Next Tuesday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day, a day that was established as a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is credited with spreading Christianity throughout Ireland. The day, which commemorates his death, has evolved to also be a celebration of Irish culture. That means there will be plenty of green beer flowing and the lively sounds of Celtic music drifting through the air.
Beer and St. Patrick’s day seem to go hand in hand, so Franklin County’s many breweries are ready to celebrate in style and have enlisted some of our finest local talent to serenade you with plenty of Irish ballads, jigs and reels. So slip into your brightest green outfit and read on to discover the best ways to join the fun this weekend. These shows are free, unless otherwise noted.
This time of year is always a busy one for our local bands that include Celtic music in their repertoire, and the Greenfield-based band Ragged Blue is one of them. The group, which includes John Rough on banjo, Corki Demers on fiddle and mandolin, Joe Blumenthal on bass, and Terry Atkinson on guitar, plays a wide range of styles, but this weekend they will be leaning heavily into Celtic music. “I’d say a third of our repertoire or more becomes Celtic and Irish this time of year!” said Terry Atkinson.
And it starts early for the band on Saturday, March 14 as they play at Tree House Brewing Company in South Deerfield from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. So for those of you who like an early start, this is the place to be. Tree House will even have a couple of coffee stouts and cold brew on hand for this special late-morning show.
Then on Sunday morning, Ragged Blue will perform at 10: 30 a.m. at the annual Celtic music church service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 9 Long Ave., in Greenfield. Remember, St. Patrick’s Day is actually a religious holiday and Celtic church services are both spiritual and celebratory, blending traditional Irish music, hymns and prayers, to honor Ireland’s patron saint. All are welcome!
Also on Sunday, March 15, Ragged Blue will return to the Brewery at Four Star Farms, 508 Pine Meadows Road in Northfield, for the Brewery’s fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The music will begin at 3 p.m. and go until 6 p.m. The Brewery goes all out for the big occasion and will offer a corned beef and cabbage dinner. It is suggested you call ahead at 413-225-3187 to reserve a meal.
The LAVA Center, 324 Main St. in Greenfield, will offer an evening of Irish music on Saturday, March 14 at 7:15 p.m. featuring Charlie King and Ben Tousley.
These two are well established, highly accomplished folk musicians who will join together at this event in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. King and Tousley will provide a lively mix of ballads, anthems and singalongs celebrating the Irish spirit of wit and resistance.
They both have enjoyed lengthy careers, releasing a number of albums and touring the country. Pete Seeger called King “One of the finest singers and songwriters of our time.” Tousley has also been noted for his gift for incisive political writing.
If you are a fan of folk music and Irish music, this is the show for you. Doors open at 7 p.m. and there is a sliding scale admission of $10-$20.
If Irish music isn’t your style, but you still want to celebrate, head over to Incandescent Brewing Company, 203 South St. in Bernardston. The popular party band Jimmy Just Quit will be on hand to play your favorite hits from the 1970s and beyond on March 14. The music kicks off at 6 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. There’s a $5 cover charge for this show.
Incandescent Brewing will bring back classic Irish music on Sunday, March 15, when they host Crowd the Plough for an afternoon show. Hailing from Northfield, the band features Terry McKeon on guitar, banjo, harmonica and vocals joined by Ken Lively on guitar, Stephanie Ciccerello on percussion and Karina Berenson on fiddle playing an acoustic mix of Celtic favorites.
There’s even more happening on Sunday afternoon. The Boys of the Landfill are back for their annual St. Patrick’s Day show at Element Brewing Co., 16 Bridge St. in Millers Falls. The group includes Michael Pattavina on banjo and bass, Geoff Rogers on guitar and whistle, Rob Hayes on fiddle and Al Macintyre on squeezebox. The Boys of the Landfill will play a selection of songs from across the pond, making this show a yearly favorite.
Finally, Doug Wilkins will lead a classic Irish pub singalong at Floodwater Brewing, 40 State St. in Shelburne Falls from 4 to 6 p.m. Floodwater’s cozy room resembles an Irish pub and makes it the perfect spot for a singalong.
If you’re looking for more Irish music, the Shutesbury Athletic Club will hold its regular Irish music session on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m.
Save the date, as there is more Irish music coming up next week when Rosemary Caine and Wilde Irish Shenanigans who will perform at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. We will have more to say about Rosemary next week.
Max Creek at the Shea Theater
If you’d rather wear tie-dye than green, you might enjoy seeing the jam band Max Creek at the Shea Theater Arts Center on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m.
The Connecticut-based band has been together for more than 50 years and has a legion of fans known as Creek Freaks here in western Massachusetts. They have been featured at the local music festival StrangeCreek campout which they headline every Memorial Day weekend at Camp KeeWanee in Greenfield.
Max Creek’s long run makes them unique in the music world. While bassist John Rider is the only remaining original member, guitarist Scott Murawski joined in 1972 and keyboardist Mark Mercier in 1973 and have been playing to their devoted fans for decades.
Bands like the Rolling Stones and the Eagles are still going, but they are superstar acts with a big-business approach to music. Max Creek never chased fame — they just focused on making good music and keeping their fan base happy.
The band was unconventional from the start, playing a mixed bag of styles, be it rock, country, reggae, soul, jazz or calypso. They also stretched and improvised their performances, something that only the Grateful Dead did back then.
Their approach to music-making made them pioneers in the jam scene, paving the way for bands like Phish and, more recently, bands like Goose. Max Creek purposely chose to remain a regional act, never signing with a major record label and touring endlessly. Instead, they have built a loyal fan base that has stuck with them as the years have rolled on, as well as attracting a new generation of fans. You will certainly find a mixed-age crowd at a Max Creek show.
Whether you’re a longtime Creek Freak or seeing them for the first time, head to the Shea on Friday night.
This is an all-ages show and the doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets at sheatheater.org.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.