Lúnasa, The Reelers, GABHAIRIN & Shane MacGowan’s Spirit-in-Song Highlight “St Patrick’s Music Month”

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, but the celebration of Irish culture and music in New Mexico (and in nearby Oklahoma and Colorado) will brighten most of this month. Here are the highlights: A Shane MacGowan Tribute Show will happen March 9th, 7 pm at Albuquerque’s Lobo Theater.

This will be a night of songs written by the late Irish rocker and leader of the bands The Pogues and The Popes, who has been called “one of the greatest of all Irish poets”.

The show is hosted by The Reelers band: Nikelle Garcia, fiddle, penny whistle and vocals, David Garcia, Guitar, Keys, and Vocals, Casey Mraz, Accordion, Guitar, Keys and Vocals, Justin McLauchlin, Bass and Dave Purcell on Drums and Vocals. They will be joined by Lars Olsen from the Silver String Band on Banjo and Jim Palmer on drums as well. Other performers at this concert will include Dirty Old Town ABQ, Felix Peralta, Amanada Machon from the Red Light Cameras, Amanda Kooser from the Dawn Hotel, Dustin and Kit from the Squash Blossom Boys, Rebecca, Stoney and Vic from the Randomatics, and Pikey Mike’s Revenge (poet Bill Nevins with singer Jeannie Allen and percussionist Cam Kimbrough). Plus poet Don McIver and more surprise special guests! And the Duke City Ceili Band playing in the lobby before the show starts. Tickets ($15) can be bought at the door or in advance at https://holdmyticket.com/event/427499

Flogging Molly will bring their hard-rocking Road to Rebellion Tour including special guest artists Amigo The Devil and Gen and the Degenerates to Albuquerque’s El Rey Theater on March 13th.

Ticket information is at https:// www.holdmyticket.com/event/417320

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, whose AMP concert in Santa Fe happens March 15th, have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music with their near-telepathic understanding, and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music. Scotsman Fraser has a concert and recording career spanning over 30 years. Californian Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, is one of the most sought after cellists in traditional music today. This seemingly unlikely pairing of fiddle and cello is the fulfillment of a long-standing musical dream for Fraser. His search eventually led him to find a cellist who could help return the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music, where it stood for hundreds of years before being relegated to the orchestra. The duo's debut recording, Fire & Grace, won the coveted the Scots Trad Music "Album of the Year" award, the Scottish equivalent of a Grammy. Since its release, the two have gone on to record three more critically acclaimed albums that blend a profound understanding of the Scottish tradition with cutting-edge string explorations. In addition to performing, they both have motivated generations of string players through their teaching at fiddle camps across the globe. Tickets at https:// ampconcerts.org/event/415040/alasdair-fraseramp-natalie-haas.

Lúnasa will bring their mastery of upbeat, contemporary Irish- trad to The Lensic in Santa Fe on the evening of March 16th at 7:30 pm. The band, considered “an Irish music dream team” (Folk Roots), will be playing some tunes from their just- released latest album, Live in Japan which features all- new original group compositions. Irish uillean piper Cillian Vallely also will be celebrating his own just-released new duo album with David Doocey The Yew & The Orchard. Lunasa’s line up for this concert will include Cillian Vallely, Kevin Crawford, Trevor Hutchinson, Sean Smyth, and Ed Boyd. Tickets, which are selling fast, are at available at https://tickets. lensic.org/8857/8858?_gl=1*11rs7pt*_gcl_ au*MjYyNTYyNTczLjE3MDY4ODM1ODA.

The Irish American Society of New Mexico St Patrick’s Day Party will take place on Saturday, March 16th, from noon to 4 PM at The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham, 2020 Menaul Blvd. Just east of University, a block from Crown Plaza. The public is invited, with tickets at $10 adults; $5 kids 5 to 12.. Featured entertainment includes the Jug O' Punch band, the McTeggart irish Step Dancers and the groups Shenanigans and Three Leaf Clover. Details at http://www. irishamericansociety-nm.com

Dirty Old Town ABQ, a recently-formed New Mexico group which plays original Celtic, Cajun and Spaghetti-western-flavored tunes plus covers of the likes of Shane MacGowan and Dropkick Murphys, will have some coming-out parties this month! The group includes the duo of singers/ multi-instrumentalists Deb Orlofsky and Thomas Dewers, joined on most gigs by Ernesto Zoom

Crespin and Terry Bluhm. Besides their appearance at the March 9th Shane MacGowan Tribute, their shows this month are: Saturday March 9th at Noisy Water Winery (Old Town Albuquerque), Friday March 15th at The Capitol Bar (Socorro), Saturday March 16th at Rock Canyon Cider (Tijeras), Sunday March 17th at Tractor Brewing (Nob Hill Albuquerque), Saturday March 30th at Placitas Winery (Placitas). Here is sample of their music: https://www.reverbnation.com/ dirtyoldtown/song/34353243-holloway-blvd?fb_ og_action=reverbnation_fb:unknown&fb_ og_object=reverbnation_fb:song&player_ client_id=j29dsi7kl&utm_campaign=a_ public_songs&utm_content=reverbnation_ fb:song&utm_medium=facebook_og&utm_ source=reverbnation_fb:unknown

Gerry Carthy who hails from the West of Ireland will be playing fine traditional music every Sunday at Legal Tender in Lamy 12-4 pm and every Friday at Uppercrust Pizza in Santa Fe and 6-8 pm St Patrick’s Day March 17th at Legal Tender 12-5 pm and at Rufina Street Taproom Santa Fe from 7-10 pm with guests!

GABHAIRIN ("Gower-een"), a new Celtic music group, is having their first gig March 17th in Albuquerque, as part of the Romancing the Horn Spring Concert at 4 pm at the Central United Methodist Church at University and Central. The first half of the concert will be classical, featuring Franz Strauss' "Nocturno for Horn and Piano, op.7, and Nikolai Tcherpenine's Six Quartets for Horn in F.

GABHAIRIN ("Gower-een") then will play music from Ireland and Scotland and beyond, some made famous by bands like Silly Wizard, Kila, Slide, Old Blind Dogs and others. Members of GABHAIRIN are Tom Blackburnguitars, Harlow Pinson-fiddle and sundry other instruments, Taom MacDougall-vocals, percussion and Celtic Horn, Ruby Ortega-guitar and vocals, Bonnie Schmader-flutes and whistles, Norm Toy-bass, Jocelyn Haroldson-fiddle.

Tickets only At the Door-Cash or card: Adults-$12/Seniors-$10/Students-$5

The Bob Dylan Center over in Tulsa,

Oklahoma is featuring an exhibit of the history of Shane MacGowan and his Pogues called They Gave the Walls a Talking, staring March 7th. Details: https://bobdylancenter.com/events/ Also, the BD Center is sponsoring a very special March 10th evening at the Philbrook Museum featuring Irish-born poet Paul Muldoon, former US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and several musical stars. Details: https://bobdylancenter.com/ event/cabinet-of-wonders/

Also in Tulsa is the grand Tulsa Irish Festival March 8-10th. Details: https://www. tulsairishfest.org

And in Colorado, Master Irish fiddler Kevin Burke teams with Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary, three of Irish music's leading artists, in a rare American tour together this March that includes two Colorado dates. The three old friends share a love of traditional music and a great joy in playing. They'll bring their songs, tunes, and stories to the Rialto Theater in Historic Downtown Loveland CO on Sunday March 10th, 3:30pm. Reserved Seats $35 at: https:// www.etix.com/ticket/p/91614815/direct-fromirelandkevin-burkenuala-kennedy-eamon-olearyloveland-rialto-theater Box Office: 970-962-2120

Denver area folks have a chance to see Kevin, Nuala, and Eamon perform at Blarney at Belmar, in Lakewood (Plaza inside of Belmar shopping area) on Saturday March 9th, Noon to 5pm). Tentatively, Kevin & Co will do around a 45 min set at around 1 pm and again around 2:30 pm for a second set. Belmar is bringing in a covered/heated stage and will have some heaters out for Fest goers. There is an indoor option if weather is not favorable. The event is FREE!

The craic will be mighty, as the Irish say, this St. Patrick’s month! ■