The McCabe in Kansas City
Once upon a time I created the website for the now defunct Brookside Irish Festival. The festival was attempting to book Black 47 but the New York based Irish band, impressively I thought, wouldn’t agree to play the Irish festival in Kansas City unless another New York based Irish band, a relatively unknown band, were also booked.
The man who booked the music for the festival asked me if I’d check out this unknown band for him. In the days before YouTube this meant looking at tiny grainy videos on screens most of which were usually full of flashing shamrocks.
2-inch wide videos shot in busy pubs aren’t great for judging anyone, but they’re ok, I said, I think Kansas City will like them. The band were The McCabes.
Fronted by Sean McCabe, and regardless of lineup changes - most notably of their fiddler - The McCabes quickly became favourites at Irish festivals in Kansas City.
Amanda Kapousouz came to KC as their fiddler and proved so popular she returned again in a solo capacity as the Tin Cup Prophette, most laudably for the November 2003 fundraiser at Drexel Hall after the inaugural Kansas City Irish Fest was rained out in Berkley Park.
When The McCabes returned to the Brookside Irish Fest, they brought us a new fiddler - Mazz. Darryl Conlon’s mandolin and Mazz Swift’s fiddle dueling as both musicians sat at the front of the stage on a sunny Brookside day was one of the highlights of the festival (I must dig up a photo for you).
If you were there, you’ll probably have memories of songs such as Whiskey on a Sunday, and if you haven’t seen Sean and his band in any of their guises you should know you’ll like them if you like The Saw Doctors and/or Irish country.
On Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Sean McCabe returns to Kansas City for the first time in years. In the Irish Museum & Cultural Center (IMCC) at 7pm Sean will be reading from his new book A Good Deed & other Stories and will sing some of his songs.
A Good Deed & Other Stories
Sean’s book, A Good Deed & Other Stories, is about a young boy growing up 30 years ago in the Irish midlands. It was published in November to very positive reviews. Copies will be available to purchase at the IMCC.
IMCC
The IMCC is located at Union Station - lower level west wing. Union Station is a very big building on Pershing Street. See their official website for more.
Admission
There is no admission fee but donations to the Irish Center and book purchases from Sean are encouraged.
The McCabes
Details of Sean MCabe’s book-signing / solo tour can be seen on McCabesBand.com
Irish Events in KC
This event has been posted on the KC Irish Events calendar.
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