Hoo Hoo! Hoolie!

St. Patrick's Day season is edging ever closer as we ignore the frigid weather forecasts and threat of more snow alter this week. One sure sign of the coming spring, The Elders annual Hoolie is back on the calendar, Saturday March 13th this year. Again the Hoolie will be at the Midland downtown, possibly the most beautiful performance space in Cowtown. Guests Big Smith and those curly headed O'Riada Irish dancers round out the bill. Tickets are $32 and available through the Elders' website, Ticketmaster, Sheehan's Irish Imports, Browne's Irish Market, the Midland Box Office or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Should you want to make a weekend of it, the Hotel Phillips, site of the famous 2003 indoor Irish Fest, is offer a special Hoolie package. Call 816-221-7000 to get the skinny on that deal.

And if you just can't get enough Elders, and really, who can?, you can watch an encore showing of their concert at the Gem Theater in the Jazz District on Monday, February 8th on KCPT Channel 19 here in town. The boys will be interviewed during pledge breaks and if you buy your Hoolie ticket through KCPT, you'll be invited to a special meet and greet/sound check gathering before the Hoolie. AND–this just gets better and better–looks like there's a chance the pledge phones during the Live At The Gem concert broadcast will be answered by members of the Kansas City Irish Fest board of directors. Yes, it's true...you can at last call and give me your credit card number over the phone.

Think spring and think Hoolie. March 13th.