Irish music Philadelphia – Just Get in the Car https://justgetinthecar.com Local finds and family adventures Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:56:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://justgetinthecar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Untitled-design-4-75x75.png Irish music Philadelphia – Just Get in the Car https://justgetinthecar.com 32 32 Don’t fear,The Fleadh is here (almost) https://justgetinthecar.com/dont-fearthe-fleadh-is-here-almost/ https://justgetinthecar.com/dont-fearthe-fleadh-is-here-almost/#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:55:49 +0000 https://justgetinthecar.com/?p=1105

If you are like me, you are probably pissed that this coronavirus has been screwing everything up.  Kids are home from school, professional sports are being cancelled, and your 401(k) is making it look like you will have to work into your 90s.  On top of that, your St. Paddy’s Day plans are probably over.  Parades, concerts, parties and pub crawls are being cancelled everywhere.  So you will probably be drinking that Guinness by yourself at home.  This blows. 

You are probably still looking for your Irish fix.  Luckily, there is a great Irish event coming up on May 9th, where you can get all the Irish music, dancing, gifts, and craic you need: The Philadelphia Fleadh!  A few days ago, CJ Mills, the organizer of the Fleadh, was nice enough to tell us a bit about himself and the event.   But I thought I would tell you why you should join us there this year.

First of all, it is easy to get to.  If you are like me, you probably know more about China than Northeast Philly.  But for the past few years, they have been hosting the event at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory right off the PA Turnpike.  If it rains, and we have been there when it rains, they can move the entire event inside.  That will prevent the rain from watering down your Guinness!

The Fleadh is also family friendly.  If your kids aren’t into the music or vendors, they have a kids section as well, with plenty of bounce houses, face painting, and other crafty activities.  Our kids always spend most of the day there – but don’t worry, you can still hear the music from there.

Rain
While this is not the current location, you get the point. Rain doesn't stop the fun!
Kid Stuff

If you are worried about the cost – don’t be!  This is probably the most affordable all day event I have ever been to.  Parking is free, and kids 12 and under are free as well.  You will probably want to try some of the food from the food truck and vendors.  But if you are on a budget, or if your kid will only eat peanut butter sandwiches, you can bring in your own food and drinks (just not the alcohol kind). 

No Irish event would be complete without some frosty beverages.  They will sell some Guinness and other beers.  Is Irish whiskey more your thing?  Raise a glass of Pop’s McCann whiskey while you are there as well.

Swag
Pops McCann

The best part of the event is the music.  This year, they have 13 Irish bands playing on two different stages, and playing all day.  You will hear plenty of the classic Irish tunes, Pogues and Dropkick Murphys covers, and even some awesome original stuff.  CJ, the event’s founder, will be playing with Seamus & CJ.  Most of the bands are local ones, such as The John Byrnes Band, Bogside Rogues, and the Paul Moore Band.  But all of the bands are fantastic.  Check out the whole list here.     

It sucks that the coronavirus is costing us a St. Patrick’s Day this year.  But don’t let it kill your Irish spirit.  Join our family on May 9th.  By then, we should all be able to toast to good health, listen to some great music, and find some great craic.  Slainte!

Irish Family

-Shawn

]]> https://justgetinthecar.com/dont-fearthe-fleadh-is-here-almost/feed/ 0 Good Craic at The Philadelphia Fleadh https://justgetinthecar.com/good-craic-at-the-philadelphia-fleadh/ https://justgetinthecar.com/good-craic-at-the-philadelphia-fleadh/#respond Wed, 01 May 2019 17:40:53 +0000 https://justgetinthecar.com/?p=809

What is better than outdoor events in the springtime?  This time of year is great for cookouts, ballgames, and just sitting in the backyard.  One of our crew’s favorite events each spring is the Philadelphia Fleadh.  The Fleadh is an all day festival of Irish music, food, and craic (that’s Irish for a good time!).  We have been going to this event since it started in 2013, and have brought more of our friends and family each year we go. 

Just Get in the Car will be generously hosted at this year’s Fleadh, however, our opinions are 100% our own!

2013 Fleadh

This year’s event is at the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philly on May 11th, from 11 AM to 8 PM.  Afraid the rain will ruin the day?  Don’t be!  They always have a rain plan, with plenty of tents, and indoor options in case the weather gets really bad.  A few years ago, we attended a Fleadh in the pouring rain, and had a blast.  They setup an intimate acoustic session inside, and used the tents to cover up the beer tent lines – a major priority for any Irish event!

Fleadh in the rain

The biggest and best part of the event is the Irish music.  The Fleadh brings together some of the best traditional Irish and Celtic Rock bands from the area.  The John Byrne Band, Bogside Rogues, and the Paul Moore Band are some of our favorites from years past.   In addition to them, you can enjoy the music of the Birmingham Six, Gaelic Mishap, No Irish Need Apply, The Kilted Rogues, Shenanigans, Oakwyn, Killen, Clark and Kane, Ray Coleman and Gathering.  You may not be seeing the Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, the Pogues or Dubliners, but a lot of these bands are influenced by them, so you probably still hear some familiar tunes and also discover something new.

There are three stages of bands, so no matter where you are on the grounds, you can hear one of the acts.  Are you a musician yourself?  Bring your instruments, and sit in on one of the Trad sessions, and jam out with some new friends and lovers of Irish music. 

The Fleadh is also a family friendly event.  Got kids?  Bring them along!  They will probably love the bounce houses and face painting as much as our guys do.  They spent hours bouncing around, playing, meeting new friends, watching the Irish dance competition, and even listening to the music.  And best of all – kids 12 and under get in free! 

Like all these events, there will be plenty of food and beer vendors.  So you can find yourself some Irish fare like Shepard’s Pie or Fish and Chips, or some more American fare like burgers and chicken fingers.  Beer vendors will also be there – and unlike most music venues, this one does not gouge you with beer pricing. 

If you are looking for gifts or swag, there are also plenty of vendors.  Thanks to the kids, we have bubble guns, stuffed green dogs, and light up wands all over the place.  But there are also vendors selling plenty of other Irish stuff you may like – jewelry, shirts, family histories, maps, etc. 

One of the best parts of the Fleadh is the price.  For a full day event, tickets are $20 online right now, and only $25 at the gate.  For that price, you get a full day out with some great music, family activities, food, beer, and craic. 

So pack a lawn chair, some bottles of water, and bring the family up for what we think is the best Irish event in Philadelphia.  The Just Get in the Car crew will be there representing County Delco in our County Clare kilt (even though a DNA test recently told us we are from Donegal).  So what are you waiting for?  Get online, buy some tickets and meet us there!

A band at the Fleadh

-Shawn

]]> https://justgetinthecar.com/good-craic-at-the-philadelphia-fleadh/feed/ 0