Shamrock and roll

It’s like a scene from one of those early Bond movies where the little fat bald bad guy is sitting in his swivel chair in front of the giant map of the world. ‘It’s March 17, St. Patrick’s Day,’ he cackles maniacally and, as he flicks the switch, a light comes on in every city, an Irish band on every stage. ‘Gentlemen,’ he purrs, ‘welcome to world domination.’
Leading the charge in this quest for St Paddy’s Day global supremacy are Lunasa, who go for the red button with the release of their sixth album, called, with typical deadpan humour, Sé. In Ireland, it will be available from March 17.
Any hopes you’re harbouring of an Irish launch gig will have to be put on ice as the band is touring intensively in the US, where Compass Records is promoting the album. The hope, it seems, is that the record might prove a major breakthrough for the band. So they’ll be drowning the shamrock in Savannah, Georgia on the night in question.
Of course, not everyone goes away on St Patrick’s day. Indeed, we even get a few cultural exchange visitors. Two such interlopers are Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill who hit Vicar Street running on March 16.
They come promising guests and one of these is very likely to be Iarla O Lionaird, whose own three piece live ensemble is being lionised after an awesome performance in London’s Royal Opera House at the end of January.
Stepping up into the limelight at the National Concert Hall on March 18, in what has to be regarded as one of the highpoints of that institution’s calendar, will be Padraigin Ni Uallachain.
Although she tends to be a little bit more low key than some of her peers, don’t underestimate her abilities. She is a torch bearer for traditional music, an educator, a musical archaeologist and, not least, a performer.
She’ll be performing on the night with Macalla and leaning on the instrumental skills of Steve Cooney and Laoise Kelly, who also accompanied her on last year’s Ailleacht album.
Cobblestone favourites Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly return to the venue’s Back Room on Saturday March 11 while the Sunday evening March 12 pairs Charlie Parr who has drawn comparison with the Harry Smith Anthology, Charlie Patton, Doc Boggs, Jack Rose, Steve Earle, Robert Johnson, John Fahey and Mississippi John Hurt with singer songwriter Adrian Crowley.
The Spirit Store has a cracking run of gigs mid-March, starting with Sean Keane’s visit on Saturday March 11.
Next day, there’s the now firmly established afternoon trad session which should warm up the punters nicely for Frankie Gavin’s evening show. Last time he was at the venue was for a sold out show during the 2004 Tain Festival, which turned very magical when John Spillane climbed up on stage for a couple of guest numbers. There’s hardly likely to be a repeat of that but Mr. Gavin is well capable of weaving the magic by himself so there should be no cause for tears.
Stewart Agnew is another Spirit Store favourite with a habit of selling the place out and he’ll have the venue lit up like a fairground on Saint Patrick’s night. Hopefully the gallons of green Guinness will have worn off by Tuesday March 21 when Roesy (with special guest Noelie McDonnell) includes a Dundalk stopover as part of his efforts to promote his Colour Me Beautiful album.
Sean Keane’s visit marks one of the stops on his tour to promote his latest album, You Got Gold, which mines more of a country vein than he has previously worked in. He co-produced with Jim Rooney and has apparently been spending some time with John Prine, so the slight shift in direction is hardly surprising.
Tagged ‘the Caruso of Irish Music’ by Joseph O’Connor, there is no doubt Keane has one of the most distinctive voices around.
This voice has allowed him to tackle a wide number of genres in the course of the last decade. Over that time, he’s proved nothing if not prolific – this is his seventh solo album.
He’s a man not afraid of hard work and there will also be plenty of other opportunities to catch him out live working those distinctive vocal charms to maximum effect.
The tour kicks off Wednesday March 1 in The Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick and stops off just about everywhere there’s a decent sized venue before winding down in Derry’s Milennium Theatre on Sunday April 9.
Also Keepin’ It Country are Wicklow’s answer to Lambchop, Bray Vista. They’ve just released Sing My Darling and the reviews have been great, so hopefully some of you will buy it and maybe encourage them to get out and do a few more live shows. You heard it here, y’all!