A SAINTLY WEEKEND
Technically, St. Patrick’s Day is over. But there’s still time to lend an ear to the Big Bad Bollocks, that stout-fueled musical conflagration steered by John Allen, a Tideswell, England, lad made good. The local crew has wrangled traditional Irish music into its own no-prisoners sound for years. Rumor has it the Valley’s flowers won’t come up until they’ve heard the band’s annual Iron Horse shindig. Fortunately, it happens this Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 advance, $15 at the door. iheg.com
ANOTHER GOOD BET
It’s just across the street from the Iron Horse at nearly the same time, so if you’re ambitious, you might also catch Peter Blanchette playing Bach on his archguitar. Saturday at 7:30 at the First Churches of Northampton, and tickets are $17.50-$22.50. nohoarts.org