Get ready for some summer foot-stomping as six Irish bands from the southland come together in Temecula.

Killarney’s Restaurant and Irish Pub in Temecula will be fencing off the parking lot and battening down the hatches Saturday, July 11, getting ready for what is said to be one of the most spectacular Irish hootenannies the Inland Empire has ever witnessed.

The event is the dream child of bar owner David Nichols, who is delighted at how it has all come together.

"We have been wanting to do this for some time," he said. "Music has always been a big part of what we do here at Killarney’s and in our other location in Riverside.

"Summer festivals in Ireland draw huge crowds to see great bands and we have so much talent right here in the Southland that it just makes sense to get them all in the same place."

The lineup features some of the best known and most successful local Irish-American bands treading the boards today.

The headliners, the Young Dubliners, are fresh from the release of their second album, "Saints and Sinners."

The Young Dubs, as they are known to their fans, seamlessly blend their rock and Celtic influences into a high-energy, anthemic and lyrically poignant mix, perfectly suited to large open air gigs.

The rest of the lineup is no less accomplished. Craic Haus, whose name is derived from German and Irish meaning "House of Fun," have perfected the genre of ‘shamrockabilly.’

If you don’t know what that is yet, then go along and see them play. Part Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins and part Stiff Little Fingers and the Sex Pistols, these lads know how to put on a show.

Hoist the Colors describe themselves on their MySpace page as sounding like "The seven gates of hell."

It’s not a bad description if you can think of hell in a good way. Formed two years ago, the Celtic influences are clear by the choice of instruments.

As well as guitars and drums, the mandolin and fiddle are inseparable from their trademark sound.

Influenced by such luminaries as the Pogues, the Dubliners and Flogging Molly, Hoist the Colors have built a solid reputation for keeping an audience on its feet, literally.

The Mighty Regis perhaps have the most amusing ‘sounds like’ description on MySpace: "the fastest mandolin in the world stealing yer girlfriend whilst kicking yer arse."

They play with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that has won them many friends, but don’t be under any illusions, this collection of regular guys from the northwest corner of the Emerald Isle know how to put a tune together.

The Gobshytes are a seven-piece band hailing from the greater Los Angeles area. They have developed a very unique blend of Irish folk music with a punk rock punch.

Their sound utilizes many traditional instruments and combines fun, drunken anthems, time-honored folk songs and excellent original material.

Rounding out the musical entertainment, and last but no means least, are the Bad Blokes. These lads have been steadily gaining popularity across San Diego County and beyond for a couple of years now.

Another stellar live act, the Blokes deliver quality performances of Irish rock with a sprinkling of reggae, classic rock, bluegrass, Cajun and blues.

Be there or be square on July 11. The gates open at 1 p.m. and the party will keep going ’til 1:30 a.m.

As well as the fantastic sounds the organizers have lined up, there will be two full bars outside and a BBQ selling hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken skewers.

Vendors selling Irish trinkets and doing airbrush tattoos will be on hand.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at both Killarney’s locations and can be purchased on the Web at www.killarneys.com.

For more details go to the Web site or call (951) 302-8338. The Temecula Killarney’s Restaurant and Irish Pub is at 32475 Temecula Pkwy.

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