From March 11 to 18 in the heart of Birmingham’s ‘Irish Quarter’
Iconic Birmingham bar Nortons Digbeth has announced its Irish music programme up to, including and after St Patrick’s Day 2026.
On the roster between March 11 and 18 are acts including five-piece Irish folk rockers All Folk’d Up, appearing on Nortons’ 14-hour St Patrick’s Sunday (March 15) special.
The Father Teds, Heed, The Hurling Boys, Ire-Ish, Jack Banting …
Other bands in the line-up include The Father Teds, Heed, The Hurling Boys, Ire-Ish, Jack Banting, LAMPA and On The Sesh, as well as displays from Scanlon’s School of Irish Dance, organisers said.
On St Patrick’s Day – on Tuesday March 17 – itself, Nortons will offer a food menu of Irish specialities along with a return from singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and bands Jack Banting, Heed and The Father Teds.
The weeklong series of events celebrates Ireland’s culture, people and heritage, cementing a deep and historic bond between the UK’s second-largest city and the Republic of Ireland.
Nortons Digbeth sits in what has become known as Birmingham’s Irish Quarter. The city’s Irish diaspora – those with irish heritage following two centuries of immigration – accounts for up to 10% of its current population.
‘Irish culture in our DNA’
Peter Connolly, owner of Nortons Digbeth, said: “Irish culture is literally in our very DNA at Nortons. We’re not just Irish for St Patrick’s Day.
“Our national holiday gives us the best possible reason to really crank up the volume and showcase the fantastic music and cultural talent in the city all year round.
“We’ve had tens of thousands of revellers from all walks of life through our doors for our St Patrick’s celebrations in the six years we’ve been trading, and so it is important to present a great programme that everyone can enjoy.
‘Slàinte Bab’
“Our motto “Slàinte Bab, which is a portmanteau of the Irish for ‘cheers’ and an affectionate Brummie term highlights how important Birmingham and Irish culture to us.”
Celebrated Birmingham historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE will open the week-long St Patrick’s programme at Nortons with an illustrated talk, entitled ‘Making Our Mark – The Irish in Victorian Birmingham,’ on Wednesday March 11.
Chinn’s talk will explore the effects that Irish migrants had on the city in the 19th century, and pay tribute to their impact and that of the Irish in general.
Roisin McGrath, vocalist with band LAMPA, said: “Playing St Patrick’s as a local band is something never taken for granted. It’s a celebration of community, craic and Irish music at its best, and there’s no better crowd than a St Patrick’s crowd.”
