In the rest of the world, March is the time for all things Irish. Not in Philadelphia! September is our big Irish month and we’re kicking it off big time this year with the Young Dubliners and our own John Byrne Band on Thursday night at World Café Live.
And at Delaware’s version of World Café on Friday: Why, it’s The Young Dubliners with the John Byrne Band again, but this time with Black 47, and Mythica with Melissa Cox. WCL is at The Queen at 500 N. Market Street in Wilmington, DE. They’re billing it as the Delaware Irish Fest.
But before that—this Saturday, in fact–whet your appetite for Irish music at LaCosta Spa in Sea Isle, where Blackthorn is performing. Catch them Sunday at the Club at Diamond Beach in Wildwood. Also on Sunday, Michaelangelo Café in Philly will get its Irish on with McHugh and Company, featuring Tom McHugh, Fintan Malone, and Parker O’Neil. Paddy Whacks Pub on Roosevelt Blvd. also has Irish music in the afternoon.
Then, on Saturday, September 7, head over to West Windsor, NJ, for the first of many annual Irish festivals this month. Galway Guild, the Broken Shillelaghs, Birmingham Six, The Shantys, Gaelic Mishap, Ballycastle, Celtic Martins, Bantry Boys and Nog Bhoys will be performing at the two-day event, now in its third year.
After that, we have the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival (September 12-14), featuring local talent (like Gerry Timlin, Gabriel Donohue, Marian Makins, Terry Kane, Ellen Tepper, Matt Ward. . .we could go on) along with one of the best fiddlers ever (IMHO), Ton DeMarco, tin whistle/flute (and Irish comedy) champ Joannie Madden of Cherish the Ladies, along with Nuala Kennedy, remarkable Irish singer and flute player; singer Donie Carroll and more.
Later in the month: the AOH Irish Fall Weekend in North Wildwood (September 19-22) and Celtic Fest 2013 in Bethlehem (September 27-29). Check our calendar for all the talent appearing at both those events.