Courtesy Photo From left, Mike Gavin, Richard McMullan, Dennis Green, and Fred Klein make up the Irish band Blackthorn, playing at Art in the Loft tonight.

ALPENA — If you’re in the mood for an Irish social gathering with live traditional music, Art in the Loft is the place to be tonight.

Blackthorn will be performing from 7 to 8:30 p.m., presented by Thunder Bay Arts. The event is free, but reservations are required by calling the TBA office at 989-356-6678.

Richard McMullan grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and now lives in Detroit.

“I started the band in October of 1984,” McMullan said. “I can remember, because that’s when the Tigers won the World Series.”

In addition to McMullan, Blackthorn members are Fred Klein, who has been with the band for 32 years, Dennis Green, with the band for 30 years, and Mike Gavin, with the band for two years.

Blackthorn was inducted into the Michigan Irish Hall of Fame in 2018.

“When we do a show, people who see us for the first time probably have never heard any of the songs that we’re doing, but the songs that we’re doing are what people in sessions in Ireland sing and play,” McMullan said. “Like, if you’re in Ireland and you go to the pub, the songs that you hear us play are from over there.”

Blackthorn has been to Alpena before, several years ago, presented by TBA. The band travels all over Michigan and stays very busy, especially around St. Patrick’s Day. They are headed to Petoskey on Saturday.

“We’re a giant fish in a tiny, tiny pond, over here,” McMullan said. “If anybody wants a good Irish band, throughout Michigan or the Midwest, we’re the ones they contact.”

He said they have quite a devoted following.

“The people who have followed us for all these years … they all know the songs, and a good percentage of the songs, I’d say 30 to 40 percent of the songs, all have very lively choruses that the audience will join in on,” McMullan said.

He noted that this October will be the band’s 40th anniversary.

“The reason we have lasted so long is that we really engage the audience,” McMullan said. “They will sing along … we’ll have a laugh or two. Many, many, many bands who are infinitely better than us don’t draw as well because they don’t make the connection with the audience … That’s the main reason for our longevity.”

They play a variety of instruments, and they have a fantastic time doing it.

“It’s great,” McMullan said. “I sometimes say to people, ‘It saved my life.’ You know, when COVID hit, we didn’t play for 461 days, and it was horrendous.”

He said it doesn’t feel right not to play music.

“It’s very, very important,” he said. “No matter what else is going on, you go out there and you play a show, and it boosts you.”

Tonight’s performance should give all attendees a boost. There will be snacks, drink specials, and of course, live music that will get you dancing and maybe even singing along.