Despite cold temperatures throughout and a snowstorm on its closing night, BCMFest (the Boston Celtic Music Fest) enjoyed a highly successful 17th year when it took place January 16-19. The Harvard Square-based festival, which celebrates the rich trove of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and other Celtic-related music and dance in the Greater Boston area, held events at Club Passim (BCMFest is a program of the Passim nonprofit organization) and The Sinclair, as well as The Atrium and the Harvard University Smith Center.

As special guest performers and mentors, BCMFest welcomed Kevin Doyle, a National Heritage Fellowship-winning Irish step dancer from Rhode Island, and the duo of Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac, two of Cape Breton's most prominent traditional musicians; the three, in addition to taking part in a couple of "in-the-round" performances, were featured at the BCMFest Nightcap concert in The Sinclair.

All photos by Sean Smith

(L-R) Janine Randall, Leland Martin and Jake Brillhart presented "A Cape Breton Trip Through Time" at BCMFest's First Round opening-night concert in Club Passim.

Festival-goers had the opportunity to try social dances from the Irish, Cape Breton and Scottish traditions at BCMFest's Boston Urban Ceilidh, held in The Atrium of Harvard Square.

BCMFest performers hosted music sessions in the Harvard University Smith Center.

The Treaty Trio (L-R, Sean Clohessy, Rory Coyne and John Coyne) opened the BCMFest Nightcap finale concert in The Sinclair.

 Special guest performer Kevin Doyle invited a band of friends to accompany him during the BCMFest Nightcap.