Windy City Irish Radio

On your way to Milwaukee Irish Fest this weekend? Tune in to this week's show and listen for many of the headlining acts this weekend. Pre-game for the weekend with songs and tunes from perennial favorites Gaelic Storm, new addition Boxing Banjo, Aoife Scott, The Saw Doctors, Doolin’, Limerick's Hermitage Green, Brew City favorites The Gleasons, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Newfoundland's Rum Ragged, Connla, Socks in the Frying Pan and Scottish rockers Skerryvore. And don't forget to tune in next week as we welcome Scottish trad sensation Talisk into the studio for a solid hour of chat and tunes. Join us each and every Wednesday on WSBC 1240AM from 8PM - 9PM and catch this week's podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

This week on Windy City Irish Radio, Tim and Mike preview the granddaddy of them all, Milwaukee Irish Fest, with songs and tunes from many of the acts that will be commanding the festival stages all weekend long. Listen for music from Galway's Seo Linn, BackWest, We Banjo 3, and The Whileaways. And there's more from Dublin's MOXIE, County Clare's Socks in the Frying Pan, County Down's Tommy Sands, Scottish Indie-folkers Elephant Sessions, and The High Kings. Join us every Wednesday on WSBC 1240AM from 8PM - 9PM and catch this week's podcast here at www.windycityirishradio.com.

The windows are open and the the summer breeze rolls on in the Windy City Irish Radio studios with songs of the solstice including a new cut from Jig Jam's newest album, the Phoenix, guitar virtuoso, Shane Hennessy, We Banjo 3, Brendan Monaghan, Colm Keegan, Willie Nelson, The Corrs, Mundy, Makem & Clancy, The Saw Doctors and a new release from Windy City Irish Radio alum, Ashley & Simpson.  So, fire up the grill, grab a cold one and set up your best lawn chair for a summer's night of quality Irish American entertainment.  Check in on us each Wednesday night on 1240AM WSBC from 8pm to 9pm or on our podcast www.windycityirishradio.com.  

It was 50 years ago this week that Apollo 11 completed it's historic mission to the Moon. Of course, all three astronauts aboard could claim some Irish roots with Neil Armstrong having Fermanagh and Tyrone in his background, Buzz Aldrin with some Scots-Irish/Northern Irish blood, and Michael Collins' family hailing from Dunmanway, County Cork. Tonight on Windy City Irish Radio​, jump aboard the lunar probe as Mike and Tim celebrate the anniversary of this monumental event with a special tribute to the "loneliest man" and Irish American Hall of Famer Major General Michael Collins. You'll hear from the astronaut in his own words and a plethora of moon tunes to commemorate the anniversary. Tune in for lunar-inspired music from Gaelic Storm​, Connla​, Great Big Sea​, The Waterboys​, Billy Treacy & The Scope​, Aine O'Doherty​, The Narrowbacks​, and even a trippy Mars tune from the great John Prine​. Join us every Wednesday from 8PM - 9PM on WSBC 1240AM and catch this week's p

Taking advantage of a lull in the festival season with the Irish American Heritage Center's 34th Irish Fest coming to a successful close ahead of next month's Milwaukee Irish Fest, Mike and Tim spins some tunes and songs from new music and some oldies featuring Orla Fallon, Nactambule, Van Morrison, Nathan Carter, Michael McDermott, Aidan O'Toole, Imelda May, Colleen Raney, Kevin Burke & John Brennan, Bernadette Morris, Daoiri Farrell, Arise & Go and The High Kings.  It's a full hour of "quality Irish entertainment"!  Tune in each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm on WSBC 1240AM or check out the website at www.windycityirishradio.com for the podcast.  

Ahead of their three upcoming appearances at the Irish American Heritage Center's 34th Annual Irish Fest, the Byrne Brothers return to the Windy City Irish Radio studios for another evening of their finest tunes.  Since the Byrne Brothers joined us last they embarked on a 39-state journey leading them to shows in Kansas, Colorado, New York, Nashville, Florida, Texas, Utah, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, California, back to New York then to Florida -- yes, in that order! Needless to say, their RV held up through the long journey.  Hear tunes and stories from the road as well as music from bands playing at the Irish American Heritage Festival this weekend including Dust Bowl Revival and Derek Warfield and the Wolftones, You can hear it all here on Windy City Irish Radio each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm on 1240AM or on our website at www.windycityirishradio.com.

The winds of America continue to sing freedom from purple mountain majesties and from sea to shining sea.  We sing freedom on the mountainside and on the city square.  And tonight, we light 243 candles and sing happy birthday to our wonderful nation as we celebrate Independence Windy City Irish Radio-style with music from Scot-Irish Willie Nelson, Tommy Makem, Bruce Springsteen, The Byrds, Gaelic Storm, Byrne & Kelly, U2, Pete Seeger, Elvis Presley, and Gene Kelly.  And how many Presidents of the United States have Irish roots?  Tune in to find out at 1240AM WSBC from 8:00pm to 9:00pjm or on our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.  

Mike and Tim get their Irish on as they celebrate the upcoming 34th Annual Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Center rapidly approaching over the weekend of July 12th through the 14th and preview bands performing at the Fest including Belfast's McPeake, Shane Hennessy of Carlow, New York City's very own The Prodigals, Dustbowl Revival, House of Hamill, St. Stephen's Green, The Dooley Brothers, the Bard of Windy City Irish Radio, Rory Makem, and Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones.  It's a great lineup for this year's fest and you can hear more of the bands performing at Irish Fest by tuning into Windy City Irish Radio at 1240AM in Chicago on WSBC or check our podcasts and website at www.windycityirishradio.com.

The sounds of summer are upon us this week on Windy City Irish Radio as Mike and Tim preview the brand new single from We Banjo 3 along with new music from Dervish with David Gray, The Gloaming, and The Whileaways. And there's more from Michael McDermott, Runa and The Jeremiahs! Tune in for a very special Irish American Heritage Festival preview from The Chancey Brothers, Coyote Riot, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones and Friday night headliner Dustbowl Revival. Stay tuned for more festival entertainment as the season of festification has begun! Join us each and every Wednesday from 8PM - 9PM on WSBC 1240AM and catch this week's podcast here at www.windycityirishradio.com

This week on Windy City Irish Radio, Tim and Mike pay tribute to the late, great Dr. John, Mac Rebennack. His mother Dorothy Cronin had strong Irish roots which obviously contributed to the mystical musical gumbo that Mac would make his own over his 50 plus years in the music business. Tune in for music from Dr. John himself and accompanying the Belfast Cowboy Van Morrison (Official). Also join us for more from MCPEAKE, Screaming Orphans, One for the Foxes, Ímar, Luka Bloom, and Christy Moore. This being a special week in Irish literary history, the lads pay tribute to birthday boy W.B. Yeats and Mr. Bloomsday himself, James Joyce, with music from The Waterboys and Bob Dylan, and a special shout out to all the dads out there from Ronan Keating with Yusuf / Cat Stevens and The Fureys. That's a lot to pack into one hour but somehow we got it done. Tune in to Windy City Irish Radio each and every Wednesday from 8PM - 9PM on WSBC 1240AM and catch this week's action-packed podcast at www.windycityirishra

This week on Windy City Irish Radio​, Mike and Tim debut a brand new single off of JigJam​'s fantastic new album, Phoenix, set to be released in June. Tune in for  music from The Moxie Strings​, Northern Irish band Cúig​, Scots sensations Elephant Sessions​ and legendary Scottish troubadour, Dougie MacLean​. If that's not enough, there's more from  the late great Johnny Cash​, local folk favorites Ashley & Simpson​, Clannad Irish Band​, Aoife Scott​ with mom Frances Black​, Madison WI's own Rising Gael​, and Tipperary/Galway folkers Strings & Things. For the best in Irish music new and old, tune in every Wednesday night to WSBC 1240AM from 8PM - 9PM and catch this week's jam-packed podcast here at www.windycityirishradio.com

Irish-American John A. Logan was an American soldier and politician who served admirably in the Mexican–American War and was a general in the Union Army in the Civil War. An Illinois native, he served as a State Senator, a Congressman, and a U.S. Senator and was on the ticket as a Vice Presidential candidate in 1884. He is widely regarded as the most important figure in the movement to recognize Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) as an official national holiday.General Logan's likeness appears on a statue at the center of Logan Circle, Washington, D.C. and of course right here in Logan Square in Chicago. Logan is one of only three people mentioned by name in the Illinois state song along with President Lincoln and President U.S. Grant.Tune in for our Memorial Day tribute in honor of General Logan and those who have fought with songs and tunes from KC's The Elders, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Steve Earle with The Pogues, Danny Burns with Tift Merritt, Flogging Molly, Ei

It's all about our friends at Chicago Gaelic Park this week on Windy City Irish Radio as we preview their fabulous annual festival signaling the official start of the summer. Tune in for an entire hour of music and song from the musicians of Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest including County Mayo's own Billow Wood, Galway favorites BackWest, Offaly celt-grass masters JigJam, Irish pop sensation Nathan Carter, long-time faves The Fenians, Celtic Thunder veteran Colm Keegan, and Chicago Irish folk troubador Joe McShane. If that's not enough, this weekend's festival (and this week's show!) features Canadian folksters Steel City Rovers, Chicago's own Paddy Homan, Southsider Liam Durkin and the pride of Ottawa Valley The Fitzgeralds. Tune in every Wednesday evening from 8PM - 9PM to WSBC 1240AM  to catch the broadcast and check out this week's podcast here at www.windycityirishradio.com.

This week on Windy City Irish Radio we pay tribute to a giant of a man in the Irish music community, Noel Rice and preview the Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest coming up Memorial Day weekend. Tune in to this week's show for music from Baal Tinne, Planxty, a brand new tune from Liz Carroll with Jacob Charron, Galway favorites BackWest, Offaly's JigJam, Michigan's The Founding, Mick Hanly Page, the great Luke Kelly and a new tune from Flook. There's also music from Clare singer-songwriter Oscar Blue, current Nashville singer-songwriter Dylan Walshe and Columbus Ohio's The Drowsy Lads. Join us each and every Wednesday from 8pm - 9pm on WSBC 1240AM and catch this week's podcast here at www.windycityirishradio.com

Mom always told me there'd be days like this and mom was ALWAYS right.  Tonight, Mike and Tim pay tribute to dear ol' mom and mom's all over the world with stories of mom's guidance and music from The Shirelles, Jimmy Buckley, Joe Cullen Music, my mom's favorite, Elvis Presley's Graceland, Van Morrison (Official), Sir Paul McCartney, Philomena Begley, Ronan Keating Army and so much much more.  So, treat all the mom's in your life with an extra special day this mother's day!  Tune in each Wednesday night from 8:00pm to 9:00pm on WSBC 1240AM or on our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

As the calendar turns to May, the lads celebrate the warmer weather, the bright flowers and the pleasant morning dew that comes with it. Tune in for seasonal music and tunes from all over the world including The Waterboys, Glasgow trad bands Ímar and Rura, the Czech Republic's Poitín - Celtic World Music, Sligo heroes Dervish, Seattle singer-songwriter Colleen Raney, Dublin folkers Lankum, folk music legends Roger Mcguinn with Tommy Makem, Richmond rockers Carbon Leaf, Donal and Liam Clancy, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, and Paddy Casey Music with the Dublin Gospel Choir. Listen to Windy City Irish Radio every Wednesday on WSBC 1240AM from 8PM-9PM and catch this week's podcast here www.windycityirishradio.com

Tonight Tim and Mike honor the eight inductees to the Irish American Hall of Fame and our Hometown Hero, Fiona McEntee.  This year's inductees include Senator, John McCain, Fr. Scott Donahue of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Kay mcnulty, Miracle on Ice teammate, Jack o'callahan, James O'Connor of the Big Shoulders Fund, Mother Gerald Barry, the father of Chicago's Pat Roche and Windy City Feis Weekend, Pat Roche, and Catholic Worker House founder, Dorothy Day with music by will.i.am, Clara Harp & Shamrock Band, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Frank Sinatra Fans, Gear Daddies, Glenn Hansard, Girsa, The Singing Nuns and Wild Colonial Bhoys.  It's all star affair at the Irish American Heritage Center this weekend, April 27th, to a sold out crowd.  You can listen each Wednesday night from 8:00pm to 9:00pm on WSBC 1240 AM or on our podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com

He has risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!  Celebrate the Easter holiday with Windy City Irish Radio with stories of the Irish celebration of Easter Sunday along with Easter music sure to put a spring in your step. Tonight, we feature music by Orla Fallon, Martin Hayes Quartet, Steve Goodman, Dervish, We Banjo 3, Shane Hennessy, Van Morrison and Damien Rice.  And, in memory of the sinking of the Titanic, music by Gaelic Storm from their debut in the movie, "The Titanic".  Join Mike and Tim each Wednesday night on WSBC 1240AM and catch their podcast at www.windycityirishradio.com.  Happy Easter!!

Ahead of the looming tax deadline, Mike and Tim spin some tasty tunes and songs to ease the pain of preparing 1040 not so EZ forms and processing W2 and 1099's!  This week, Windy City Irish Radio features songs and tunes from Lisa Canny, Scottish fiddle band Blazin' Fiddles, Galway's The Whileaways, I Draw Slow, Back West, Rachel Hair & Jappy, The Kilkenny's, The Trials of Cato, Van Morrison and a special shout out to the Rolling Stones on the anniversary of their concert series in Dublin more than 50-years ago with music by the Rolling Stones live from Dublin and a Rolling Stones song by none other than the Pogues.  So, sharpen that pencil, account for all those deductions make sure to get those returns posted by midnight Monday!!  Windy City Irish Radio airs each and every Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm at 1240AM WSBC or check out this podcast, and all others, at www.windycityirishradio.com.  

'Twas an historic day in Chicago politics yesterday as we welcome in a brand new mayor and several new alderman. With the election now over, we can say farewell to the nasty political ads blaring on the television, the multitude of mailings clogging our mailbox and the constant politicking going on throughout our streets and neighborhoods. Until next year at least. Tune in to Windy City Irish Radio and listen as the boys dedicate the show to songs of political protest on both sides of the pond. With tracks from Flogging Molly, Christy Moore, Rory Gallagher, The Tossers, Damien Dempsey, U2, Mavis Staples with Glen Hansard, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers, Tommy Sands with Dolores Keane, The Chieftains with the The Decemberists, Pete Seeger, and The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, your toes are sure to be tapping while your blood might be boiling and a smile is sure to cross your face at some point too. It's politics, the good, the bad and the mostly ugly. Join us every Wednesday from 8PM -