Good Irish music and good Irish moods will return to the Saratoga County Fairgrounds this weekend, as the Irish 2000 Music & Arts Festival sounds off in Ballston Spa.
Celtic crafts, Irish dance and foods and beverages will also be part of the party, which begins Friday at 5 p.m. with four bands on the contemporary music stage.
Gates will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, with music beginning at noon and continuing until about 11 p.m. Sixteen acts are scheduled to perform.
Included in this year’s lineup:
• Gaelic Storm, the California-based outfit that specializes in traditional Irish music, Scottish music, and original Celtic and Celtic rock tunes. Movie fans might recognize the band from their its appearances in the 1997 film “Titanic” as the steerage band that performed “An Irish Party in Third Class.” Gaelic Storm will close the festival on both Friday and Saturday nights.
• Hair of the Dog, a regional band that has performed at festivals, fairs, theaters, municipal events, private events and in large clubs across America and Ireland.
• McKrells, local favorites featuring Celtic folk singer-songwriter Kevin McKrell.
• Ireland the Band, which formed in 2013 and blends all phases of Irish music into one show. The band will perform sets on two separate stages Saturday.
• Screaming Orphans, a pop-Celtic rock band from Bundoran, County Donegal, Ireland that features the four Diver sisters — Joan, Angela, Gràinne and Marie Thérèse. The Orphans will play Friday night and early Saturday evening.
• Kilmaine Saints, Irish and Celtic punk band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The festival will also include performances by the Schenectady Pipe Band, Boland School of Irish Dance, Iona Dance Troupe, An Clar School of Irish Dance and the Farrell School of Irish Dance.
The first Irish 2000 festival was held on Sept. 20, 1997 at Heritage Park in Colonie. The festival later moved to the Altamont Fairgrounds. It has been held at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds since 2009.
Advance tickets are available — only until 10 p.m. tonight — at any Price Chopper supermarket through the chain’s “Tickets To Go!” program. Advance sale Friday-only tickets are $16 (they will cost $20 at the gate) and Saturday-only tickets are $18 (they will cost $25 at the gate). A two-day advance sale pass will cost $29.
Online tickets are available at Irish2000fest.com.
People using the Price Chopper “Advantage” card will receive an extra $1 off.
The schedule
Performance schedule for this weekend’s Irish 2000 Music & Arts Festival includes:
FRIDAY:
Coors Light Contemporary Stage:
* The Druids, 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.
* The Peelers, 6:35 to 7:35 p.m.
* Screaming Orphans, 7:55 to 9:10 p.m.
* Gaelic Storm, 9:30 to 11 p.m.
SATURDAY:
Coors Light Contemporary Stage:
* The Narrowbacks, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
* Kilmaine Saints, 2:10 to 3:20 p.m.
* Hair of the Dog, 4 to 5:10 p.m.
* Screaming Orphans, 5:50 to 7 p.m.
* Shilelagh Law, 7:40 to 8:50 p.m.
* Gaelic Storm, 9:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Patricia McSweeney Memorial Stage:
* Rakish Paddy, noon to 12:45 p.m.
* Ireland the Band, 1:10 to 1:55 p.m.
* Three Irish Voices, 3 to 3:30 p.m.
* Brothers Flynn, 3:55 to 4:40 p.m.
* Blarney Rebel Band, 5 to 5:50 p.m.
* Who’s Your Paddy, 6:15 to 7 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelligan Memorial Stage
* McKrells, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
* The Druids, 2 to 3:10 p.m.
* Girsa, 3:40 to 4:50 p.m.
* Ireland the Band, 5:20 to 6:30 p.m.
* Get Up Jack, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
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