Best Irish Concerts & Festivals In NYC
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and there's no better way to celebrate than with live music. Home to many Irish residents, New York City is full of Celtic culture. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here are five Irish concerts and live performances in New York City.
Celtic Appalachian Celebration
Symphonyspace
at Peter Norton Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th St.
New York, NY 10025
(212) 864-5400
www.symphonyspace.org
Date: March 12
For a celtic performance you won't forget, reserve your tickets for Celtic Appalachian Celebration at Symphony Space. The performance will feature Heritage Award-winner Mick Maloney and The Green Fields of America, Billy McComiskey (button accordion), Athena Tergis (Fiddle), Brendan Dolan (piano), Jerry O'Sullivan (uilleann pipes and whistle), Niall O'Leary (dancer), Dave Bing and the High Ridge Ramblers Dave Ring (fiddle, banjo), Mark Payne, and Andrew Dunlap. Special guests will include Eamon O'Leary and Jefferson Hamer & Shannon Dunne (sean-nos/set dancer), Meghan Downes (step dancer), and The Murphy Beds. Come join these performers on a musical journey from bluegrass and old-time music, to mountain and fiddle tunes. To purchase tickets, visit Symphonyspace online.
The Blarney Stone Concert Series
Loretta Egan Murphy and Friends
at Glucksman Ireland House NYU
1 Washington Mews
New York, NY 10003
(212) 998-3950
www.irelandhouse.fas.nyu.edu
Date: March 11
Loretta Egan Murphy began playing the button accordion during the 1960s. To this day, she is one of the few musicians who still uses D/C# tuning, preferred by only a handful of Irish-American musicians such as Joe Derrane. Loretta has played in numerous pubs and dance halls all across the Catskills, and recorded her first solo album three years ago, titled "Beyond the Watery Lane." She will perform at Glucksman Ireland House NYU with several artists who worked on the album with her. For a sample of Loretta's music, visit the Glucksman Ireland House NYU website.
Tony Demarco & Friends
The 11th Street Bar
510 E. 11th St.
(212) 982-3929
www.tonydemarcomusic.net
Date: March 13
Tony Demarco is an Irish fiddler, native to East Flatbush -- a neighborhood rich with Italian and Irish American heritage. Members of Tony's father's family immigrated from Italy, while members of Tony's mother's family immigrated from Ireland. Tony comes from a musical background, and he first discovered his love for Irish music when he picked up a fiddle. He now performs at various bars in NYC. You can check him out the Sunday night before St. Patrick's Day at The 11th Street Bar. You can also visit Tony's "gigs" section online, to find out when and where he'll be playing next.
Michael Londra's Celtic Fire
On Stage At Kingsborough
2001 Oriental Blvd.
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 368-5596
www.onstageatkingsborough.org
Date: March 19
Just because St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, doesn't mean you can't celebrate Irish culture. Head down to Brooklyn for Michael Londra's Celtic Fire show, On Stage At Kingsborough. Michael Londra is the voice of Broadway's Riverdance, an Irish Music Award-winner and a two-time Emmy nominee. He performs all around the world with Celtic Fire, a live music, song and dance show. The performance incorporates all of Ireland's traditional instruments such as the fiddle, uilleann pipes and the bodhran. Michael will also be signing CDs after the show. Purchase tickets online at On Stage At Kingsborough's website.
Annual St. Patrick's Open Day
Irish Arts Center
553 West 51 St.,
New York, NY 10019
(212) 757-3318
www.irishartscenter.org
Date: March 13
For something educational and family-friendly, come to the Irish Arts Center's annual Open Day, featuring arts and crafts, music, workshops and games. You and your family can engage with different aspects of Irish culture through language lessons, learning to play the tin whistle, and practicing your football skills with Manhattan Gaels.
Lanya Trypupenko is a freelance writer living in NYC and covering all things New York. She is a self-proclaimed shopaholic who is always on the lookout for the latest trends and deals. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
