How to Be Irish in Philly

By this point, you’re probably missing live concerts, ceili dances and most of all, at this time of year the Wildwood Irish Fall Festival.

Cheer up. We have plenty to keep you content—even though most of it is virtual—and we wouldn’t completely give up on Wildwood, as you’ll see.

Friday, September 18

The fabulous Mary Courtney streams live on Facebook, starting at 6 p.m. You can tune in here: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarBand She’s one of our very favorite Irish singers. If you haven’t heard her, give her a listen. Tips will be accepted.

Saturday, September 19

Singer-guitarist Seamus Kelleher appears at Blueprint Brewing at 1571 Gehman Road in Harleysville. The show starts at 6 p.m.

Sunday, September 20

Shilelagh Law, billed as NYC’s Thirstiest Band, hosts its virtual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Sunday Funday Virtual Busking Extravaganza. It’s live on Facebook, and you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/SLNYC. The tunes start at 4 p.m. Sure, they’re New Yorkers, but given that it’s virtual, they could be pretty much anywhere.

Also Sunday, it’s time for cocktail hour with Philly-area native fiddler Caitlin Finley and flutist/uilleann piper Will Woodson, starting at 5 p.m. They’ll be streaming live on https://www.facebook.com/woodsonandfinley/live or on YouTube at youtube.com/c/willwoodson/live. We wrote a story about them recently if you want to learn more about this talented duo.

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Big week ahead of us, starting tonight with the (virtual) Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival.

Let’s jump right into it:

Friday, September 11-Saturday, September 12

We mentioned this last week (see our story), but because of the pandemic, the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival—normally held at the Irish Center in Mount Airy—just wasn’t in the cards. In person, that is. But the Ceili Group has come up with a thoroughly creative way to celebrate the festival on the web. It’s well worth checking out. They’ve put a ton of work into their plans, and it shows.

First of all, tonight … celebrate a Rambling House with host Hollis Payer. There’s also a dance workshop. The dance workshop is led by the great Kieran Jordan at 6 p.m. The Rambling House kicks in at 7. Learn more here, and they’ll send you the link.

Here’s who’s going to be at the Rambling House: The wonderful Mary Courtney (video below), Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley, piper Tim Hill and Autumn Rhodes, Rob Curto, Patch and Bob Glennan, Gabriel Donohue and Marian Makins, Donie Carroll, and many more.

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We have a packed week for you, featuring live concerts—isn’t it wonderful to have them—culminating in the virtual Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival. (That’s right—they’re continuing the tradition, and no pandemic will stop them.)

Here’s the scoop:

Friday, September 4

Join fiddler Philly-area native Caitlin Finley and flutist/uilleann piper Will Goodson for a cocktail hour and a half, live on Facebook. (As always, tips are appreciated.) Catch them here:

https://www.facebook.com/woodsonandfinley/live

It all takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Pour yourself a pint, sit back and enjoy some of the tunes.

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If you’re looking for music, this is the week for it … plus one very special event coming up soon.

Let’s get right down to it:

Friday, August 28

Watch the talented and hilarious Seamus Kennedy live on Facebook, starting at 7 p.m. It’s all part of the Celtic Festival Online. You can catch his act here: https://www.facebook.com/celticfestivalonline. Seamus never fails to entertain. He’s a font of tunes, stories and outright groaners.

If you’re hankering for live music, head on down to the shore—specifically, Seaport Pier, for Philly’s rockin’ band, Jamison Celtic Rock. Seaport Pier is at 2201 Boardwalk North in Wildwood. The show starts at 8 p.m.

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We have a few items on tap for this week, including one event that is an absolute must for anyone who cares about the future of the Commodore Barry Arts and Cultural Center—more commonly known simply as the Irish Center, a beloved institution in the city’s Mount Airy section.

Let’s get right down to it.

Saturday, August 22

You’re invited to attend an Our Lady of Knock Virtual Mass at 9 a.m. Father Ken Hallahan will celebrate. The special feast day Mass will be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GloucesterCountyAOH.

Satisfy your craving for traditional Irish music with a Virtual Behan Session, live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virtualbehansession. The tunes start at 5 p.m.

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Welcome back!

We’ve got a couple of festivals for you—one relatively small, another one about as big as it gets—and a few other events you might want to take in.

By the way, do whatever you can to support live music—even if “live” means live streamed.

Here’s what’s up:

Friday, August 14

Songstress Mary Courtney is back for her weekly Friday concert, live streamed to Facebook at 6 p.m. Catch it here: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarBand

Also at 6, you can join Caitlin Finley and Will Woodson for a cocktail hour (and a half). Catch the live stream at www.facebook.com/woodsonandfinley/live.

Raymond Coleman, one of the hardest-working peeps in local Irish music, shows up at The Wharf, 708 West Burk Avenue in Wildwood, starting at 6:30. Always a good show.

Friday, August 14 – Sunday, August 16

It’s time for the Philadelphia Folk Festival! Unlike previous Philly Folk Festivals, this one will be streamed live for all the obvious reasons. Curse you, pandemic.

However, the lineup is still just as appealing as it always is, featuring more than a few Irish and Celtic acts, including the always exciting Téada, Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hothouse Flowers, The Henry Girls (fabulous), Kris Drever, Breabach, and Philly’s own John Byrne.

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Some of what’s on this week—but not everything—is virtual. That’s the way things go these pandemic days. But that doesn’t mean these events are not still fun. (Of course they are!)

So here is what’s happening:

Friday, August 7

Sweeney’s Philadelphia, 13639 Philmont Avenue, hosts ELEVEN starting at 6:30 p.m. out on the outdoor patio.

The First Friday Traditional Irish Music Session, typically held in The Before Times at the Irish Center, tonight goes completely virtual via Zoom, starting at 8 p.m. To take part, direct message Hollis Payer from her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hollis.payer.

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The summer fun just keeps on coming, close to home and down at the beach—and, of course, virtually.

Here’s what’s what:

Friday, July 31

You can catch the glorious Mary Courtney live on Facebook again this week at 6 p.m. She’s a veritable treasure trove of tunes and one of the most stirring voices in Irish music today.

Also at 6 p.m.—you’ll have to make a touch decision here—flutist Will Woodson and fiddler Caitlin Finley, who hails from Philly, host a cocktail hour (and a half) live on Facebook. Catch their act here. (Video below.)

Saturday, August 1

Hard to believe we’re heading into August already. We have one event you can watch from the comfort of your own air-conditioned home. Barleyjuice appears on the lineup for a concert from this year’s virtual Dublin Irish Festival. The show starts at 2 p.m. on Facebook.

Later in the day, Philly’s very own Jamison unPlugged hits the stage at the North Shore Bar & Kitchen, 301-303 New York Avenue in North Wildwood, starting at 5 p.m. Contact North Shore for reservations. Outdoor seating is limited. 609-551-4112.

One quick note: A drive-in concert for Saturday night, featuring The John Byrne Band at People’s Light in Malvern, is sold out.

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