Balzac’s Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts is rearing up for an East Coast-inspired dance party in honour of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 – and there may even be a green beer or two on offer.
As part of the festivities, Morrissey’s Private Stock – a Newfoundland-based band inspired by traditional Celtic sound – will be performing a three-hour set for attendees supplemented with a complementary late–night barbecue spread.
According to Carlos Foggin, general manager of the Polaris Centre, participants are encouraged to book the next day off work and dance the night away.
“It’s an East Coast party on a Thursday night,” he said. “These guys – they will just go and go, and they just drive a party.
“They’re so much fun and they’re not young guys anymore, but you just can’t talk them down,” he said, adding one of the band members is around 70 years old.
“We’re really excited for people to come out and see what this new theatre is all about, because we’re ready to rock the party.”
He added to prevent instances of impaired driving among those who have imbibed in one too many green brews, the Balzac Days Inn is offering special hotel room rates and is located less than two kilometres away.
In addition, the music venue will be providing shuttle service for cars so people can drink responsibly.
Regarding the choice of band, Foggin said Morrissey’s Private Stock is in high demand this time of year thanks to their high-energy performances. He knew they were the right choice after he met them at a charity event when the band needed a place to get some recording done.
“They came here to do it and we just kind of kicked it off,” Foggin said. “And they’ve found the opening act (Dan Mills), so I’m really excited about that too, because it sounds like their boys from Ireland.
“I think we’re going to have a heck of a good time here.”
The band, inspired by the likes of The Navigators, Great Big Sea, and The Pogues (to name a few), is comprised of a group of police officers from the Maritimes who met through their time serving in the force.
Together, the group's members bring their Irish roots to the stage through unique vocality and instruments such as the accordion, mandolin, bodhran, guitar, bass, banjo, and whistles.
Band members include Steve Morrissey (vocals, guitar, bodhran), Matt O’Leary (accordion, mandolin), Lenny Dalton (vocals, bodhran, guitar), Fonz Hann (mandolin, guitar), and Sandy Aberdeen (bass, whistles, banjo).
“Honestly, I think we snagged the best band,” Foggin said. “Morrissey’s Private Stock hardly plays – they really get to pick and choose where they play a couple time a year – [so] they're in super high demand.”
According to Foggin, the Polaris Centre’s club atmosphere is conducive to attendees who prefer to sit at a table and enjoy a drink or break out a jig on the dance floor.
“What you’ll get here you won’t get in a pub or elsewhere. You’re at your own table, and we’re providing a buffet barbecue,” he said. “And the big difference is the stage set-up.”
He added where most pubs but the band in a corner on a small stage with a amateur sound system, this performance will be done in a professional theatre atmosphere.
“We’ve got amazing lighting, a great sound system,” he said. “It’s going to be a St. Patrick’s Day party and people will dance, but the sound is going to be as good as it gets.”
General tickets are available for $40 including concert and cover charge as well as a 10 p.m. buffet. In addition, table seating at large tables of 8 are available for $50 a piece.
Those interested in VIP service can purchase dedicated table service for tables of two ($125), or for tables of 4 ($250). Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at polariscentre.ca
