Laughing Jack

Laughing Jack

Saturday, March 20, 2027

7:00 pm ET (doors open at 6:15)

If you’re a follower of the local folk music scene in Indianapolis, you’ve almost certainly seen the members of Laughing Jack wow audiences with their musical prowess and charismatic stage presence.  Both as solo artists and in various permutations as the groups Ennis Clare and Hogeye Navvy, these masters of high-energy Irish, Scottish and traditional American songs and tunes (and let’s not forget the sea shanties!) have been building a base of hard core fans around the midwest for decades.  Whether making diners at The Aristocrat Pub (a standing Friday night gig) feel like they have joined a merry pirate band or leading a Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s celebration) from the Indy Folk Series stage, this crew knows how to get a crowd riled up for an evening of raucous fun.  

Garry Farren, who leads the band on vocals and Bodhran (Irish drum), recalls hearing his grandfather and uncle singing when he was a child and listening to the likes of The Weavers, Jimmie Driftwood, and Odetta. His interest in folk music grew and developed after he joined a Revolutionary War reenactment camp; it was around those campfires that he first learned Scottish and Irish traditional songs and developed a love for sea shanties.

Liz Bohall grew up in a “happy healthy folk music community” and has played hammered dulcimer since she was a teenager. As an adult she expanded her musical skill set to guitar, mandolin, piano and fiddle, and it’s the latter (along with her sterling vocals) that she contributes to the collective musical mayhem of Laughing Jack.

Dmitri Alano is probably best known for his 10 year-long stint as multi-instrumentalist with Hogeye Navvy playing playing Irish flute, whistles, highland bagpipes, piano, button accordion and (we could go on…), but don’t let that fool; he’s a scholar, too! Dmitri holds a bachelor of Music Education from Butler University, has taught high school bands for nearly two decades, and is the director of the Irish Arts Academy of Indianapolis.

Mario Joven failed at piano lessons as a kid, but he’s been working hard to make up for that shortcoming by mastering a wide array of stringed instruments, including guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, and bass guitar.  Early interest in the music of Steve Goodman led him to investigate American folk music, and from there, it was a short journey to the music of Ireland. Other genres of interest are Gypsy Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Classical Guitar, Traditional Irish, Bluegrass, and Old Time.

The concert will be held in the performance space of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, located at 615 W. 43rd. St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 (near Butler University.) Follow these DIRECTIONS to join the fun.