I call it "Murphys Law", if it can go wrong then it probably will, You know it, we all live it , but how do you deal with it!! Over the course of the 5 but now 6 days of festivities that make up The Catskill Mountain Thunder festival it becomes my reality!

What do you mean we are almost out of Ice! Wait the burnout pit is smoking up the entrance! Hold ON, Who sent you for more Jack Daniels!! and who the hell are you! Simply put, no amount of preparation or planning will ever make an event such as this go as planned, better to have a rough outline of what you're trying to do. Duck and weave, roll with the punches, keep moving forward is the only way to survive.

We’ve had a number of bands all over the bar, & it is not unusual to have headliner bands jump behind the bar too. We have some awesome photos and stories I will have to tell you next time! 

This is the week you are truly in the trenches and in the weeds all in the name of creating a great time! And what makes it a great time? Well, It's The People, there I said it , It's the customer who comes up to the bar for the first time, order something, then comes back to you even though there are plenty of other bartenders, they kind of seek you out! first you know them by what they drink, soon you will know them by their first name or even a nickname and boy do we encounter some great ones, Like if I were to meet you on a train the following week and tell you that last week at work I ran into a bunch of guys, you know, called Bighead, Magoo, The Cowboy, Rambo, Lonesome Dave, Hobo Bill, the list goes on and on. Some of the best people in the world belong to this community of crazy's we are happy to call friends. There is nowhere like it in September Upstate.

Over the years I have always played a large roll behind the bar at our annual Catskill Mountain Thunder festival but Last year I wore a very different shirt that may as well have said, Don't F#!* it up! No pressure for the Irish guy !!! As 2023 was my first time as the Bar manager for The Blackthorne.

I'm a true believer in the saying, if you are truly happy in your work then you'll never work a day in your life. That's what the Blackthorne has meant for me all these years. Catskill Mountain Thunder is my Mount Everest. While the climb can be exhausting, the view from the top is a beautiful one. Hundreds of motorcycles maneuvering around the place, the inevitable whiskey throttle roar, the smell of campfires, the unmistakable aroma of exhaust fumes, The bands, The ride throughs and parade of motorbikes coming in one entrance of the main bar cruising only to exit the far side of the building while people dance and cheer all around and the music doesn't stop. Everyone is in sync. Yes, we get to do this all over again tomorrow! & Yes, I know, "motorbike" .. did I mention I'm from Ireland.

On to the The Pub Crawl. That epic brainstorm that the Handel family came up with to start off the fun is something I still get butterflies over. It's held on the Wednesday of CMT. Busses come and take customers on a pre-determined pub hop of other watering holes and ultimately end up right back here and you can begin to finally feel that it all starts now, There is no going back, this is where the months of planning hit the pavement and its ON!!!

Thursday marks the beginning of the 4-day weekend revelers and a lot of riders roll up and begin to find their footing and settle in. More bands rocking the roof off the main bar, food and drink crossing the bar like the world was going to end, shots, bottles, burgers and beer, this scenario is the same from one end of the bar to the other!!!

Friday starts with a breakfast followed by a motorcycle run through some of the most beautiful scenery the Great Northern Catskills have to offer. Led by Roy, Dale and Patty, Mikie the Voice of CMT, and now on his motorbike comes this Irishman close behind. That customer I spoke of meeting earlier at the bar has now by the miracle of a common love for riding, freedom, adventure and belonging, now becomes part of our family or maybe it's us who become part of theirs? Good question! As the day progresses its on to headliner bands who Rock the Big stage for all its worth then the focus turns to inside the main bar for the party of a lifetime.

Saturday brings most of us working simply running on adrenaline, vendors, motorcycle games, hundreds of conversations sharing this past week's experience and of years past too. The funny, the sad, the goodwill that's generated by these folks brings out a pride in everyone, The show goes on and from my seat I have a front row view every minute of every day. Some shit you just can't make up!! The burn pit is in full use, burnouts are always a crowd pleaser. More ride throughs the bar, more awesome bands, I've had Saliva , I've had Drowning Pool join us behind the main bar pouring shots for our customers, interacting with guests like they were at a friend's backyard party! You never know what's gonna happen. Only one thing is certain by the wee hours of Sunday morning, the fun has reached its pinnacle, the whiskey throttle roars across the resort become less and the dawn is sure to show itself in an hour or so.

Catskill Mountain Thunder 2024 is currently in the planning stages, Bigger, better that before and it's a mammoth undertaking, with so many cogs working together, While you are visiting us here all I would ask is that you say a quick thank you to the staff when you see them, to the volunteers, shake their hand, the office staff to the guys who collect the garbage a tip of your hat and to your fellow attendees, continue to be the best people coming together to let your hair down, leave your problems behind even if it's just for a short week, enjoy our hospitality and keep both wheels down.