Arts and Entertainment

By Sean Smith Kevin Crawford, Colin Farrell and Patrick Doocey, “Music and Mischief” • One of the many reasons to appreciate Lúnasa is that even when they’re not performing or recording as a full band, they cultivate opportunities to play together in... Read more
In addition to the Childsplay farewell tour (see separate story in this edition), here are some other Irish/Celtic music happenings in greater Boston this month: •The annual Massachusetts Fiddle Hell, which takes place Nov. 7-10, at the Westford Regency... Read more
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, on an otherwise beautiful fall day, terrorists hijacked four planes in the skies over America. All of them were intentionally crashed; two into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one... Read more
By definition, a corner house sits at the edge of a crossroads, in close proximity to all manner of passersby happening through the intersection. In the same vein, Boston quartet Corner House lies at a musical crossroads, its doors and windows open to the... Read more
By Peter F. Stevens BIR Staff To say that Brian Kennedy has defied the odds is an understatement. The acclaimed Northern Irish singer and songwriter came of age in Belfast’s war-torn cityscape during The Troubles, and his gifted voice proved to be his... Read more
By Sean Smith Special to the BIR A spur-of-the-moment creative impulse by two Greater Boston residents during a Thanksgiving sojourn has now, nearly four years later, culminated in a unique video project that offers a new perspective on traditional Irish... Read more
- By Sean Smith This month’s column focuses on recent recordings by a pair of Irish/Celtic trios with Massachusetts and New England connections. New Leaf, “New Leaf” • Based in Western Massachusetts, this band comprises fiddler Kira Jewett, a former pupil... Read more
Thurs., Oct. 3 – The Irish Network (IN Boston) and the Boston Public Library present an evening with Jack Cashman, author of "An Irish Immigrant Story.” The Central Library, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 4 –The Irish Network in Boston invite members to... Read more
The Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton will feature a combination book launch and concert with Tara O’Grady, a multi-genre singer who recently published an on-the-road memoir, “Migrating toward Happiness: The Soundtrack to My Spiritual... Read more
By R. J. Donovan Special to the BIR Boston has been splashed across international headlines this year thanks to the “Varsity Blues” college admissions bribery scandal being played out in our waterfront courtrooms. Clearly, there should be no separate... Read more
THE BIR’S CALENDAR OF CELTIC MUSIC EVENTS Summer turns to fall, and as always, Greater Boston has plenty of Irish/Celtic-related music events on the calendar. •Two local acts will be on stage at Club Passim in Harvard Square on Sept. 15. Roots-oriented... Read more
By Sean Smith We Banjo 3, “Roots to Rise Live” • It has been four years since this Irish/Americana outfit released a live album (“Live in Galway”), and in that time WB3 has made a significant transition in the “Celtgrass” genre – a mix of Irish and... Read more
By R. J. Donovan Special to the BIR When Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley opens in “Sunset Boulevard” at North Shore Music Theatre later this month, she’ll be returning to a show she knows very well. Twenty-five years ago, she performed in the... Read more
By Sean Smith Special to the BIR Fair play. To Northern Irish singer-songwriter and activist Tommy Sands, it’s “kind of a throwaway phrase that people use a lot – but it’s a meaningful one.” In fact, it is a lack of fair play – the idea of treating... Read more
Belonging to Each Other, a Falmouth non-profit that helps provide housing, food and other needed services to homeless people, will hold its third annual benefit gala on September 12 at St. Barnabas Church in Falmouth, featuring a performance by Cork... Read more
Four Greater Boston teen musicians – and 8,000 other competitors – are heading to Drogheda for Fleadh 2019 BY SEAN SMITH SPECIAL TO THE BIR The four of them have each been to the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil at least once, and they’re all set to go again.... Read more
BY SEAN SMITH Liz Carroll and Jake Charron, “Half Day Road” • Yeah, I thought there’d been something missing these last several years: Last time Liz Carroll released a new album was 2013, back when the Patriots still only had three Super Bowl titles. That... Read more
BY SEAN SMITH This month’s offerings of Greater Boston/Eastern Massachusetts Irish and Celtic-related events will include a busy weekend at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England and, up on the North Shore, the inaugural Rockport Celtic Festival. •The... Read more
BY R. J. DONOVAN SPECIAL TO THE BIR I recently had the unique opportunity to attend the Riverdance Academy Summer School Program on the campus of Boston University. Rest assured I was not there as a dancer, but as an observer. It proved to be an... Read more

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