If you managed to work through St Patrick's Day last week, here's your second chance to soak up some Irish culture.

The Penn State Irish Organization is hosting Irish Fest at 9 tonight in the HUB Alumni Hall.

The concert, which is free to Penn State students, will include Celtic punk-rock bands the Peelers and the Ruffians, as well as traditional Irish dancers.

President Ralph Gatrone (senior-history) said tonight will be the first time the group has brought two bands to Penn State.

"A year or two ago, we brought in Gaelic Storm, a traditional Celtic band," he said. "This time, it's traditional Irish music with a punk or rock edge."

Eddie Fisher (senior-political science) has been working since last October to coordinate the event.

Initially, he wanted to book the Glengarry Bhoys, a Celtic band that played at last year's Movin' On. The band was unavailable, so the manager hooked him up with the Peelers, Fisher said.

"The Peelers sound a lot like Flogging Molly," he said, referring to one of the more popular Irish rock bands. "When we heard their CD, we were blown away."

Vice President John Pickett was also impressed with the Canadian band.

"I'm not really big on indie music, but since I found out about the Peelers I've been listening to them a lot," he said.

Pickett described the Peelers as fast-paced Irish rock that relies less heavily on electric guitar than other bands.

He added that the Ruffians reminded him of Dropkick Murphys, an Irish punk band.

"There's a wide range in what they play," Pickett said of both the Peelers and the Ruffians.

To Fisher, the Celtic punk-rock genre represents a new breed of music. He said he believes many fans of punk music feel a connection to Irish culture, whether it is part of their heritage or not.

"I think the genre is really popular at Penn State," Fisher said, adding that he often hears Celtic punk-rock music on WKPS-FM.

"It's not that underground," he said.

Gatrone's sister, Penn State alumna Laura Hudak, is among the dancers who will perform during set breaks.

The dancers are all members of the Butler Academy of Irish Dance in Wilkes-Barre, one of several schools founded by former Irish dance champion Patrick Butler, she said.

"When we do shows, we're big on blending traditional dance with modern music," Hudak said, adding that her ensemble has received standing ovations for Irish dances set to Ludacris and techno music.

"Traditional Irish dance is great for people who understand it, but in a show the audience would be bored stiff," she said. "We want to do what people wouldn't expect."