St. Patrick’s day is coming early this year to Bloomington-Normal.

On Sunday, the musical group Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains will be performing at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA).

As six time Grammy winners, The Chieftains are best known for bringing traditional Irish music to all corners of the world, leaving people stomping their feet and clapping their hands.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, The Chieftains were formed in 1962 by Paddy Moloney. Accompanying him are fellow band members Sean Keane, Kevin Conneff and Matt Molloy.

The band has been officially named Ireland’s Musical Ambassadors and have performed at the Great Wall of China, the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. and the Ground Zero memorial service in New York for Sept. 11.

The Chieftains play traditional Irish folk music, using instruments such as flutes, tin whistles, fiddles, harps, an Irish drum called a bodhran and uilleann pipes, which are a form of  Irish bagpipes. Moloney and Conneff provide vocals.

Their most recent album, “Voice of Ages,” contained collaborations with bands that many college students may be familiar with, including Bon Iver, The Decemberists and The Civil Wars.

Attendees can expect a wonderful performance from The Chieftains as well as other special guests including fellow Celtic artist Alyth  McCormack, dancers Cara Butler, Jon Pilatzke and Nathan Pilatzke, folk musicians Deanie Richardshon and Jeff White, and harpist Triona Marshall.

“The concert starts at 3 p.m.. the box office will open at 1 p.m. and the lobby will open at 1:30. People can arrive whenever they would like. There will be concessions available before the show,” Nora Dukowitz, marketing associate for the BCPA, said.

The concert is appropriate for all ages. Tickets can be purchased online, at the box office and the night of the concert. Depending on the seating area, the ticket prices vary from $45-$65 for adults and $43-63 for seniors.

“There is a special ‘Youth’ ticket price for this show, and that includes anyone with a student ID, even college students,” Dukowitz said. “So there is a $20 ticket available for this show for ISU students.”

“The concert is a great opportunity for college students to witness Ireland’s official Musical Ambassadors with a rich history spanning 50 years,” Dukowitz said. “The BCPA is a great place to see a show and this will certainly be a fantastic one to watch.”