Celtic Colours International Festival opened its seventh year with a spectacular concert that set a high standard for the rest of this year's Festival. Nearly 3000 people filled Centre 200 in Sydney to see the Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association, Artists in Residence Dave MacIsaac and Mairi MacInnes, Lúnasa, Natalie MacMaster, A Crowd of Bold Sharemen, Carlos Nunez and dancers Sabra MacGillivray, Kelly MacArthur and the Fitzgerald Irish Dancers. One of the many highlights of the night - which included three standing ovations throughout the show - was the closing number when Carlos Nunez invited first Natalie MacMaster and then pipers Matt MacIsaac from Natalie's band and Cillian Vallely from Lúnasa and then the Fiddlers Association, the dancers and tireless square dance aficionado Burton MacIntyre back on stage for a huge finale. The calibre of the production left many in the audience commenting that this year's opening was the best in seven years.

The Celtic Colours International Festival continues until October 18 with the World's Biggest Square Dance.