KC Irish Fest Where You Are

Eight One Sixty w/ Chris Haghirian

This week's episode of Eight One Sixty is all about Kansas City Irish Fest — happening this Saturday, Sept. 5, virtually on your computer and in communal watch parties around KC as the Fest Where You Are benefit concert. Chris sits down (via Zoom) with KCIF music director David Shaughnessy (A.K.A. Shocko) to get all the info about this year's pivoted festival.

Traditionally, KCIF brings tens of thousands of people to Crown Center, gathering musicians from across the globe. This year, they've had to adjust.

This Saturday night, from 7 to 9 p.m., some of KC's best musicians create an Irish mixtape, of sorts. Each act will perform one song by celebrated Irish acts (it will only stream once): Calvin Arsenia, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt, Maria The Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Movies, Ian & Kian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward of Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Victor & Penny, Katy Guillen of Katy Guillen and The Drive, and Carswell & Hope, who is the backing band for the evening. In addition to the above KC acts playing, several acts from across the pond will join it too, including Aoife Scott, Byrne and Kelly, Corner Boy, Gaelic Storm, Oscar Blue, Shane Hennessy and We Banjo 3.

On the show, we’ll talk about other ways to join in the celebration and we’ll also play music from several of the acts listed above.