we banjo 3

The Irish American community lost three ambassador's of Irish music and dance over the past couple weeks with the passing of Dooley Brother's band member, Jimmy Dooley Jr., Irish fiddler, Tommy Peoples, and ceili and set dance instructor, Alan Beale. Mike Shevlin returns to the Windy City Irish Radio studios and, along with Tim, feature bands performing at the upcoming Milwaukee Irish Fest running from August 16th through August 19th featuring We Banjo 3, Jiggy, Seo Linn, The Green Fields of America and a Cape Breton set featuring Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac, Décota McNamara, Natalie Mcmaster and Donnell Leahy, and folk rockers, The Stanfields. Catch the show live on WSBC 1240AM or on our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

At long last, the lads welcome the legendary Dooley Brothers into the Windy City Irish Radio studio for stories and songs from their decades-long troubadour life in music. Tune in for live performances from both first and second generation Dooleys as we preview their 33rd annual performance at the Irish American Heritage Festival on Sunday July 8th. Along with a whole lot of Dooley, listen for the BRAND NEW SINGLE off of We Banjo 3's soon-to-be-released album, Haven, and songs from festival headliners Gaelic Storm and JigJam. This is one that is not to be missed! Tune in to WSBC 1240 AM from 8PM - 9PM next week as we celebrate Independence Day and welcome Liz Carroll to the airwaves and be sure check out this week's podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.

On July 4th, Uncle Sam celebrates his 241st birthday as a free nation and we have the contribution of the Irish to thank. The Irish were some of the first settlers in the 13 colonies and played an important role in The War of Independence. Join Mike and Tim for an Independence Day, Windy-City-Irish-Radio style featuring patriotic music from the Narrowbacks, Leaping Lulu, The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, The Wolfe Tones' Derek Warfield, George M. Cohan, James Cagney & Ray Heindorf Orchestra, Girsa, We Banjo 3, Project West, The Makem and Spain Brothers, Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters and Anthony Kearns. It's a patriotic birthday bash you don't want to miss. You can listen to this week's podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.

Last year, Irish Times' reviewer Joseph O'Connor raved, “It’s hard to imagine a more exciting debut novel being published this year. This book is a stunning and wonderful achievement by a writer touched by greatness.” Surpisingly, the book was not written by Tim Taylor or by Mike Shevlin but written by Sara Baume from County Cork and the book is "Spill Simmer Falter Wither". On her first tour through the U.S. supporting the book, Sara visits the Windy City Irish Radio studio to discuss her career and her fantastic book about a man and his one-eyed dog. AND, there's music. Listen for a whole lotta banjo from County Meath's Damaris Woods, Galway's We Banjo 3 and NYC's The Narrowbacks, a Scottish three-fer from The Old Blind Dogs, Tannahill Weavers and the great Dougie MacLean, and tunes from Mary Black, The Henry Girls, and Glen Hansard. Join Mike and Tim each Wednesday night from 8 - 9 PM on WSBC 1240 AM or check out the podcast www.windycityirishradio.com.

The sleigh bells ring a-ding-ding this week in the Windy City Irish Radio studios as the boys tell the story of Old St. Nick and pay tribute to Ol' Blues Eyes, Frank Sinatra, on his 100th birthday. Join Mike and Tim as they go a-wassailing and play holiday music from The Henry Girls, We Banjo 3, Declan O'Rourke, Luan Parle, WALLIS BIRD Official Page, Eileen Ivers, The Gothard Sisters, Allison Kraus with Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster and Father Ray Kelly. There's also a tribute to one of our greatest songwriters, John Lennon, on the 35th anniversary of his tragic death with music from U2 and Larry Kirwan. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor each Wednesday night in December as they spread their particular brand of Irish holiday cheer on WSBC 1240AM Chicago from 8pm to 9pm or listen to the podcast here at windycityirishradio.com.

Hailing from County Clare, Sharon Shannon has performed with a veritable who's who of rock, folk and Irish music heroes over the years. From her start in legendary trad band Arcady to her stint as one of The Waterboys to her collaborations with the likes of Jackson Browne, Sinead O'Connor, Dónal Lunny, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello and so many more, she has delighted us with nearly three decades of eclectic genre-bending music and songs culminating with her award at IBAMChicago 2015. Tune in tonight as she adds Mike and Tim to her esteemed list of collaborators! Sharon stops in the Windy City Irish Radio studios and charms the lads with stories and songs from her long and illustrious career including recent partnerships with The Waterboys, We Banjo 3 and John Prine and tracks off her brand new album and DVD set, In Galway with Alan Connor. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor each Wednesday night on WSBC 1240AM Chicago and WCFJ 1470AM Chicago Heights from 8pm to 9pm or listen to our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

Tonight on Windy City Irish Radio, we welcome Cliff Carlson from the Irish American News into the studio as the talk turns to IBAMChicago 2015. Featuring the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising, iBAM presents a comprehensive weekend of Celtic culture in all its flavors starting with a Gala Awards Dinner on Friday, October 9th and a two-day program Saturday October 10th and Sunday October 11th culminating with concerts from the great Sharon Shannon on Saturday and The High Kings on Sunday at the Irish American Heritage Center. Tune in for music from them and a brand new song from Glen Hansard plus songs and tunes from Galway's Morga and We Banjo 3, Eileen Ivers with Tim Shelton, Steve Earle, Scythian, FullSet, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor each Wednesday night on WSBC 1240AM Chicago and WCFJ 1470AM Chicago Heights from 8pm to 9pm or listen to our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.

He's played on the silver screen with Richard Harris​, with the Rat Pack​, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson​, and now the humble studios of Windy City Irish Radio. Spanning a career of more than 30 years, he's a composer, a poet, a shutterbug, a mentor, an iBAM award winner, and an All-Ireland champion fiddler -- but most of all, he a kind gentleman and tonight, we are honored to have the great Maurice Lennon​ in the studio performing live along with stories and an all-exclusive poetry reading from his upcoming book of poems and photography. Also featuring music by Scythian​, Morga, Natalie Mcmaster​, Liz Carroll​, Liz Knowles Music​, We Banjo 3​, and Stockton's Wing​. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor each Wednesday night on WSBC 1240AM Chicago and WCFJ 1470AM Chicago Heights from 8pm to 9pm or listen to our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.

30 years ago, Irish-native, Bob Geldof, and Scottman, Midge Ure, transfixed the world with the dual-venue concert, Live Aid, held on July 13, 1985 to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London, England and John F. Kenney Stadium in Philidelphia. It was one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. Tonight, Mike and Tim remember Live-Aid featuring music by Luka Bloom, Bob Geldof, The Police, and Elvis Costello as well as music from Mundy, Natalie Mcmaster, Bryan Ferry, Tupelo, Rig the Jig, We Banjo 3, and Horslips with a special tribute to birthday boy, Michael Flatley featuring music from Davy Spillane and Eileen Ivers. Join Mike and Tim each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm on WSBC 1240AM or WCFJ 1470AM or listen to their podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.

The Quest to the Fest begins tonight as the boys welcome Noel Rice of Chicago trad favorites, Baal Tinne, and the Academy of Irish Music in studio to preview their appearance this Friday, June 11th, as part of Salon Concerts Chicago and next month at Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Center. Mike and Tim also have a chat with William J. Kelley of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Div.1) to promote the AOH's upcoming "Salute the Troops" fundraiser on July 2nd at the IAHC. Also featuring music from Gaelic Storm, We Banjo 3, Scythian, The Waterboys, The Tossers and a reading of William Butler Yeats by Tommy Clancy from The Clancy Brothers in celebration of the sesquicentennial of his birth. Join Tim Taylor and Mike Shevlin each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm CST on WSBC 1240AM Chicago, WCFJ 1470AM or listen on our website at www.windycityirishradio.com.

A new year has dawned but Mike and Tim can't stop talking about the year that was in Irish music. From Dublin's Tupelo to Wicklow's Hozier to Cavan's The Strypes, 2014 rocked, rolled, and folked like no other. Tune in for some of our favorite releases from the past year including Rockabilly Queen Imelda May, Scythian, Dublin's I Draw Slow, Galway's We Banjo 3, Eileen Ivers, Celtic Cross , Makem-Spain Brothers with Roger McGuinn, trad supergroup, The Gloaming and Black 47's Last Call. Tune in to WSBC 1240 AM or WCFJ 1470 AM from 8 PM - 9 PM each Wednesday night. You can learn more about Windy City Irish Radio on our website at www.windycityirishradio.com

Irish Tenor, Anthony Kearns, calls into the studio to promote his upcoming concert sponsored by Peggy Kinnane's at the Metropolis Theatre in Arlington Heights, IL on October 27, 2014 and promote the new release of his CD "WTIH A SONG IN MY HEART". Mike and Tim also celebrate the blood moon with music by The Waterboys as well as music from We Banjo 3, Kennedy's Kitchen, Paddy Casey, a tribute to Monty Python, The Cheiftans with John Prine, Sharon Shannon with The Cartoon Thieves, Barleyjuice, Teada, Horslips, Luka Bloom and much, much more. Listen to Windy City Irish Radio live each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm CST on WSBC 1240AM Chicago and WCFJ 1470AM Chicago Heights or listen to our podcast on www.windycityirishradio.com. Contact Tim or Mike at tim.taylor@windycityirishradio.com or mike.shevlin@windycityirishradio.com.

Windy City Irish Radio remembers a lot of "lasts" on this week's episodes. 1.) In remembrance of Elvis Presley's "last" day, Windy City Irish Radio celebrates the memory of the King of Rock and Roll with an Irish tribute. 2.) Black 47's "last" show in Chicago this Friday, August 15th, at the Beverly Arts Center 3.) Co-host, Tim Taylor, celebrates his last year in his 30's with a special birthday wish and tribute. Here all this and music from Mundy, Carlos Nunez, De Dannan, Elvis Presley, We Banjo 3, Dougie MacLean, Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Planxty, and Damien Dempsey. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor every Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm CST on WSBC 1240 AM and WCFJ 1470 AM or listen to our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com. Contact Mike or Tim at mike.shevlin@windycityirishradio.com or tim.taylor@windycityirishradio.com.

What does Easter, the Titanic, and Abraham Lincoln all have in common? Windy City Irish Radio celebrates the arrival of Easter Sunday, and commemorates the 102nd anniversary of the Titanic sinking and the 149th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Join hosts Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor for an hour of stories and music by U2, We Banjo 3, Eileen Ivers, Gaelic Storm, The Celtic Fiddlers, Irish Volunteers, Glen Hansard, The Saw Doctors, James Taylor, and Steve Goodman. Find us and Like Us on Facebook! Listen live each Wednesday night at 8pm on WSBC 1240AM Chicago and WCFJ 1470AM Chicago Heights. Contact us at tim.taylor@windycityirishradio.com for dedications, inquiries and compliments. For more information, www.windycityirishradio.com.