IN Massachusetts, the native state of one of the most respected of the Cape Breton fiddlers, Jerry Holland, a mighty array of talent has been amassed for a benefit for the musician who was stricken with cancer earlier this year and is undergoing treatments currently. The illness left him unable to work in the normally very busy spring, summer and fall festival season, so a group of friends in the Celtic music scene have organized fundraising activities for him.

On Sunday, September 9 there will be a massive concert to provide assistance and show some support to lift his spirits. His music has inspired and entertained many musicians and fans over the years, so it is not surprising to see such a talent-laden lineup, most of whom are traveling great distances to show their solidarity.

The concert will begin at 2 p.m. at the Jacob Sleeper Auditorium at 871 Commonwealth Avenue on the Boston University Campus (with support from Boston College and Harvard University's Celtic programs).

Among the performers are Seamus Connolly, Alasdair Fraser, James Keane, Joe Derrane, Eileen Ivers, Mick Moloney, Kieran O'Hare, Liz Knowles, Joe Cormier, Andrea Beaton, Kimberly Fraser, Troy MacGillivray, Doug Lamey, Julee Glaub, Jimmy Noonan, Laura Risk, Cape Breton Step Dancers Christine Morrison and Pamela Campbell, Barbara MacDonald Mangone among many others.

Admission is $30 (tickets in advance from Mary Lamey at 508-653-3482). If you can't make the concert you can contribute via mail to Beth Telford (802-728-6351) at 1060 Bent Hill Road, Braintree, Vermont 05060 with checks made payable to Jerry Holland.

Similarly on Sunday at Chicago's Gaelic Park from 2-8 p.m. is a benefit for local musician David James, who suffered a heart attack last year. A teacher and performer as well as an All-Ireland champion on the hammered dulcimer, friends like Liz Carroll, John Williams, Jimmy Keane, Pat Broaders, Sean Cleland and Irish Musicians Association and many more are gathering to raise funds for James.

To donate, send a check or money order to Friends of David James, c/o Countryside Bank, 6053 West 79th Street, Burbank, Illinois, 60459.

In transition this year is the annual Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey's 26th annual feis on Sunday, September 9 to a new site a little further out in Sussex County at the County Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey.

This is a family friendly feis with entertainment options beyond the rows of competitions and curls beginning as early at 8:45 a.m. with Mass at 11 a.m. and music by the Willie Lynch Band (1-5 p.m.); Dicey Reilly Band (12-3 p.m.) and ceili music for dancing by Patty Furlong and friends starting at 1 p.m.

In addition the session coordinator Iris Nevins advises that their monthly session will take place on the Sussex County Fairgrounds around 3 p.m. so contact her for admission details or else check out www.iaanj.com/feis.