Number 7

The next in our Not To Miss series for this year's Irish Fest smacks of nepotism. Sue me.

Number 7: Irish Guitar Hero.

The brainstorm of my youngest son Tommy, Irish Guitar Hero debuts at Irish Fest this year and having watched its development and played it (the word is used very loosely here) a few times, I can't encourage you strongly enough to come give it a try.

Never played? Here's how it works. You hold this undersized plastic replica of an electric guitar. Instead of strings it has some colored buttons on the neck and a sort of switch on the body. You watch a TV screen where, as a song plays, you see a series of buttons coming toward you down what looks like the neck of a guitar. You pick what level you want to try, from easy to expert. The harder the level, the more buttons come at you. As the buttons cross a line at the bottom of the screen you push the matching color button on the neck of the "guitar" and simultaneously strum the switch where the strings would be. Hit most of them right and you win. Easy, right?

Tommy makes it look easy. I make it look like I'm having a seizure. But it sure makes me laugh. Come try it. Choose form one of seven great Celtic rock songs including one by The Elders and 2008-2009 KCIF band Pogey. The Pogey boys have promised to come down and try to play their own song, which should be a hoot. It's free, fun and there will be prizes for those of you who are better at it than I am. Which is pretty much all of you. Trust me.

Irish Guitar Hero is open until 9:00 nightly at Irish Fest.