Two great trad performers are joining their prodigious forces in an intimate concert on Sunday at the Irish Center in Philadelphia.
David Munnelly has been described as being “born with a button box in his hands,” his playing effortless and bold with “the energy of a box of dynamite.” He’s played with the greats—The Cheftains, De Danann, and Sharon Shannon, among others. He’s joined by fiddler Mick Conneely, also a De Danann alum.
Irish comic Tommy Tiernan (find him on YouTube for some great laughs) described the duo’s CD, “Tis What It Is,” as “a raucous encounter between chaos and melody.”
There are workshops with the two before the concert, but you must reserve a spot. Go to the Philadelphia Ceili Group website to claim a spot and buy tickets.
On Saturday, Musikfest features two Celtic acts, including Blackwater and Bastard Bearded Irishment. Check our calendar for locations and times.
Jamison is taking the stage for the Wildwood Crest Summer Music Series on Saturday night. They’ve been down the shore most of the summer. Where do I get a gig like that? Irish Philadelphia at the Shore? Anyway, they’ll be at Curran’s in Tacony in Philadelphia on Friday.
And Timlin and Kane are at the St. James Gate Pub at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem. That’s a guarantee of phenomenal playing, singing, and comedy—throw them a few chips.
Mark your calendars for next Sunday when the great Cahal Dunne will be doing his cabaret show at The Irish Center as a fundraisier. There will be opportunity for dancing and raffle ticket buying. You will probably see me there. Not dancing, but taking your money.
Look for other fun-raisers at the Irish Center, including an evening of comedy with Mick Thomas, who often opens for The Chieftains, on September 5; and Quizzo Night on September 19. An Irish Center open house is planned for September 28 with music, dancing, sports, kids’s activities, raffles, food, and relentless craic.
Mark your calendars also for the Philadelphia Ceili Group’s 40th Annual Festival of Irish Music September 11-13, featuring a singers’ night, ceili and set dancing, a rambling house (a traditional night of music, dancing, joke-telling, and poetry reading during which you’re encouraged to bring your “party piece” to share) and a concert with one of the hottest groups in Ireland today, Full Set, along with the Sean Keane band from Galway. This is the real deal—authentic Ireland, no plastic Paddys.
And a word about the Philly Folk Festival, which starts August 15—next Friday. It also has some Celtic offerings, including Tempest from California, fiddler Natalie MacMaster from Canada, and John Byrne of the John Byrne Band. In fact, on Sunday, August 17, you can have an entire Celtic afternoon with Byrne, MacMaster, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Scottish singer-songwriter Archie Fisher. And you will certainly run into lots of local Irish singers and musicians just jamming in their respective camps.
