No blarney here; we’re about to do the St. Patrick’s Day-thing this weekend in Springfield. Next Thursday, March 17 is the official date, but our Saint Patrick’s Day Marching Band Parade and celebration of the influence of the Celtic nations on America falls on the Saturday before, and that’s March 12 for 2016.
The parade, happening for 32 years and counting, features a great deal of music since it’s officially a marching band parade. This being an election year, the event will also feature a high number of aspiring politicians with family, friends and followers marching along. The parade starts promptly at noon with the Central Illinois St. Andrew’s Society pipers, drummers and dancers leading the way (see them at venues all over town later in the day). This year the entire Langfelder family is grand marshal, and they, bless their hearts, can be considered the size of a decent parade all by themselves.
Along the parade route, bars are open and some sell booze on the sidewalks, but no Irish-Celtic celebration would be complete without the addition of live music. Several venues are here to accommodate with Celtic-influenced groups, others give you the opportunity to drink your green beer (do we even do that anymore?) or libation of choice and listen to music unrelated to the celebration, but certainly a part of the fun. Several new names and owners are in place along the parade route with Balen’s replacing The Brickhouse and The Apothecary in what housed Marly’s Pub, plus new owners and operators at Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, Craft Beer Bar, Brewhaus and Cafe Brio. Maybe we can add Norb Andy’s to that list, as I found some hopeful news on Facebook, but no confirmation yet. Please forgive me if I missed something in all this bar hopping.
In specific music matters, The Emerald Underground play at Robbie’s on Friday evening, The Apothecary at noon on parade day and then motor out west to Lime Street Cafe for a Saturday night encore presentation at 8 p.m. They also play Lime Street on Thursday, for St. Patrick’s Day proper at 7 p.m. My good buddy Patrick Hagerman plays “An Afternoon of Craic” at The Butternut Hut from 1 to 6 on Saturday. Pat comes honestly to the Irish music from his dear departed mother and knows more real Irish songs than you can shake a shillelagh at. He joins me at George Ranks on Friday for an evening of Irish music and other songs.
Speaking of George Ranks, McKinney & Hennessey with special guests appear on Saturday from 3 to 6 and possibly beyond, doing magically delicious songs from the Emerald Isle. McKinney is Rick Dunham of Elvis Himselvis notoriety and Hennessey is me. We both have our share of Irish blood and took the surnames of great grandparents to help us through the music, blarney and corned beef.
Skibbereen, the Springfield-based Celtic group led by Hank Helton, plays the Midwest Family Broadcasting’s Kegs and Eggs event at Floyd’s before the parade on Saturday. Possibly adding new meaning to famed Irish tune “The Drunken Sailor (Early in the Morning),” doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the Skibs play 8 to 10. Catch a portion of the Celtic-jazz-world music band at Robbie’s, next Friday, March 18 on the day after St. Patrick’s Day.
In other big events outside the realm of Celtic-influence, Boondocks hosts a string of strong, national country acts all weekend, including Chris Knight and Exile, while on Saturday singer-songwriters Lyman Ellerman and Ward Davis return to the Capital City Bar & Grill.
Slainte! Be safe and have fun.
