How cliche do you want to be? Because you can be pretty cliche and have loads of fun — Dropkicks, Guinness pints, Jameson shots, a few Seamus Heaney poems before you drift off. But you can also go the unexpected route with Budweiser and blues covers. Using our patented one to four shamrock rating system (four being the most obvious, but also still awesome), here are our St. Patrick’s Day season concert picks.

St. Patrick’s Day Special Variety Show

March 14-17, Burren, Somerville

The area’s best Irish pub hosts an epic series of St. Pat’s shows. Led by Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello, each show will feature all the trimmings — jigs, ballads, yarns, Irish step dancing and more. Special guests! Surprise guests! Traditional, vegetarian, and vegan twists on staples from Guinness stew, to shepherd’s pie! 24hourmusic.com

4 Shamrocks

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

March 15, Hanover Theatre, Worcester

OK, more Scottish than Irish (but still Celtic!), the Pipers play bagrock. Yes, that’s bagpipes and rock ‘n’ roll. While it’s an unusual claim to fame, the Pipers are the most famous bagpipe band in the world and have toured from the States to China and dozens of countries in between. Skip the Guinness for a Tennants lager. thehanovertheatre.org

2 ½ Shamrocks

The Nogs

March 17, the Beehive

Long live the Pogues! Or at least the Nogs — a Pogues tribute band. The Beehive celebrates the holiday with Irish-inspired cocktails, themed menu items, and a band that can properly play “If I Should Fall from Grace with God.” beehiveboston.com

3 ½ Shamrocks

Blues Jam

March 17, Wally’s

The thrill isn’t gone. It’s alive and well at Wally’s — where there is live music 365 days a year. Monday’s is blues night so forget the jigs and fiddles in favor of Strats and Willie Dixon covers. wallyscafe.com

0 Shamrocks

Deby’s Birthday Roast Show with Hot Garbage Jam Band

March 17, the Rockwell, Somerville

Deby puts on most of the good stuff at Davis Square’s Rockwell theater. She invites you to an odd party: a birthday roast of herself featuring jam band Hot Garbage. Come make fun of a stranger. The dress code suggestion is green for toast, orange for roast. therockwell.org

1 ½ Shamrocks

Gaelic Storm

March 27, the Wilbur

The Storm blows in a little late in the season but it blows in hard. This Santa Monica act got a boost after appearing in “Titantic” performing “Irish Party in Third Class.” Since then, the act has played a couple thousand shows and released a dozen albums that dig into Celtic traditions of all stripes and tartans. thewilbur.com

3 Shamrocks

The Dropkicks

Everywhere, all the time

The gang will all be here for a (F)lannigan’s Ball crowded with Tessies, Johnnys, Kellys, Pegs, Jimmys, and Finnegans as Dropkick Murphys play their traditional March Boston run. This one features four sets at MGM Music Hall and one at the House of Blues on March 17 that will be live streamed. dropkickmurphys.com

10 Shamrocks

Gaelic Storm hails from Santa Monica, but they’ll bring Celtic musical traditions to the Wilbur on March 27. (Photo courtesy artist management)