Sun. Aug. 12

It used to be called the Irish Connections Festival, but those are so many syllables. So, like Kentucky Fried Chicken went to KFC, the Irish Connections Festival has become ICONS for 2007.  The first day was Friday. There is one more day,  Sunday Aug. 12. And if you look at the music involved - the festival has lots of other components, but, face it, music is the main draw - you'll spot some bands you wouldn't think of as particularly Irish like, say, the Black Crowes and Nanci Griffith. But then there's the Irish-rockin' Saw Doctors, Altan, Dervish and Boston's punk-Irish pride 'n' joy the Dropkick Murphys. (Hit the "read more" button below to read about the Murphs, courtesy of my former Globe colleague Steve Morse, who is now working with the co-promoting WBOS.) Other acts: The all-female, Appalachian revivalists Uncle Earl, produced by the legendary John Paul Jones, Cara Dillon, the Prodigals, Tommy Fleming, Liz Carroll and John Doyle, Tommy Makem, Paddy Keenan, Niamh Parsons, Mick Moloney, Jimmy Crowleym Beoga, Maeve Gilchrist, The Roches, and Antje Duvekot, whose acclaimed breakthrough album was produced by Seamus Egan of Solas.(Antje is one of our favorites, one of the first artists we highlighted on the site when she played Newport Folk last year.) This festival takes place over 50 acres in Canton In addition to the music, the full experience will include author readings, sporting events, genealogy workshops, a traditional Irish Tea House and a host of activities geared towards those under the age of 12. 

“From music to literature to traditional dance, the ICONS Festival has been designed to offer something for everyone,” said Sean Grant, Executive Director of the Irish Cultural Centre of New England.  “While the festival is grounded in Irish tradition, we are exploring the boundaries this year and bringing a more modern look to the traditional arts.  We are determined to make the event a destination for all audiences.”

Some highlights: Harpapalooza: a stage featuring performances from harp orchestras and solo performers as well as a traditional Irish dancers. Literature: an opportunity to celebrate Ireland's rich and diverse literary tradition with several presentations by authors themselves and reading programs at the festival. Featured writers will include Peter Quinn, author of Looking for "Jimmy: A Search for Irish America." Genealogy: It has become one of the most popular elements of the festival. The Irish Cultural Center, in conjunction with Tiara, an organization dedicated to assisting individuals in genealogical research, will provide workshops on exploring family names and the roots of one’s heritage.  Gaelic Games: The American branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will stage highly competitive games of Hurling and Gaelic Football played by both men and women through the weekend. Explanations and exhibitions of the origins and currency of the games will also be on display. Dance: The world of traditional dance has always been an intrinsic part of Irish culture and recently has made its appearance into popular culture.  Sean-nos dance, meaning “old-style” is a solo percussive dance originating from Ireland and its revival is currently sweeping Ireland and spreading to American dance communities.  Traditionally performed by men, four American women from across the country – Shannon Dunne, Alicia Guinn, Kiernan Jordan and Maldon Meehan -- will join the 2007 ICONS Festival to explore and present the fascinating trends and techniques of Irish sean-nos dance. The Marketplace: Ah, commerce! You'll see the finest Irish and Irish-connected goods.  From art, jewelry, clothing, antiques, pottery, books and music, The Marketplace will allow visitors to take a little piece of Ireland home with them.Tir na nOg: Land of the Young.  This will be the center of children’s activities in the festival.  From story-telling to musical performances, educational activities, puppets, and special characters, Tir na nOg will be the ultimate destination for those under the age of 10. It's all at the Irish Cultural Center of New England. Check website below for when the various artists play. Tickets: $50 a day or $120 for all three. Shows start at noon.

200 New Boston Drive, Canton, www.iconsfestival.com.

The Dropkick Murphys, who headline the third day of the ICONS Festival on Aug. 12, have enjoyed a revival without even putting out a new record. That’s due to one of their prior songs, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,’’ being chosen for the Oscar-winning film, “The Departed,’’ which was shot in the Murphys’ hometown of Boston.“Getting a song on that soundtrack has given us new fuel,’’ says Dropkicks bassist/singer Ken Casey. “Our record was out for nearly two years and we were starting to write for a new one that will come out in September. But, all of a sudden – BAM! We got a nice little resurgence. No complaints there. And that was a great way to reach people. We’re the type of band that doesn’t fit the mold of MTV mainstream success, but here was a way to do it.“It seems like everybody in the country saw that movie – and to have a song so prominently used spiked a huge interest in the band,’’ adds Casey, who recently spoke by cellphone before the Dropkicks shipped out to an early summer tour of Europe.The addition of a punk-rocking but Celtic-loving band like the Dropkicks signals a bold new direction for the ICONS fest. Even rock station WBCN is now on board as a sponsor because the Dropkicks and the Black Crowes have joined the roster for the Aug. 10-12 event at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton.The Murphs have spent several summers playing on the heavily rock-oriented Vans Warped Tour, but they see the ICONS event as “good alternative’’ this year, says Casey.

The group has specialized in playing multiple, sold-out nights at Boston’s Avalon club during the week of St. Patrick’s Day, but they know the outdoor, more family-style ICONS will require some adjustment.“We’ll play a broader set of music,’’ says Casey. “I think people are going to be jumping around and dancing, but for something like this, we’re probably not going to play ‘Pipebomb on Lansdowne’ and our really heavier songs. It doesn’t fit the day … We’ll play a set list that’s a little more appropriate. I think we’ve adapted through the years. We play a lot of festivals in Europe, where it’s more of a case of being a party band than being ferocious. That’s always been a side of us anyway. But a lot of times we don’t make that decision until we get there and see what’s it’s all about.’’Casey realizes that ICONS provides “a great opportunity for us to play to a different crowd that might not come out to a nightclub.’’ He has twice been to the event when it was formerly known as the Irish Connections Festival.“I went years ago and I went last year,’’ he says. “I brought my kids to it last year. They loved it. And my daughter takes Irish stepdancing. She’s really into it.’’As for the diversity of the newly named ICONS, Casey says, “I know they’ve been doing it successfully for many years, but I think it needs to be taken to another level, like they seem to be trying now. They’re making more of a big production and I think it could turn into something special.’’Meanwhile, the Dropkicks are still riding the wave of their soundtrack success. They just taped Boston-based video clips for HBO and Cinemax to be woven into the so-called “Departed Tour of Boston.’’ Notes Casey: “It’s to be used for their promos when the movie comes out on cable. We went to different spots where scenes were shot. … We compare and contrast between the realities of the movie and the realities of what the places are really like. For example, where Martin Sheen gets thrown off a building comes off as a dingy, deserted warehouse area, but you go down there between 9 and 5 to the waterfront and warehouse district now, and construction is booming and there are people everywhere. And on Long Wharf there’s a scene where Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg confront Jack Nicholson, but it couldn’t be a more tourist-packed place in real life. It’s the last place you’d want to go to have a secret conversation.’’

As for new music, the Dropkicks will probably debut some of it at ICONS to tease the release of their new CD, “The Meanest of Times,’’ in September. Expect more variety on it as well."Some of it is catchy, sing-along stuff from the folkie realm, and some is angry, aggressive things that a portion of our fans want. But I think even the angry stuff has hooks and is memorable. We’ve been writing the music for a long time and we’ve been playing some of the songs live so they can develop rather than us deciding what they should be like on the spot in the studio.’’The album’s overall theme, despite the dark-sounding title of “The Meanest of Times,’’ is to appreciate life in the here and now.

“We had a lot of people we knew die in the last few years – friends and family,’’ says Casey. “On the last record we were going through the grieving process and the music was about some of the people who died. Coming out on the other side of that, you have more respect for how people can be gone. You can’t take for granted the people in your life. … We’re talking about the importance of staying close to your friends and family and the people that matter. Don’t sweat the little stuff. I feel that’s the theme.”Lately, the Dropkicks have received another boost by having “I’m Shipping Up to Boston’’ aired at Red Sox games at Fenway Park (as was their hit, “Tessie,’’ during the march to the World Series in 2004).“Jonathan Papelbon uses it for when he comes out onto the mound,’’ says Casey. “But every time I’ve gone to Fenway this year, they either blow the other team out or Pabelbon closed the game the day before and they’re resting him. So I haven’t heard it yet!’’Rest assured that we’ll all hear it at ICONS.

-Steve Morse