Also this issue: Making Peace The Doves rise from the ashes. -Nicole Pensiero Trance Encounter Gaian Mind heads for the great outdoors. -Sean O’Neal thesuitespot -Peter Burwasser on Classical Short Cut How to succeed in DJing without really trying. -Sean O’Neal Earth -John Vettese Lefty's Deceiver/Caterpillar -A.D. Amorosi (International) Noise Conspiracy -Chris Parker Kay Hanley -M.J. Fine

September 12-18, 2002

musicpicks

Irish Music and Dance Festival

Folk/world

Fairmount's Memorial Hall, built for the International Exposition of 1876, makes a poetic home for the Céilí Group Irish festival, known for its solid devotion to tradition. Still, the Group welcomes new ways to keep the tradition healthy, as evidenced by this year's headliners, Four Men and a Dog. Out of service for several years, they've reformed with celebrated banjoist Gerry O'Connor, fiddler Cathal Hayden, singer Kevin Doherty and mad-man percussionist Gino Lupari, known for his Bodhran-rap, still front and center. Also on the bill: Five-time All-Ireland fiddle champ Dezi Donnelly will be accompanied by guitarist Eamon MacElholme. Uilleann pipe builder and player Tim Britton returns to his hometown with the trio Chulrua. During the daylight hours, expect four stages to be running simultaneously, two in the historic hall, the others outside in the (God willing) sunshine, adding dance (both participatory and exhibition) and cultural lectures to the mix. There's no better way to submerge yourself in Celtic culture that doesn't involve a passport and a plane ticket.

28th Annual Irish Music and Dance Festival, Sat., Sept. 14, noon to 10 p.m., $7-$22, Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, 215-849-8899, www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org.

—Mary Armstrong