Since I'm a bit worn out, I'm going to let you the blogging for me.
Were you at the Fest? What did you like? What didn't you like? Let's hear it.
Click that comments button and let me know!
Your Guide to the 17th Annual Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. www.KCIrishFest.com
About Me
- Danny Regan
- Danny is a founder, past president, and creative director of the Kansas City Irish Fest. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, the greatest city in America. He's authored Tir na Blog since 2006.
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12 comments:
attended sat and sun and had great time. Elders Sat night was spoiled somewhat by attendees in forward section who stood entire concert (made is so the rest of us couldn't see a thing unless we, too, stood, which, of course, obstructed the view for those behind us. I know you can't do a thing about attendees courtesy or lack thereof but did appreciate the audience in seats at the Fuschia concert Sunday afternoon in the Boulevard Pub section who remained seated allowing those standing in the back to also see the show, which, incidentally, was fantastic. Love their music, shirts, and the broom dance as encore was AWESOME! Also, this may be left up to the musicians, but the Haggis show was PAINFULLY TOO LOUD. It hurt. Thankfully, the Elders turned down the volume a bit.
All in all, thanks for a great weekend.
My family and I had a blast. My daughter danced in her first Feis and she did great. Having the Feis at the same time as the Irish Fest worked out great. The bands were fantastic! Could you have worked the Fuchsia Band any harder? Let's see they gave flute lessons, celli dancing lessons, played at mass, backed up other muscians, and even found time to play their own gigs. I think I even saw one of them helping strollers up the stairs. They were awesome.
My only complaint about the event was I had a hard time reading the band schedules in the program - and I didn't even drink that much.
I can't wait for next year! Keep up the good work.
Mike Drelicharz & Family from Omaha
My wife and I had a blast (as we have at the previous three KCIFs). I am now a HUGE Fuschia fan! What I liked about them, Gaelic Storm, ETH, and Millish, was the fact that they looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage. I am amazed at the countless directions that Irish music is going. From trad, to world, to jazz, it seems like anything is possible. You guys did an outstanding job at putting together a line-up that provided listeners with a different aspect of Irish music. You never heard the same style twice! See you next year!
Aaron
Excellent Job by All! We enjoyed all 3 days of activities and bands, especially The Fuschia Band (could they seriously work any harder?), Enter the Haggis and Gaelic Storm. The food selection was outstanding, but there was a noticeable selection missing… where was Blvd’s Irish Red Beer? :) An outstandingly wide cross-section of food, music and culture. Already looking forward to 5th Annual Irishfest with great anticipation!
J&M – Lawrence, KS
Would you tell Entertainment booker Dave "Shocko" Shaughnessy that we can only be one place at a time and he made it darn tough on us with booking such fine bands on 3 separate stages? Like, we each need to multiply ourselves by 4 (one at each stage, plus volunteering).
As for standing at the Elders shows, I don't think that the people who want to sit are more important than those who want to dance. And I know the Elders like fans up on their feet dancing. It's nice if a venue can accomdates dancers and sitters both without dancers blocking sitters, but, alas, that doesn't seem to work out well at most venues.
Attended the fest all three days. The event always promises to be a good time, however....
Whom ever is in charge of the Security preparations did a poor job planning things out.
There was a massive amount of people who were uncontrolled at the Terrace stage area.
Nobody from Security did anything to enforce posted "No Standing or Sitting" signs along the sidewalk.
I overheard a young man contacting a member of the festival and basically plead with him to intervene by getting people to move as directed by the signs or he was going to become involved in a confrontation and ruin everyones good time.
I was rather disappointed when after hearing the staffer reassure him that he was moving them every ten minutes, the young man left and the individual made no attempts to move the crowd.
I wanted to commend that young man for taking the diplomatic approach, however in the long term scheme of things, perhaps taking it to a confrontational level would have been neccessary in order to get something done.
After I had overheard the exchange I went to find Security, and found an individual wearing a Security shirt who said that he didnt work there, he just liked the shirt...huh?
After this, I just gave up; disgusted. I am a huge fan of the fest but this coupled with the apparent location (which appears to have been outgrown) by the amount of people that I observed, and nothing new this year in the childrens section (same old thing there was last year with no new events or game rides) I find myself questioning whether or not I will return next year.
You'll get a longer post later - I'm still wiped out, but the fest was awesome (as usual.)
But I have to totally agree with the previous poster who said "Would you tell Entertainment booker Dave "Shocko" Shaughnessy that we can only be one place at a time and he made it darn tough on us with booking such fine bands on 3 separate stages? Like, we each need to multiply ourselves by 4 (one at each stage, plus volunteering)." Of course, that is a GREAT problem to have and an ultimate compliment as far as I'm concerned.
Sorry! Forgive me?
It might not help the standing issue, but with the open space in front of the first row, where people are determined to be, even if they come at the last minute, or during a band's set - this makes the people who are in the few first rows of chairs have to stand up to be able to see, then it just filters back from there. If the chairs were placed all the way to the front, then if you want front row status you'd have to show up early, and listen to bands that may not fit your personal taste, just so you can be close to your favorites.....but I guess that is old school....but this was my only complaint of the entire fest! It was incredible to see the Elders & Gaelic Storm at the same venue! And Fuchsia Band has another new fan!
Having the front row right up by the blockade in front of the stage does not keep the folks in the front row from standing. And this is an Irish Fest. Dancing is appropriate.
Shocko - forgiven - and with a big hug!
As far as the area in front of the stage - who says those standing up there didn't show up for and listen to a band they didn't care about in order to be there?
At Irish ROCK shows it's totally appropriate to be up there in front of the stage - you feel like part of the show standing/dancing/bouncing around up there. Some people drive hours to be a part of that experience.
At the Pub Stage, no, it wouldn't be appropriate. But if you go to a rock show, you can expect the crowd in front of the stage.
Going to have to disagree...we had dancers at the pub stage too, both traditional and the more, um, creative! Gotta love that guy during HHF, hee hee
Marcia
Pub Stage
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