Connect Savannah | March, 2023

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Tickets and more info: savannahmusicfestival.org or call the box office at 912.525.5050

TUESDAY MARCH 21

8 PM PRE-SEASON CONCERT PINK MARTINI FEAT. CHINA FORBES

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 50, 60, 70, 85 (Gold Circle)

THURSDAY MARCH 23

12:30 PM NOON30: CHRISTIAN SANDS, PIANO

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $31

5 & 8 PM CHRISTIAN SANDS HIGH WIRE TRIO

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $46

7 PM AARON LEE TASJAN / S.G. GOODMAN North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum General Admission $39

7:30 PM ZURICH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

FEAT. DANIEL HOPE & PHILIP DUKES

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$55, 65

FRIDAY MARCH 24

5 & 8:30 PM

SONA JOBARTEH / NATU CAMARA

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum

General Admission $39

6 PM ALEXANDER MALOFEEV, PIANO

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $52

8 PM THE INFAMOUS TRINGDUSTERS / SIERRA HULL

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 47, 57, 67, 77 (Gold Circle)

SATURDAY MARCH 25

5 PM BUDDY GUY “DAMN RIGHT FAREWELL” WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ERIC GALES AND KING SOLOMON HICKS Trustees’ Garden General Admission $89+ / VIP $209+

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29

12:30 PM NOON30: CHARLES MCPHERSON QUINTET FEAT. SEAN JONES

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $31

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS II PURCELL, MOZART, BEETHOVEN

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $52

7 PM TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND Trustees’ Garden General Admission $69+ / VIP $189+

8 PM KODO: TSUZUMI Lucas Theatre for the Arts $37, 50, 60, 70

SUNDAY MARCH 26

4 PM BUDDY GUY “DAMN RIGHT FAREWELL” WITH SPECIAL GUESTS CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM AND JONTAVIOUS WILLIS Trustees’ Garden General Admission $89+ / VIP $209+

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS I SCHUBERTIADE

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $52

TUESDAY MARCH 28

12:30 PM ANNA TILBROOK & FRIENDS

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $42

4:30 & 8 PM CHARLES MCPHERSON QUINTET FEAT. SEAN JONES / JOE ALTERMAN TRIO FEAT. HOUSTON PERSON Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $46

THURSDAY MARCH 30

12:30 PM NOON30: BRUCE MOLSKY & MAEVE GILCHRIST Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $31

6 & 8:30 PM

EDDIE PALMIERI LATIN JAZZ BAND North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum General Admission $39

7 PM BRUCE MOLSKY, TONY TRISCHKA & MICHAEL DAVES / THE ONLIES

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $42

8 PM ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $37, 50, 60, 70, 85 (Gold Circle)

6 PM MAEVE GILCHRIST: THE HARPWEAVER Savannah Cultural Arts Center General Admission $39

FRIDAY MARCH 31

12:30 PM NOON30: BRUCE MOLSKY

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden

General Admission $31

12:30 PM JACK LIEBECK, VIOLIN & SEBASTIAN KNAUER, PIANO

Trinity United Methodist Church

General Admission $42

SUNDAY APRIL 2

4 PM GALACTIC / CORY WONG / NATE SMITH + KINFOLK Trustees’ Garden

General Admission $79+ / VIP $199+

4:30 & 7:30 PM

6 & 8:30 PM

VIVIAN LEVA & RILEY CALCAGNO/ THE FOREIGN

LANDERS

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $39

CAJUN DANCE PARTY: THE LOST BAYOU RAMBLERS North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum

General Admission $39

8 PM TERENCE BLANCHARD FEAT. THE E-COLLECTIVE & TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 50, 60, 70, 85 (Gold Circle)

SATURDAY APRIL 1

12:30 PM NOON30: PASQUALE GRASSO TRIO

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $31

4:30 & 8 PM ALEXA TARANTINO QUARTET / PASQUALE GRASSO TRIO

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $46

TUESDAY APRIL 4

5 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS IV THE FINALE

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $52

7:30 PM GER MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA Trustees Theater General Admission $43

WEDNESDAY APRIL 5

6 PM REGINA CARTER: GONE IN A PHRASE OF AIR Trustees Theater General Admission $46

FRIDAY APRIL 7

5:30 & 8 PM THE ALT WITH OISÍN MCAULEY / TÉADA

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $42

5 & 8:30 PM

STANTON MOORE TRIO / ROOSEVELT COLLIER

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum

General Admission $39

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS III

DOHNÁNYI’S DELIGHT

Trinity United Methodist Church

General Admission $52

8 PM LOS LOBOS

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 47, 57, 67, 77 (Gold Circle)

7:30 PM SAM BUSH PLAYS JOHN HARTFORD / THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 47, 57, 67, 77 (Gold Circle)

THURSDAY APRIL 6

5 & 8:30 PM

BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA / JAKE BLOUNT, NIC

GAREISS & LAUREL PREMO Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $42

6 PM DOVER QUARTET WITH JOSEPH CONYERS Savannah Cultural Arts Center General Admission $57

5:30 & 8:30 PM

KENNY BARRON & DAVE HOLLAND TRIO WITH JOHNATHAN BLAKE

Charles H. Morris Center General Admission $46

6 PM EMERSON STRING QUARTET

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $57

8 PM PATTY GRIFFIN

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 50, 60, 70, 85 (Gold Circle)

7:30 PM LEO KOTTKE Trustees Theater General Admission $43

SATURDAY APRIL 8

12:30 PM NOON30: TÉADA

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $31

2 & 5:30 PM

ETIENNE CHARLES: TRACES / HAROLD LÓPEZ-NUSSA: TIMBA A LA AMERICANA

Charles H. Morris Center General Admission $46

6 & 9 P M

ZYDECO DANCE PARTY: JEFFERY BROUSSARD & THE CREOLE COWBOYS

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden General Admission $39

6 PM DREW PETERSEN, PIANO

Trinity United Methodist Church General Admission $52

7:30 PM CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT / SAN SALVADOR

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$37, 50, 60, 70, 85 (Gold Circle)

For an interactive guide to the 2023 lineup, visit savannahmusicfestival.org to listen to audio and watch video of all performers.

ADMINISTRATIVE

ERICA BASKIN PUBLISHER erica@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378

WENDY WICKHAM BUSINESS MANAGER wendy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4373

CONTENT

CHRISTOPHER SWEAT CREATIVE | CONTENT DIRECTOR christopher @connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4358

CHANTEL BRITTON MANAGING EDITOR chantel @connectsavannah.com

MCKENNAH DRURY GRAPHIC DESIGNER (912) 721-4354

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Jesse Blanco, Beth Logan, Bunny Ware,, Alan Sculley,

ADVERTISING

INFORMATION: (912) 721-4378 sales@connectsavannah.com

LOGAN HINTON DIGITAL SALES MANAGER logan@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4369

BUCKY BRYANT STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381

KAYLEN CONLEY STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT Kaylen@connectsavannah.com 912.721.4365

PEYTON MAXWELL DIGITAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST peyton@chartlocal.om (912) 721-4372

DISTRIBUTION

WAYNE FRANKLIN DISTRIBUTION MANAGER (912) 721-4376

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Dear Connect Savannah readers,

We hope you’re ready to break out your green because St. Patrick’s Day season is upon us, and we couldn’t be more excited!

As always, Savannah’s Irish community is gearing up for an amazing parade and celebration that promises to be unforgettable.

At Connect Savannah, we’re ecstatic to be a part of the festivities once again. This issue is chock-full of everything you need to know to take part, whether you’re a local or visitor.

Our official St. Patrick’s Day app is available for download now, featuring up-to-the-minute event listings, photos, and even an interactive beer map brought to you by Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

This year, we’re also thrilled to showcase McDonough’s Restaurant and Lounge, which will offer information on food and drink specials and tons

ON THE COVER

of St. Patrick’s Day festivities at the famous local watering hole.

We’re also eagerly awaiting the results of our annual “Best of Savannah” voting, which ends on March 6. So make sure you get your votes in online at connectsavannah. com before it’s too late!

It’s always exciting to see who comes out on top in our community.

This is our second printed edition of the year, and we’re so grateful for the success of our February edition.

Be sure to visit connectsavannah. com for a list of printed distribution sites, and get your copy before they’re gone!

As the Irish say, “May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.”

ERICA BASKIN PUBLISHER

OUR VALUES

Connect Savannah is an arts, entertainment and news magazine, focused on Savannah and the Coastal Empire life and experience. We strive to feature stories that impact our community and the people who live here— to educate, entertain, inform and foster conversation.

We appreciate and encourage readers to share news and information with us, and to share any criticism and questions. We want to be your comprehensive source for what happens in our community and beyond. We are here to serve you. Find us on the following social media platforms or reach out to us at news@connectsavannah.com or 912-721-4378.

McKennah Drury, Rolando Aguirre and Kaylen Conley are ready for St. Patrick’s Day.

Dresses provided by Kathi Rich, 2515 Abercorn St. kathirich.com

Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

MARCH

CONNECT SAVANNAH AT A GLANCE

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE LIVE ON STAGE

MARCH 2 - 12

The Historic Savannah Theatre presents this zany Broadway musical comedy with fast paced comedic gags that guarantee 2-hours of non-stop laughter. “It’s the funniest musical you’ve never heard of!” Showtimes and tickets at savannahtheatre.com

‘RRR’: TRUSTEES THEATER SCREENING

MARCH 5

RRR set records as the most expensive Indian film ever made — and then became a critically acclaimed global phenomenon. Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. Trustees Theatre scad. edu

‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’

MARCH 9-11

Lucas Theatre for the Arts . Accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call in this playwithin-a-play with some hilarious consequences. savannahboxoffice.com

2023 GREENING OF THE FORSYTH PARK FOUNTAIN

MARCH 10 12:00pm Forsyth Park Fountain

20TH ANNUAL TYBEE ISLAND

HERITAGE PARADE

MARCH 11

3:00pm Tybee Island

2023 SHAMROCKS AND SHENANIGANS CELEBRATION

MARCH 11 - 19

Plant Riverside District. Free. This popular nine-day event at Plant Riverside District will offer free live music by more than 30 bands on two riverfront stages, family-friendly activities and photos with Lucky the Leprechaun as well as festive food and drink options for all ages and St. Patrick’s Daythemed merchandise.

CELTIC CROSS MASS AND PARADE TO EMMET PARK

MARCH 12

11:30amThe Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist Parade to follow

CELTIC CROSS RECEPTION

MARCH 12 2:30pm Charles H. Morris Center

MIX IT UP AT THE MOON MIXOLOGY CLASS FEAT.

SLANE IRISH WHISKEY

MARCH 14

5:30 p.m. Electric Moon Skytop Lounge. Tickets available at plantriverside.comThe next Mix It Up at the Moon class will offer the opportunity to mix cocktails crafted with Slane Irish Whiskey with the brand’s Co-Founder and Global Brand Ambassador Alex Conyngham. A born and raised Irishman, Conyngham is a founding member of the Irish Whiskey Assoc. with more than 20 years in the Irish whiskey business.

GREEN SEASON EVENTS NOT TO MISS!

It’s officially green season in Savannah, which means that there are all sorts of fun festivities taking place around town leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to get in on the action, mark your calendars for these exciting events!

THE CELTIC TENORS

MARCH 15 & 16

(Above) 8 p.m. District Live at Plant Riverside District. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with two live performances by The Celtic Tenors, acclaimed Irish singers who enjoy a global following. Comprised of Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson and Daryl Simpson, The Celtic Tenors are world-class artists who perform renditions of beautiful Celtic classics, a capella music and popular contemporary songs.

SGT WILLIAM JASPER PARADE AND CEREMONY

MARCH 16

4:00pm Johnson Square and Madison Square Parade (Johnson Square) Ceremony (Madison Square)

ST. PATRICK’S DAY MASS

MARCH 17

8:00AM The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist

2023 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

MARCH 17

10:15am

SAVANNAH LIVE!

MARCH 21 - 30

The Historic Savannah Theatre presents this two hour live music experience with singers, dancers and rockin’ live band that TripAdvisor rates

as the #1 Entertainment in Savannah. Come be part of the experience! Showtimes and tickets at savannahtheatre.com

GARIBALDI-HIGHCLERE CASTLE GIN RECEPTION

MARCH 23

6-8 p.m. Garibaldi Savannah, 315 W. Congress St. GaribaldiSavannah.com for tickets. The reception will feature Lord Carnarvon, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon - whose family has lived at Highclere Castle, the real-life setting of Downton Abbey, for 400 years. Cocktail attire. Savannah is one of two cities Lord Carnarvon will visit in the United States. He will also be available to sign books at the reception.

2023 SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

MARCH 23 - APRIL 8

Tickets are available at savannahmusicfestival.org. This 17-day festival showcases an exceptional cross section of award-winning icons, trailblazing contemporaries and dynamic newcomers. Savannah Music Festival (SMF) 2023 features a series of outdoor performances at Trustees’ Garden.

DISNEY ON ICE

March 23-26

Enmarket Arena. Celebrate the magic of courage, love and adventure with Disney On Ice presents Into The Magic! Hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie

GREEN ROAD WITH CLODAGH

KINSELLA (LEFT) Join Georgia Southern Univ. for a night of lively Irish music. On Wednesday, March 15 at 7 p.m., five-man Irish band Green Road will take the stage at the Armstrong Campus Fine Arts Auditorium. Hailing from County Wexford, Green Road will be joined by a special guest, award-winning soprano Clodagh Kinsella. Tickets can be purchased at georgiasouthern.edu/alumni/greenroad. Proceeds will benefit the Hibernian Society of Savannah Scholarship in Irish Studies.

Barry McCall

Mouse bring audiences on an expedition across raging seas, snow covered mountains and the marigold bridge. Enhance your Disney On Ice show ticket with a preshow Character Experience. Ticketmaster.com

RELIVE THE GLORY, GLORY MARCH 30

(Above) Join the Savannah Chapter of the University of Georgia Alumni for RELIVE THE GLORY, GLORY! a Happy Hour mixer on the patio at Ardsley Station supporting Georgia Giving Day! Grab a specialty cocktail (a % will be donated to our local scholarship fund) or small plate and enjoy an early evening with fellow Alumni and Dawgs as we re-watch a broadcast of the 2021 and 2022 National Championship Games.

DWIGHT YOAKAM

MARCH 30

8:00 PM Johnny Mercer Theatre. Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10. Ticketmaster.com

HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH

To have your event considered for inclusion, please visit connectsavannah.com and enter your event in our online calendar. There, you can manage your entries, change and add dates, times, etc.

CELTIC CROSS CEREMONY

Savannah’s first Celtic Cross Ceremony was held in 1986 and the tradition continues to this day as a tribute to the city’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebrations nearly 200 years ago. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at Emmet Park, the location where the Celtic Cross monument stands.

CELTIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Celtic Heritage Festival will take place March 10 - 11 at Forsyth Park. The festivities start with the greening of the iconic fountain, followed by a pipe drums procession,

Irish dancers, a tug-o-war competition and more. Live musicians will perform at the festival including Brigid’s Cross, the Chloe Agnew Band, Colin Farrell and Dave Curley, and the McLean Avenue Band. For more information, visit celticheritagesav.org/.

TYBEE ISLAND IRISH HERITAGE CELEBRATION PARADE

Tybee Island will host their Irish Heritage Celebration Parade on Saturday, March 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. Now in its 20th year, the parade is great fun for the whole family filled with lively music, spirited marchers and

much more. The parade will start at Tybee City Hall and continue down Butler Avenue to Tybrisa Street.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

The main culminating event of Savannah’s green season is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will take place on Friday, March 17. Starting at 10:15 a.m., Savannah’s historic district will be filled with festive floats, decked out cars and showstopping bands and performers. The Savannah parade is one of the largest and longest-standing in the country. For more information and the parade route, visit savannahsaintpatricksday.com/.

Compiled by Chantel Britton

THE ANN TENENBAUM AND THOMAS H. LEE COLLECTION

William Eggleston; Memphis, 1970; Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Collection

INTRODUCTIONS: MEET DR. MEAGHAN DWYER-RYAN

AN ARDENT ACADEMIC ADVANCING SAVANNAH’S IRISH COMMUNITY AND CULTURE

to Savannah boomed during the midnineteenth century.

“I was raised knowing I was Irish. I was 100% Irish, as they used to say. My dad’s parents were from Ireland. My grandmother, we saw her very frequently. So I was always raised with that awareness,” Dwyer-Ryan explained.

Her father taught social studies, which instilled within her a passion for history and culture. While pursuing her undergraduate at Colby College in Maine, she embarked on a study abroad program, which took her to Ireland.

“I got to see a lot of my family members who I had never met, and it just stuck with me,” she said.

Dwyer-Ryan attended New York University for her graduate studies, enrolling in the Irish studies program before rounding out her education with a Ph. D at Boston College, where she focused on diaspora studies. Today, she studies and teaches Irish history and culture and enjoys sharing this information with students and the public.

“It was just something I’ve always really loved, and I’ve always very strongly identified with,” she expressed.

A native of Boston, her career in academia is what led her down South. She taught at the University of South Carolina’s Aiken campus before accepting a position as the associate director of the Center for Irish Studies and Teaching at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus in 2019.

Founded on St. Patrick’s Day in 1995, CIRT is committed to researching and teaching the diverse identities, experiences and achievements that constitute the ever-evolving concept of Irishness. The center’s director is Dr. Howard Keeley, who is originally from Dublin, Ireland. CIRT staff and students work to advance Irish America, in part by researching the longstanding links between Ireland and the local community.

“Another thing that . . . we’ve continued to do as an essential feature of our research and our teaching is to identify the connections between Savannah’s Irish community and the county of Wexford, Ireland,” Dwyer-Ryan stated.

She shared that Irish immigration

“According to census records, one out of every four white people in Savannah during that time was born in Ireland, and of that number about half . . . of those people born in Ireland in Savannah had been born in Wexford. So that started the big question. . . How is Savannah Irish? Why do we have this major St. Patrick’s Day parade every year? And then, why Wexford?” she posed.

She explained that trade relationships that existed at the time between Liverpool, England, Savannah and Wexford are what catalyzed immigration via what is now called the Wexford-Savannah axis.

“When you look at the community in Savannah today, the Wexford connection in particular is still really strong, and you see this in a lot of the names that are big Savannah. Particularly folks like the Rossiter family. That’s a very Wexford name,” said Dwyer-Ryan.

As Georgia Southern students continued to study the ties between Savannah and Wexford, CIRT faculty members initiated a study abroad program there. Through the program, faculty and students established a relationship with the Wexford County Council. Eventually, it led to the development of a Georgia Southern campus in Wexford.

“We are the only public university in the United States to have a campus in Ireland,” she declared.

Through the Wexford campus, students are able to engage in experiential and immersive learning. About 150 students are expected to go to Wexford this year.

Georgia Southern’s CIRT staff and students are doing exciting things abroad and locally as well. Here in Savannah, the center is working to launch their Savannah Irish Neighborhoods project, which aims to uncover the history of Irish Savannah at the neighborhood level.

“The Irish in Savannah traditionally settled in three different neighborhoods. Old Fort on the east side and Frogtown and Yamacraw on the west side. . . These were neighborhoods that were, for the most part, working class. As time goes on, you see gentrification and economic mobility. But really, the memories of these neighborhoods were very strong among the Irish community,” Dwyer-Ryan explained.

The project is in the early stages, but the goal is to develop an app that enables locals and tourists alike to take walking tours of these historic Irish neighborhoods. The CIRT team also wants to include an oral history aspect, sharing lesser known stories about immigrant entrepreneurs and other notable Irish Savannah residents like property mogul Rosanna McGuire and Daniel O’Connor, a relative of novelist Flannery O’Connor.

“We want to do that research and get those stories out to the public. We want to make the Irishness of Savannah much more visible beyond St. Patrick’s Day, beyond that green season,” she added.

Dwyer-Ryan is excited about the work that CIRT is doing to preserve and promote Irish heritage and culture locally and abroad. Her favorite thing about the Irish community is the craic.

She said, “basically it means the fun. So Irish culture, I’m particularly a fan of not only the history, but the music, the dance, all that. . . Everything is connected whether it be history, music, dance, culture, literature, it’s all a piece And that has made its way into Irish American culture too. .

. The Irish community and the Irish spirit is alive and well in Savannah. And it’s very apparent this time of year.”

To learn more about CIRT, visit irishgeorgia.com

- Chantel Britton

Dr. Meaghan DwyerRyan is an Irish-American through and through.

Opposite and Above: Dr. Meaghan Dwyer-Ryan teaches and researches with students on the Georgia Southern campus in Wexford, Ireland. Opposite and insets: Georgia Southern University’s learning campus in Wexford. GS is the first public university in the United States to establish a learning center in Ireland. Photos by Jonathan Chick

DRINK

DRINK DANCE JAM

IT’S FINALLY GREEN SEASON

The observance of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah first started in 1824 with the first documented invitation to the general public regarding the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah.

Today, almost 300 units—including marching bands, families, military units, Irish societies, students, dancers, public servants, and commercial floats—weave their way through the streets of Historic Downtown Savannah.

Of course, something of this magnitude doesn’t happen automatically. It takes hours and hours of planning, meetings, and organizing throughout the year by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. Their year of work culminates in the election of the Grand Marshal to represent the city, the committee, and the Irish community leading into all of the events surrounding the parade.

We bent the ear of Caleb Harkleroad, Parade Committee member, who has been greatly involved throughout the entire planning process.

ARE YOU GETTING EXCITED ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND THE PARADE?

Well, you know, St. Patrick’s Day is so much more than just a parade. There are so many events that happen that are special to a lot of families. Just being able to be together and celebrate is just a huge, huge deal.

SAVANNAH’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE:

ALMOST 200 YEARS OF TRADITION

TELL US ABOUT THE RING THAT HARKLEROAD DIAMONDS AND FINE JEWELRY MAKES FOR THE GRAND MARSHAL EVERY YEAR.

There is a private reception for the marshals on the day of the election of the grand marshal which is always the last Sunday in February. We made the first one [ring] in 2019, but didn’t make one in 2021 because there was no Marshal. The one this year is the fourth one we’ve made.

DO YOU MAKE THE RING IN-HOUSE?

No, but we design it in-house. On the front and center of the ring, there’s a Celtic cross, which is kind of the focus of the day. The ring has three emeralds on either side and each corner. On one side, it says what number parade it is, so this year will be the 199th celebration.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CREATE A RING FOR THE GRAND MARSHAL?

Our business is local and we appreciate the support of the parade committee along with friends and classmates of my dad’s. So, we wanted to do something different and special for the grand marshals to really set them apart and honor them for their accomplishments.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES/CEREMONIES/TRADITIONS?

I think my favorite event has become the Celtic Cross Ceremony which is a massive ceremony the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day. It starts everything with Mass. Then, all the societies and families progress together, walking from the cathedral to the Celtic Cross monument at Emmet Park on Bay Street. Then, we have a speaker, a ceremony, and a reception. It’s very reminiscent of what the parade would have been like a long time ago when it first got started in 1824. As I said, it’s the Irish community’s day to be together, enjoy the events, and get ready for the coming week. It’s become a really special event for me.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT HOW THE PARADE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED TOGETHER?

Our General Chairman, John Fogarty, has been hyper-focused on our goal and our mission which is to put on a celebration fitting to honor St. Patrick himself. The original event was a small parade consisting of 14-15 guys and they were Irish Protestants. A lot of people may not know how it has become an Irish Catholic Parade.

- Marley Gibson

Susan Hancock

2023 SAVANNAH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE GUIDE AND MAP

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is coming back on March 17, 2023, and the excitement is palpable. As the second largest parade in the country (after only New York’s) this is a day that everyone looks forward to.

The parade is a marathon trek, stretching over three miles and three hours long, with around 300 total units.

It’s a spectacle that’s not to be missed. While the parade is a city-wide celebration, it’s actually a privately organized event by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, which gets a permit just like any other group that wants to march would.

For many members of Savannah’s Irish Catholic community, the day starts early with Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Some families and groups gather at 6 a.m. to “claim” prime parade-watching space in various squares of the city, although technically it’s illegal to camp out overnight to claim a spot.

Every year, tons of people, mostly tourists, assume they’ll be able to drive right into the heart of downtown right before the parade and get a great spot. As many downtown routes are shut down for the parade, these folks are always disappointed and always look like idiots trying to back up and/or turn around. Don’t be an idiot.

The squares along Abercorn tend to be the most crowded parade-watching areas. If you’re looking for a bit less crowded scene (but still pretty darn crowded), venture north to Broughton and Bay Streets or closer to the end of the parade route.

Savannah’s to-go cup tradition means those of age can carry a 16 oz. or less alcoholic beverage (no glass) in all public areas of the “Festival Zone.” But only if you’re 21 and up! An epidemic of underage drinking has prompted local police to ramp up efforts to crack down, including plainclothes officers.

The parade itself starts around 10 a.m. and finishes up somewhere in the 2 p.m. range. Yes, the parade actually goes the “wrong way” around

the squares. This tweak is designed to make entry/exit of emergency personnel more feasible. If you hear very loud booms, don’t freak out: There are some floats which utilize fake cannonshots.

The funny older dudes dressed in kitschy costumes on equally kitschy floats are the Alee Temple Shriners, who raise money for children’s hospitals. The families ambling along with green jackets and clothes, and occasionally with babies in strollers, are members of various local Irish societies. These marchers are technically the reason we have this parade honoring Savannah’s long Irish heritage.

At any rate, in the minds of Savannahians, it’s always going to be a day to remember.

2023 ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

George Schwarz | Facebook

THE CLOCK ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

By Chuck Mobley Special to Connect Savannah

It’s planned to the minute. This year, with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepping off on Friday morning, Susan Hancock and Lynn and Donna Moody, along with their families and friends, are already prepared. Their watch on Calhoun Square starts on Wednesday afternoon. They’ll arrive in trucks, park, and wait the necessary hours until 6 a.m. Friday morning. Similar strategies dot the route. At squares. At corners. Along streets. Abercorn. Broughton. Bay. Names once familiar to Gen. James E. Oglethorpe. These places are prized. The Hancocks and Moodys are veterans at this. They know the drill. Plus, they leave nothing to chance. Beyond the changing shifts, they also transport a Portajohn with a keypad.

Susan, Lynn and Donna have staked out Calhoun Square for about 30 years.

“This is the beginning of our spring and summer,” said Susan. They all agree it’s a “family favorite atmosphere.” Once “the whistle blows,” and they’re allowed in, a crew of eight takes “less than 10 minutes” to tape out their plot, put up three tents, arrange several tables, place some 50 to 75 chairs and stock the coolers. No surprises here. Beyond all that, the city strictly regulates its guidelines. No grills, barriers or bartenders.

Their station is at the corner of Gordon and Abercorn streets. A prime spot on the first square in the parade. Some years ago, the route changed, shifting to the left side of the square. So it’s a short walk to breakfast. Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church has it all prepared.

From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., they serve pancakes, bacon and green grits. Soon, they’ll be back in the square, chatting and waiting to hear the

police motorcycles moving up Abercorn at the parade’s 9 a.m. start.

Usually, a crowd of 50 or so is gathered. Friends walk through, and stop by, Susan said. “Often, we don’t see them except for the parade conversations.” At the tables, the food is ready. It’s an assortment of tailgate food. No crockpots, Donna added. They just want to pick something up, like sandwiches. For Susan, there is one traditional favorite: “A pimento cheese sandwich and a Bloody Mary.”

The conversations range from families, friends and children, to schools, to golf, to St. Patrick’s parades when it was cold, to the rainy years of 2003 and 2014.

Politicians and famous people often appeared. President Harry S. Truman in 1962; Jimmy Carter, soon to be Georgia governor and later president, in 1970 and 1978; Senators Barry Goldwater and Mack Mattingly in 1986; and Vice President Mike Pence in 2018. The Moodys though, cherish a different year, 2007.

It was planned. It was spontaneous. It was marvelous. Weeks before the parade, their son Adam contacted a local country music radio station and asked if he could place a large sign on their float as it neared the square. It was just a few words. “Ashley will you marry me?” As the float turned the corner, she saw the sign. Adam kneeled, and asked the question. She said yes. “Everyone in the square, and close to the area, stopped and cheered for them,” Lynn and Donna said. “It was an exciting moment for all of us.”

For Lynn, he especially enjoys the military spirit exhibited by the parade. That tradition runs deep. The first parade, actually a procession, occurred on March 17, 1824. It was sponsored by the Hibernian Society. In 1842, the Irish Jasper Greens, a Savannah volunteer

militia company, formed for the parade, along with the crewmen of the USS Falmouth, a sloop of war, which had docked at Tybee Island. Many other units marched over the years. On March 16, 1946, the city cheered as hundreds of soldiers, sailors and Marines stepped off for that St. Patrick’s Parade. The USS Solomons, an aircraft carrier, docked at the Gordon Wharf.

In 1991, the city rode an emotional wave of patriotism and pride as the 24th Infantry Division returned from its campaign in the Persian Gulf War. Armored vehicles passed by, and camouflage-clad soldiers manned a float with a “Point of the Spear” ribbon.

Signs displayed “Welcome Home” with a yellow ribbon. A few years later, the 3rd Infantry Division, the “Rock of the Marne,” was honored as well. It participated in campaigns in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Savannah, the Hancocks and Moodys enjoy the Tybee Island Heritage Parade, which is a less structured procession, and their set up is much easier as the Moodys live on the parade route.

A few days later, at the Savannah parade, hundreds of people will wander through the square where those families will gather again.

People stop, chat and maybe pick up a cookie or two. It’s all very casual and laid back. But eventually it comes to an end. That same military organization is displayed again, just in reverse. “We’ve learned from our mistakes,” said Donna. “Our system has developed and grown.” Soon, it’s all packed.

Next year, a big date. In 2024, it will be the 200th anniversary of the parade.

Sources: “Savannah: St. Patrick’s Day Through the Years,” published by the Savannah Morning News. wesleymonumental.org. Wikipedia articles on the 24th Infantry Division and 3rd Infantry Division. savannahga.gov.

With military precision, the Hancocks and Moodys quickly assemble their tents, chairs and food in the first square on the parade route

ON

TRADITIONS: THE HISTORY OF THE CELTIC CROSS CEREMONY

By Marley Gibson

The St. Patrick’s Day festivities around Savannah officially kicked off with the greening of the fountain in Forsyth Park on March 10. This ritual occurs yearly in the beauty of the park surrounded by families, locals, and visitors alike participating in the long-standing tradition.

Tara Reese, President of the Savannah Irish Festival Committee and a member of the Board of Directors for the Daughters of Ireland, said you never know who you’ll see at such an event.

“I was at the greening [of the fountain] and I looked across and saw friends I haven’t seen since 2019,” Reese said. “These friends are from Dublin, Ireland, and with the Guard of Honor. I knew they were coming into town, but I didn’t think I’d see them until next week. It was heartwarming to see friends I’ve known – lord have mercy – for fifteen years, just standing there smiling at me. It’s so great to have them back in Savannah. It was like having a mini-reunion before the craziness starts later this week.”

One thing Reese looks forward to on St. Patrick’s Day is the special Celtic Cross Ceremony in Emmett Park.

“After mass on Sunday, the Irish families and the Irish societies gather outside the Saint John’s Basilica and then we march together to the old fort,” she explained. “This is sort of considered the ‘real’ St. Patrick’s Day parade because it resembled the original 1824 procession from the cathedral to the monument in Emmett Park.”

Once there, the Celtic Cross Ceremony honors the Irish heritage and ancestors with a wreath at the monument and a blessing for the parade from the bishop.

“I think the Savannah Irish are very protective of their Irish history and the origins of the St. Patrick’s Day parade,” Reese shared. “The Hibernian Society, established in 1812, was formed by Presbyterian Merchants as a charity for Irish Catholics. In 1813, members of the Hibernian Society marched in procession to the Independent Presbyterian Church.

The second was a private parade held in 1818 by a local military group known as the Fencibles. The first official St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1824 when a notice from the Hibernian Society was published in the local paper, “The Georgian,” inviting the citizens of Savannah to join them for a discourse at the Roman Catholic Church on the Feast of St. Patrick the following day.

The notice also called for the members of the Society to be punctual in their attendance at a 10 a.m. meeting, in order to conduct the business at hand, before moving in procession to the church. This is the first documented invitation to the general public regarding the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah,” she said, sharing research she did in conjunction with Georgia Southern University.

“There is just so much rich history here that so many people don’t even know about,” she said. “It’s that’s one of the wonderful things about this city... meeting similar people, sharing our history and experiences, and helping make this city even better.”

2023 ST. PATRICK’S DAY SEASON EVENTS:

Make sure you mark these events in GREEN on your calendar.

2023 GREENING OF THE FORSYTH PARK FOUNTAIN

Friday, March 10, 2023 - 12:00pm Forsyth Park Fountain

20TH ANNUAL TYBEE ISLAND HERITAGE PARADE

Saturday, March 11, 2023 - 3:00pm Tybee Island, GA

CELTIC CROSS MASS AND PARADE TO EMMET PARK

Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 11:30am

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist Parade to follow

CELTIC CROSS RECEPTION

Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 2:30pm Charles H. Morris Center

SGT WILLIAM JASPER PARADE AND CEREMONY

Thursday, March 16, 2023 - 4:00pm Johnson Square and Madison Square Parade (Johnson Square) Ceremony (Madison Square)

ST. PATRICK’S DAY MASS

Friday, March 17, 2023 - 8:00am

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist

2023 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Friday, March 17, 2023 - 10:15am

SOURCE: Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

REBIRTH: WRIGHT SQUARE BISTRO GOING STRONG WITH NEW MENU FEATURING OLD FAVORITES

EAT IT & LIKE IT

EAT IT AND LIKE IT

By Jesse Blanco eatitandlikeit.com

Tod Whitaker and Michael Higgins would most certainly attest to that fact. The long and the short of their story is they met over three decades ago in New York City.

Tod moved to Savannah to run a cafe. It took Michael being frozen in Indianapolis one too many times for him to press eject on that situation and head south.

By day, Michael worked in marketing. On the weekends, he worked with show dogs. Opening a restaurant together? They’d discussed it, but it didn’t seem like it was much of a priority.

In fact, when they were told the space occupied by the very popular Wright Square Cafe on York Street was for sale, they thought they’d take a look, only to find out that it was already under contract.

A month later, they got the call that the first deal had fallen

through.

PRESENTED

BY SAVANNAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE

“So i said, let’s just go take a look at it.” Michael recalls now. And here they are.

Michael and Tod took over Wright Square Cafe with a vision to both not mess with a winning formula, but also enhance what they were doing.

Wright Square had been largely known for chocolates, other sweets and coffee. In fact, it is one of the spots where Savannah’s All-world chocolatier Adam Turoni got his start in this town. Many many moons ago.

“We took a road trip to Texas.” Michael says “During the eight hour ride back, we made a menu. We came back with a strong vision. It all fell into place.”

The original vision was to name their sandwiches after their dogs. Squares had been done. Streets had been done. Using the puppies’ names was not only different, but a personal touch.

The original vision included getting a beer and wine license and eventually opening for dinner. The main dining room was just too inviting not to. They had a local craftsman make tables and brightened an already good looking space.

But what about the food? The sandwiches are now among their most popular. The meatloaf sandwich, a recipe Tod says he’s been tweaking for about 20 years, is the one they know they couldn’t pull off of the menu. Sometimes they do anyway. It always finds its way

Sometimes life is just going to take its course and you have no idea how things are going to shake out.

DRINK LIKE THE IRISH THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY

By Enocha Van Lierop-Edenfield

St. Patrick’s Day is here. How did that happen so

soon?

I spoke with the folks at O’Connell’s Irish Pub to get some ideas for some drinks outside of the usual pint of Guinness or glass of Jameson.

GREEN TEA this drink can either be a shot or a cocktail. It includes Irish whiskey, Peach Schnapps, and sour mix shaken with a splash of Sprite on top – a perfectly refreshing drink to cool down with after a hot day.

IRISH COFFEE You can’t go wrong with this St. Patrick’s Day staple. While it’s usually made with just whiskey, coffee, a bit of sugar, and heavy cream on top, O’Connell’s does offer variations with Bailey’s Irish Cream.

BEER OTHER THAN GUINNESS The people at O’Connell’s are excited to now be serving Sullivans ale and stout from Kilkenny, Ireland.

WHISKEY OTHER THAN JAMESON Customers at O’Connell’s have been enjoying Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey recently.

Another whiskey cocktail that’s popular right now is a caramel apple cocktail made with Ole Smokey

Salty Caramel Whiskey and Captain Morgan’s Sliced Apple Rum.

And if none of that sounds appetizing, you can always rely on a tall glass of Magners Irish Cider.

O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB

42 Drayton Street

Hours:

Monday - 5 p.m. to Midnight

Tuesday - 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Wednesday and Thursday - 5 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Friday - 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Saturday 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

St. Patrick’s Day hours: Noon to Midnight

back though.

What I like about what they are doing is they are towing the seasonal rope very well. A lot of times, a cafe will open using all the buzz words like ‘local’ ‘fresh’ ‘seasonal’ and then ultimately go their own way within weeks.

Sweets are provided largely by local bakers Wicked Cakes. That would include some gluten free options.

What I love about Wright Square is the location. The Bull Street corridor is so heavily traveled by visitors to our city, that you sometimes get caught up just moving North/South without taking a look at what you can find down a relatively quiet side street facing Wright Square.

Still, this spot is no secret anymore. Word of mouth has done its thing. B&B owners are regularly recommending it to their guests as a less crowded and/or pretentious option to a lot of what we are finding in downtown Savannah these days.

“We get a lot of couples who will come in during the evening, grab a bottle of wine and two sandwiches to take back to their room.” Michael says. More than likely a couple who has spent the day walking the city seeing the sights and they are done.

Wright Square offers a great selection of salads, sandwiches and sweets. You can grab charcuterie and a glass of wine if that is your speed as well. Weekends you will find your eggs, biscuits and gravy. Bagel and a schmear? They’ve got that too.

Stop by and see the guys at Wright Square Bistro. They still haven’t taken the plunge into dinner service. But if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. And there is nothing broken about this spot. You will Eat It and Like It.

Wright Square Bistro

EAT IT & LIKE IT (CONTINUED)

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY HEADQUARTERS!

WE OPEN THE EARLIEST! OPEN DAILY AT 10AM AND 7AM ON PARADE DAY!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: ST. PAT’S KICKOFF!

BAGPIPERS AT 8PM! AND PLAYING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK!

ST. PAT’S WEEK SHENANIGANS

MONDAY KARAOKE @9PM

TUESDAY TRIVIA @7PM KARAOKE @9PM

WEDNESDAY ST. PAT’S KICKOFF! ROCKLAND COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS PIPES AND DRUMS @8PM

THURSDAY JAMESON PARTY!

FRIDAY PARADE DAY! WE ARE LOCATED JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE PARADE ! OPEN AT 7AM BREAKFAST BUFFET SERVED 7-10AM

YOUR PARADE DAY HEADQUARTERS!

SATURDAY GUINNESS PARTY!

SUNDAY KARAOKE @9PM

THE COOKIN’ O’ THE GREEN…. GRITS, THAT IS!

By Chef Darin Sehnert Special to Connect Savannah

St. Patrick’s Day has once again arrived.

Growing up in Southern California the extent to which it was a holiday was pretty much limited to making sure you wore something green to school to prevent being pinched for not having green. Is that still done? I don’t think I’ve heard mention of that in ages!

Little did I know that one day I’d be moving to a city that hosted what’s considered the second largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the country.

The city of Savannah swells to about 3-4 times its normal size during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The hallmark of the celebration is the parade which started in the 1800’s as Irish Catholic families would walk down Abercorn Street after mass on St. Patrick’s day. Fast forward to modern times and we have a parade featuring entries from all over the world, the length of which is about three hours in length!

Schools let out when the holiday falls on a weekday, most nonhospitality businesses close and people gather to watch the parade either live or in person.

Grits are a mainstay of many a Southern breakfast. As with anything, grits can be great when they’re well-prepared or downright nasty when not. Grits don’t take a vacation just because it’s St. Patrick’s Day….they get dressed up in green too! Green Grits will frequently be a St. Patrick’s Day menu offering for breakfast or brunch. Unfortunately what makes them green is usually the addition of copious amounts of green food coloring.

In the following recipe I’ve replaced the food coloring with the addition of pureed green onions that have been simmered in chicken stock.

I’ve played off the traditional Irish dish known as “champ” which features green onions simmered in milk and then mixed with creamy mashed potatoes. In this case, grits replace the mashed potatoes. Serve these for breakfast, brunch or supper.

CHEF DARIN’S GREEN GRITS

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken broth, divided use

1 cup quick-cooking grits

1 1/4 teaspoons Kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 bunches green onions

(approximately 1 ½ cups), finely sliced

¼ cup finely chopped parsley

3 cloves garlic, sliced in half

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup heavy cream

1 cup shredded Irish cheddar cheese

In a 3 quart saucepan, combine the milk, 2 cups of chicken broth, grits, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Set aside to allow the grits to begin to soak up the liquid, do not

heat the pan. Allow grits to soak for at least 30 minutes. (Grits can be soaked up to a day ahead if placed in the refrigerator.)

After grits have soaked, turn heat to mediumhigh until they start to bubble around the edges. Using a whisk, stir grits to blend with liquid and break up any clumps that may have formed. Turn the burner to low and simmer and cook slowly for one hour.

When grits have nearly absorbed all the liquid, place the remaining 1 cup of chicken broth in a 1quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the green onions, parsley, and garlic and turn off the burner. Stir to immerse fully in the hot stock and wilt the onions and herbs.

Transfer the herb and stock mixture to a blender and blend until mixture is smooth. Stir the stock mixture into the grits and whisk over low heat until mixture is incorporated and grits have absorbed the additional stock. If the consistency is too thin, continue to whisk and evaporate moisture. Add the butter, heavy cream and cheddar cheese. One the cheese has melted, taste and adjust seasoning.

Chef Darin Sehnert is the owner of Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table, which features cooking classes and the area’s only fully-stocked kitchen and cooking-focused store. It’s located at 2514 Abercorn St., Suite 140-150. Visit chefdarin.com for more information.

" I t ' s l i k e g o i n g d o w n t o w n , w i t h o u t g o i n g d o w n t o w n . "

L I V E M U S I C

W E D N E S D A Y

C o m e h e a r y o u r f a v o r i t e

l o c a l m u s i c i a n s l i v e a t

O A K e v e r y W e d n e s d a y ,

5 : 3 0 - 8 : 3 0 p m , w i t h H a p p y

H o u r ( M - F ) , 4 - 7 p m

S T . P A T R I C K ' S D A Y

S P D s t a r t s a t O A K !

B r e a k f a s t B u f f e t , S h u t t l e

S e r v i c e , L i v e M u s i c , P a r k i n g . T i c k e t s + d e t a i l s

T B A M a r c h 1 c h e c k w e b s i t e a n d s o c i a l !

H A P P Y H O U R

M o n d a y - F r i d a y , 4 - 7 p m ,

$ 5 s e l e c t g l a s s e s o f w i n e + b u b b l e s , $ 5 c r a f t d r a f t ,

$ 4 w e l l s , + H a p p y H o u r

K i t c h e n M e n u

B R U N C H

E v e r y S a t u r d a y + S u n d a y ,

1 0 a m - 3 p m , s e r v i n g

e l e v a t e d b r u n c h c l a s s i c s ,

O A K ' s F a m o u s W h o l e

H o u s e B l o o d y M a r y , m i m o s a k i t , a n d m o r e ! o a k t h i r t y s i x . c o m | M i d t o w n S a v a n n a h @ T w e l v e O a k s o n A b e r c o r n

HITTING THE GREEN

SPRING MEANS SEVERAL LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS AND LEAGUES ARE KICKING OFF THEIR SEASONS

HOSTESS CITY HOOLEY 2023: SAVANNAH GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HOSTS GAELIC SPORTS TOURNAMENT IN EVENT OPEN TO PUBLIC

Founded in 2020, the Savannah Gaelic Athletic Association (Savannah GAA) celebrated its third year of existence in midFebruary of this year. The organization which proudly refers to itself as part sports club and part social club, is getting set for its annual one-day showcase event, the Hostess City Hooley.

It’s scheduled for March 25, 2023 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) at Jug Knight Field in Savannah (on Skidaway Avenue adjacent to Scarborough baseball fields). It is free to attend for the public and specific information can be found by visiting the club on Instagram, Facebook or on the Savannah GAA website.

Also in the event are the Atlanta GAA, Orlando GAA & Red Wolves Hurling Club from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Officially, the Savannah GAA “strives to enhance the Savannah community through the Irish sports of hurling and Gaelic football,” according to its website. “The club’s goal is to promote Irish culture in Savannah, Pooler, Chatham County and the surrounding areas through community engagement in the form of practices, friendly matches, competitive games and tournaments, social gatherings and other community events.”

It’s unique in every way. From the club,

to its members, to the Hooley, to the sports themselves. Sports fans won’t have too much difficulty grasping the generals of the Irish games. The “luck of the Irish” isn’t directly involved, just to be clear. But you should get familiar with the sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling ahead of the Hooley. We can help with that here, so maybe you’re the lucky one.

Borrowing from a previous Connect Savannah story (written by Michael Strong) in July 2021, a summary of the two sports was put like this:

“Gaelic football isn’t soccer nor is it what Americans would consider football; it’s really a rugby hybrid. Hurling is most closely aligned with lacrosse, although many of the rules are different and the stick — a ‘hurley’ — is dramatically different (from the typical lacrosse stick). The Savannah GAA doesn’t participate in the other original sports: camogie, handball and rounders.”

The official Savannah GAA website explains it a little further:

FOOTBALL

Irish football, often called Gaelic football, is a 15 player field sport. Combining skills similar to soccer, basketball and rugby, Gaelic football is a versatile sport utilizing the

progression and handling of a sort of hybrid soccer-volleyball. It is a minimum to medium contact sport often played co-ed by teams in the United States.

HURLING

Hurling is the men’s or co-ed league for this 15 player, stick wielding field sport. Often called “the fastest game on grass,” hurling is thought to be one of the oldest field sports in the world, dating back nearly 2,000 years according to some historical sources. This medium-contact sport is intense and exciting to watch and play, combining skills similar to both field and ice hockey, as well as lacrosse.

One of the group’s founding members, Caleb Harkleroad, described hurling in yet another way when he was speaking with WTOC’s Jake Wallace back in 2021.

“To the person who has no idea about hurling, it would appear there are no rules, and it’s just a bunch of Irish guys with sticks beating each other up.”

You can learn more about the organization online at SavannahGAA.com. On social media, like “Savannah GAA” on Facebook and follow on Instagram @SavannahGAA for specific announcements leading up to the 2023 Hooley. For entry information into the Hooley, including how you can register yourself, your club or your team, call 912-650-9757 OR email savannahGAA@gmail.com.

SAVANNAH SHAMROCKS RUGBY CLUB: 2023 SAVANNAH ST. PATRICK’S DAY RUGBY TOURNAMENT BACK FOR ITS 44TH YEAR

Savannah is known for many things, but the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade (and the festivities surrounding it) might be the best known thing nationally. Along with that St. Patrick’s Day celebration is a two-day sporting event that has remained a thriving product for the last 44 years. Nearly every year since its inception in 1978, the Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club has hosted the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Rugby Tournament.

The 2023 tournament is the 44th edition. It is scheduled for March 11-12 at Savannah’s Daffin Park. It is two days worth of rough and rugged rugby and an undeniable park party raging on site before, after and during every match.

Like the SPD festival in Savannah, the rugby tournament is annually one of the largest rugby events in the country. Roughly 80 teams (men and women) descend on Savannah for the tournament. They come from places like Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, West Virginia, Wisconsin and sometimes from as far away as Canada.

Open to the public and free to attend, the tournament spans the length of Daffin Park with matches being played on several fields nearly all day (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) on both Saturday and Sunday.

Lindsay Schmidt is the Tournament Director this year. She confirmed during a February phone call with Connect Savannah that the tournament field is full again in 2023. Schmidt also said that United Distributing is helping to provide beer and alcohol sales at the event, while six different food trucks will be on site to feed hungry athletes and fans.

Schmidt and the Shamrocks do a lot more than play rugby. They do more than plan and host rugby tournaments too. She pointed to the club’s history of helping grow the game here in Savannah as well as elsewhere. For the last few years (COVID-19 impacted it in 2020 and 2021), many of the club’s members have traveled to the Bahamas in September to do just that. They help organize and teach the game to youth and adults, and they bring with them lightly used equipment and uniforms.

Money for trips and gifts like that come mostly from proceeds the club generates at the rugby tournament as well as from help coming by way of public contributions.

“Certainly if people want to donate lightly used (rugby) equipment for the people (in the Bahamas), they can visit our website for ways to contact us about that,” said Schmidt.

The Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club consists of more than 50 members, including a really solid (and successful) men’s team as well as the talented women’s squad and an “Old Boy’s” team. Rosters and active players change from year to year, but the foundation has long been solidified. The SSRC competes throughout the calendar year and plays matches mostly in the Southeastern region. Shamrock teams are members of the Carolinas Geographic Union and of USA Rugby.

Although a complete schedule and list of competing teams was not available as of February 21, that information will be coming soon, Schmidt said. To find out anything you’ll need to know, visit RugbySavannah. com and follow them on Instagram.

- Travis Jaudon

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Two photos from the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Rugby Tournament. Photos by Christopher Sweat. The Savannah Shamrock’s Women’s Rugby Team; The Savannah Shamrocks Men’s Rugby Team.

Photo by Philippe Leung.

SAVANNAH CLOVERS FC: TEAM MAKING HISTORY WITH INAUGURAL PRO SEASON KICKOFF IN APRIL

Savannah Clovers Football Club (SCFC) is nearing the start of a new era for the sport of soccer in this city. Competing in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the club will host a historic seasonopening match at Memorial Stadium on April 1, 2023 at 7 p.m. against Michigan Stars FC.

Roughly 13 months ago, on January 11, 2022, the Clovers announced that NISA accepted its application for club membership. That meant that professional (outdoor) soccer would be played in Savannah for the first time ever. NISA is, according to its website, “a U.S. thirdtier professional men’s league” with nine member clubs.

The Clovers are one of three new clubs beginning NISA play this spring.

Founded in the summer of 2016, the Savannah Clovers played in the United Premier Soccer League for five seasons and participated in the 2020 and 2021 editions

of the NISA Independent Cup. David Proctor was named the first SCFC professional head coach in June of 2022.

“We are delighted to have David Proctor join Savannah Clovers FC as our first ever head coach as we embark on a new professional era for this soccer club,” said club CEO Shane Folgado through a team-issued press release at the time. “We are confident that David possesses the necessary coaching experience and expertise required as we navigate our first season as a professional soccer club.”

Proctor seems ready for the challenge.

“I’m thrilled at being given this opportunity to guide Savannah Clovers FC as the first head coach of this exciting soccer club,” he said. “I’ve had numerous meetings with the passionate ownership group and being a resident in the city with my family meant I had my heart set out on landing this position from day one – I’m looking forward to starting the new role as we gear up for

March 2023 when NISA gets underway and we go about building the club one block at a time.”

All home matches will be played at Memorial Stadium. The club reached an agreement with Chatham County last summer to host games at the recently renovated, 5,000-seat stadium.

“We strive to create an exceptional atmosphere at Memorial Stadium for our supporters, and we are thrilled to work with Chatham County to highlight this great venue and the City of Savannah on the national stage,” said the club’s Chief Community Officer, Brian Sykes last year. “We’re thankful for the partnership with the county leadership along with the support of (Savannah) Mayor Van Johnson in helping to bring professional soccer to Savannah.”

- Travis Jaudon

SAVANNAH CLOVERS FC PLAYERS | TOP ROW (L-R): Ford Hunt, Jack Pondy, Yasha Pomozov. BOTTOM ROW: Mason Moyers, Joel Bunting, Shandon Wright.

Photos Courtesy of Savannah Clovers FC

SAVANNAH BANANAS: TEAM IN THE MIDST OF ITS ‘BANANA BALL WORLD TOUR’

They’re back folks! The Savannah Bananas have started their grand experiment playing outside of traditional Coastal Plain League baseball boundaries earlier this month, and the team made its 2023 Grayson Stadium Banana Ball debut on Saturday, February 25 before another Grayson game on Thursday, March 2.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely already aware of the franchise’s radical changes coming into this year. If you aren’t, here’s a quick refresher.

The Bananas announced on August 24, 2022 that they will no longer be fielding a collegiate amateur summer league baseball team, which they had done in the CPL since 2016. They left the league as three-time champions (2016, 2021, 2022). Now, the Bananas are exclusively playing “Banana Ball.”

Banana Ball rules – including a two-hour time limit, no stepping out of the batter’s box, no bunting, no walks, foul balls caught by fans are outs, each inning can be “won” or “lost,” and plenty more – will be used in every game moving forward. It’s not baseball, and that has rubbed some the

wrong way. But from the looks of things, it doesn’t matter. People can’t get enough of this team and the numbers back that up.

Their inaugural Banana Ball “World Tour” began in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 17, 2023. It was the first of 33 different cities that the tour is visiting from now through September. It includes over 80 games, as of now. More dates could be added in the upcoming weeks, and that would make sense. Every scheduled Banana Ball game thus far has been sold out. Yeah. Every. Single. One.

“The response has been absolutely Bananas for this world tour,” said Owner Jesse Cole when the tour dates were announced a few months ago.

“Everywhere we go we hear from fans begging us to come to their city. We are so grateful for their support and because of their passion for the Bananas and Banana Ball, we knew we had to extend the tour dramatically in 2023. Now we are bringing the show to almost four times the amount of cities as we did in 2022 to make sure that we are able to connect with as many fans as possible.”

While in West Palm Beach for two games, the Bananas hosted 16,000 fans combined at the 8,000 seat stadium. Baseball America Editor In Chief JJ Cooper tweeted about the successful start from the team. Comparing those attendance numbers to spring training games for MLB teams in years past.

“In the same stadium last year in spring training,” Cooper wrote. “The Nationals and Astros combined drew 5,000 twice and never topped 6,000.”

It should be noted that the $25 ticket price for the Banana Ball games is roughly half of what the MLB teams were charging for fans. Still, back-to-back sellouts to start a World Tour is ideal if you’re the bunch from Savannah.

In July, they’ll play six times over 10 days and in four different ballparks in California. The following month, they’ve got seven games scheduled in five different stadiums over another 10-day stretch. Roughly 30 dates are scheduled for Grayson Stadium over the tour’s duration.

Follow the team all season by visiting their website at TheSavannahBananas.com and by following them on social media, where they are bona fide superstars.

- Travis Jaudon

The Savannah Bananas | Facebook

BOBBY BAGLEY: PAINTING HIS OWN STORY

By Beth Logan ART COLUMNIST

Bobby Bagley seems a bit uncomfortable. It is the grand opening of Gallery 10 – an exciting new collective space in City Market where he is one of twelve artists.

Having met him a few days earlier to discuss his work, I can tell that he’d rather be quietly painting than making small talk to a plethora of well-wishers. R

egardless, this quietly spoken, thoughtful man is grateful to have landed in this location.

Gallery 10 is at the head of the stairs above the ground floor studio occupied by Haitian-born artist Alix Baptiste.

In City Market for over 35 years, Baptiste recently rented a second floor space when it became available and called upon manabout-town Calvin Woodum to fill it with artists.

Woodum, president of Telfair Museum’s

Friends of African American Art, is one of Savannah’s greatest “connectors” and a true cheerleader and advocate for fellow artists. He sprang into action and today, Gallery 10 showcases work by jeweler Annissa Roland, collage artist Ashley Rainge-Shields, mixed media artist Angela Roe, photographer Linda Andrews, painters Calvin Woodum, Julia Roland, Ellen Xiang, Jonathan G. Keller, Tony Artemisia, JoAnn Grafton, Nancy Acosta, and, of course, Bobby Bagley.

Turns out, Bagley had rented a tuckedaway space in City Market a decade earlier. When it didn’t garner much foot traffic, “I went to the art center on Hilton Head and asked them to tell me the best art gallery on the island. They said Morris & Whiteside. I

had a car full of paintings so I drove straight there, and Ben, one of the owners, took them. We had a great relationship for almost ten years.”

Showing at Morris & Whiteside, now the Red Piano Art Gallery in Bluffton, was an artist’s dream…Bagley would paint from home, and Ben Morris would come to his house, pick them up, photograph them, wire them, sell them, and the cycle repeated. “My wife is a schoolteacher and we have a seven year-old, so I was home with him and never left the house.”

However, the relationship with Red Piano fell apart about a year ago, and Bagley felt the need to get back downtown and be in a working studio. “And that’s how I ended up here. I’m not necessarily a people-person, but I thought it would be healthy to be around other artists. It’s given me an energy that I didn’t have.”

Despite a rather basic high school art education, “I always knew I was going to be a painter,” Bagley says. “I could always draw, but my first painting wasn’t until my freshman year of college.”

Bagley graduated with a BA in Painting from the University of Central Arkansaw and has been a working artist ever since.

“I was showing at the Joysmith Gallery in Memphis, TN in my early 20’s and I was doing traditional ‘black art’ - jazz musicians, cotton fields, and so on - and this older Black lady walked in and asked me what I knew about cotton fields and jazz music.”

“I’d never really thought about that,” Bagley continues, “I was painting like the artists I admired – Benny Andrews and the Memphis blues painter George Hunt for example. But I’d never really stopped

to think about telling my story. My dad is 30-years retired Air Force. I grew up on an Air Force base in Arkansaw with Black kids and Chinese kids and White kids from Iowa and Cincinnati. We were all thrown into this pot and my childhood was wonderful. Looking at “Black” art was always a struggle for me because I didn’t a traditional kind of upbringing.”

Not having his own African American neighborhood memories to draw on,“I felt like a craftsman. I was working on my craft, painting what I felt I should paint. So, when that Black lady in the gallery said, ‘Young man, I’m not telling you what to do, but it’s always good when you paint your own story,’ I started painting my story.”

As an example, he shows me a painting of a checkered tablecloth-draped picnic table and grill in his back yard.

“My story is the world as a perfect bubble. Everything in it, the hedges, the grass are perfect. There is no conflict in this world. Everything is peaceful and bright.”

On closer inspection, there is a tiny Juneteenth flag on the picnic table.

“So, there is always some Black history that I try to tuck in. To show that I come from a different perspective. You would never look at this painting and think ‘Juneteenth’.” Similarly, Bagley’s unique interpretation of the infamous promise of “40 acres and a mule” to the formerly enslaved, is simply an exquisitely rendered painting of a mule standing in a green pasture.

These story-based works excite him and are what ultimately ended his relationship with the Red Piano Gallery where he had been pigeon-holed as a Jonathan Green-type

“Now I have complete freedom.” Showing me a painting of a perfectly proportioned house and one boy which he “painted right after some Black boy got shot,” he says that his former gallery wanted no part of art that could be seen as politically controversial. Ironically, the viewer would never know the inspiration for such a gorgeous painting until Bagley explains it.

Another painting of a flag-draped coffin was inspired by “watching the news one day about a soldier who had been in Afghanistan. He came home and he got shot

Gullah artist.

OPPOSITE: “Juneteenth” 36x36 THIS PAGE L-R: “Black Pearl”; 36x36; “American Mule” 36x36; Bagley in Gallery 10 at City Market NEXT PAGE: “Come Sunday” 36x36

around the block from his house. I think his mom said he had been on three deployments.”

Despite the happy, vibrant colors, Bagley says with a laugh, “When I work I listen to very depressing music.” He goes on, “The paintings come from a song, a feeling, a title. They are generated from a dark place, a sadness, a melancholy. ”

The paintings are born from this somber emotional space, “but when I sit down and work, it’s all technical. The sketch can take longer than the painting.”

Bagley’s skills in drawing and draftsmanship are evident – every line on his paintings is first drawn out. “There is no guesswork in the composition and perspective. I must get it perfect.”

Showing me a painting of a lady with a purse at a funeral, he talks about Googling old-time purse latches; showing me a painting of an Easter basket (inspired by a childhood photograph of his sister standing outside of church on Easter Sunday) he talks about Googling various styles of basket weaving, and going down rabbit holes of internet research.

The technical quality of Bagley’s oil painting is phenomenal, the simplicity of his finished canvases feels fresh and contemporary, and the messaging is subtle, yet powerful when revealed.

With goals to be represented by an additional contemporary southern gallery, Bagley says, “I’m more excited than ever to be painting.”

Check out his work for yourself at Gallery 10 upstairs at the Art Center at City Market, 204 W. St. Julian Street, and follow him on Instagram at @bobbybagleyfineart.

ART PATROL: BETH LOGAN’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MARCH 2023

The main gallery of Arts Southeast’s Sulfur Studios, 2301 Bull Street, shows large format black and white portraits of Savannah residents by Monica Jane Frissel and Adam Scher from March 3 through April 22. The artists’ Nomadic Photo Ark, a fully contained photo darkroom and small office, is travelling around the country collecting stories and portraits and you can be part of their journey by visiting artssoutheast. org to schedule a photo session. The opening reception is part of First Friday in Starland on March 3 and more portraits will be added throughout the course of the show.

Savannah newcomer Sandra Dutton was the subject of my Connect Savannah cover story on September 14. View “Around and About,” her solo show of acrylic landscapes, city scenes and portraits, from March 1 through April 30 at Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull Street.

The JEA Gallery at 5111 Abercorn Street, shows paintings by former SCAD advertising and design professor Stephen Hall through the end of March. A relative newcomer to the medium, he has an intuitive understanding of color and composition, citing such artists as Paul Cezanne, Edward Hopper and Takanori Oguiss as his inspiration. There

is an opening reception on Thursday, March 2 from 5-7 pm.

Mixed media artist Cora Ennis Morris shows her beautiful photo encaustic work from March 14 through April 11 at 208 Wine Bar, 208 East Bay Street. With a BFA in Painting & Printmaking, Morris is represented locally by the Grand Bohemian Gallery, Plant Riverside. Join her for her opening reception on Tuesday, March 14 from 6-8pm.

Later this month, Location Gallery at 251 Bull Street features three paper craft artists: Jon Arge, Thom Mizelle, and curator Peter E. Roberts. With gallery proceeds benefiting The Savannahian, the “Paper Quips” show opens on Friday, March 23.

Members of Telfair Museums’ supporter group, Friends of African American Art, exhibit their work at Savannah State University’s Kennedy Fine Arts Gallery through May 30. The group show was curated by local abstract painter Betsy Cain and features a host of both established and up-and-coming artists including Nancy Acosta, Tony Artemisia, and Bobby Bagley.

Finally, if you have not yet seen the photography shows at Laney

Contemporary, 1810 Mills B. Lane Blvd., you simply must! Christy Bush’s collection entitled “Familiar” and Tabitha Soren’s work entitled “Relief” are accessible, moving, and powerful. They hang through March 25.

- Compiled by Beth Logan

“Cypress House” by Stephen Hall in the JEA Gallery

A WALK THROUGH ‘PHOTOGRAPHY’S LAST CENTURY: THE ANN TENENBAUM & THOMAS H. LEE COLLECTION’

By Sam Mills-Cotten

Arriving at the Jepson center, I am able to track down museum curator Alex Mann, hoping to exchange a few quick words. Alex is happy to give me an overview of their newest exhibition, Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum & Thomas H. Lee collection.

Alex explains to me that the new exhibit is on loan from the collection of Ann Tenenbaum, (daughter of Lorlee and Arnold Tenenbaum, who were well-known philanthropists and patrons of the arts in Savannah) and her husband, Thomas H. Lee. After it leaves the Jepson center it will find a permanent home in the halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where Ann and Thomas make their home. “[Ann] has picked up the reins of her parents as collectors, but has sort of gone in her own direction by building this survey collection of fantastic photographs.”

Alex continues, “They presented this exhibition at the Met in 2020, and we’re representing the same exhibition here at the Telfair. But this collection is being given as a gift to the Met, which I think says as much as needs to be said about the quality of the pieces on display.”

The exhibition isn’t displayed in any kind of chronological order, but is instead arranged simply according to aesthetics.

“The idea is to give a sense of intimacy

to the exhibit, these pieces are arranged to almost evoke the sense of being in a collector’s home, seeing how they might display the works.” I remark that it would be unlikely to see pieces displayed chronologically in a private setting. He laughs. “Unless you’re a museum curator who doesn’t know when to clock out … but the goal of displaying the pieces in this manner is that we really want anyone to be able to walk in off the street knowing nothing about photography and gain something worthwhile from the exhibit.”

He pauses in front of the outline of a human form, picked out in scintillating blue light.

“This is a bit of a process piece… the artist used a cardboard pinhole camera to create the

effect you see here. It’s multiple pinholes in a human shape, and then you’re just seeing the natural light behind it, being transferred on a large negative.”

I offhandedly mention that it’s almost like drawing with light.

“Well, yes, and it’s funny you say that, because that’s how we even come by the word ‘photography,’ it really just means ‘light drawing,’ and it’s interesting because with these long-form exposure pieces you’ve got light, drawing, but also the element of time. And in more ways than one that’s a concept we’re trying to play with here.”

The exhibition is a fascinating crosssection of the last 100 years of a relatively new art form, pulled primarily from the catalogs of American photographers but containing contributions from European and Japanese artists as well. The pieces range from wildly experimental to charmingly naturalistic. The collection as a whole is deep enough to feel poignant, but contained enough in scope so as to not feel overwhelming. Spend some time enjoying each piece, and don’t forget to check out the brilliant soundtrack created by Icelandic composer Davíð Þór Jónsson to accompany the exhibition.

Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum & Thomas H. Lee collection will be on display at the Jepson Center until May 21. Visit telfair.org for more information.

Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975); Photographer’s Window, Savannah, 1936; gelatin silver print; © Walker Evans Archives, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

LAUGHS GUARANTEED: “THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG” TAKES THE STAGE AT SCAD

By Kareem McMichael Arts & Entertainment Writer

Here is a show that is so wrong, it’s right!

The Savannah College of Art and Design School of Film and Acting presents the “The Play That Goes Wrong,” directed by comedian, actor and SCAD theater professor Craig Anton.

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, “The Play That Goes Wrong” was a smash hit on Broadway and has been entertaining audiences and making them laugh in theaters around the world. Anton himself remembers seeing the show and laughing throughout.

“I had seen it years ago in New York, off Broadway, and I’d never laughed that hard,” said Anton. “I immediately tried to see if we could do it at SCAD I think about two years ago, but the rights had not yet become available.”

Now that the rights are available, the time is right to see what many have said is one of the funniest shows out there. Anton said the timing is right for this show and for some great laughs.

“One of my favorite quotes from grad school was ‘Why this play? Why, now?’ Having had a career in comedy I think now is one of the best times to laugh. We’re kind of post covid, and I think we’re all in need of some big belly laughs,” said Anton.

This show is an Olivier Award-winning comedy that is a hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes. Accident-prone thespians fight against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call in a playwithin-a-play.

Anton, who has appeared in many hit comedies including “Mad TV,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Lizzie McGuire,” “Phil of the Future,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and more, was well equipped to direct this show and navigate the undergraduate and graduate student performers.

“In each rehearsal, in each show we continue to discover. I am encouraging in the process and telling the cast that I want them to continue to find things. Even on our closing night, continue to try things and they’ve done that,” said Anton.

In “The Play That Goes Wrong,” we follow the missteps of The Cornley Drama Society and its 1920s murder mystery — a whodunit overrun with havoc — and its characters to see if anyone makes it out alive after encountering some comical situations.

“I’m a hard person to get to laugh throughout the rehearsal process. I’m consistently laughing. Sometimes you can teach comedy, but often it’s just something people have and are born with that ability. I feel super grateful that I’ve got a dynamic cast,” said Anton.

One of those dynamic cast members is Milo Hutton, a junior earning his B.F.A in performing arts. Hutton was supposed to make his debut in a show last year, but covid cases caused that show to be canceled.

Hutton recalled getting an email about auditions for the play, and he had a short time to read the play and prepare before the auditions.

“I immediately read it, and fell completely in love with it. I was just laughing hysterically out loud in front of my computer reading this play, and I ended up reading it four times between that two-week period,” said Hutton.

Hutton plays Max. The character is described as a happy-go-lucky member of the society. He is often a supporting player but has a passion for acting nevertheless. Hutton remembers reading the play and connecting with the character.

“What really struck me from the very beginning was just how much of a child Max is. He is goofy, and he is on this journey to perform in this play but it goes wrong,” said Hutton.

Max has the habit of often breaking character to smile and interact with the audience and labeling his stage props with his name.

“On his journey, he is kind of nervous on stage, and then just realizing he’s getting all these reactions from the crowd when he does different gestures. I really loved that about Max. He didn’t care about anything except just having a relationship with the crowd,” said Hutton.

Having a relationship with the crowd is something Anton and Hutton understand. The audience just might get to interact a little with the cast.

“As we’re setting up the show, cast members, crew members might be seen in the lobby. There is a dog in the production that sometimes

Alyssa Bianca and Milo Sutton in SCAD’s ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’ Photo courtesy of SCAD

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL STRIKES A CHORD WITH STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, OUTDOOR VENUES FOR 2023 SEASON

17-DAY FESTIVAL TO FEATURE BUDDY GUY, TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND, AND OTHER ACCLAIMED ARTISTS IN UNIQUE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAVANNAH. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ALSO OFFERED TO SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY

The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is all set to host its 2023 season, featuring an exciting lineup of renowned musicians from March 23 to April 8, 2023.

The festival has become famous for presenting an exceptional mix of award-winning icons, trailblazing contemporaries, and emerging artists in unique venues throughout Savannah. This year, the expansive outdoor venue Trustees’ Garden will be able to accommodate almost 2,500 patrons, with multiple artists performing on the main stage each day, along with family activities and local food truck vendors in an open, field-like atmosphere.

On March 25 and 26, the legendary Buddy Guy, a pioneer of the blues, will perform live on his “Damn Right Farewell” tour, with special guests Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Eric Gales, King Solomon Hicks, and Jontavious Willis. The Tedeschi Trucks Band, who have been away from the festival for four years, will play on March 29, while New Orleans jam favorites Galactic will team up with funk maestro Cory Wong and the jazz, R&B, and pop fusion of Nate Smith + KINFOLK for a special live performance on April 2.

According to Savannah Music Festival Artistic Director Ryan McMaken, “We’re thrilled to host a series of high-energy outdoor concerts at Trustees’ Garden this year featuring top blues, rock and funk artists. We can’t wait to kick off the 2023 festival and to welcome talented artists from around the world to Savannah for unforgettable live performances that celebrate the power of music, connection and community.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has described the Savannah Music Festival as “one of the Southeast’s most creative cross-cultural musical events,” known for its captivating multi-genre offerings and unique collaborations. Classical highlights include the Philip Dukes & Friends chamber music series, led by world-renowned viola player and Savannah Music Festival Associate Artistic Director Dukes, a stop on the final tour of the celebrated Emerson String Quartet, Zurich Chamber Orchestra with Daniel Hope & Philip Dukes, Alexander Malofeev, and the Dover String Quartet with Joseph Conyers. The festival also features world music fused with Americana, with Malian master of the ngoni Bassekou Kouyate sharing a bill

with Jake Blount, scholar/performer of the Black string band tradition, appearing with Nic Gareiss and Laurel Premo. Jazz is always prominent at the Savannah Music Festival, and this year acclaimed jazz violinist Regina Carter offers “Gone in a Phrase of Air,” an original music and multimedia performance that explores the effects of the urban renewal of the 1950s and 1960s, Terence Blanchard & E-Collective featuring the Turtle Island Quartet, Kenny Barron & Dave Holland with Johnathan Blake and many others.

The Savannah Music Festival is also committed to supporting music education in the Savannah community, with programs inside and outside of the classroom. The festival’s Musical Explorers program is now in its ninth year and offers a year-round education program for K-2 students that reaches over 10,000 children locally. The SMF Jazz Academy is a free after-school program for students in grades 5-12, offering instruments, private lessons, public performances, and more for in-depth, immersive learning experiences.

For more information or to view the complete 2023 Savannah Music Festival schedule, please visit savannahmusicfestival.org.

LEFT (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): Eric Gales, Patty Griffin, Bruce Molsky, Sona Joberteh. ABOVE: Buddy Guy | Photos provided by SMF

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES: RETURNING TO THE STAGE WITH PSYCHEDELIC SOUL

By Dave Gil de Rubio

In the decade since St. Paul & the Broken Bones came out of Birmingham, AL, the eight-piece outfit has made a name for itself as a horn-driven neo-soul act fronted by singer and namesake Paul Janeway. And while the pandemic kept Janeway and company from touring, the creative juices continue to flow.

The result is “The Alien Coast,” the group’s fourth studio album and its debut on ATO Records. And while prior efforts like 2014’s “Half the City” and the 2016 follow-up “Sea of Noise” were more straightforward with their R&B and soul-fueled nuances, the band’s latest outing features songs wrapped up in psychedelia and surrealism, with the title being cribbed from a history book about the Gulf Coast Janeway was reading, having just made that area of the country his family’s new home.

He discovered how early settlers were puzzled by their new environs and dubbed it the Alien Coast. It was this kind of thinking that influenced the direction of this new set of songs.

“I really feel like what we did here was along the lines of having a musical fever dream,” Janeway shared in a recent phone interview. “And while I was busy during the pandemic welcoming my first child into the family, I had lots of time to dig into subjects like 17th century Italian sculpture, Greek mythology and dystopian science fiction.”

Adding to the new approach to the band’s sound were another couple of firsts—the decision to record in the collective’s Birmingham hometown for the first time and team up with Mountain Goats/Margo Price producer Matt Ross-Spang.

“It was a nice change to come home and try something different, especially when we were going down such a different path,” Janeway said. “And what was also great was how everyone in the band came to the session and were able to throw in all these different kinds of ideas that made for some really interesting outcomes.”

Helping lead the charge was bassist/founding member Jesse Phillips, whose efforts found him rafting a beat and bassline he drew out of a newly bought Korg minilogue analog synth for “The Last Dance,” a chugging anthem driven by a hypnotic groove.

Art loomed large for Janeway, who found himself being inspired by 15th-Century Spanish painter Bartolomé Bermejo and fellow Iberian Pablo Picasso. “Bermejo and the Devil,” a simmering gem paced by a sturm-and-dirge beat and spooky whispered harmonies, came out of the vocalist viewing the former’s “Saint Michael Triumphs over the Devil” at The National Gallery in London. Picasso provided the spark for “Minotaur,” a jam soaked in Janeway’s falsetto vocal that undulates over a loop

conjured up by guitarist Browan Lollar and inspired by the late Cubist’s habit of using the fictional monster as an alter-ego in his work.

“Man, I got the chills looking at that [Bermejo] painting,” Janeway admitted. “It was terrifying how clearly you could see the devil in this painting. And with ‘Minotaur,’ it’s all about recognizing inner fear, trying to avoid it and how lonely that can be.”

And while “The Alien Coast” may mark quite an abrupt musical shift for the band, Janeway points to the group’s roots playing in Birmingham clubs as being a prime incubator for what was spawned on “The Alien Coast.”

“The music scene is pretty diverse,” he explained. “You have hip-hop, indie rock, metal and all sorts of genres of music. So for us, it kind of shaped us because there really wasn’t a certain way to go because there are not a lot of bands out of Birmingham that tour. It’s not a place for that. We were one of the first ones in a while to do that. For me, there was a club in Birmingham called the Bottle Free Café that’s unfortunately not there anymore. It was the place where we really cut our teeth and where I played in the first band that’d I’d ever been in outside of church. It’s where I met Jesse and the whole idea was for me and Jesse to make a record and be good friends and then go our separate ways.”

What was supposed to be a musical lark instead found St. Paul and the Broken Bones expanding beyond their humble beginnings and getting a huge break in opening for the Rolling Stones, something Janeway still shakes his head over when asked to recount that particular experience.

“It’s one of those things that will be written on our tombstones,” he said with a laugh. “You don’t understand the gravity of it until it actually happens. For me, I didn’t grow up listening to the Rolling Stones because I grew up only listening to religious music. To the guys, that was it. It’s a legacy builder. It was one of those things that no matter what happens to us, nobody can take that away from us. You look at the legacy of people that opened up for the Stones and it’s pretty amazing. Prince opened up for the Stones.”

Fast forward to the present day and St. Paul & the Broken Bones are on a run of shows in January and February. Janeway and his crew are ready to unleash “The Alien Coast” on music-starved concert-goers.

“It’s going to be really interesting sharing all the cool stuff we’ve been doing in the studio,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the reactions of all our fans to our brand of boundary-breaking beauty.”

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

LOS LOBOS HOWL IN SAVANNAH: LEGENDARY BAND BRINGS THEIR LATIN ROCK TO SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

By Alan Sculley

Last Word Features

Perhaps no rock band is better suited to make an album covering songs by other artists than Los Lobos.

For 40-plus years, this great band from East Los Angeles has made cover tunes a regular part of their live shows, playing their versions of songs from artists as wide ranging as Bob Marley, the Grateful Dead, Marvin Gaye, John Lee Hooker, the Blasters and Cream. In fact, Los Lobos’ biggest commercial success came in 1987 with their chart-topping cover of the Ritchie Valens classic “La Bamba,” for the movie of the same name.

Not only that, but over the course of a dozen studio albums, Los Lobos have shown a deep knowledge of blues, rock and roll, folk and their native Mexican music and have created a rich catalog of songs that’s stylistically diverse, frequently innovative and somehow also cohesive.

But it took a bit of necessity to make “Native Sons,” the covers album that won the Grammy last April for Best Americana Album, a reality.

After signing a deal with New West Records to make a new album, Los Lobos saxophonist/ keyboardist Steve Berlin and his bandmates realized they wouldn’t have time to write and record an album of original material in 2020 because there weren’t any real breaks in their tour schedule.

But if the band took writing an album’s worth of songs out of the equation, an album would be doable. A covers album fit that bill.

Of course, 2020 ended up being a whole lot less busy than expected for Los Lobos thanks to the pandemic canceling tour after tour. But

Los Lobos stuck with the covers project and it ended up being beneficial to the band, which includes Berlin, David Hidalgo (guitar, accordion, vocals and more), Cesar Rosas (guitar vocals) Louis Perez (guitar, vocals) and Conrad Lozano (bass).

“The interesting thing is we started this record before it (the pandemic) all went down, and in a weird way, it sort of kept us sane, I think,” Berlin said in a recent phone interview. “Once it was safe-ish to travel, we started doing like three or four days a month, maybe like two or three songs and just tried to do whatever we could just to keep the ball rolling, keep ourselves engaged, keep ourselves thinking about music…In a weird way, that’s how we got through it, kind of coming and going and focusing for a little while and then stepping back.”

Deciding on the type of covers album to make, though, was not an easy question to resolve. Berlin thought back to “Llego Navidad,” the 2019 Los Lobos album based around Mexican holiday songs. Feeling a narrow focus helped to make that project work, Berlin, who produced “Native Sons,” proposed limiting the covers album to songs from Los Angeles artists that had influenced Los Lobos.

“There was not unanimity among the band members as far as whether or not it was a good idea,” Berlin said. “I think there was significant pushback and some of the guys were like ‘How’s that going to work?’ and ‘Why are we limiting ourselves? I have songs I want to do that are not about L.A.’ And I just said, my point to them was let’s just see if it works. If it doesn’t work, we’ll pull the plug, whatever. It doesn’t matter. But let’s give it at least a try and see where it takes us. Let’s just see. So with that attitude we started.”

The band found there were plenty of Los Angeles song choices, and they make “Native Sons” a lively, highly entertaining 13-song album that showcases some of the Los Angeles artists that helped shape Los Lobos own music.

Classic rock is represented by a medley of the Buffalo Springfield’s “Bluebird” and “For What it’s Worth.” There’s jump blues with Percy Mayfield’s “Never No More,” and garage rock is represented with “Farmer John” (made popular by the Premiers). Some vintage roots rock comes courtesy of “Flat Top Joint,” a song by good friends and Los Angeles compatriots the Blasters (which was the band Berlin was in before he joined Los Lobos). Soul music enters the mix with War’s “The World Is A Ghetto.” There’s also the sunny pop of Beach Boys’ “Sail On Sailor” and the rich storytelling and country-tinged pop of Jackson Browne’s “Jamaica Say You Will.” Los Lobos’ Mexican musical roots are represented in the songs “Dichoso” and “Los Chucos Suaves.”

With their deep catalog of songs, Los Lobos have typically changed up their set lists from show to show on tour. And now that new drummer Alfredo Ortiz has been on board since touring resumed and is up to speed on the material, the band should have plenty of options for set lists.

“He (Ortiz) used to play with the Beastie Boys for many years” Berlin said. “But we’ll obviously be featuring the new record, which is great because they (the songs) are super fun to play and the fans always seem to enjoy the covers anyway.”

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHAT ARE WE READING?

PRESENTED AND CURATED BY E. SHAVER, BOOKSELLER

It’s no secret it’s GREEN SEASON in Savannah!

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Irish culture this St. Patrick’s season, you can’t go wrong with these three books.

“IRELAND’S FORGOTTEN PAST” by Turtle Bunbury offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the country’s rich history, exploring its deep cultural roots and the many contributions it has made to the wider world. From the earliest settlements to the present day, Bunbury’s narrative covers all aspects of Irish history with insightful detail.

J.P. Mallory’s “THE ORIGINS OF THE IRISH” is an absorbing and meticulously researched account of the ancient lineage of the Irish people, tracing their ancestry back thousands of years. Through extensive archaeological and linguistic research, Mallory offers a detailed exploration of the origins of the Irish people, their migration patterns, and the evolution of their unique culture and identity.

And for those who are interested in the mythology and folklore of Ireland, “CELTIC MYTHS: A GUIDE TO THE ANCIENT GODS AND LEGENDS” by Miranda Aldhouse-Green is a comprehensive and fascinating collection of stories that have been passed down through generations. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including medieval manuscripts and oral traditions, Aldhouse-Green presents a rich and varied collection of tales that provide insight into the beliefs, values, and way of life of the Celtic people.

These books offer a window into the history, mythology, and culture of Ireland, making them the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and feel like a part of the festivities, even if you can only do so for a day. Whether you’re Irish by birth or just Irish at heart, these books will inspire a deeper appreciation for all things Irish and help you connect with the rich legacy of this vibrant and unique culture.

SCAD’S ‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’ (CONTINUED)

goes missing. Sometimes we have to look in the lobby and different places for that dog,” said Anton.

Then, there are the moments when Hutton’s character breaks the fourth wall and has some deliveries and interaction with the audience.

“From day one, there was a lot of freedom to just explore and find new bits and little gags here and there in the play. This is the best cast I’ve ever worked with in theater. I love every single one of them. Craig, as a director, is great. He’s extremely patient, very caring and very encouraging,” said Hutton.

Hutton and Anton have a great deal of respect for each other and the cast and they delighted in the experience of bringing this show together.

“Milo is a wonderful actor, a gifted actor, and a great comic actor. He’s a natural. I’ve known his father, Academy award winner Timothy Hutton just only from film. His son is just a fantastic stage actor,” said Anton.

Hutton and Anton both discovered this play in different ways but both connected with and are now connected through performing it. They both agree that it is about great storytelling and the laughs.

“I promise you I will make you laugh and entertain you, and in return, what I need from the audience is your support. Just knowing that you’re there for me and trust me, trusting this character with all of these crazy things going on is amazing,” said Hutton.

The show runs Thursday, March 9 through Sunday, March 12 at the Lucas Theatre.

Purchase tickets at savannahboxoffice.com

AZALEAS

Here in Savannah, the arrival of spring is signaled by the beautiful blooming of azaleas. The vibrant colors of these flowers are a sight to behold, and they have become a beloved symbol of the season for locals and visitors alike. As the azaleas start to bloom, the city is transformed into a sea of pink, purple, and white, adding a cheerful splash of color to every corner.

But it’s not just the beauty of the azaleas that brings joy to Savannah. The blooming of these flowers means that St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and the celebrations will soon start with gusto.

For Savannah residents, the arrival of the azaleas is a reminder that winter is over and that warmer, sunnier days are on the horizon. And for visitors, the stunning display of azaleas is a sight not to be missed, a true symbol of the beauty and charm of Savannah in the springtime.

PHOTO BY BUNNY WARE