ðryw vervan

From some mysterious and ancient celtic power, I have another gig this Friday, 18 May, at the wonderful epicenter of celtic music in Baltimore – J Patrick’s Irish pub.

This week, I’m sitting in for travelling members of local band, Custom House. As it turns out, two of the members are out of town, so I will be joining founding band member, mighty celtic guitarist, Andy Thurston, along with my old “Kiss Me Kate” bandmate – the wonderful Julia Fitzgerald.

Julia and I have not played any gigs together for about ten years, so it was a real treat and surprise to get together with her last Friday night, as we had a little “Kiss Me Kate” re-union (myself, Laura Byrne, and Julia). For the record, I was never an official member of “K-M-K,” but I used to fill in frequently for their guitarist, Lisa Moscatello.

In any case, I find it amazing that after so many years of not playing any shows together, the stars and planets align and two Fridays in a row find Julia Fitzgerald and I sharing the stage.

Awesome.

So, this Friday, 18 May, 9:00, J Patrick’s is once again the place to be. It’s as if the old kings of Dunadd have used their ancient power to work a little celtic magic on this side of the Atlantic.

I’ll be looking for you!

It’s BADEN-BADEN time again!

Friday night, 04 May 2012, your favourite celtic duo with the German name, Baden-Baden, will be playing fine sets of jigs at the James Joyce Irish Pub. Of course, we’ll also be playing reels and horpipes, and singing lively songs. The craic begins at 10:00 pm, and we’ll be going strong until 12:30 or 1:00 am-ish; so get your pint-drinking shoes on and head down to Presidents Street at Baltimore’s east end harbour. We’ll be looking for you!

Here’s the shortlist of upcoming gigs and musical happenings:

Friday, 04 May, 10:00 pm at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).

Friday, 11 May, 9:00 pm at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”

Saturday, 19 May – ALL DAY – Scottish style fiddle competition at the Fair Hill Scottish Games (Kilt up!).

Saturday, 26 May, 10:00 pm at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.

So, this weekend, Friday & Saturday, 13 & 14 April, is a rare treat for me – I get to play music both nights at J. Patrick’s Irish Pub.

On Friday night, I’ll be sitting in with “Four Mile Stone,” featuring Laura Byrne (flute) and Donna Long (piano and fiddle).

On Saturday night, Donna and I are back again, but with Jim Eagan on fiddle. Since all three of us play fiddle, I’m guessing there could be a few “triple fiddle” numbers in the setlist.

And, as always, we’ll be offering cracking tune sets, lyrical ballads, pint-lifting standards, and a few other surprises as well. Grab your ceilidh dancing shoes and head down to J. Patrick’s this weekend.

Here’s the shortlist of upcoming events:

Friday, 13 April, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”

Saturday, 28 April – ALL DAY & NIGHT – the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland’s Annual Festival (I’ll be serving as Steward for the regional, Scottish-style fiddle competition).

Friday, 04 May, 9:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).
Friday, 11 May, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Saturday, 19 May – ALL DAY – Scottish style fiddle competition at the Fair Hill Scottish Games (Kilt up!).
Saturday, 26 May, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.

… and, of course, Jim Eagan and I have a gig!

“Baden-Baden” will be closing out the month of March tomorrow night (Saturday, 31 March) at the lovely James Joyce Irish Pub. The music starts at 10:00, and, as always, we’ll be doing our best to provide our listening audience with time and place transport inducing tunes and songs – with any luck, you’ll see the coasts of Galway, the roads of the Limerick mountains, the Highlands along Loch Ness, the low-lying fields near Athenry, and many, other places. All you need to do is show up at the pub. We’ll be looking for you!

Here’s the short list of upcoming events:

Saturday, 31 March, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).

Friday, 13 April, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Saturday, 28 April – ALL DAY & NIGHT – the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland’s Annual Festival (I’ll be serving as Steward for the regional, Scottish-style fiddle competition).

Friday, 04 May, 9:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).
Friday, 11 May, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Saturday, 19 May – ALL DAY – Scottish style fiddle competition at the Fair Hill Scottish Games (Kilt up!).
Saturday, 26 May, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.

… he was kidnapped, sold into slavery, worked for years as a shepherd, and then risked his life escaping home – - – to England.

Of course, I’m speaking of the man we now know as St. Patrick.

He’s revered for a number of accomplishments – some of them true, and some of them complete mythology. One thing is for certain: he was not Irish.

And so, it makes complete sense that it’s his name that invokes all things Irish, and on whose saint’s day we take time to celebrate the people who enslaved him, when he was a teenager.

Perhaps, that’s why the day is filled with so much silliness. Whatever the reasons, the fact is we do celebrate, and I’ll be doing my best to add to the craic.

On the great day, I’ll be playing at the James Joyce from 11:00-2:00, along side Jim Eagan and Laura Byrne. Later in the day, I’ll head down to southern Maryland, where I’ll be playing at the Ruddy Duck, along with Sarah and Lauren Brenzo (playing fiddles), and probably a few more surprise guests. The day will be full of fun, and I hope to see you out and about.

Here’s the shortlist about what’s coming up, on St. Patrick’s day and beyond:

Saturday, 17 March, 11:00-2:00, at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.
Saturday, 17 March, 6:00 – 10:00, at the Ruddy Duck (Southern Maryland) – Ðryw with Sarah Brenzo (fiddle) and Laura Brenzo (fiddle).
Saturday, 31 March, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).

Friday, 13 April, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Saturday, 28 April – ALL DAY & NIGHT – the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland’s Annual Festival (I’ll be serving as Steward for the regional, Scottish-style fiddle competition).

Friday, 04 May, 9:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).
Friday, 11 May, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Saturday, 19 May – ALL DAY – Scottish style fiddle competition at the Fair Hill Scottish Games (Kilt up!).
Saturday, 26 May, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.

Last Friday night at J Patrick’s was cozy and warm, and full of ceol, cairde, beoir, agus craic. For me, it’s going to be a good year, playing that second Friday at each month back at J Patrick’s.

This coming Sunday, I’ll be back at J Patrick’s, playing a fundraiser in the afternoon – my time slot is from 3:00-4:00, and I’ll be joined by fab fiddler, Jim Eagan, and also flutist Laura Byrne. The three of us are only playing for an hour, but there’s loads of other fine celtic music on offer from 2:00 to 7:00.

Here’s shortlist of upcoming events where I’ll be looking for you!

Sunday, 19 February, , 3:00-4:00 – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw) – lots of great music at an afternoon fundraiser.
Saturday, 25 February, 10:00 at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).
Friday, 09 March, 9:00 at J. Patrick’s – Ðryw with “Four Mile Stone.”
Sunday, 11 March, afternoon, at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne – music for a ceili – get your Irish dance groove on …
Saturday, 17 March, 11:00-2:00, at the James Joyce – “Baden-Baden” with Laura Byrne.
Saturday, 17 March, 6:00 – 10:00, at the Ruddy Duck (Southern Maryland) – Ðryw with Sarah Brenzo (fiddle) and Laura Brenzo (fiddle).
Saturday, 31 March, 10:00 – “Baden-Baden” (Jim Eagan and Ðryw).
Saturday, 28 April – ALL DAY & NIGHT – the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland’s Annual Festival (I’ll be serving as Steward for the regional, Scottish-style fiddle competition).