Number 10

Though absolutely nobody asked for it, once again this year I present my Top Ten Things Not To Miss At Irish Fest This Year. This beloved series dates all the way back to earlier and I'm happy to answer the call of no one to bring you the 2009 version. But really, come on. I work on this stuff all year long. Surely my opinion must count for something with somebody. Anybody? At any rate, it starts today.

10. Fiddle Workshop with Daire Bracken. No, I don't play the fiddle and there's something to be thankful for. And I have no intention of learning how. But any chance to see Slide's master fiddle player ply his craft should be leapt upon. If you saw Daire play here last year you know him as the leaping, flying, bouncing lunatic who drives Slide's sound. He's the Irishizer Bunny of traditional music. In Milwaukee last Sunday I saw him play an astounding set with his own band, then with about a 15 minute break play another show as guest fiddler with Salsa Celtica. And late that night he was there in the middle of the after party session as well, stilling going strong when I headed to bed after 2:00. He's one of the most talented and certainly entertaining musicians we've had in Kansas City. If you're a fiddler, don't miss this workshop. Get there early, get in the front row. If you're like me and a fan of great fiddling, just get there, watch, listen and be amazed. Daire Bracken's fiddle workshop is number 10 on my list of top ten things not to miss at Irish Fest this year.