Count on seeing lots of this.
We are quickly moving into the “all festivals, all the time” season and we’re starting with Brittingham’s annual festival on Sunday, featuring the Bogside Rogues, Jamison, Oliver McElhone, and the Bare Knuckle Boxers who will be playing under the tent—byo lawn chairs.
Next Friday you can see real boxers—from Ireland and Philly—duking it out at Cannstatter’s in Northeast Philly to kick off the three-day Irish Fest featuring
Jamison, Bogside Rogues, Belfast Connection, the Kilmaine Saints, the Sean Fleming Band, the Screaming Orphans, Celtic Connection, the Highland Rovers and the Fitzpatrick Irish Dancers. There will also be kids activities and Irish vendors.
Speaking of Jamison, they’re at Casey’s in North Wildwood on this Saturday night, with Slainte—Frank Daly and CJ Mills of Jamison—playing at Keenans’s in North Wildwood earlier in the evening. Speaking of Daly and Mills, they’re also known as American Paddy Productions and tickets to their American Celtic Christmas, in its third year, go on sale on September 1. Visit their website for information. Date: December 6, two shows, at Bensalem High School.
Also this Sunday, catch Blackthorn on the Beach at The Club at Diamond Beach in Wildwood.
On Thursday, one of my favorite groups comes to the Sellersville—Brother, the band featuring Digeridrew who plays the digeridoo, an Australian instrument that you won’t be seeing in any local school bands. He’s actually Drew Reid, son of local music promoter Bill Reid (East of the Hebrides, which is bringing you both the Brittingham’s and Northeast Philly Irish Fests). Not sure where he took lessons, but he’s mighty good at coaxing some tribal music out of that thing.
On Friday, catch rising star comic Mick Thomas at The Irish Center. Read our interview with him. Opening for him is Dennis Rooney. It’s sure to be an Irish—and funny—evening. Proceeds from the event go to the Save the Irish Center fund.
Also on Friday, the Young Dubliners headline the Delaware Irish Fest, along with Barleyjuice and Brother, at World Café Live at the Queen in Wilmington.
In addition to the Northeast Philly Irish Fest, there’s one in Mercer County, NJ, on Saturday, featuring the Bantry Boys, the Broken Shillelaghs, Caelic Mishap, and the Shanty’s on Saturday, with Ballycastle, Celtic Martins, Birmingham Six, and Jamison on Sunday.
There are more festivals the following week too, including the three-day Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival at the Irish Center, now in its 40th year.
Take a break from festival going on Saturday, September 6, to see a first US screening of “A Terrible Beauty,” an Irish film about the Easter Rising of 1916, co-sponsored by the Irish Immigration Center, the AOH Dennis Kelly Division 1, and the Irish Easter Rising Centennial Committee. The event is at International House, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The proceeds from ticket go to the Irish Immigration Center. Go to their website for more information.
