The Scottish band Cantrip will perform at Skye Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley on Thursday, Sept. 3. SOUTH CARTHAGE & RANGELEY — New England Celtic Arts will host the highly acclaimed Scottish band Cantrip at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Carthage, on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and at the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley on Thursday, Sept. 3. A 7 p.m. start time is slated for each theater. There will be a pre-show jam at 6:15 p.m. at Skye. Audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam for a few minutes with the artists.

Cantrip is a quartet of Scottish traditional musicians that has been stunning audiences on several sides of the Atlantic since the end of the last century with its driving blend of twin fiddles, bagpipes and guitar. The name is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements likewise the compelling potency of their musicianship. From the strong base of its Celtic roots their music branches out into, and takes influences from, the music of other European cultures.

They formed themselves rather organically from the rich, fallow ground of the Edinburgh traditional music scene. The germination point for this was a Thursdaynight session in one of the Royal-Mile's highest pubs where Jon, Cam, Dan and occasionally Gav, began playing together on a regular basis, variously under the names "The Spare Tools," "The Cracksmen" or "An Talamh Bàn."

Skye Theater is located 3 miles west of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and U.S. Route 2 in South Carthage. Ticket price is $10 at the door. For reservations at Skye Theatre, call at 562- 4445 or Lakeside Theater at 864-5000.

Lakeside Theater is on Main Street in Rangeley. Ticket price is $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door. For reservations at Lakeside Theater call 864-5000; advance tickets may be purchased at the theater or on the Web site http://www.rangeleymovies.com.

More information is available at: http://www.necelticarts. com.