volunteers could name her (505) 419-7526.
dalbright@durangoherald.com