KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

While St. Patrick’s Day will fall on a Monday this year, South Jackson Performing Arts Center (SJPAC) will be getting into the Irish spirit with its annual St. Patrick’s Day event.

The family friendly event will take place at the performing arts center on Thursday, March 13, with the doors opening at 5:45 p.m. with live Celtic music and food. Tickets for the event are $15 for adults, $12 for students between 11 to 17 years old and $8 for children ages 10 and under.

Then at 7 p.m., Jim and his wife Inge Wood, alongside their percussionist and daughter Angela Wood and vocalist Ben Ayers, will take to the main stage to perform and show how traditional Irish music has evolved in the United States. Also on hand will be Jonathan and Abigail Ward on fiddles and Bethany Suttles, who will be doing some Irish step dancing.

Jim said since he has been playing bluegrass and fiddle all of his life, and became interested in Irish music after some of his musician friends in Nashville had taken a plunge into the genre. His interest in Irish music eventually led him to visiting Ireland where learned more about it.

“Much of American fiddle music has its roots in Irish music,” Jim said. “I heard some of it and was kind of intrigued, and just kind of gradually took steps in that direction.”

According to Inge, their performance will include a rendition of the Irish ballad “Blackbird” as well as some dances like the Irish jig, toe tapping and other fiddle dances. 

“That kind of tradition will be reflected on the kind of material that we will be performing,” Inge said.

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Inge said while she is “far removed from Ireland” she was obsessed with the Irish culture as a child.

“I just thought I was Irish in my head,” she said. “I guess the closest way that I’ve gotten to is by playing Irish jigs and dancing.”

Jim and Inge’s love for Irish music and dance was passed down to their daughter Angela, who Inge said they started Irish step dancing when she was young. Since then Angela has become a two-time National Buck Dancing Champion.

Inge shared that prior to the St. Patrick’s Day event, there will be a free workshop at 5 p.m. where they will teach different Irish dances to anyone who is interested.

“(They) can learn the basic steps or at least some of the basic steps and then we’ll just freestyle it on stage,” she said. “Any age is welcome to this.”

This won’t be the first time Jim and Inge Wood performed at SJPAC, in fact they released a live album from their 2005 performance, which featured originals from the Woods and Celtic songs. Yet, for the Woods their favorite aspect of performing was meeting the people.

“It connects you not only to your local, your local community, your immediate community, but it also connects you with your past community, even the ones that you didn’t know.” Inge said.

Jim added from a musical standpoint, studying the old Irish tunes helps to understand the roots of Western music.

“Each one kind of has its own DNA that makes it what it is and not something else,” Jim said. “I find it very intriguing studying these pieces because when you raise the hood on these things and really understand what’s going on with them, it helps you to understand all music. Because so much of the music of Western civilization is rooted in these melodies.”

Angela said she finds performing Irish music enjoyable since they’re not Irish, they’re not aiming to perform like how the Irish would.

“I don’t think they would appreciate it if we tried to be complicated,” she said. “So we’re doing American takes on Irish traditional music. So it’s very interesting being able to combine the Irish, American, and the historical, and the contemporary.”

Jim agreed with Angela and said since Irish musicians are so grounded and rooted with their heritage that they have been the most open to embrace change.

“I think they’re not afraid of change and innovation because they’re so grounded in who they are,” Jim said. “It’s a style that lends itself to, to innovation because it’s the core of it is so solid.”

Jim and Inge also host a weekly contradance event every Tuesday at the Flat Creek Community Center. Located at 115 New Herman Road in Shelbyville, from 7 to 9 p.m. Anyone interested are encouraged to stop by to enjoy the live music and various dances.

For more information, contact Jim and Inge at 931-695-5613 or email jim@jimwoodmusic.net.