The pleasantly flowing acoustic Irish music of Rick May and Gil Yslas is set for a St. Patrick’s toast at Tizley’s Europub.

The traditional Irish folk duo — predominantly fiddle and guitar — has been jamming together for more than seven years. The two have played regularly at Tizley’s on Friday and Saturday nights since June 2006.

St. Patrick’s Day marks the release party for their first CD — a self-produced affair — “Kids in a Candy Store.” The all-ages show begins at 7 p.m. March 17 at Tizley’s.

“We’re the kids, and Irish music is the candy store,” said May, who plays fiddle, mandolin and penny whistle. “For me, Irish traditional tunes have all the excitement (of rock and roll) without the heavy equipment and hearing loss.”

The music for the St. Patrick’s celebration will be acoustically raw and traditionally Irish with Yslas’ six-string and May’s fiddle.

The two are longtime students of the storied Celtic genre. They found the synthesis of their partnership in an old school, Seattle-based Irish punk rock band called Dark Molly, which disbanded in 2002.

Regularly playing around the Seattle Irish pub scene with Dark Molly, Yslas and May have hit such stages as Fado’s, the Irish Emigrant and The Owl & Thistle. The group even sold out St. Patrick’s Day 2000 at The Conor Byrne in Ballard.

May and Yslas have since toned down into the acoustic arena without letting go of the outside influences which make their Irish twist unique.

The duo plays all instrumental Celtic cover tunes while taking a step beyond the traditional rules of the music.

“We both come from different styles,” Yslas said, noting influence in blues, rock and jazz. “When you integrate that music, it’s a nice alternative take on these traditional tunes. It’s traditional flavor with a lot of drive.”

A dueling solo segment in the duo’s rendition of “Banish Misfortune” — the 10th track on “Kids in a Candy Store” — is a interpretive example of their deviation from the note-for-note standards.

They step away, but not too far. The duo holds both professionalism and the Irish cadences in high regard.

“It’s not just a bunch of drinking songs and sloppy performance,” May said. “We don’t do ‘Danny Boy’ or the ‘Irish Washerwoman.’”

While that fact may be unfortunate for the Irish-for-a-day St. Patrick’s celebrator, Tizley’s is aiming providing a heavy dose of traditional Irish fare in the atmosphere.

“Traditional Irish fare and a welcoming Irish environment … it will just be a weekend of Irish mayhem,” Tizley’s drink specialist Tammy Mattson said.

Throughout the weekend the pub will have their requisite Guinness Stout on tap in addition a plethora of green beers as well as Hale’s Irish Nutbrown brew.

From the kitchen, Tizley’s will be cooking up corned beef and cabbage and fresh soda bread, setting the table for a quaint St. Patrick’s feast.

“When we’re playing, we find people tapping their feet under the table, almost subconsciously,” Yslas said. “When that kind of magic starts to happen, you know you’re making the connection.”

By BILL MICKELSON

What’s Up

At pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants around Kitsap County, St. Patrick’s happenings are taking shape for the holiday of Ireland’s patron saint. In its search for the most Irish and most hyped celebrations in Kitsap, What’s Up found plenty of corned beef and cabbage, Guinness, Irish volunteers (formerly, but now politically incorrect “car bombs”) and even a shamrock or two.

Leprechauns, on the other hand were nowhere to be found.

Perhaps those mischievous fortune seekers are staying out of sight until Saturday night.

As the legend goes, the only way to catch a Leprechaun is to keep it in one’s sight; the second that the capturers avert their eyes, the clever clover wearer be gone with its bounty as quick as it came.

But with the other eye, keep watch of a small band of bagpipers who will be making the rounds to select bars on the evening.

As a guide for those in quest for the spirit of St. Patrick’s here’s a suggested list of the spots around the peninsula to catch it.

NORTH END

• Clearwater Casino, Suquamish (21+) Free cover

4-7 p.m. — Seattle’s Irish folk troupe The Emerald Bards play the Beach Rock Lounge Stage, celebrating the holiday along with the traditional fare at the casino’s Longhouse Buffet.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. — A group of premiere Northwest musicians combine to provide dance music and cover tunes as the Penguins.

• Portside Pub, Poulsbo (21+) Free cover

9 p.m.midnight — Resident classic rock band Knuckleheads will be playing while drink specials on Guinness and green beer specials rock the bar.

• Indianola Clubhouse, Indianola (All Ages) $10 dinner/$10 concert ($5 for seniors and children)

6 p.m. to midnight — Friends of Miller Bay host a St. Patrick’s Day Irish dinner at 6 p.m. followed by the Irish music of Blackthorn Stick which will begin at 8 p.m.

• Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston (21+)

Free cover

4–8 p.m. — No green beers on tap, but there will be a St. Patrick’s potluck.

CENTRAL KITSAP

• Silver City Brewing Company, Silverdale (21+) Free cover

Brewmaster Don Nelson releases the annual Silver City Irish Stout – a dark brew specially crafted for the holiday. Beyond its classic creamy head, deep roasted malts give the brew a rich espresso like character.

• Cloverleaf Sports Bar and Grill, East Bremerton (21+) $5 cover

The Cloverleaf Sports Bar and Grill AAU men’s softball tournament will be played out Saturday and Sunday at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. At the bar on Hollis Street starting at 7 p.m. Saturday night, specials on green beers and corned beef and cabbage set the stage for an old home atmosphere, on one of the Cloverleaf’s biggest nights.

• Winterland, East Bremerton (21+)

$5 cover

9 p.m. to 2 a.m. — Bremerton-based, new school classic rock from the Isms will be joined by Seattle bands the Rotten Apples, LD and Her Pretty Pretties, and a guest. Live music starts at 9 p.m. while drink specials on everything from Guinness to Bushmills will be on all night.

SOUTH KITSAP

• South Pacific Sports Bar, West Bremerton (21+) Free cover

Specials on green beers and corned beef and cabbage all night along with mass specialty drink deals, while the Bushmills Girls will be arriving around 10 p.m. along with some extra live entertainment sometime during the night.

• Hi Tide Tavern, Port Orchard (21+)

Free cover

8 p.m. to midnight — The tavern will be serving corned beef and cabbage all day while local regular band Backlash will be rocking until midnight.