"It's a good way to get here and have fun getting here," said Susan Zerwick, assistant director of the Seldovia Arts Council, the sponsor of the event.

That's what makes the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival unique, said Susan Mumma, festival organizer and the Seldovia Arts Council director. Visitors not only see musicians up close on stage in a small theater, they can visit with them around town or on the ferry.

"That's what for me has been absolutely fantastic, the part that makes it worth the effort," she said. "I'm spoiled. I don't want to go see Greg Brown in Homer with 500 when I could see him with 50."

Now in its ninth year, Summer Solstice brings musicians from Alaska and the world to the small fishing and tourist town a boat ride away. Robert Post, a comedian, dancer, juggler and actor, is the emcee; he also performs Friday and Saturday.

The festival begins with a jam on the Tustumena as many of the performers head to Seldovia. Thursday afternoon is free, but the festival starts up with workshops on Friday that continue on Saturday. The main events are the Friday and Saturday night concerts. All-festival passes are available for $49 adults and $20 children.

Mumma discovered Lamond and MacIsaac at the Celtic Colors festival. Lamond has almost single-handedly revived Scottish Gaelic singing in Nova Scotia, Mumma said.

"I was very impressed with the whole idea of Celtic music via Cape Breton style music," she said. "I thought, 'This would be spectacular to bring back to Seldovia, Alaska well, just cuz."

MacIsaac is known as much for her step-dancing as her fiddling They'll both teach Scottish Gaelic and Cape Breton music and dancing workshops.

"It's a really unique experience," Mumma said. "If people want to get Scottish Gaelic music outside of Cape Breton, they should get over here."

Zerwick said Radoslav Lorkovic, another top performer, is a particular crowd pleaser.

"He does wonderful boogie-woogie piano and the accordion," she said. "He has quite the stage presence."

Filling out the entertainment are a mix of groups.

"It's really the full range, from these incredibly professional, world renowned musicians to our local neighbor who has talent and gets up and gives a neat performance," Zerwick said.

"It's a real eclectic festival," Mumma added. "Something where you can see some very unique talent nobody else thought to bring."

For more information and a list of workshops, visit the festival Web site at www.seldoviaartscouncil.wordpress.com.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com.