The band that has won the title of Scottish traditional music's best live act shares the stage with the former Londoner they call "the godfather of Canadian Celtic music" this weekend. On Saturday night at the Wolf Performance Hall, the Battlefield Band from Scotland returns to London for the third year in a row. Opening for the Glasgow-based band is John Allan Cameron, who taught English and religion at London Catholic Central high school in the late 1960s, before taking up the cause of his beloved Cape Breton's music full time.

Founded in 1969, the Battlefield Band was voted best live act by the first Scot Trad Music Awards in September. The awards celebrate Scotland's traditional musical scene. Founding Battlefield member Alan Reid made his name years ago by introducing electronic keyboards into traditional Celtic music.

Cameron's professional performing career began in folk music clubs and received a big boost when he signed with Anne Murray's manager and became her opening act. This led to a string of successes, including his TV role as host of the John Allan Cameron Show on CTV from 1975 to '77 and on CBC from 1979 to '81.

This year, Cameron was honoured with the Order of Canada, in recognition of his help in establishing and supporting the Celtic music scene in Canada. The formal investiture of Cameron as an Order member takes place next month at Ottawa.

When this year's honourees were announced, Cameron was identified as being from Pickering, where he is based now, and Glencoe Station, Cape Breton, N.S., where he learned to love Celtic sounds.

"I grew up hearing Irish and Scottish ballads and fiddle and pipe tunes at home, at church, in community halls and pubs," said Cameron. "It was part of our culture, part of our being, and even today I find it hard to separate that from my life as a professional musician. They're one and the same thing to me."

The enduring Celtic boom has made such performers as fellow Cape Bretoners Natalie McMaster, the Rankins and the Barra MacNeils familiar figures on the concert circuit. (For example, Jimmy Rankin has played London twice recently and three of his sisters are at Centennial Hall on Tuesday for a Christmas concert).

A citation accompanying details of Cameron's appointment to the Order of Canada says "he paved the way for the revival of Celtic music in Canada." It concludes: "grand chieftain of the Fergus Highland Games and honorary chairman of the Fiddles of the World Festival, he brings his region's musical heritage to the world."

IF YOU GO

What: Scottish traditional music stars the Battlefield Band; Canadian Celtic singer John Allan Cameron is also on the bill

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: London Public Library's Wolf Performance Hall

Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at the door; call 672-1522 or 473-2099 or e-mail info@sunfest.on.ca