photo by: Tony Silvestri

The Lawrence Irish traditional music session, pictured here in September of 2017, takes place each week on the second floor of Henry's.

Updated at 12:24 p.m. Thursday

This month calls for a variety of Irish-themed events, but a traditional Irish music session at Henry’s is a weekly staple in Lawrence.

The session draws anywhere from six to 20 musicians each week, organizer Tony Silvestri said in an email to the Journal-World. Most come from Lawrence and Topeka, but every week musicians from Kansas City also drive out, he said.

The session consists of instrumental and vocal Irish traditional music, with instruments such as the flute, fiddle, bagpipe, whistle, button accordion, banjo and guitar. It started eight years ago and is open to spectators in addition to musicians.

The whole session is open for all players of traditional Celtic music, Silvestri wrote, either beginners or advanced. But in the first hour, from 5 to 6 p.m., there is a “slow session,” allowing beginners to be introduced to the music.

“Passing the tradition along to new folks and accommodating learners is a cornerstone of Irish music,” Silvestri wrote.

The Lawrence Irish session is every Sunday from 5 until around 7 or 8 p.m., on the second floor of Henry’s, 11 E. Eighth St.

A Swingin’ Affair: Frank Sinatra’s 104th Birthday Party

Sinatra’s birthday may have been in December, but the Cider Gallery will be celebrating his birthday in March with a night of songs and swing dancing.

The gallery has hosted four birthday parties for Sinatra in the past five years, since what would have been his 100th birthday.

The event will feature singer Joey K and a three-set band, who will perform from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Prior to the start of the live music, local dance instructor Jake Fisher will offer simple swing dancing tips around 7:40.

photo by: Contributed photo

Joey K and a Three-Set Band performs Frank Sinatra songs at Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St., in 2017. The band will return for the gallery’s “A Swingin’ Affair” event on Saturday to celebrate Sinatra’s birthday.

Event organizers hope attendees will dress in era-specific costumes; they will be holding a costume contest. There will also be a raffle, the proceeds from which will go to benefit Just Food.

“A Swingin’ Affair” is from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St. While there will be a handful of tickets at the door, organizers recommend buying tickets in advance. A link to the $20 tickets is on the front page of the website cidergallery.com.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to delete the homebuyer workshop at the library, which has been canceled.