Irish music at KC, MO bookstore
The last time Kansas City’s Irish-named bookstore, Bloomsday Books, hosted an Irish music gig, there was a crowd of thirty of us, swilling wine and scoffing snacks. And enjoying the music of course.
Then it was the duo visiting from Kentucky, Beverly Buchanan and Dan Cummins, known as Liam’s Fancy, playing with Ireland’s Turlach Boylan. It was a great gig in a cool venue. When you’re surrounded by used books, it doesn’t matter that you don’t have any friends.
This Saturday, January 13, at 5:00 pm Bloomsday Books is hosting another Irish traditional music performance featuring Turlach. The Derryman is playing with his Glen Road colleague, Mike Dugger.
Boylan plays tin whistle, flute, banjo and mandolin—though rarely at the same time. Mike Dugger plays accordion and guitar. One of my favourite moments at last year’s festival at Crown Center was watching Mike Dugger play his accordion alone just outside the main entrance.
Playing at Bloomsday with Boyland and Dugger is vocalist Mason Brown who also plays guitar and viola. The last time I saw these musicians playing together was when I was lucky enough to witness a session at Turlach’s house following the gig by Matt & Shannon Heaton. Perhaps you saw them at the KC Fringe Festival when they played with Kelly Dougherty in the band called Kelly.
Mike Dugger has a solo album, At Early Dawn, and Turlach Boylan has two albums, The Tidy Cottage and Shame the Devil. You may have heard The Tidy Cottage playing in Eddie Delahunt’s Café & this week when you stopped in for a big dirty mug of tea. Or some funny coffee thing.
You can also hear Turlach and Mike of course on Glen Road’s CD Round The Bend.
Bloomsday is one of the most interesting of venues for Irish and related activities in Kansas City. As well as the annual Bloomsday celebration itself which Eddie Delahunt plays every year and has also featured The Kelihans and the O Riada Irish Dancers, even at events like the Christmas party Tom and Nancy Shawver provide a harpist and a Highland piper. And for good measure the book store shows a couple of movies a year. Last year we saw Local Hero and Shakespeare in Love.
Go grab yourself a bottle of wine, and head down to the Crestwood Shops, to 313 E 55th Street - the block between Brookside and Oak. It should be grand. Again.
Phone: 816-523-6712
There is no admission fee, but please consider a donation for the musicians.
See Also:
• MP3s of Glen Road tunes
• Irish Music by Misla
• Jimmy Crowley in Kansas City
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