Windy City Irish Radio

This week on Windy City Irish Radio, we pay tribute to one of the greatest athletes of the 20th Century, Muhammed Ali, on the occasion of his passing. With great-grandfather, Abe Grady hailing from Ennis, County Clare before emigrating to the state of Kentucky after the Civil War, Ali joins the ranks of outstanding Irish Americans that have shaped our life and times. The lads also introduce you to some fresh new music from across the pond this week with a new feature featuring young unsigned Irish artists. Tonight you'll hear music from Cavan's WinterKing, Wicklow's Aoibhín, and Clare's Clodagh Lawlor Music. Tune in for music off of the brand new album from The High Kings and music from Girsa and The Narrowbacks ahead of their performances at the Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Festival July 8-10th. The boys also play music from Billy Treacy, Makem & Spain, Goitse and Paul McCartney and Wings. As usual it's a JAM-PACKED hour of song and story sure to get your toes-a-tapp

The Irish American Heritage Festival at the Irish American Heritage Center is finally here and tonight on Windy City Irish Radio, Mike and Tim pull out all the stops to celebrate the musical styling's of Irish Fest 2016! Tonight's show features music from many of the performers at this year's festival and we encourage our listeners of ALL ages to join us at the Fest this weekend! Tune in for music from Three Men in Kilts, Girsa, Baal Tinne, Joe McShane, FONN MÓR, The Chancey Brothers, Saturday headliner Eileen Ivers and the Bard of Windy City Irish Radio, Rory Makem, who will be doing a very special solo performance on Saturday night at the festival. Listen for songs from 1st time festival performers including Chicago's own, Flatfoot 56, Dublin's Tupelo, NYC rockers The Narrowbacks, St. Paul MN folkers The Hounds of Finn, and Sunday headliner The High Kings . See you at the Fest!! Join us every Wednesday night on WSBC 1240 AM from 8PM - 9PM or listen to the podcast here at www.windyci

It's quite a night in the Windy City Irish Radio studios as Mike and Tim welcome Sean Cleland into the studio to talk about the upcoming Francis O'Neill Irish Arts Week at the Irish American Heritage Center. Sean plays us a few tunes in tribute to Chief O'Neill, Terry "Cuz" Teahan and Georgie West and talks up the week-long camp open to kids and adults alike. The boys also honor lesser-known Irish troubadour Bob Dylan's Music on the occasion of his 75th Birthday with music from Robbie O'Connell with The Clancy Brothers, Altan and Bob Dylan himself doing a fine Irish song. Tim and Mike would be remiss if they did not also pay homage to St. Kevin on his feast day with a tune from The Dubliners Official. It's only an hour, folks, and quite an hour it is. Also featuring music from Leo Moran and Anthony Thistlethwaite from the The Saw Doctors, Mary Black with Imelda May and Scythian. If this sounds like fun to you, check us out every Wednesday from 8PM-9PM on WSBC 1240 AM or

Tonight we celebrate Memorial Day and the legacy of the Irishman that led the cause to create it. General John A. Logan was a County Monaghan man who fought in the Mexican-American War, the Battle of Bull Run, and in the rotundas of the Illinois AND United States Senate. His proudest moment was issuing General Order No. 11, which established an annual day for the purpose of strewing flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of the comrades who died in defense of their country. Tune in as Tim and Mike pay tribute to those who have fallen with music from The Fureys, Bruce Springsteen, The Elders, and Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers. Thank you to all that have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces. Memorial Day also means Irish Fest at Chicago Gaelic Park and the boys preview their 30th annual festival with songs from the bands you'll see this weekend including Chicago Reel, Screaming Orphans and The Fenians. Also featuring music from Rory Gallagher and The Gloaming (catch Martin Hayes a

Opening this weekend, Artemisia, A Chicago Theatre presents Chewing on Beckett. Inspired by Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Beckett's own aversion to female actors performing in it, this original story, written by Artemisia's own Ed Proudfoot and directed by renowned Chicago director Steve Scott, is part romance, part Mad Max: Fury Road with comedy, tragedy, and the woman's touch that is the trademark of Artemisia thrown in for good measure. Tune in as Tim and Mike welcome Ed Proudfoot into the studio to talk about this new production opening at the Frontier Theatre in Edgewater this weekend. Also join us for the music of Chicago Gaelic Park's Irish Festival with JigJam, The Elders, The Fenians, Lachlan, Socks in the Frying Pan, Screaming Orphans. Tune in for more music from Kerry sensation Walking On Cars in advance of their show this Sunday at Subterranean and The Gloaming and Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill who are performing at the Old Town School of Folk Music on May 28th

This week on Windy City Irish Radio​, it's all about the music, especially live music that is coming to our fair city in the next few weeks! Tune in for brand new releases from Christy Moore​, Eddi Reader​ and Pin Drop Theatre​ and music from Scottish band, Salsa Celtica, songstress Tara O'Grady Music​, Van Morrison​ with Mark Knopfler​, Danú​ and the late great Bing Crosby​. Join us for a preview of piper Paddy Keenan​'s Salon Concert at the Irish American Heritage Center​ this weekend and a tune from Dennis Cahill​ and Martin Hayes​' in advance of their concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music​ on May 28th. And this week Mike and Tim begin their preview of Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest 2016​ with music from County Clare's Socks in the Frying Pan​ and Offaly's JigJam​. The summer festival season starts here on Windy City Irish Radio and continues every Wednesday at 8 PM on WSBC 1240 AM! Check out the podcast here www.windycityirishradio.com

This week on Windy City Irish Radio, the lads are very pleased to welcome back one of their all-time favorite guests, Rory Makem, into the studio to share songs and stories of the Easter Rising. Rory plays a few songs for us and shares a little-known story from his family tree about the Chicago Shanahans, and sings a couple songs of his father, Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers. The 1916 remembrance also includes a song from the brand new Makem & Spain album, Four Pounds a Day, and tunes from Charlie Lennon, The High Kings, Cherish the Ladies the Wolfe Tones and a poem from Padraig Pearse himself. Also, tune in for a tribute to all of the mothers out there with music from Kathy Durkin, Mary Cooganm, Kathy Ludlow and a Jimmie Rodgers yodel from Rory himself. Join us every week on WSBC 1240 AM from 8 PM - 9 PM and check out the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

"But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year And the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few Who bore the fight that freedom’s light might shine through the foggy dew." - The Foggy Dew by Canon Charles O'Neill, parish priest in Kilcoo, County Down This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising and on a very special edition of Windy City Irish Radio, Tim and Mike pay tribute to the brave men and women who fought and died for a free Ireland. Tune in for stories, poems and songs of The Rising from The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Tupelo, Michael Flatley with Finbar Furey, Black 47, Patrick Cassidy with Síbeal Ní Casside, the Wolfe Tones, and The Dubliners. Join us this week and every week on WSBC 1240 AM from 8 PM - 9 PM and check out the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

The Irish American Hall of Fame will induct ten new members this Saturday night at a black-tie gala at the Irish American Heritage Center. In the final episode of a three part series celebrating the 2016 class, Windy City Irish Radio pays tribute to four more outstanding individuals and their contributions to the Irish-American experience. On this week's show, Mike and Tim pay tribute to Hollywood legend Spencer Tracy, aviation pioneer Emily Hanrahan Warner, Turtle Wax scion and philanthropist, Denis J. Healy, and author, columnist, sociologist and priest, Father Andrew Greeley. Tune in for lively music from Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Socks in the Frying Pan, Na Fianna, Flatfoot 56, The Chieftains with ANÚNA and Elvis Costello, The Elders, Glen Hansard and a BRAND NEW SINGLE from We Banjo 3! Join us for the grand finale of our Irish American Hall of Fame series and every week on WSBC 1240 AM from 8 PM - 9 PM and check out the podcast on www.windycityirishradio.com

The Irish American Hall of Fame​ will induct ten new members at a black-tie gala at the Irish American Heritage Center​ on April 23, 2016. In part two of a three part series celebrating the 2016 class, Windy City Irish Radio​ pays tribute to three more outstanding individuals and their contributions to the Irish-American experience. On this week's show, Tim and Mike welcome Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Author and columnist from The New York Times​ Timothy Egan​ into the studio to talk about the life of 2016 Inductee Brigadier General and Civil War Hero Thomas Francis Meagher​ and Egan's book The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero​ The lads also pay tribute to stage and screen actor, Brian Dennehy​ and Chicago Mayor and Illinois Governor Edward F. Dunne. Tune in for stories and song from Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones​, The Willis Clan​, Burning Bridget Cleary​, Aiden O'Toole, Leo & Anto from The Saw Doctors​, and John Prine​ with Sharon Shannon​ and

On Saturday April 23rd, the Irish American Hall of Fame inducts ten new members at a black-tie gala at Irish American Heritage Center. To celebrate these new entrants to the Hall of Fame, Windy City Irish Radio will air a three-part series in honor of this year's class. Tonight, in part one of three, Mike and Tim pay tribute to Texas fireballer Nolan Ryan, educator Anne Sullivan Macy, known as the Miracle Worker for her work with Helen Keller, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Frank McCourt,and 2016 Hometown Hero Ed McElroy. It is an evening of tributes with music from Burning Bridget Cleary, Irish trad-sters Slide, Paddy Reilly, the singing cowboy, Gene Autry, Chicago Country hero Robbie Fulks, musician, and Outlaw Country greats Jerry Jeff Walker and the late great Merle Haggard. Tune in to our Irish American Hall of Fame series over the next three weeks on WSBC 1240 AM from 8 PM - 9 PM or check out the 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 Rambles of Spring blow their way into the Windy City Irish Radio studio this week as Mike and Tim celebrate the Easter holiday with music and conversation of long held Irish traditions of the Holy Week. Join the lads as they up the cultural ante by welcoming Artistic Director of the Chicago Chamber Choir, Doreen Rao, into the studio to discuss their 20th Anniversary season and performance of Be Thou My Vision: All Things Irish (April 16-17, 2016). The concert celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising with a Celtic mosaic of traditional, popular, and contemporary music of Irish and American composers. Despite the temptation to do so, Tim does not sing along. Listen for songs of the season and music from Tommy Makem, Dublin's Na Fianna, a beautiful new song from the new album from The Gloaming, Christy Moore, Wicklow's own Luan Parle, Mundy, Sinead O'Connor doing her thing with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, and an Irish favorite from Justin Timberlake, Ma

Maewyn Succat, born on March 17, 493 by parents, Calpurnius and Conchessa. As a teen he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland to herd and tend sheep on Slemish mountain, Co Antrim. During his six-year captivity, he became fluent in the Irish language, he turned to God in prayer. He escaped after having a dream sent from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast where he would find a ship waiting to sail to Britain. He was set the task of teaching Christianity to the Irish. He travelled throughout Ireland for more than 40 years preaching the Gospel and converting many through his anological shamrock teachings of the trinity. He is the legendary eradicator of ophidian creatures, the “Apostle of Ireland”. He’s St. Patrick! In his honor, we, today, die rivers green, host parades and hoist a pint. Join Mike and Tim as they celebrate the honor of the greatest Saint that ever lived with music by... and lots of fun facts about St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day.

As the the High Holy Days approach, there are celebrations of St. Patrick all over town and Tim and Mike are right in the middle of it. This week on Windy City Irish Radio, the boys talk about the Chicago Theater Works new production of Flanagan's Wake and welcome producer, Bill Collins, and actor, Greg Dobbs, into the studio to discuss this legendary play and the idiosynchrocies of the Irish tribute to their dearly departed. Tune in and hear music from Barleyjuice, FullSet, Jameson's Revenge, De Dannan, Carbon Leaf, The Decemberists with The Chieftains, Orla Fallon, Tupelo, The Saw Doctors with Petula Clark, Tommy Makem with Roger McGuinn, The Makem Brothers, and Gaelic Storm in advance of their annual St. Patrick's Day shows at the House of Blues this weekend! Join Mike and Tim each Wednesday night from 8 - 9 PM on WSBC 1240 AM or check out the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

Ahead of their St. Pat's appearance at the Irish American Heritage Center, Without U2 cover band members channel their inner Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., via Jono, Corey Sanders, Michael Koelling and Jeff Kropp who stop in the Windy City Irish Radio studios for a night of live music, lively conversation and a bit of craic. You too can join in with Tim, Mike and U2! Listen to the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

Just because they can, the boys pay tribute to Irish Canadians on this week's show. Hear Newfoundland's Great Big Sea with The Chieftains and click your heals to a song from Ontario's own, the Mudmen. Listen to a new tune from the Cape Breton Girl, Natalie MacMaster with her hubby from Douro, Ontario Donnell Leahy. Keep your ears open wide for a pair of tunes from Vancouver's The Town Pants. We also feature songs from the new albums of Makem & Spain and Gaelic Storm and more from The Black Family, and Skerryvore with Sharon Shannon. Oh, and if you want FREE tickets to see Gaelic Storm at the House of Blues March 11th or 12th, tell us you want to go right here on Facebook! Join Tim Taylor and Mike Shevlin every Wednesday evening on WSBC 1240AM Chicago from 8pm to 9pm or listen to the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

Every autumn, the boys show their philanthropic side by making a donation at the Trivia Night Auction for the Irish American Hall of Fame of a guest-host spot on Windy City Irish Radio. This week on the show, it is Guest Host Karen DeKanter who shows her charitable side by putting up with Mike and Tim and giving us all a lively travelogue of the Emerald Isle and her bucket list of things to do when visiting Ireland. With a bucket the size of Galway Bay, Karen goes down the list with suggestions for Irish adventure from sheep dog trials and scone baking in Donegal to seaweed foraging near the Cliffs of Moher, from the Bailey's irish cream cows of Wicklow to the oldest working distillery in the world, Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Tune in as Karen treats us to some of her favorite tunes from the Wicklow man, Hozier, Chicago's own, Flatfoot 56, Limerick's The Cranberries, Dubliners The Script and brand new Grammy Award winner, Ed Sheeran. It seems to us that Karen may have done this before! Join Tim Ta

Whether you say Laissez les bons temps rouler or Lig na hamanna maithe dul aghaigh, the good times really are rolling as Carnival comes to the Windy City Irish Radio​ studios. Tune in for a tuneful bacchanalia connecting the green fields of Ireland to the bayou swamps of the Crescent City. It's our annual extended 90 minute lagniappe celebrating the rich musical kinship between the Irish and the city of New Orleans proving once again that Guinness does indeed go well with Gumbo! You'll hear music from ANÚNA​ with Hozier​, a twofer from Cajun-Irish fiddle player Dennis McGee​ and More Power To Your Elbow​, the Godfather of Zydeco Music, Clifton Chenier​, Scythian​, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet​ with Sharon Shannon​, Professor Longhair​, Irish rockers The Coronas​, County Down man Harry Connick, Jr.​, Acadian Canadians Ten Strings And A Goat Skin​, former NOLA chantuesse Tara O'Grady Music​, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers​, Satchmo himself, Louis Armstrong​, Zydeco Party Band​, Derek

Tonight on Windy City Irish Radio​, crooner Michael Whelan swings by the studio to teach the boys a lesson in Rat Packery and belt out a tune sure to make the ladies swoon in advance of The Sinatra Century Fundraising Series​ at the Irish American Heritage Center​. Along with tributes to Ol' Blues Eyes from Bono​ and Sinead O'Connor​, listen for the TRUE story of how Frank Sinatra​ wished he was Irish. With music from Imelda May​, Burning Bridget Cleary​, Aine O'Doherty​, Nanci Griffith​, Screaming Orphans​, Solas​ and Lúnasa​. Join Mike Shevlin and Tim Taylor this and every Wednesday evening on WSBC 1240AM Chicago from 8pm to 9pm or listen to the podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com