Spandau Ballet come to Boston

Roll back the years as 80's legends, Spandau Ballet, come to Boston for a one night show. The British new romantics who were the soundtrack to a generation with classics like 'True' and 'Gold' will perform at Boston's House of Blues on Thursday, April 30.The tour marks the band's first return to North America in nearly 30 years. All five original members – Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman – will once again captivate fans on this long-awaited and long overdue return. For tickets, visit www.houseofblues.com

Irish Country Weekend

The King of Country, Mick Flavin, headlines the Irish Country Weekend on Cape Cod this April

The Irish Country Dance weekend in Cape Cod will take place between April 24 - 26, 2015 and features some of the best Irish entertainers in country music, including Mick Flavin and his Band; Philomena Begley; Brian Cunningham; and popular MA based Irish acts like Devri and Erin's Melody to name but a few.

The weekend will take place in the up scale Hyannis Resort and Conference Center on the Cape between April 24 - 26, 2015 and when not enjoying the live music, guests can indulge in some rest & relaxation at the resort's spa & leisure center, partake in some golf or even learn a new skill with Séan-Nós Dance Workshops. For more details, please visit www.IrishMusicNation.com or call Pat McDonough at 781-534-3919 or Pat Nee at 617-901-6760.

Lesser known saint gets his own bash


Brighton-based Irish folk act Tin Can Hooley are honoring the patron saint of sailors with a “St. Brendan’s Day Bash” on Saturday, May 16, at the Canadian-American Club, 202 Arlington Street in Watertown.

Lest St. Patrick hog all the attention, Tin Can Hooley and special guests such as John Allen (of Big Bad Bollocks fame) will be paying tribute to Ireland’s legendary medieval monk-explorer with an evening of rowdy Celtic music and songs of the sea.

According to legend, Brendan of Clonfert sailed across the North Atlantic in a small boat made of cowhide and discovered Canada in the 6th century AD. In the 1970s, an adventurous sailor proved that Brendan’s journey from Kerry to Newfoundland could be made using only the materials and technology available in medieval Ireland.

Listeners will hear jigs, reels, seafaring Irish songs, traditional American and British sea chanteys, and even a few salty John Allen originals. Expect a largely acoustic clash of upright piano, accordion, fiddle, guitar, percussion and rousing vocals.

After emigrating from Liverpool, Allen settled in western Massachusetts, where since 1989 he has led the Big Bad Bollocks, a raucous, folk-inflected pub rock band. They have shared the stage with touring acts such as the Mighty Mighty BossTones and Dropkick Murphys. On May 16th, Allen will perform Bollocks originals and pub standards, some solo (vocal and squeezebox), some with full-band accompaniment. Allen will also read a selection from his new memoir, Marmite Cowboy.

Other guest musicians include members of the Old Brigade, the Jolly Rogues, Tree, and the Sprained Ankles, representing a range of experience from folk to hardcore to garage rock.

Sponsored by Narragansett Beer; there will be a door prize for best nautical tattoo. Leading the expert panel of judges will be tattooist Chris DeBarge, also known as the guitarist for the Pioneer Valley Pioneers and, in the past, Lenny Lashley & the Piss-Poor Boys.

For more information: tincanhooley@gmail.com or 617-935-9139.