The McDade Dancers, taking it to the street. They're holding a feis this weekend.
The two Irish plays in town have gotten rave reviews. This is your last weekend to see Enda Walsh’s “Bedbound” from the Inis Nua Theatre Company at the Playground at the Adrienne. Conor McPherson’s “Shining City” is also wrapping up its run, so get your tickets now.
There’s a lot going on this week that you need to know about, whether you like Celtic rock, trad, Irish dancing, or Irish conviviality. And hey, who doesn’t like all of those things?
On Saturday, Jamison, the Celtic rock band, is headlining the Benefit for Chrissy (Chrissy Hemphill, an 11-year-old with a degenerative hip disorder) at the Firefighters Union in Philadelphia.
On Saturday night, the Broken Shillelaghs are playing at Heavy’s on the Harbor in Gloucester City, NJ, just over the bridge from Philadelphia.
On Sunday The McDade School is holding its Four Provinces Feis at the Marple Sports Arena in Broomall. If you’ve never been to a feis (pronounced fesh), this is one to see since McDade produces some serious championship dancers.
The Derry Society is hold its spring social at the Irish Center on Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. The Bare Knuckle Boxers and the Shantys will provide the music, and the Cummins and Gibbons School dancers will show you how it’s done. There’s an adult and kids’ buffet.
It’s a busy Sunday. Once again, Blackthorn is raising money for the USO. The second annual USO Rocks the Troops with Blackthorn is on tap at P.J. Whelihan’s Pub in Cherry Hill, N.J.
If you look at our calendar, you’ll see Canadian group Great Big Sea is playing at Sellersville, but the show has been sold out for weeks. You’ll have to call for any last minute cancellations.
Coming up next Friday, Isaac Alderson, Grainne Murphy, and Alan Murray will play in concert at the Irish Center, sponsored by the Philadelphia Ceili Group. Alderson is a world-class flute player, the only American since Cherish the Ladies’ Joannie Madden to win a tin whistle championship, which he grabbed at the 2002 Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel, Ireland. He was also named All-Ireland Senior Champion in two other instruments—uilleann pipes and flute. This is your chance to see hear a world-class musician who defines “triple threat.” And he’s not even 25.
