One way to chase away the winter blues is with a blast of the pipes.

That’s the theory behind the third Hearts & Soul concert, an evening of stirring Celtic performance, to be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Camden Opera House.

After sold-out concerts in 2001 and 2002, Hearts & Soul returns after taking last year off. Producer Chris Pinchbeck expects another sellout this year.

Why?

“The entertainment is lively, and if we can give people something to do in the middle of the winter, why not?,” Pinchbeck said. “Also, people need a sense of place, of belonging to something.”

A change in the concert this year is that instead of the professional musicians used in previous concerts, Pinchbeck has opted for more local talent.

On the bill is the Rocky Bay Pipes and Drums band, to which Pinchbeck belongs, featuring 12 Highland pipers with accompanying drum corps. Members of the group also perform in Highland dancing and Scottish small pipes.

Also featured is Iain Duncan, an established New Brunswick Scottish small piper who performs traditional and modern Celtic arrangements with his band Selkie.

Dafydd Lint is a teller of traditional and original tales from Ireland, Wales, England and Europe, who has appeared on stage, radio and TV.

Also performing is Highland Soles, featuring veteran performers: fiddler Ed Pearlman, dancer Laura Scott and guitarist Mark Murray. The group presents a mix of dance and music, with fiddle, guitar, mandolin, piano, whistle, Highland dance, Cape Breton stepdance and Scottish hardshoe.

Hearts & Soul benefits community organizations that work with children. This year’s recipients will be Maine Girls, Audubon Expedition Institute, Youthlinks and Camp Bishopswood.

“We look for organizations we feel are particularly adept at giving kids experiential, hands-on learning opportunities,” Pinchbeck said.

Pinchbeck started Hearts & Soul as a way of giving something back to the community.

“I had this Celtic connection and felt it might be a way to give people an entertaining evening during the winter while helping people who are doing something to benefit our kids,” he explained.

Pinchbeck has been pleased with the early response to Hearts & Soul.

“I get a deep satisfaction that in my own way, I’m actively pursuing one type of solution to the complicated issues in our education system,” he said. “This helps those doing things on a day-to-day basis.”

Tickets for Hearts & Soul are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. They are on sale at Harbor Audio Video in Camden, Second Read Books and Coffee in Rockland and the Green Store in Belfast or by calling Pinchbeck at 594-0088. Dale McGarrigle can be reached at 990-8028 or dmcgarrigle@bangordailynews.net.