By Joslyn Keenan
March 15, 2018
This St. Patrick’s Day, the first ever Nebraska Irish Music Festival will be celebrated at McKinney’s and Zoo Bar.
This festival showcases local businesses, music and organizations that facilitate the growth of Irish music and heritage in the Lincoln community. The organizer and host of the festival is Lady Susan, host of KZUM’s “Thunder on the Plains,” who also has another reason to celebrate. This year marks the 10th anniversary on air at KZUM.
The artists involved in the festival are Crosby, Stills, Bangers and Mash and Paddywhack, who will perform later in the day. The Zoo Bar will also host Crosby, Stills, Bangers and Mash later that night from 9 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.
A Lincoln-based group that includes Terry Keefe, Jim Pipher and Paul Siebert, Paddywhack has performed folk music from the British Isles and North America for over 35 years. They play a variety of jigs, hornpipes, polka and more. Staying true to their Irish sound, they include Northumbrian bagpipes and the Irish fiddle.
McKinney’s will open Saturday at 9 a.m., eventually leading into the opening of street tents at noon. The festival begins at 2:30 p.m. and is filled with activities including music, contests and fun. A few contests included will be a Lucky Charms eating contest at 4 p.m., with a Kilt Competition shortly after at 5 p.m. The full schedule for the day can be found on Facebook.
Joslyn Keenan is an editorial intern with KZUM.
