New England Celtic Arts will present The East Pointers from Prince Edward Island at Phillips Area Community Center in Phillips,  Valentine’s Day, Tuesday Feb. 14; and at the Celtic Cabaret, 49 Franklin in Rumford, Wednesday, Feb. 15. Curtain is 7 p.m. at both locations. Tickets are $15. 

 New England Celtic Arts is introducing 49 Franklin in Rumford to its family of venues in Maine. Both Phillips and Rumford locations will be set up for a cabaret- style listening room atmosphere. “We are very excited about the possibilities” said Phill McIntyre, director at NECA. “This is the perfect week to launch the new series between the two venues and this is the perfect band to bring to the cabaret setting.”

 Secret Victory, the East Pointer’s recently released album, could easily stand beside any recording from any era in the illustrious Celtic/folk musical canon. Yet it features 10 brand new original tracks written by guitarist Jake Charron, fiddler Tim Chaisson and his cousin, banjoist Koady Chaisson, vocalists all and, in the case of the Chaissons, members of Prince Edward Island’s reigning musical dynasty.

 With Secret Victory, The East Pointers unwrap new possibilities in a musical style that dates back centuries yet is still relevant on multiple, divergent continents. Almost without even trying, the trio makes traditional music seem ridiculously hip. Also the most fun thing on the planet to dance — and raise a pint—  to.

 “That’s something The East Pointers are trying to accomplish —  breathe some new, original life into traditional music,” confirms Tim Chaisson, whose solo career as a singer/songwriter is thoroughly established. “A lot of times, people think of it as music for an older generation but we’re hoping to introduce a whole new generation of listeners.”