CELTIC CHARM -- The Chieftains and fiddler Eileen Ivers will perform together and separately in Tokyo this month.

CARNIVAL TIME -- Dr. John and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown will headline this month's Blues Carnival.

The artists playing, literally, second fiddle to the bigger names may prove to be the more intriguing, when top Celtic and blues musicians visit Japan later this month.

The Chieftains will be here again after two years, and need little introduction, even if you have just a mild interest in Irish music. Their latest in a succession of collaboration albums, "Tears of Stone," features illustrious female singers. While being a clever commercial venture with some outstanding moments, perhaps it's time for the Chieftains to get back to being just themselves again, and in concert thankfully, they usually do.

The excellent Akiko Yano, a Japanese collaborator on the album, will be a guest with the Chieftains one night, but it's another accomplice who I would strongly advise you to check out.

From the Bronx, fiddle player Eileen Ivers is one of Celtic music's fastest rising stars, having toured with the likes of Hall & Oates and Hot House Flowers, played lead fiddle in the Riverdance show and appeared on the "Back to Titanic" CD. She now records for Sony.

Her latest album, "Crossing the Bridge," features a dazzling array of musicians and sounds, from African singing to Spanish flamenco and hip hop, and includes musical luminaries such as Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd and Randy Brecker. Her cross-cultural experiments are carefully thought out, and help to bring Celtic music out of its mystical burrow.

With her trademark blue violin and breathtaking fiddling, Ivers has an arresting stage presence. Although she won't be able to replicate the vastness of the album, it should still be a varied and, I suspect, often stunning show.

The Chieftains play May 29, 6 p.m., at Tokyo Yebisu Garden Hall, and May 31, 7 p.m., at Shibuya Kokaido. Tickets are 6,500 yen. Eileen Ivers will perform June 1, 7 p.m., at Laforet Harajuku. 6,000 yen in advance, 6,500 yen at the door.

Tickets for all Tokyo shows are available from Ticket Pia (03) 3498-2881, and for the Chieftains also at Ticket Saison (03) 3250-9999 and Lawson Ticket (03) 3569-9900.

Eileen Ivers will perform June 3, 7 p.m., at Osaka Umeda Banana Hall. Tickets from Ticket Pia (06) 6363-9999, Ticket Saison (06) 6232-9999 and Lawson Ticket (06) 6369-6633.

You have to stretch the imagination a bit to define some of the musicians at this year's Japan Blues Carnival as being actually blues.

Topping the bill is the irrepressible Dr. John from New Orleans, whose various guises over the years have included spells as a psychedelic rock icon, a rock 'n' roller, a smoky jazzman, a funkateer as well as an R&B and blues player.

At the heart of his music, however, is always the rhythm & blues tradition of New Orleans. For four decades Dr. John has been the tireless champion of the Crescent City's music. He was as adept on guitar as piano until he was shot in his left hand. He's since carved a career as a true virtuoso piano player with a distinctive vocal growl.

Also high on the Blues Carnival bill is Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. In addition to a mean blues guitar he plays an equally mean fiddle, and his music ranges from Cajun to polkas, country to bluegrass, from semi-classical to jazz. For many years his eclecticism was almost a detriment to his career. He seemed impossible to pigeonhole, but these days his many fans and admirers include Eric Clapton.

Brown's first big break came back in the '40s, after he stepped in on guitar for an ailing T-Bone Walker. His success spurred a record deal, which would turn somewhat sour before his career was once again revitalized in the '70s by a French label who teamed him up with New Orleans' Professor Longhair.

It was not until the following decade that his versatile approach found the perfect match with a big brass band. He usually plays live these days with a horn section. A no-nonsense, pipe-smoking, gun-carrying deputy sheriff, "Gate" is now in demand all over the world, and gives the impression he's seen and done it all. And he probably has.

The Blues Carnival artist most entrenched in the blues tradition is Alvin Youngblood Hart. His family come from Mississippi, although he moved around America as a youngster, including Illinois, where he saw blues legends such as Muddy Waters. Later in San Francisco he met Joe Louis Walker, who gave the young Hart his first break.

Not interested in playing the electric style, Hart has a deep love of old country blues. He breathes new life into classics by masters of the genre such as Charly Patton, Walter Vinson and his hero Leadbelly. His own songs are also rooted in country blues, although his latest album, "Territory," shows him to be a player of many musical parts.

Popa Chubby's roots are as much in punk and new wave as blues, which makes for an interesting new take on traditional Southern blues. Popa (New Yorker Ted Horowitz) has a voice that drawls with a light-fingered guitar style.

As always, Japanese artists will also be a part of the Blues Carnival. This time, Kimura Atsuki & Ariyama Junji, plus Georgie Pie.

The Japan Blues Carnival '99 schedule is as follows:

* May 23, 4 p.m., Osaka-jo Yagai Ongakudo -- Dr. John, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Alvin Youngblood Hart * May 24, 7 p.m., Nagoya Tokuzo -- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Alvin Youngblood Hart * May 25, 7 p.m., the Bottom Line in Nagoya -- Dr. John, Popa Chubby

* May 26, 7:30 p.m., Kawasaki Club Citta -- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Popa Chubby * May 27, Tokyo Meguro Blues Alley Japan -- Popa Chubby * May 27, Sapporo Factory Hall -- Dr. John, Alvin Youngblood Hart * May 28, Tokyo Meguro Blues Alley Japan -- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown * May 28, 7 p.m, Sendai Denryoku Hall -- Dr. John, Alvin Youngblood Hart * May 29, 5:30 p.m., Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo -- Dr. John, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Kimura Atsuki & Ariyama Junji * May 30, 3:30 p.m., Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo. Dr. John, Popa Chubby, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Georgie Pie

Tickets for the concerts range from 6 yen,000-6,800 yen. For more information call M&I, (03) 5453-8899.

Perhaps the real Japanese blues can be found down in Okinawa, and in the glorious voice of former Nenes leader Misako Koja. Since leaving Nenes, her music and voice has taken on a certain "bluesy" character, in contrast to the poppier style of Nenes. Although she's recorded little as a solo artist, her concerts are a good chance to hear perhaps Okinawa's best female vocalist.

Misako Koja will perform May 20-21, 7 p.m., and May 22, 4 p.m. at Akasaka Mokuba Tei (4,000 yen in advance, 4,500 yen at the door), and June 12, 5 p.m., at Osaka Umeda Banana Hall. 3,500 yen in advance, 4,000 yen at the door.

Finally, for evidence of the living tradition of Okinawan music, teenagers Kousuke Atari and Mizuki Nakamura from Amami Island are making their first appearances in Tokyo in support of their debut albums. Both play music rooted in tradition, Atari's with the emphasis on rhythm, while Nakamura has a more melodic approach.