Poet Robert Burns, who celebrates a birthday on January 25.
We’re already hearing from folks about their St. Patrick’s Day. . .er, month. . .gigs, so if you have something planned, get it on our calendar.
Get in a little practice this week. Timlin and Kane are at Brittingham’s on Friday night, January 18 (that’s where I first saw them about a million years ago) and Irish singer Mary Courtney is performing for the Princeton Folk Music Society on Friday night as well.
“The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” the award-winning Martin McDonagh play that opened to rave reviews in Philly at the Lantern Theatre Company at St. Stephen’s Church continues this week.
On Saturday afternoon, spend a nice four hours of bliss, nursing a beer and listening to Blackthorn at Tom & Jerry’s Sports Pub in Folsom, and catch the Shanty’s at Reed’s Tavern on Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
On Sunday, AOH 87 is holding its annual fund-raising beef-and-beer at Finnigan’s Wake in Philadelphia. The very active Port Richmond group has the Paul Moore Band to provide the music and for $30, you get a buffet meal, with draft beer, wine and soda, plus reduced prices for other drinks.
Dinner plans on Sunday? If not, the Tullamore Crew is whipping up an Irish feast at the Irish Center.
And all you wandering dancers who miss Emmett’s Place—Emmett is going to be at the Rising Sun VFW Post in Philadelphia on Sunday with the Hooligan’s Luke Jardel providing the music.
On Monday, catch John Byrne at the Lickety-Split Singer Songwriter series in Philadelphia.
Since we welcome all Celts to our pages, head over to the 8th annual South Jersey Burns Supper to honor Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns on Friday. The party is being held in Mt. Laurel, NJ, sponsored by the Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. And yes, there will be haggis, but that’s no reason to stay away. There will be other food too.
Also next Friday, a group of young trad performers will be featured in a Philadelphia Ceili Group House Concert in Havertown. They include three-time all Ireland fiddle champion Dylan Foley, multiple medal-winner accordionist Dan Gurney, and acoustic guitarist and bouzouki player Sean Earnest whom we’ve known since he was a teenager and who is now an in-demand Celtic traditional accompanist. Since it’s a house concert, space is limited so you must RSVP. And that’s the only way you’ll find out the address. That’s the way it works.
Next Saturday, Blackthorn is rocking Ryan (Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia) for the fifth year in a row to raise money for the school’s scholarship fund. This is usually a sellout, so check our calendar for ticket information (for this and other events of the week).