Published in the April 8-14, 2026 issue of the Irish Echo.
Boston has very much an embarrassment of traditional music riches these days. Sometimes referred to as the 33rd county because of its large Irish and Irish-American community, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it can boast of a truly great music scene.
I was up there last week for a family visit and on Friday headed over to the Druid, a fantastic pub in Cambridge that that not only has a brilliant atmosphere, great food and a pint Guinness influencer “Prime Mutton” has called an “Absolute Creamer” (his highest ranking), but also a delightful, small, and well patronized Friday afternoon session. While there, I learned that not only there are there at least two – and on some nights, four – sessions every night of the but there are at least eleven each Saturday. Yes, eleven. That’s an extremely robust musical environment that not only speaks well of the folks up there who play and go out to see traditional music, but of the pub owners who give it so much space to succeed.
With this, then, it also should come as no surprise that Boston hosts some great music events over the course of the year and as luck would have it, there are three happening just around the corner that are well worth everyone’s attention.
First up is the Patrick J. Touhey Memorial Weekend, which takes place April 17-19 at the Canadian American Club in Watertown, Mass. Featuring concerts, workshops and lectures, it’s a very warm and brilliantly organized weekend of uilleann piping madness.
This year, Touhey Weekend organizers Joey Abarta and Michael Stribling will host several outstanding musicians and researchers who will celebrate piping and its history. These folks include Open the Door for Three’s Kieran O’Hare (https://www.openthedoorforthree.com/, Minnesota-based singer, guitarist, and researcher Brian Miller (https://www.evergreentrad.com/), Chicago-based researcher Richie Piggott (https://www.richiepiggott.com/) (whose book “Cry of a People Gone” I reviewed here) (https://www.irishecho.com/2022/10/cry-of-a-people-gone-is-brilliant-amazing-and-substantial is brilliant and a must-read), world class uilleann pipe makers Benedict Koehler and David Quinn, author and pipe maker Nick Whitmer (https://livesofthepipers.com/), and scholar/player Barry O’Neill. In addition, I am led to understand that special guests are expected as well – keep your eyes peeled for an announcement on that front.
I’ve been to the Patsy Touhey Weekend in the past and can attest to it being a must-go for the pipers out there, but it’s manna for any fan of Irish traditional music who wants an enriching musical and intellectual experience. For more information, registration details, and scheduling, visit https://www.patsytouheyweekend.com/.
Two weeks after that, there’s an even more substantial event that will take place fans of traditional music should really be looking forward to.
Organized by Boston-based musicians Sean Clohessy and Colin Kadis, along with Jackie O’Riley, its dance director, “Tunes on the Charles” is a major four day celebration of Boston’s traditional Irish music and dance communities that will take place April 30 to May 3. Featuring concerts, workshops, and a “session trail” that runs from Inman Sq, through Porter Sq, and into Davis Sq., it’s a substantial undertaking that will be remembered for a long, long time.
Nine venues will take part in the festival, including the Somerville Theatre, The Burren, McCarthy’s/Toad, The Druid Pub, The Lilypad, An Sibin, the Cambridge Masonic Temple, Lesley University, and the Canadian American Club. Over the course of the four days, audiences can expect sessions and workshops, but also CD launches, live album recordings, and a trad disco.
Although these activities will prove important draws, the weekend’s centerpiece events will be the two “Drawing from the Well” concerts that will take place at the Somerville Theater on April 30 and May 1.
Curated by the Dublin-based Irish Traditional Music Archive (https://www.itma.ie/), these concerts will feature a breathtaking array of talent from both Boston and Ireland. The April 30 concert will feature Aoife O’Donovan (song); Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle); Johnny Óg Connolly, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill & Clíodhna Costello (accordion, guitar, and banjo); Joey Abarta & Jackie O’Riley (uilleann pipes and dance); Conor Connolly (accordion); Tommy McCarthy & Louise Costello (fiddle & accordion); and Cormac Begley & Liam O’Connor (concertina and fiddle). On May 1, audiences can look forward to seeing Tommy McCarthy & Louise Costello; Seán McKeon (uilleann pipes); Caitlín Nic Gabhann & Ciarán Ó Maonaigh (sean-nós dance, concertina & fiddle); Doireann Ní Ghlacáin (fiddle); Andrew Caden & Diarmuid Ó Meachair (fiddle & accordion); Matt Molloy (flute); Edwina Guckian (sean-nós dance); Noel Hill (concertina), and Liam O’Connor (fiddle).
Since 2022, ITMA’s “Drawing from the Well” concert series has met critical acclaim in Ireland celebrating important facets of traditional music. Generally presented at Dublin’s National Concert Hall, it is noteworthy and important that they’ve selected Boston as the site of its first concerts abroad. It’s an affirmation of everything folks the greater Boston area are doing for traditional music and dance and the vibrancy of the scene.
“Tunes on the Charles” and “Drawing from the Well” are truly multi-national efforts, supported by ITMA, Department of Foreign Affairs, Culture Ireland, the City of Cambridge, the Boston Uilleann Pipers Club, and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch. If you love traditional music, Boston will be the place to be this month. Very highly recommended! For more information, visit https://www.crirish.org/.
