Celebrating St. Paddy's Day March 17

Now that March is finally here, we're starting to see the first hints of green in Tehachapi. With the cold, wet winter, the weather seems more normal this year. The trees did not bud out in February, and the daffodils are just starting to push up their green spears.

What a perfect year to celebrate "the wearing of the green" on St. Patrick's Day. To Fiddlers Crossing, it's all the more perfect because it comes on a Friday, which means there will be music in the popular downtown venue. A special concert of Irish songs and tunes will be presented by some of our local musicians at 7 p.m., March 17, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Performing in the concert will be the Bear Mountain Boys, who usually are heard around town playing bluegrass gospel. But Oh, Danny Boy! The quartet has dusted off the bodhran and prepared a set of Irish airs, jigs, hornpipes, reels and songs to get all toes tapping and heads bobbing. Jim Davis, on mandolin and fiddle, was half of the Celtic duo Will James. When partner Bill Lorenz moved to Washington to be close to his daughters, Jim joined with guitarist and bassist Rick Morgan, and fiddle and banjo player Scott Sparling in The Bear Mountain Boys. The group has had several other members, but is now joined by Tom Lichtenwaldt on harmonica and bodhran.

Opening for them will be "Wee Davy" Gamble and Debby Hand, both members of the former pub band, Paint A Rose, whose other members now live out of town. Dave and Debby will be joined by Bri Brubaker to revive some of the favorite songs and tunes from the Paint A Rose gig book. As in all concerts at Fiddlers Crossing, coffee, tea and goodies will be included in the price of the ticket. It's a good bet there will be shamrock cookies and soda bread!

So put on your green and your dancing feet and come be Irish for the night!

Fiddlers Crossing is at 206 East F Street at Robinson Street, in Downtown Tehachapi. Tickets may be purchased online at fiddlerscrossing.org, or at Mountain Music, Tehachapi Treasure Trove, Tehachapi Furniture in Old Town, and Lucky's Barbershop. They may also be reserved by calling (661) 823-9994. The special price for this special concert is $15.00.

On the horizon: Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band, Ernest Troost, Jill Knight and the Luckys, Gary Stockdale, and the Hay Dudes.