Slante, my friends and welcome to the Celtic Nations edition of Now Playing. As some are wont to say, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day (or near to it anyway) so most of our venues are partying it up in one way or another, some with Irish-based music and most with regular-styled, local performers. Let’s cut the malarkey and get to the chase, dashing headlong toward that pretend pot o’ gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow.
First, we have some disappointing news that The Emerald Underground, our long-running, Celtic-fusion band will not be performing this weekend due to unavoidable circumstances. Overall, all is well and they plan to return by September for some halfway to St. Pat’s Day makeup gigs, but it’s so very odd to not see them doing 15 gigs in five days this year (that’s some blarney, but not much). Best wishes and get back on the craic soon, my friends, Nat is watching.
Skibbereen, the other such band in town, formed and fronted by Hank Helton and doing Celtic rock with world music influences, takes the soda bread for most gigs around with a fierce amount of shows including Boone’s on Friday night, Sunday afternoon at Danenberger’s Family Vineyards and Kenny’s Westside Pub in Peoria on Monday, plus George Rank’s next Friday night for a season finale.
Rick Dunham and myself as our counterparts of McKinney & Hennessey (named in tribute to our great-grandparents) do our duo of Irish folk all on Saturday, concentrating on Clancy Brothers and Irish standards with visits to George Rank’s right after the parade, then on to Harvest Market Farmhouse Brews for our Celtic contribution.
Also on Saturday, Broken Stone delivers their annual St. Patty’s party of shenanigans and such to Weebles.
Of course, the day would not be complete without ubiquitous appearances by the St. Andrew’s Society of Central Illinois Pipes and Drums accompanied by those delightful dancers in various venues on Saturday, post-parade. That includes a solo show by pipe master Tommy Ogilvy at Lucky’s on the Square in Petersburg at 7 p.m., along with lots more band performances on St. Patrick’s Day proper, for the truly green at heart, Irish-oriented among us.
For Saturday music not necessarily Celtic-related, but directly related to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade (2025’s theme is Raise a Glass to an Irish Lass and features Kylee Kazenski as grand marshal, a Virden native who last year was Notre Dame’s first female leprechaun sports mascot), watch out for Micah Walk and Dave Littrell at the Gin Mill. Also, across the street at Whiskey Jack’s catch Dr. Noodles and the Leprachauns, while Mike Burnett and the “Green” (you’re welcome) Suns along with Frank Parker and friends take over the Brewhaus Pub. This is all happening downtown starting around 1 p.m. and going until the cows come home or the beer runs out, or possibly both.
In non-Irish music items, Motorheads hosts another Thursday Night Live, this month showcasing the talents of Ricarda Rosalina, Eric Tinsley, Pete Matthews, Max Harris and Just 4 Kicks (Molly Bryan, Jake McNamara, Kurt Benckendorf and Stan Rapp).
Hope MacGregor, along with WisenHeart and Jobe Shores, take on Pizza Records in Jacksonville on Friday night for an exceptional singer-songwriter showcase.
On Saturday, Thomas J Beverly does the first gig at a new bar and restaurant when The Backyard in Taylorville opens this weekend, with many more live music happenings planned at the remodeled old Beau’s auto body shop. Sunday has 20 acts a-playing so take a look and go see something, wouldja, please?
Enjoy your St. Pat’s parties while staying green, grand and greasy.
This article appears in The future of electric vehicles.
