New Irish Fest Stout for Michigan Irish Music Festival

By: Brittney Schering

A brand new beer, Irish Fest Stout, is being brewed exclusively for the Michigan Irish Music Festival. Eager patrons are even able to try it before the festival. Starting on Friday, Sept. 10, Irish Fest Stout will be available at The Station Grill, Tipsy Toad, Racquets, Holiday Inn, The Lake House, and Handsome Henry's.

Crafted by Schell's Brewing Company in Minnesota, Irish Fest Stout is a rich, smooth-tasting beer with a light caramel flavor. It is medium in body, black in color, and lightly hopped to offer a hint of malt sweetness.

The Michigan Irish Music Festival is presented by Mercy Health Partners. It is to return to Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon Sept. 17-19. It will be a weekend of live Irish entertainment, activities, and culture.

The festival will feature Irish and Celtic music on three stages. Authentic Irish food and beverages will be served, including Irish Stout, Irish Cream, and Budweiser products. A popular Irish dance competition, FEIS, will take place on Saturday.

General admission tickets cost $8 on Friday, $15 on Saturday, and $10 on Sunday. Sponsors for this event include Family Financial Credit Union, Bob & Bernie's Pub, Waddell & Reed, and Budweiser.

For more information, tickets, and a complete entertainment schedule, visit www.michiganirish.org or call (231) 739-2028

Where's Revue? September 18-20

Weekend Warriors, find your escape from the work week by visiting the second edition of Revue's Top 9 To Do Events!

1) Local Threads Fashion Show @ Founders (September 18): See the latest styles by GR area designers! Proceeds go to support the Kids Food Basket food pantry, which provides school age children with an evening meal after school.

2) Sweet Japonic @ The Intersection (September 19): Got love for Sweet J? Show begins at 8 p.m. and also features Southpaw Players and Simien the Whale. Pre-ordered tickets are $8 or $10 at the door.

3) Michigan Irish Music Festival @ Heritage Landing in Muskegon (September 18-20): Dance a jig while enjoying your favorite Irish music and foods this weekend! With various irish bands, great food, Irish market, and Feis dance, this festival is definitely a don't miss.

4) Tulip City 2009 Gem & Mineral Show's Return of T-Rex @ Holland Civic Theater (September 18-20): See the skeleton of "Stan" the T-Rex and learn about minerals and gems.

5) Project Encore @ DeltaPlex (September 18): Round 3 of this battle of the bands sets off tonight at Club 131 at the DeltaPlex. The winner advances to the final in a couple of weeks.

6) Grand Haven Salmon Festival @ Downtown Grand Haven (September 18-20): This all day event pays homage to the salmon migration and honors the Great Lakes as one of our most valued natural resources. Features wine tasting, salmon cook-off, grape stomping competition, big king fishing contest, and kid zone!

7) Dance Mania Marathon 2009 @ The B.O.B. (September 18): Pop, lock & drop it from 6-2 a.m. Prizes will be awarded!

8) Live Mannequin Night @ Downtown Holland (September 19): The store owners in downtown Holland will be stiking poses from movies you know and love Saturday night. Cast your vote for most realistic mannequin- the winning store owner wins a prize!

9) Walking Tour of Downtown Grand Rapids @ Amway Grand Hotel (September 20): See all of the historical places in downtown G-Rap that you never knew existed. This FREE event is ongoing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

See you out there!

XOXO,

Revue's Minions

Practice for St. Patty's Day

St. Patrick's Day only comes once a year, sadly. Shouldn't there really be more than one occasion a year to imbue large quantities of green beer and wear t-shirts that say "Kiss me I'm Irish"?

While this may not be the motive of the Michigan Irish Music Festival, they certainly are giving you a mid-year chance to revive your Irish pride this September.

Presented by Mercy Health Partners, the festival kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 18th and continues until 6 p.m. on Sunday night, all at Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon.

The three day event will play host to three stages of live Irish and Celtic music to create that authentic Irish experience. Several favorites from last year's entertainment lineup are returning, such as Seamus Kennedy, Kennedy’s Kitchen, Switchback, Craic Wisely, Old Blind Dogs, Fonn Mor, and Blackthorn.

New acts making an appearance at this year’s festival are Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, Solas, Slide, and The Makem & Spain Brothers.

With the continuous Irish music as background, festival-goers can also feast on the authentic Irish food and beverages provided by Bob and Bernie's Pub, including Guinness, Irish Cream, and Budweiser products.

The festival will also have an Irish Marketplace, a cultural tent, an acoustic tent for stripped down performances of your favorite artists, and children's activities. Saturday's activities include Feis, a competitive Irish dance contest.

An Irish Catholic mass and traditional Irish breakfast on Sunday morning cap off the weekend.

Ticket prices vary each day of the festival, but a 3-day pass can be purchased for $25. See individual prices here.

For more information and a complete entertainment schedule, visit www.michiganirish.org.