See and be green

>> Where to jig, drink and be
merry on St. Patrick’s weekend

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Downtown Montreal sees its fair share of piss-ups, but even the most debauched Crescent Street antics can’t hold a candle to the all-day, church-sanctioned, family-friendly chug-a-lug that is St. Patrick’s Day. And with March 17 falling on a Saturday this year, the challenge is to remain upright for Sunday’s parade, which takes off from Ste-Catherine and Fort at noon. But please promise not to drive, die of alcohol poisoning or vomit on this year’s Parade Queen, 23-year-old Andrea McGlynn of Beaconsfield. May the luck of the Irish be with you (and her).

The party gets off to an early start at Hurley’s with breakfast on Friday at 6 a.m. St. Paddy’s mainstays Solstice will play for the early birds, while pub veterans the Gary Davis Group take the afternoon, and Joshua and Solstice deliver more music to drink by after dark.

Saturday promises hearty grub at 8 a.m. and acoustic Celtic and Québécois band Swerve, as well as Solstice. In the late afternoon, enjoy the seafaring Irish sounds of Squid Jigger, or the primo francophone Celtic band Kitchen Party, while Joshua and Solstice compete on the night shift.

BOILING OVER: Kitchen Party

Parade Day starts early at Hurley’s, with breakfast at 8 a.m., and sets by Kitchen Party and the Gary Davis Group starting shortly thereafter. Joshua and Solstice take on the post-parade crowd, and the Shane Murphy Trio and Squid Jigger keep it rowdy into the wee hours.

McLean’s kicks off the weekend even earlier, with St. Paddy’s breakfast beginning on Friday at 5 a.m. With the Maple Leafs in town, St. Patrick’s Day will be doubly rowdy (the barman says, “Bring a helmet”), triply so with Kitchen Party cooking up a pair of sets. On parade day, the Life of Riley Band will play for the benefit of the Breast Cancer Foundation from the afternoon into the evening.

Old Dublin gets going Friday evening, with music by esteemed musos Liam Callahan and David Gossage, who return on Saturday afternoon to join in on a day of live music on both of the Irish pub’s floors. Callahan and Gossage are back after the parade on Sunday, while Old Dublin regulars the Starchy Tubers keep the party in play upstairs.

Over at O’Regan’s, U2 tribute band Zoo2 will rock you all weekend, beginning with an evening set on Friday, followed by afternoon and night-time sets on Saturday and Sunday. A big old pre-boozin’ breakfast will be served on both days as of 7 a.m.

Likewise, McKibbin’s dishes out the grub and the Irish coffees on its two floors as of 8 a.m. on both days. Saturday’s live-music menu, from early morning to late night, features Irish singer and musician Belfast Andy, Ottawa’s Ugly Stick playing traditional and original Celtic tunes, Good Time Charlie’s Irish party music, the wit and wisdom of George’s Bush and the supreme selections of DJ Simply Genius. On Sunday, it starts all over again, with Good Time Charlie in the morning, good old bodhran-hauling band Salty Dog and Ugly Stick after the parade, and night-time sets by versatile, high-energy combo the Jello Shots and DJ Simply Genius.

SITTING PRETTY: Ugly Stick

At Brutopia, give it up for Moore on Saturday night. The bar opens at noon on Sunday to absorb the post-parade masses, with music by gritty, funky Celtic act the Slaters.

Over at Ye Olde Orchard downtown (1189 de la Montagne), patrons can roll in for St. Paddy’s breakfast at 9 a.m. on both days, with Swerve singer Ciaran Winter and Good Time Charlie entertaining on Saturday night, and Good Time Charlie going it alone on Sunday. At the bar’s NDG location (5563 Monkland), breakfast starts early, at 7:30 a.m., with live music courtesy of the Slaters on Saturday afternoon and Swerve at night. The same bands play in reverse order on Sunday, when breakfast is served at 9 a.m.