Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. The one day of the year when everyone suddenly discovers their Irish heritage, Guinness flows like water, and people who’ve never heard of a jig suddenly become professional dancers. And for those of us in Irish bands? It’s absolute madness—in the best way possible.
Playing gigs as an Irish band during St. Patrick’s Day is like stepping into a whirlwind of energy, excitement, and just a little bit of chaos. From the moment we tune our instruments to the final tune-set, it’s an adrenaline rush unlike any other. The crowd is wild (sometimes literally), the atmosphere is electric, and the sheer joy of each gig makes loading and unloading all our equipment, and driving all over Vermont, totally worth it.
One of the best parts is seeing how people react to our music. There’s nothing quite like watching little kids stop in their tracks to bust a move, seeing an adult who claimed they “don’t dance” being dragged into a reel by an enthusiastic stranger, or seeing the cool guy in the corner nonchalantly tapping his foot under the table. It’s pure magic, and it reminds us why we love doing this in the first place.
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. There’s the occasional overzealous audience member who wants to “help” with percussion (read: clapping completely off-beat). There’s the challenge of navigating through a sea of green hats, shamrock glasses, and someone inevitably spilling their beer near the stage (or knocking over our sound equipment). And let’s not forget the requests—oh, the requests. Yes, we know “Oh Danny Boy.” No, we are not playing it.
But even with the chaos, there’s something special about St. Patrick’s Day gigs. It’s a day where people come together, let loose, and celebrate a culture that’s all about music, storytelling, and good craic. And being the ones providing the music to that celebration is an honor, a privilege, and an absolute blast.
So, here’s to the late nights, long drives, the endless reels, and the unforgettable moments. Sláinte and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
For a full list of where we’re playing this St. Patrick’s Day week visit our shows page. Hope to see you out there!
Session Obsession 