Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a spirited afternoon of music as Switchback presents Travelin’ Down an Irish Road on Tuesday, March 17, at 1:30pm at the ECC Arts Center in Elgin. The concert is part of the popular Midday Matinee series, offering audiences the perfect daytime escape, filled with world-class artistry and Celtic charm.
Featuring the award-winning duo of Marty McCormack (vocals, guitar, and bass) and Brian FitzGerald (vocals, guitar, and mandolin), Switchback has long been dubbed “American Roots with Celtic Soul.” Their signature sound draws on traditional Celtic music and original Americana songs that reflect their Irish heritage and Midwestern roots.
With deep Chicago-area roots, McCormack and FitzGerald first met more than 30 years ago while performing at the legendary Durty Nellie’s in Palatine. That meeting sparked a decades-long musical partnership that has taken them to stages across the country and around the world. FitzGerald’s musical heritage runs deep. His family founded the iconic FitzGerald’s Nightclub in Berwyn, a cornerstone of Chicagoland’s live music scene. McCormack, a graduate of Marian Central High School in Woodstock who studied music at Loyola University Chicago and voice at the American Conservatory of Chicago, brings his own local pride and global perspective to the duo’s dynamic performances.
Switchback has three specials that air on PBS stations across the country: “The Celtic Sessions,” “The American Sessions,” and “Music on the Mayne Stage.” All were recorded at the famous WTTW-Chicago Soundstage.
Audiences can expect a vibrant mix of traditional Irish favorites, original songs, and high-energy instrumentals that capture the heart of Celtic storytelling while embracing the spirit of American roots music. Whether you’re Irish by heritage or Irish at heart, Travelin’ Down an Irish Road promises an afternoon of toe-tapping rhythms, rich harmonies, and engaging storytelling.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at eccartscenter.org, by phone at 847-622-0300, or in person at the ECC Arts Center Box Office, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H, Elgin, IL.
