Paint it green

>>Your guide to St. Patrick’s Day
mayhem in Montreal

BIG MEN AT CAMPUS: Corrigan Fest

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Whether you’re talking about getting painted or getting plastered, greenface is still a socially acceptable way to partake in Montreal’s annual St. Paddy’s Day festivities, some of the biggest booze-ups and jig-downs on this side of the Atlantic, not to mention North America’s biggest St. Patrick’s parade–that’s at noon on Sunday, March 16, corner of Fort and Ste-Catherine W.. The Mirror can’t help you get your paint on, but we can certainly steer you to the beer. (All events take place on Parade Day, unless otherwise noted.)

At Brutopia, local trio the Slaters will entertain the post-parade crowd with a hearty set that’ll get yer knees up and just maybe spill a few tears in beers.

There’s double trouble at Café Campus this St. Paddy’s. On Friday, March 14, downstairs (Petit Campus), KO de la St-Patrick features drum & bass DJs, door prizes and free Jäger shots. Patrons are asked to don a little green, please, and pony up $6. Upstairs (Café Campus proper), on Saturday, March 15, catch a little Irish en franççais with Corrigan Fest (former members of punk bands such as Banlieue Rouge), supported by the punk and country-accented tuneage of Farler’s Fury, No Barbers Required and Mitch L’Affront. The “kermesse” gets moving at 7 p.m. ($12) and rolls into the wee hours with DJs on both floors.

The Mahones dish out Celtic punk at Foufounes Électriques on Saturay, March 15, at 8 p.m.

Over in NDG, Honey Martin invites paraders back to the hood for live Irish music a-plenty courtesy of its resident musicians, as of 3 p.m.

Hurley’s hauls out an Irish breakfast buffet and a complimentary round of Irish coffee at 8 a.m., while Squid Jigger plays upstairs and the Gary Davis Group plays downstairs. Joshua and Solstice hit the stage for the afternoon, at 2:30 p.m., while Salty Dog and the Skivvies take on the night shift, at 9:30 p.m.

The Irish Embassy serves breakfast as of 8 a.m., with a live soundtrack by the Paddingtons from 9 a.m.–noon, and a more sweet racket by the Peelers from 3–10 p.m.

Land of the limerick

Bust a gut at Kola Note on Friday, March 14 with the Montreal Irish Comedy Show. Hosted by CHOM’s Ted Bird, the event features the roguish, broguish stand-up of Terry McGurrin, David John McCarthey and Mike Paterson with special guests, music and more, at 8 p.m., for $24.95–call (514) 274-9339 for tickets.

McKibbins (downtown) has Irish breakfast in store as of 8 a.m., spiked coffee and all, with live accompaniment from Good Time Charlie. After the parade, Salty Dog and the Crazy Folkers keep it rowdy on both floors, with the latter returning for a second set from 10 p.m. till closing. DJ Simply Genius spins into the wee hours too. Amicable Irishman Belfast Andi plays at McKibbins West Island from 8–11 a.m., and from 5–10 p.m.

Life of Riley will entertain the post-parade throngs at McLean’s, while both floors of the Old Dublin get hairy, with Liam Callahan and Pat Gryder, as of 2 p.m.

Celtic Québécois band Kitchen Party take the heat of the breakfast crowd at O’Regan’s at 10 a.m. (and return for a second set at 9 p.m.), while U2 cover band Zoo 2 rocks the room post-parade, at 3 p.m.

And at Ye Olde Orchard, downtown and in NDG, Irish breakfast is on at 9 and 8 a.m., respectively, with acoustic Celtic and Québécois band Swerve revving up the pre-paraders in NDG and Good Time Charlie taking on post-parade revellers downtown, from 3 p.m. till closing time.