6 On The Square in Oxford is holding an Open Mic Night on Thursday, March 6, with emcee Ray Stark. Sign-in begins at 6:45 p.m. with performances at 7. Then at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, fan favorite Kevin McKrell brings a taste of Ireland as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD - Open Mic Night returns to 6 On The Square in Oxford on Thursday, March 6, with emcee Ray Stark.

Sign-in begins at 6:45 p.m. with performances at 7. Musicians and poets are encouraged to share their talents.

Performers will use our professional sound equipment, and we'll provide a sound tech. There is no charge to perform or be in the audience - but we'll gratefully take donations.

Open Mic Night will be held the first Thursday of every month through June.

Then at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, fan favorite Kevin McKrell brings a taste of Ireland as St. Patrick’s Day approaches.

McKrell pioneered American Celtic music in 1979 with Donnybrook Fair, and the trio’s 1982 album “Tunnel Tigers” remains a landmark of the genre, with its blend of Clancy Brothers swagger and upstate New York attitude. He honed his powerful performance style further in the 1980s with the Fabulous Newports, a rambunctious harmony group known as much for its antics, comedy and long list of members as for its sweet singing.

In 1998, McKrell — who has three solo albums to his credit — formed a powerhouse band under his own name, merging the Irish sensibility of Donnybrook with a steely, world-class bluegrass edge. The McKrells toured harder than Donnybrook, bringing its music — with McKrell’s lusty vocals supported by hot string-band picking — to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and folk, Irish and bluegrass festivals and concert venues around the country.

He is best known for songs such as “Home in Donegal,” “You and Me,” “I Miss the Rain” and “All of The Hard Days Are Gone,” which have been sung and recorded by the Kingston Trio, the Furey Brothers, Seamus Kennedy, The Druids, the Dublin City Ramblers, North Sea Gas, Pat McKernan. Bob Shane, Hair of the Dog, Wood’s Tea Company and Get Up Jack.

Offstage, McKrell is a painter whose artworks hang in many of the venues in Ireland, Scotland and Italy where he’s performed. He has sold his work at Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival and will bring some paintings and prints with him to Oxford.

Joining McKrell at 6OTS will be fiddler Frank Orsini and bass player Arlin Greene.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door; purchase at 6onthesquare.org or call 607-843-OTS6 (6876) to make a reservation. Doors open one hour before the start of performances. The concert also will be streamed live online for $10; more information at 6onthesquare.org.

Coming up this winter/spring at 6OTS: Cold Chocolate (March 28), Rupert Wates (April 5), Abby Posner (April 12), Joe Crookston (May 11), John Flynn (May 31), Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly (June 7) and our 18th Anniversary Show with Vance Gilbert (June 21).

6 On The Square, Inc. is an intimate, not-for-profit, volunteer-based acoustic music listening room and arts venue located at 6 Lafayette Park in downtown Oxford.

- Information from 6 On The Square