Singers Night 2011
Epic rain, wide-spread flooding, rockslides on the Schuylkill Expressway…none of these things could keep the Irish community away from the opening night of the PCG’s 37th Annual Irish Music and Dance Festival.
Dedicated to the late Frank Malley, who was a long-time driving force behind the Festival, the evening showcased some of the talented local Irish singers that call the Philadelphia area home. From the Sean-nós stylings of Terry Kane, Matt Ward, Rosaleen McGill and Marian Makins to the rousing up-tempo songs of Vince Gallagher and his band, it was several hours of pure entertainment for the good-sized crowd that made their way to the Irish Center in Mt. Airy.
There were a few performers who couldn’t make it due to weather-related emergencies, including the scheduled emcee, Gerry Timlin, whose pub The Shanachie in Ambler experienced flooding. Terry Kane stepped in and took over the role beautifully.
[We are happy to report that The Shanachie is recovered from the flood waters, and were actually able to open at 5PM on Thursday for dinner. “We’ve fared better than some of the other places in Ambler,” bartender Meg Herrmann told me when I stopped in today. “The water came in under the front door. We all worked together yesterday and got it cleaned up.”]
The Festival continues Friday night and Saturday all day and evening with music, dancing, workshops, food and fun for the entire family. This year’s event also marks the kick-off to a year-long series of concerts funded by a grant provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Titled “Irish Traditional Music: Influences from the West of Ireland,” the series is bringing some of the most highly regarded Irish musicians to Philadelphia beginning in October with Kevin Burke and Cal Scott, followed by Mick Moloney & Friends in November, Grainne Hambly & William Jackson in February, 2012, Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne in June, 2012 and concluding with a performance by the legendary De Danann at the 2012 Festival. Tickets to all the concerts are being raffled off through Saturday, along with CDs and books from all of the artists, as well as other items.
Check out our videos in case you missed last night’s songfest, or if you were there and want to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL73E8269571E5A7FD&feature=viewall
Further information on the rest of this weekend’s festivities can be found at the PCG website: http://www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org/philadelphia_ceili_group/2011-annual-irish-traditional-music-and-dance-festival-information-.html
