St. Patrick's Day in Mullingar: no longer just a parade

St. Patrick's Day in Mullingar this year won't feature merely a parade - but an entire festival, with stages for live bands, musical theatre, all sorts of side attractions - and of course, the parade itself, the highlight of the day's festivities.From 1.30 p.m., the streets will be closed to cars - and open to the crowds, as the town becomes a virtual festival site.One of the biggest draws for this year's festival is set to be the arrival of Galway Haystack PromotionsThis year's St. Patrick's Day will bring a festival atmosphere to the town of Mullingar. The streets will be closed to traffic from 1.30pm and transformed into a virtual festival site. There will be a large variety of entertainment on offer to suit all ages and all musical tastes.Galway Haystack Promotions will present street theatre at this year's festival. In keeping with the festival's theme of "The Environment" the company will provide a coterie of fire performers, drummers, stilt walkers, acrobats and street performers who will tell the tale of St Patrick returning to Ireland many years after banishing the serpents, only to find the land is now infested with a new danger; namely pollution.Can Patrick save our island again? Find out in what is sure to be a visual spectacular for young and old alike. Accompanying the company will be a special appearances from a world famous band one of whose members is renowned for his reputation as a champion of environmental issues.Austin Friars Street will host the Hot Press Rock Stage featuring some of Ireland's hottest young acts. Music will begin at 1.30pm with Mullingar's Auto Fly starting the proceedings followed by Seven Days, Identity Parade and special guests to be confirmed.The Castle Street Stage will offer an eclectic mix of music featuring local folk rock act Arrow in the Sky, Nigerian funk reggae band Toluking who featured at the Volvo Ocean Race Festival in Galway and local pop/rock act The Egg & Spoons featuring Rob and Julie Shaw which are sure to get the crowd rocking.If you are looking for traditional Irish music, head to the Mount Street Stage where The Shy Talks will play their unique blend of Irish contemporary trad, followed by the Midlands Youth Ochestra who will play a selection of traditional Irish and classical compositions.Dominick Street will host another stage featuring local acts, The Sunday Jumpers - well known local covers band playing a selection of your favourite songs, followed by local blues rock heros The Groove Diggers and a special appearance by one of the West of Ireland's hottest trad/rock acts Without George who have recently returned from a highly successful tour of the USA.A big thank you goes out to Lingis, Lingis Mama's Pasta & Papa's Pizza & Sofias as they are kindly feeding 120 youths from the two bands including half of the Mullingar Town Band free of charge.The hard working committee are actively seeking funds in order to make this year's Parade the biggest and best yet. The bank account details can be found on the website www.mullingarparade.ie under the section "Supporters - Donate Now". Your support is greatly appreciated.The BandsIdentity paradeSmart, confident, and interesting, this exciting Dublin five-piece, present an infectious blend of indie rock powerful, upbeat and energetic music. Together since 2006, they spent most of 2008 in studios in Galway and Dublin recording their debut album; and 2009 establishing themselves as a red hot live act as well as releasing three top 40 singles which got them noticed on the airwaves across the nation with "Ooh Ooh", "Collette Collar" and "Kicking Stones" reaching 33, 15 and 12 respectively in the Irish charts. The much anticipated debut album Identity Parade is due out anyday now.Midlands Youth OrchestraThe orchestra features approx sixty young people aged between 12 and 19 from right across the Midlands. Formed in 2006 from a number of youth ensembles around the Midlands, under the baton of Vincent Hunt they have already performed at the National Concert Hall and in various locations across the Midlands.The philosophy of the Midlands Youth Orchestra is to allow access to music to young people of all ages on the sole criteria of their ability, and not their financial means, and thus, hopefully, to be as inclusive as possible for all of the young people in this area.This will be a unique opportunity to see an outdoor concert by the Midlands newest musical phenomenon. Playing a mixed programme of classical and Irish compositions.TolukingDirect from Nigeria Toluking play an original blend of funk, reggae and calypso. The bands founder "Toluking" is an experienced producer/performer in his native land. We are looking forward to their visit to Mullingar bringing their unique musical experience to the town.Seven DaysThere are not very many young bands that can tactfully borrow elements of the past and melt themselves across genres. But hotly tipped new Kildare band, Seven Days successfully take the sensibility of the musical past that makes them sound one of the most unique and contemporary bands on the scene at the moment.Huge hooks and smashing choruses flirt with one another in songs such as "Easier and "Temptation," while the band's inherent charm shines through in tracks like, "Harder to Breath" and "These Shoes." Seven Days are as charismatic on record as they are live, with an astonishing ability to craft scores of classic songs that make people move. Having prolific musicianship and songwriting ability , a band like this doesn't come around that often.Having recently had high profile support slots with The Blizzards and The Coronas and with a debut single scheduled for release in spring 2010, these are the guys to watch out for! For more information on the band check out www.myspace.com/sevendaysofficialThe Egg & Spoons