Rose, Thorn & Fiddle and Celtic Chorus

A swing through the Southeast by a Massachusetts-based children's ensemble will kick off summer concert series at two Chattanooga venues.

Rose, Thorn & Fiddle and Celtic Chorus features 20 musicians and 10 singers from ages 8 to 18 who perform an extensive repertoire of jigs, reels, tunes, songs and hymns of Ireland, Scotland, Canada and early America. The musicians play fiddles, bass, flute and drums.

They will play Friday, June 7, at Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., and Saturday, June 8, at Hamilton Community Church, 7997 Shallowford Road.

Creative Discovery Museum

Rose, Thorn & Fiddle and Celtic Chorus will offer the first performance in the Folklife Summer Music and Dance Series, which is meant to highlight the region's cultural diversity. The group will perform from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday on the museum's plaza. Admission to the museum ($11.95) is optional.

"The Folklife Summer Music and Dance Series is a great way to showcase the level of cultural diversity and talent Chattanooga has to offer," said Liza Blair, the museum's arts manager. "The series will provide a unique performance-based atmosphere for families to observe and engage with professional artists."

Still to come are Ogya Band on June 29, the Tennessee Schmaltz Klezmer Band on July 20 and the Indo-Cultural Art Academy on Aug. 3.

Hamilton Community Church

The ensemble's performance in the HCC Summer Concert Series begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Refreshments will be available during a 15-minute intermission.

A suggested donation of $5 for a family of four will be asked at the door, along with a nonperishable food item to help a local food bank ministry.

For more information, call 423-485-1011, email info@hamiltonchurch.com or visit www.hamiltonchurch.com.