Finger on the Trigger
We like whiskey and pretty girls... need anymore be said?
With songs about whiskey, pretty girls, and more whiskey, Finger on the Trigger is an energetic band playing traditional music from the Emerald Isle. Toss in a few originals and a bit of humor, and these actors-turned-musicians put on a foot-stomping show!
30/11/2023
We’ve lost one of the best.
Shane MacGowan, Songwriter Who Fused Punk and Irish Rebellion, Dies at 65 As frontman for the Pogues, he delivered lyrics romanticizing whiskey-soaked rambles and hard-luck stories of emigration, while providing a musical touchstone for members of the Irish diaspora worldwide.
16/03/2023
Just wrapped up the last rehearsal before we rock St. Patrick’s.
Come on out and drink with us! 🍻 ☘️
🇮🇪 Thursday, March 16
Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
5157 Main St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
8:00-10:30pm
🇮🇪 Friday, March 17
Ballydoyle - Aurora
28 W. New York St.
Aurora, IL 60506
3:00-5:30pm
04/03/2023
We are so delighted you’ll be joining us this year!
See Aaron and us at Ballydoyle this St. Patrick’s!
🇮🇪 Thursday, March 16
Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
5157 Main St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
8:00-10:30pm
🇮🇪 Friday, March 17
Ballydoyle - Aurora
28 W. New York St.
Aurora, IL 60506
3:00-5:30pm
Ladies and gentlemen, I have some pretty big news! I’m stringing up the old gitfiddle and I will be stepping out of retirement for a couple of gigs this St Paddy’s week!! I’ve been invited by a dear friend and old shipmate to play guitar and banjo with his band for a couple shows. I can’t say how excited I am to jam with these fellas and if you like foot-stomping, beer-drinking, songs and general revelry join me and Finger on the Trigger on the 16th and 17th at Ballydoyle Irish pub in Aurora and Downers Grove. See you there!!
21/02/2023
Victory strikes again this St. Patrick’s Day with the superb addition of Aaron Wilhoft!
The greatest Celtic folk rocker in the Chicago scene. This guy is legendary. If you’ve seen him before, you already know.
🇮🇪 3/16 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
🇮🇪 3/17 Ballydoyle - Aurora
21/02/2023
Here is something that’s never been done before in the history of Finger on the Trigger.
For this St. Patrick’s season we will have a drummer, and not just any drummer. I’m talking about the Tennessee Mountain Man, the Devil’s Switchblade, the Appalachian Hatchet Thrower, none other than Chris Leidhecker. This guy can play the drums AND drink the beers.
🇮🇪 3/16 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
🇮🇪 3/17 Ballydoyle - Aurora
Show announcements!
🇮🇪 Thursday, March 16
Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
5157 Main St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
8:00-10:30pm
🇮🇪 Friday, March 17
Ballydoyle - Aurora
28 W. New York St.
Aurora, IL 60506
3:00-5:30pm
01/01/2023
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to a 2023 with you!
18/03/2022
Oh wow! What a time! Ballydoyle - Downers Grove thank you for having us. You did not disappoint. It had been a long long time since we had a night like that and everyone was there for it. Thank you to all the friends, old and new, for coming out. Tomorrow we’re back at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro @8. It’s sure to be a wonderful evening. All the best people will be there.
17/03/2022
This is it! Today’s the day! The Christmas of springtime. St. Patrick’s Day, the finest day in the whole long year. Come celebrate with us at Ballydoyle - Downers Grove. We hit the stage at 6 but there’s lots of great entertainment before and after we perform. Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! Tell a stranger! Tell a forest ranger! It’s St. Patrick’s Day and everyone is Irish tonight!
17/03/2022
Just wrapped our final rehearsal before our gigs this weekend!
Join us at Ballydoyle Downers Grove 3/17
and
Mrs. Murphy and Sons on 3/19
13/03/2022
May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
The Fields of Athenry - The Dubliners & Paddy Reilly | 40 Years Reunion: Live from The Gaiety (2003) ☘️ Purchase Album from iTunes Now: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/live-at-the-gaiety/id295949773 ☘️Since 1962, The Dubliners have been enthralling audienc...
08/03/2022
Folks come up to me on the street all the time and ask, “How can I listen to Irish folk tunes? Where do I start? There’s so many great artists.”
And I say, “Not to worry friend. You’re right, there are so many good bands. Let’s start with two of the best The Dubliners and The Pogues performing The Irish Rover together.”
That performance is conveniently posted below.
ALSO
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove @6
3/19 Mrs. Murphy’s and Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago @8
The Irish Rover - The Dubliners & The Pogues From The Late Late Show - Tribute to The Dubliners March 1987This is the first performance of their hit single - The Irish Rover which reached number 8 in th...
07/03/2022
Patrick Dunham is also in the band. He’s a first class rascal who has once again bamboozled his band mates into performing with him for St. Patrick’s Day. Hopefully they never catch on.
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove @6
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago @8
06/03/2022
Ah Nick Simon, the tallest man in the world. This guy shows up to rock, to party, and to rock the party. An every man, that also knows how to play every song ever. He’s journeying from the Carolinas to rejoin us, and he’s walking the whole damn way!
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago
05/03/2022
Sammy Zale brings our songs to life with her amazing fiddle. Originally the devil came up to Illinois but she quickly showed him the door and the rest is history. The siren of Lake Michigan. No one does it better.
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago
04/03/2022
If you don’t know Adam Miller, you need to stop what you’re doing and get on board! This guy frequents restaurants and orders “the usual.” His mandolin makes the rafters roar. He’s got a birthday coming up and he’ll be 20ish or 30ish years old? He’s timeless. He’s Genuine. So, come celebrate Adam. Come celebrate St.Patrick. And for you Italians, we’ll have one for St. Joseph too.
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago
03/03/2022
Orion Couling has forgotten more about Celtic folk tunes than you and I will ever know. He’s a charismatic story teller and the finest showman. If you look up “warrior-poet” in the dictionary you will find this same picture of Orion.
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro - Chicago
02/03/2022
Normally you’d have to pay $6.60 or even $8.80 to see a performer the quality of Don Denton. He’s got the golden pipes and a fantastic beard, and he’s traveling all the way from Tennessee this St. Patricks’s Day weekend to rejoin us. A folk hero, he’s doing it for you. He’s doing it for me. He’s doing it for all of us.
Shows:
3/17 Ballydoyle - Downers Grove
3/19 Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro Chicago
🇮🇪St. Patrick’s Day Shows☘️
March 17 Ballydoyle Downers Grove 6 PM
March 18 TBD
March 19 Mrs. Murphy’s and Sons Irish Bistro Chicago 8PM
On this day in history, band mates Adam Miller and Patrick Dunham appeared in this picture together.
On this day in history, we played a gig in a converted warehouse, and then popped over to a bar with the Bastard Bearded Irishmen and jammed into the wee hours of the morning.
Finger on the Trigger's cover photo
If anyone has pictures of video from our gig at Burkes Tap, would you be so kind to either post some here or email them to [email protected]?
Thanks for your kindness and continued support!
A lot of folks don't know how to celebrate St.Patricks. Our band member Orion Couling found this quick and easy guide.
The bar is filling and the boys are getting ready to go on! See you at 7! Burkes Tap
Saturday night is nearly here! Come out and drink with us!
See you at Burkes Tap!
Mr. Nick Simon has a beautiful voice to accompany his beautiful guitar playing.
See this and more this weekend at Burkes Tap! The best bar in the city for the best St. Patrick's Celebration!
Finger on the Trigger
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