As usual, those road warriors from the old sod Teada, led by fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada, have a busy two week trip starting this week that will see them start out in Maine, then down east as far as Virginia and west to Chicago ending up at the Gaelic Park Festival over Memorial Day weekend. 

Tonight, Saturday May 16, they are in Philadelphia for a show hosted by the Philadelphia Ceili Group at the Commodore Barry Irish Center in the Mt. Airy section starting at 8 p.m.  For information on the Philly show contact 215-248-0502 or email [email protected].

On Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Teada tackles the Big Apple with an appearance at Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette Street) in Greenwich Village.  Reservations available at 212-967-7555 or at www.joespub.com.  

For more info on the Teada tour visit www.teada.com . . .

On Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m., the Hartford area is coming together for an afternoon of Irish music and dance in honor of P.V. O’Donnell, the fiddler from Buncrana, Co. Donegal that will also serve as a benefit to defray his medical expenses.  

The one time member of Barley Bree has settled in Connecticut for a number of years, and his musical friends, neighbors and supporters have organized this event to help him out as he battles cancer. 

Among the trad musicians slated to appear are Dan and Bonnie Milner, Joe Gerhard, Loretta Murphy, John Whelan, Pat Stratton, Joe Heeran and John Tabb. 

It all takes place at the Irish American Home Society, 132 Commerce Street in Glastonbury. Call Jill Morrison at 860-748-8385.  Messages of support can be sent to [email protected] and donations made payable to P.V. O’Donnell sent to P.O. Box 279, Storrs, Connecticut, 06268-0279. . .

At the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan on Sunday, May 17, music maestro Bill Ochs has a new master class concept entitled “Rhythm and Phrasing Boot Camp for flute, tin whistle and other instruments.”

The class will attempt to introduce some lilt and proper flow into your playing the kind that produces yelps of glee or recognition whether dancing or listening.

Primarily for whistle and flute players, classes are open to anyone who can play Irish dance tunes at a moderate pace, but wants to improve their rhythm and phrasing to produce that certain swing.  Bring your instruments and recording devices.

Reservations can be made at 212-757-3318, ext 209 or contact Ochs at 212-247-3231 . . .

Looking ahead over the Memorial Day weekend, tradheads and setdancers might want to venture to the Cape Cod Irish Village in Yarmouth. 

There will be four ceilithe from May 22-25 at the Cape Cod Irish Village with music provided by the Northeast Ceili Band, with special guests New Yorkers piper Jerry O’Sullivan and fiddler Maeve Flanagan.  

In addition there will be dance and music workshops and a Sunday night pub concert. Boston native Brendan Bulger will give an intermediate/advanced fiddle workshop as well. 

For more details on prices and availability visit www.capecod-irishvillage.com (or phone 508-771-0100) or phone Bill Black at phone 508-540-5324 or email [email protected] for program details.