TONY ENGELHART: LOVES CELTIC TUNES >>>

The Battlefield Band is to Scotland what the Chieftains are to Ireland. That’s right, authentic Scottish music â€" bagpipes included. The members of the quartet were each inspired by Celtic music and the music of their homeland. Playing a hybrid of traditional Scottish tunes with originally penned material, the Battlefield Band has created quite a stir in the world music scene. While they do incorporate some synthetic sounds into their work, for the most part they play acoustically with instruments like the fiddle, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion. With nearly 30 recordings dating back to 1977, the band has seen its lineup change over the past 30 years, but still retains their passion for the music. Their latest, 2006’s Dookin’, was another stunning example of the band’s versatility as they once again invited special guests to contribute their talents to the project.

The Battlefield Band will play two shows at Traditions Cafe in Olympia. The first is tonight, and the second is Tuesday, Nov. 18. For a full Battlefield Band US tour itinerary click here.

[Traditions Café, 7 p.m., all ages, $15-$20, 300 Fifth Ave. S.W., Olympia, 360.705.2819]