We had a fabulous time at Arts Fest. We play festivals out of town so often in the summer. This was our first year on the main stage in our hometown. The next three photos are by my handsome brother-in-wish Troy Shehan. We were thrilled to partner with the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance at… Read More Arts Fest
We had the best time in St. Louis last weekend for the Tionól. The happy fun times began at Schlafly’s Tap Room. The sessions on Friday night are always so crowded and I’m claustrophobic so our favorite thing to do is to hunker down sans instruments and listen to the incredibly fantastic ceili band. then… Read More St. Louis
Yesterday it rained. I went to see my bandmate do an excellent presentation on writing and folk music. When I returned home, a superhero series had begun filming at my house. Naturally, we had to build a website.
Tomorrow (July 7) is going to be such a fun day! In the morning from 9 to 11 am, we’ll be playing at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market. I love making music while kids climb the trees behind me, toddlers make art with sidewalk chalk, and dogs snarfle up stray popcorn bits. It’s truly a… Read More A Very Irish Saturday
Joe has been sick for several days with some kind of nasty upper respiratory infection and Atticus also succumbed to illness for a day so our 4th of July activities were more low-key than usual. The boys were invited to be part of the parade but since we had been battling illness and the temperature… Read More Freedom
I’m trying not too think too hard about why we’re having such an absolutely beautiful early spring but it surely has made for some lovely walks! Liam took over the camera on our last walk to the library. This is Shady Patch, the little herb garden that Atticus planted (and named) last spring. I know less… Read More Walking in springtime
Today was one of those absolutely perfect Iowa City summer days and we were lucky enough to spend a couple of felicitous hours at Uptown Bill’s. Among the players today: Marc (guitar, mandolin, and fiddle), Maia (fiddle), Guy (fiddle), Wendy (tin whistle), Will (fiddle), Tim (guitar), Annie (fiddle), John (guitar), Arianne (fiddle), Abram (fiddle and… Read More July Irish session at Uptown Bill’s
“I thought of the word.” Tom Gilsenan said to me yesterday when we took a break during the Irish session. “It’s diaspora.” I looked it up last night when I got home and he’s right, it does describe our little informal group of musicians who began playing together at the Gilbert Street Uptown Bill’s a… Read More June Irish session at Uptown Bill’s
It’s really hot. We staggered to the library for storytime this morning and lurched home again but that was all the outside time that we could manage today. Susan Pagnucci was the guest storyteller today and she had some great ideas of ways to bring the story home, including a shadow puppet theatre! You know… Read More Shadow Puppets
I wanted to post these on Wednesday but I couldn’t find my camera cable anywhere. I turned my house upside down looking for it to no avail and accidentally cleaned All The Things in the meantime. Joe wandered down to the basement the next morning and found it within three minutes, the leading theory being that… Read More Snow Day
Tara McGovern 