Photo credit: Peter Bonavich
We had a load of fun, playing at the MIM on the Saturday before St. Paddy’s Day. The museum had Celtic performances throughout the weekend, and there was a lot to listen to. Kudos to Dé Máirt Ceol; their session was rollicking and fun!
My group, the High Desert Harpers, played twice on each of Saturday and Sunday. Here is one of our pieces; I’m on flute on this one. The Butterfly is a well-known slip jig.
St. Patricks Day – the day all Irish musicians are waiting for – and it will be a busy one this year. Here’s a rundown of where you can catch some good music.
* Friday night – I’m playing with the Strand at Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse, at Glendale and 17th Street, in Phoenix. Tucked away behind the Quaker church, you might miss it if you blink, but it’s a real gem in Phoenix. Admission is $6, coffee/tea/cookies are $1 each, and profits go to local food banks.
* Saturday – Again, with the Strand, I’m playing at the annual Phoenix Irish Festival, at the Irish Cultural Center in Downtown Phoenix. Worried about parking in downtown Phoenix? It’s on the light rail! $10 admission gets you in the gate for a full day of family-filled fun.
* Still worried about parking? Check out the MIM for “Discovering Ireland” all weekend. I’ll be rushing up to the corner of Tatum and Mayo (blvd, not county!) for appearances with the High Desert Harpers at 1:45, and again on Sunday at 11:45 and 1:45.
* Ironically, things settle down on the actual day. In honor of “Random Acts of Harping Month,” which is really in June, but it’s just too hot in Phoenix for that, so we do it in March, I’ll be playing at, well, random locations. That night, it’s a private event with the Strand.
* And Tuesday I will sleeeeeeep.
We’re playing at 11:45 a.m. in the Main Hall on Saturday, 3/16.
Admission $10.
The Irish Cultural Center is at the corner of Central and Portland, along the Light Rail line.
Come hear the Strand perform at Sozo Coffeehouse this coming Saturday, 7/21, from 7 – 8:30 pm. We’ll be playing lots of traditional Irish, Celtic, and some American music. Rick Boyle on guitar, bouzouki, and vocals, Steve Pawlowski on guitar, bodhran, and vocals, moi on flute, whistles, harp, and vocals.
Sozo is “coffee with a cause,” and donates a portion of all sales to local, national, and international charities. So not only will you hear some good music, you’ll do some good for the world, too.
Shannon Schumann, CTHP, RMT 