Break

With just over 90 days to go before Irish Fest, Uncle Bloggy needs to rest up. So I'm headed to the family cabin in the Colorado high country (pictured is the view from the front porch) to renew, refresh, reload and revitalize. If I can talk somebody into doing it, there may be a guest post or two here next week. If not, then I'll be back on duty in 7 days. LOTS of exciting news coming up about how we're going to be celebrating our 10th birthday.

I'll miss you all. And no, I don't know why the volunteer sign up page isn't up yet. I'm sure it will be humming along in now time.

Volunteer June 1st!

The annual Irish Fest call to arms will sound this Friday, June 1st when 2012 volunteer sign-ups open through our website. Get ready and sign up early to get your ideal job and time slot. Join the few, the proud, the green. We need you and you'll have a great time.

Remember, volunteers should be at least 15 years old and some jobs have physical limitations. Also remember, volunteers get free t-shirts, a free ticket to the fest, free refreshments during your shift and this year as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, a chance to win some great stuff.

Join us! Aunt Laren wants you!

We're The Worst, Almost

Kansas City has claimed the number 10 spot on Travel and Leisure's list of America's 10 Worst Dressed Cities. But fear not. When Irish Fest opens, we'll have a wide variety of affordable and stylish garb for sale, guaranteed to get us out of the top ten. Or to rocket us into the top three.

Jiggled

So different and yet so the same. I spent the weekend at Jiggle Jam where I served on Saturday as the beverage guy, running cases of drinks and bags of ice to all the various places where one might get a drink. Sunday I served as Daddy, taking wee Kathleen around to hear the bands, ride the train, eat the treats and most thrilling for her, meet Jiggle Jam mascot JJ in person. Being at Crown Center, badge around my neck, radio on my hip, hanging banners above white tents, working alongside Keli, Barney, Shawn, Kathy, John, Erin, Jessica, Dan, Sean, Ed and assorted other Irish Festers who do double duty at Jiggle Jam...it all seemed very familiar, only with way fewer green shirts, much more water sold than beer, and mercifully, 100% kilt free (though I did see at least one favorite Scot there).

Anyway, it put me in the fest mood, that's for sure. And with Irish Fest only 94 days away I won't have to wait long.

Jammin

Don't forget: throw the kids in the Datsun and head down here to Crown Center this weekend for the 5th annual Jiggle Jam Family Fest. Check out the Jiggle Jam website for all the details. Fair warning: that Verve Pipe Jiggle Jam song you'll hear when the page opens will be stuck in your head all day.

JiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggleJiggle Jaaaaaammmmm...

More Drinking

Did you attend one of the great whiskey tastings at Irish Fest last year? And afterward, did you think "man, I wish they'd do another one of these only with beer"? And then did you think "and I wish it was all-you-can-drink, and it was free"?

Well, my friend, wishes come true, though not the "all you can drink and free" one. Boulevard beer tastings will be on the schedule at Irish Fest this year. You'll be able to sample a variety of Missouri's best beers and learn about them and the brewing arts in general from one of Boulevard's brewing experts. Whiskey tastings will return as well, so there is absolutely no reason for you to be walking around thirsty.

Band Announcement

I've tried.  I really have. Long time readers will recall that I've made offers in the mid four figures. I've promised free beer. I've offered complimentary t-shirts. And yet, U2 continues to snub the Kansas City Irish Fest.

But we have the next best thing. Kansas City's own Rattle and Hum will make you too think you're hearing U2 when they take the stage on Friday evening.

Now for next year? Bono, have your people call my people. I might be able to add a few comp tickets for the wives.

Immortality, Ellis Island And You

If you should happen across this album

in your local vintage record store and you played track one on side two, you'd hear the late, great Queen of The Blues Koko Taylor singing "Wang Dang Doodle." Right before that song's great bass line starts you'd hear Koko announce the song and in the background you'd clearly hear a male American voice shout "YEAH!"

That would be me. I was there at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland that night in July of 1982 and my youthful exuberance is captured forever on vinyl in the live recording. Obviously, it's something I still think is pretty cool all these years later. If you've been waiting for a chance to be as cool as I am, you're in luck. You can take a giant step in that direction the weekend of June 15-16 when Irish Fest regulars Ellis Island record a new live CD at O'Malley's in Weston, MO. As Mick Doyle of the band tells me "We are taking it back to where it all started 15+ years ago for Dave and I."

So make plans to head up to O'Malley's and get yourself on record clapping and cheering and shouting with this great and always entertaining band.  For your listening pleasure, here's Ellis Island at O'Malley's earlier.

Countdown To Irish Fest

100 days from this very day we swing open the big green gates of the 10th Anniversary Kansas City Irish Fest.

New Music From Goitse

One of last year's breakout bands at Irish Fest and one that is rocketing to the top of the Irish trad scene, those talented youngsters that call themselves Goitse have released "Transformed", their second CD.

Order it here. And see them at the KC Irish Fest Labor Day weekend.

Toon Time

Festival This Weekend!

Yes, you read that right and no, you didn't miss summer. This weekend is the other summer bookend, Memorial Day and with that comes Irish Fest's baby sister fest Jiggle Jam. Dozens of the the very same people including myself who bring you the Kansas City Irish Fest every year also work on Jiggle Jam, the great and fast-growing family music festival that also shares Irish Fest's Crown Center grounds.

Here's what you oughta do, you parent of small child or multiple children. Get yourself combo passes to Jiggle Jam, the new Legoland and the new Sea Life Aquarium, get yourself a discounted hotel room at Crown Center and make a vacation of it.

Yes, mom, there's music you'll like. Remember Verve Pipe? Yes dad, you can get a cold beer. And your kids will have the time of their lives. Get those combo passes here. Learn about all the great stuff Jiggle Jam has to offer here.

See you this weekend. Look for me. I'll be the one jiggling and occasionally possibly jamming.

The Week Can Ony Get Better From Here

There are times when I fear for the soul of the Irish people. This list provides one of those times....

Brew Crew News

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer." -Abraham Lincoln

And that's why Abraham Lincoln was our greatest president. And if you need the real facts about beer, here they are. This year's Irish Fest brewing contest takes on the Scottish or Irish Ale category. If you're an amateur home brewer and think you have the magic recipe, it's time to get to work. Make sure you follow the Beer Judging Certification Program (BJCP) guidelines for category #9 beers. Your entry will be accepted up until 4 p.m., Saturday, August 18 at Bacchus and Barleycorn.

Now you may ask: "Uncle Bloggy. If we were to drop off some of our extra beer at your house, could you maybe fix the contest so I'd win? Hmmmm?" Well, first of all I'm shocked that you'd ask such a thing. Second of all, if you wanted to go ahead and drop off that extra beer, I can neither confirm nor deny that I can influence the judging* in your favor. So, you know, go ahead and give me that beer if you want.

Good luck brewers!


*Actually, I can deny it. I can't help you.

News Item

Tenor Frank Patterson Tapes Inspired North Korean Officials to Learn “Danny Boy”

IrishCentral-The late Irish American tenor Frank Patterson sang for the Pope but he never realized he also did for North Korean political leaders. State officials in the “Hermit Kingdom” learned to sing Danny Boy in English from a recording of Danny Boy sung by Patterson, which was provided by an Irish diplomat. The diplomat, who was not named, is using a Dublin auction house to sell off numerous unwanted gifts he collected during his career. A 12 piece cutlery set from North Korea was a gift to the Irish United Nations official who is now selling off his unwanted memorabilia from his time in office. The Irish Times newspaper reports that the diplomat was in Pyongyang, the capital of the communist state, on a ‘mission-impossible’ to promote tourism. He received a gift from his hosts of cutlery cased in a drab, faux-leather plastic and cardboard box and contains 12 settings. In return, the Irish diplomat, according to the Irish Times, allegedly ‘delighted’ his hosts by giving them ‘two cassette tapes of tenor Frank Patterson’. The tapes resulted in the North Korean officials learning to sing Danny Boy in English.

Mother Mo Chroí

A bit early, all of us here at the Kansas City Irish Fest wish all of you dear mothers a very happy Mother's Day. I hope those good-for-nothing kids of yours will get off their arses and do something nice for you on Sunday. God knows you deserve it, putting up with me all these years.

I mean "them". Putting up with them.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Band Announcement

Yeah, I know it's Wednesday. And yes, this is the second band announcement of the week. What? Don't try to box me in. I'm a rebel, a lone wolf. Don't try to understand me.  I'm a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an organic spinach tortilla.

Anyway this is exciting and I can't wait until Friday.

Returning for our 10th Fest, those bawdy boys in black, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

One of the most popular bands we've ever put on stage, the lads from fair Alba were an instant hit in Kansas City and we're excited to be bringing them back for an encore. Try to stay in your seat when they're on stage, I dare you. Just try not to turn Scottish when the pipes and drums start thundering. You'll be dancing in the aisles, painting your face blue and screaming "FREEDOM!" like Mel Gibson before he became a raving, anti semitic lunatic.

Check it out. Only 114 days...

Shopping

Tomorrow the well-oiled machine that is the Irish Fest merchandise committee is meeting to begin planning the t-shirts, caps, souvenirs and whatnot that we'll offer for sale to you, the general public over Irish Fest weekend.

As the merch designer, I'll be at that meeting so you have a golden opportunity here to tell us directly: what would you like to see? Any special 10th anniversary items? Less of something we've had in the past? More of something we've neglected? Did somebody say halter tops?

Let me know if you have ideas.