A quick sell-out, this one. There may be scalpers, but that is your only chance. A Cincinnati Irish friend of Ms. Black's proclaimed to Rock last weekend that "it'll be great to come down to Louisville, I'm bringing a bus load of 50 people." To which was made the fatal inquiry: ". . . and do you have tickets?". A howling, negative response was a bit of Queen City keening rare to Rock's ear. The poor thing is still coming but with a vastly reduced entourage. A lesson to us all, indeed.
Support stepdancing in MetroLou! (Rock's proposed name for merged government – MetLou sounds too much like insurance and has no alliteration.) You can watch and/or learn to dance like your great grandparents at Bellarmine College's Frazier Hall on Sunday November 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is a mere $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Food and drink will be available and music will be adroitly administered by one of Kentucky's top Celtic bands, Ten Penny Bit. TPB has undergone some personnel changes and is really sounding great! If you need another reason, how about aerobics? Skip the bloody Stairmaster. Scaling "The Walls of Ennis" will get your ticker tocking just fine.
Celebrating the Irish Rover's 5th anniversary will be done to the strains of Roz Carothers and her Celtic constituency, now much enhanced by a fine singer and woodwind player (Debbie and Richard to you). Be there on Sunday, November 1, 4 to 7 p.m. Her Drowsiness then motors over to Molly Malone's on Friday, November 13 from 9:30 to 12:30. D. Maggie's month will conclude with a rousing time at The Rudyard Kipling on Friday, November 27 from 9 to 11 p.m. Catch one, if not all, of these great shows.
You go Gael! These guys rule. Strong, dead on banjo with smooth, very musical mandolin and tasty bass with double duty on fiddle and guitar make rashersound. Look for the boys to follow Drowsy Maggie at the Irish Rover at the Anniversary Party on Sunday, November 4 from 8 to 11 p.m. The next weekend the R-men return to The Dubliner in Cincinnati on November 7 (6111 Montgomery Rd.) and then have a homecoming at Molly Malone's on Saturday, November 14.
The G-persons will be on the main stage (in front of City Hall) for "Light Up Louisville" with the Bluegrass Irish Dancers on Friday evening, November 27. On Saturday, November 7, Galloglas will also be playing at a new Irish pub in Covington, Kentucky called "Jack Quinn's." JQ is reported to be a very nice music venue with a multi-story building that provides gallery seating.
Molly Malone's begins a mighty month with the return of Cleveland-based Brigid's Cross on Friday, November 6. They reportedly put on a great show at the grand opening and their return is much awaited. Lexington's "Liam's Fancy," which probably has the most traditional sound of any of the area bands, returns on Friday, November 20. Liam Harte will sing in Irish as well if asked properly. Dan Cummins on banjo and Bev Buchannan on piano accordion make this group a real musical powerhouse.
A regular session has also taken root at Molly's on Sundays, roughly from opening at 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. All players and singers and listeners of all skill levels are welcome.
Remember all our blessings on Thanksgiving Day including:
The Bluegrass Irish Dancers
Busy Fingers
Cloigheann
Drowsy Maggie
Galloglas
Kimble Howard
Liam's Fancy
Louisville Pipe Band
Silverwood
Ten Penny Bit
The Irish Rover
Molly Malone's
The Rudyard Kipling
Rock is especially grateful to the Louisville Music News for providing space for our Celtic Corner and all the support it gives to all of River City's music.