Irish Massachusetts

The 13th annual Newport Irish Festival takes place this Labor Day weekend, September 4-6, at Commerical Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island. Featured artists this year include Eileen Ivers , the powerful fiddle player from the Bronx who has redefined Irish fiddling in her generation;  Shana Morrison , blues singer and daughter of Van Morrison; and local favorites, Pendragon .  For a full schedule of performers, click here . The festival features five stages and an array of exhibitions, cultural tents, food pavilions and children's activities throughout the weekend.  The festival opens at noon each day. Tickets are $17 per day or $35 for a three day pass, and are available online or at the gate. The festival is located at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, with easy access to major highways.  For directions click here . For year round Irish cultural activities in New England, visit IrishBoston.org .

Virtuoso fiddler Natalie MacMaster is performing at the Lowell Summer Music Series this Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.   Tickets are $21 in advance and are available online , or $25 the day of the concert. The Cape Breton maestro has electrified audiences around the world with her passion and proficiency during live performances.  She authentically interprets the traditions of Cape Breton fiddling while adding a contemporary flair to the jigs, reels and hornpipes of her beloved music. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off a pair of free tickets to see the show.  To enter the contest, click here .  Winners will be announced on Thursday, August 26 online. The concert takes place at Boarding House Park , 40 French Street, in Lowell, a beautiful outdoor concert venue in the heart of the city. For a full schedule of concerts in the Lowell Summer Music Series, click here . For year round music and cultural events in Massachus...

The 1st annual Bennington Irish Festival in Vermont  is featuring an all-star line-up of Irish musicians and singers.  The festival takes place over Labor Day weekend, September 4-5, at Colgate Park , a beautiful concert venue in Bennington. Among the top performers: Irish singer and Nashville recording artist Maura O'Connell , Irish traditional music masters Seamus Connolly (fiddle) and Jerry O'Sullivan (uilleann pipes), NYC Irish punk rockers Black 47 , the Young Dubliners from Los Angeles, the McPeake Family from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Irish singer Shana Morrison. Tickets are $30 each day, or $50 for a two-day pass, and can be ordered online . Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. both days. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering a chance to win a free pair of tickets to the festival.  To enter the contest, click here . For full details on the Bennington Irish Festival , click here. For year-round Irish cultural events in New England...

The rollicking Irish rock band, the Saw Doctors , return to the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Massachusetts this Friday night, August 13, at 8:00 p.m. The band originated in Tuam, County Galway and has been entertaining audiences ever since with its high energy performances.   And according to band member Davy Carton, the Melody Tent is the group's favorite place to play in America. "We really love it.  We play on a revolving state, it can almost be overwhelming.  You really need to be at the top of your game to play down there," Carton tells the Irish Emigrant newspaper. For a full schedule of concerts at the Cape Cod Melody Tent, click here . For year round Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Ronan Tynan , acclaimed Irish tenor, is performing this weekend at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis,  Cape Cod on Friday, August 6, and the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset on Saturday, August 7, 2010. A member of the legendary group, the Irish Tenors, Tynan has enjoyed a successful solo career in past years, performing at concert venues around the world - and at baseball stadiums such as Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.   Tickets to the Melody Tent can be ordered online or by calling 508 775-5630. Tickets to the South Shore Music Circus can be ordered online or by calling 781 383-9850. For details on year round music by Irish performers, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .