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Hello AmeriCeltic Reader,
• From John Sweet: The final Andronicos San Francisco Tuesday Jam on Zoom will happen this Tuesday, December, 10th. Thanks to both Dinah and Noah Stroe for all nearly 5 years of service as Zoom hosts and MCs! On the following Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, my spouse Martha and I will host a final Tuesday Zoom jam for 2024, using the same Zoom meeting link, and then take a break for Christmas, New Year, and Camp Harmony, and restarting in mid-January.
• New! On Friday, December 6th, at 11:30 AM Pacific, Linn Phipps leads her monthly Srùbag songs-in-Gaelic song circle, featuring special guest Conor Ó Gallachóir, available everywhere online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Friday, December 6th, at 7:00 PM, Golden Bough begins their Christmas in a Celtic Land tour at the Merced Theatre, in Merced, CA, followed by four more shows around Northern California over the next three weeks. (See Below).
• On Friday, December 6th, at 7:30 PM, the Irish Christmas in America holiday show concludes their live, in person West Coast tour at the Montalvo Arts Center, in Saratoga, CA. (See Below)
• On Fridays, from now through December 20th, its the annual street fair, the 56th annual Cornish Christmas, recalling the area’s Cornish heritage and traditions, held at Main and Mill streets in downtown Grass Valley, CA. (See Below)
• New! On Saturday, December 7th, the United Irish Cultural Center will host their annual Holiday Boutique & Artisan Craft Fair, in the St. Patrick’s Room, followed by another Seisiún Saturday at their Emerald Pub, at 12:00 PM. then, on Thursday, December 12th, at 7:00 PM in the St. Francis Room, an Evening with author Brian Brady, all at their large facility in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• Saturday, December 7th, 6:00 PM brings the 8th annual Irish Christmas Hooley at the Juniper Hotel by Hilton in Cupertino, CA. (See Below)
• New! On Sunday, December 8th, at 3:00 PM, it’s the Valerie Rose Trio at St. Columba’s om Inverness, CA. Bring the kids early to meet Santa Claus! (See Below)
• On Sunday, December 8th, at 3:00 PM, Kevin Burke will conclude his tour of the West Coast, at the Corvallis Arts Center in Corvallis, OR. (See Below)
• On Sunday, December 8th, at 6:30 PM, The Cooley Keegan Branch of Comhaltas will host their annual Christmas Céili with lots of Irish dancing to live music at the UICC in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Friday, December 13th at 3:00 PM, Tomáseen Foley brings his 28th A Celtic Christmas, show to the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall in Santa Cruz, CA, followed by shows on 12/14 in Sebastopol, CA, 12/20 in Redding, CA on 12/20 in Arcata, CA, on 12/21 in Redding, CA, on 12/22 in Medford, OR and on 12/23 in Beaverton, OR. (See Below)
• On Friday, December 13th, at 7:00 PM the 18th Annual Winterdance Christmas Celebration returns with a show at St Michael’s Episcopal Church in Carmichael, CA, followed by a show in San Jose, CA (12/14), and six more shows around Northern CA. (See Below)
• On Friday, December 13th, at 7:30 PM, Broceliande will give their Songbook Release and annual Holiday Concert at Palo Alto Unitarian Church in Palo Alto, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, December 14th, at 6:00 PM, it’s the 159th Saint Andrews Society of San Francisco Annual Banquet & Ball at Elks Lodge Post #3, in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• New! On Saturday, December 21st 1:00 – 5:00 PM it’s the inaugural Ceiliúradh Celtic Winter Solstice Celebration at Yosemite Gateway Art Center, in Oakhurst, CA. (See Below)
• New! Multi-talented California expatriate, Cedar Dobson, has just released her second album, A Whistle Wonderland, Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style, and will be giving several in person performances, accompanied by guitarist Mark Dunn, around the Sierra Foothills over the upcoming holidays, beginning Saturday, December 21st and concluding on Monday, January 6th in San Jose, CA. (See Below)
• On Fridays, from 5:00 PM on, Pub Scouts, plays great tunes at Duffy’s Tavern in Chico, CA. (See Below)
• On the 1st Saturday of each month, at 6:00 PM, the San Francisco in-person Chantey Sing is held at the Maritime Museum in San Francisco, CA, and then on the 2nd Saturday of the month, at 11:00 AM, the San Francisco Virtual Chantey Sing happens Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• New! On Sundays, from 1:00 – 5:00 PM, there is a Turf in the Bog performance at Yosemite Wine Tails in Oakhurst, CA. (See Below)
• On the first Sunday every month, at 9:00 AM Pacific, Dr. Ronan Connolly offers a Lets Learn Irish free workshop on Irish Language, free of charges and available everywhere Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Sundays, from 8:00 UK time / 12:00 PM Pacific, it’s the Loch Down Folk Club, timed so our friends from the US and Canada can join in, Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On first Sundays of the month, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time, the Cross Keys band, Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O’Neill, sing out at the Way Station Smokehouse & Beer Garden in Fairfax, CA. (See Below)
• On most 2nd Sundays, at 4:30 PM, the female duo Celtic Moon, performs at the Wheelhouse in San Jose, CA. (See Below)
• On the last Sunday of each month, join Alexandra Annen for a Irish traditional instrumental music session at Sayla Music Academy in Lodi, CA. (See Below)
• On First Sundays, Grass Valley based Three Times Through plays at Grass Valley Brewing Company in Grass Valley, CA, plus several other weekend dates around the Gold Country of California. (See Below)
• On the first Sunday of the month, from 11 AM – 1 PM Pacific / 2 PM – 4 PM Eastern time, Lynn Noel hosts the Mermaid’s Tavern Ballad sing-around, online via Zoom from her home studio. (See Below)
• Phoenix Folk Ltd. was established in 2009 by Maurice Condie, Adam Holden & Marina Dodgson to promote participation and performance in folk and acoustic music, song and dance across the North East of England, and since the COVID lockdowns, they have expanded into the online world. Currently, they host three weekly online events on Zoom, happening at 8:00 PM UK / 12:00 PM Pacific on Monday’s, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Mondays, from 12:00 – 2:00 PM Pacific Time, Mark Wallis & Alix Sandra Huntley-Speirs host the Moosehead Traditional Irish Music Session, a participatory online Irish {instrumental} music event, timed so our friends from Ireland and the UK and join in. Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Mondays, from 3:00 – 6:00 PM Pacific Time, Irish born Maureen McNally hosts the Ag Teacht Le Chéile Irish Session, a participatory online Irish music event timed so our friends from Ireland and the UK can join in. Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Mondays, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, the Celtic Arts Center offers beginner level Irish classes online via Zoom, as well as a full evening of Celtic in-person music and dance at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood, CA. (See Below)
• On Tuesday evenings, from 7:00-8:30 PM Pacific Time, its the Andronicos San Francisco Jam, hosted by Dinah and Noah Stroe on Zoom on 1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesdays, this is a hybrid Zoom and in-person event. The in-person portion happens in the Peet’s Coffee Shop area at Andronico’s Market, Funston between Lincoln & Irving, from San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Wednesdays, from 12:00 – 2:00 PM Pacific Time, Tony Becker, hosts the Trans-Atlantic Session, an online traditional music event, featuring a mix of instrumental and vocal performances, timed so participants from Ireland and the UK can join in. Later on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Pacific, Tony hosts the Pacific Evening Session. (See Below)
• On Wednesdays, John Whelan conducts his free Play Along Sessions: Tune Learning at 2:30 PM Pacific and Taking Time at 4:00 PM both Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• Every Wednesday, at 8:00 PM Los Angeles based Stepwise, a young traditional band born of the COVID Pandemic by founders Liam Lewis and Olivia Breidenthal, performs at Griffins of Kinsale in South Pasadena, CA. (See Below)
• The Philo-Celtic Society offers four full quarters of multiple free classes focused on learning the Irish Language, and some quarters include classes in Irish Song. Fall Quarter 2024 classes began in mid-September and run through December, and include a Children’s Reading Class. All are accessible to everyone everywhere, Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Wednesdays, at at 8 – 9:30 PM Eastern / 5 – 6:30 PM Pacific, and again on Thursdays at 8 – 9:30 PM Pacific / 11 – 12:30 AM Eastern, Autumn Rhodes teaches Irish Session Repertoire for All Instruments online via Zoom from San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On 1st Thursdays, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Pacific Time, multi-instrumentalist Michael Eskin hosts The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Session, the best and most popular participatory online Irish traditional music event. (See Below)
• On 1st Thursdays at 8:00 PM, and other Thursdays at 8:30 PM, Irish Dance – San Francisco Bay Area organizes Irish set dancing at the Plough and Stars Irish Pub in San Francisco, CA. They also sponsor dances at 7:30 PM on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at Ireland’s 32 Pub in San Francisco, CA as well as set dancing lessons there on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 PM. (See Below)
• On Thursdays, at 6:00 PM Pacific Time, One Eyed Reilly plays at The Delta King Bar & Grill in Sacramento, CA, and can be heard at several other venues in the Sacramento Valley. (See Below)
• On third Thursdays, at 6:00 PM, Phillip Taylor leads a Irish/Scottish tune learning session at the Strum Shop in Roseville, CA. (See Below)
• Co-Founder Cecilia Fábos-Becker’s e-book Ancestry & DNA: Beyond the basics, is available for download now! (See Below)
• On Fridays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, (Pacific time) as well as Mondays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Tuesdays – Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Online or In-Person, Oakhurst, CA born Cedar Dobson is offering lessons in all types of Irish whistles from Gandharva Loka World Music Store in Central Dublin, Ireland. Cedar is also gathering donations on gofundme to produce physical CDs of her new album, Decade. Click here to make a donation. (See Below)
• Sláinte Pub has reopened it’s doors as of Friday, December 15th, 2023 at 5:00 PM. The New partners are offering a limited menu of great food as well as great drinks and Irish Music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, at the same location at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. (See Below)
• Now in their 3rd year, Willow on the Green, operated by friend of the family Alex Sinclair and located on 9th Avenue in San Francisco, CA, is especially convenient to Golden Gate Park, and caters to the park revelers, offering a unique array of ready to eat culinary delights. (See Below)
• Well known Flying Scot and all round traditional musician David Brewer has launched his online music lessons, accessible to anyone, anywhere Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• The Starry Plough is now open everyday, with all the events it’s many long term customers had before the pandemic, in Berkeley, CA. (See Below)
• Music and Dance have returned to the cherished San Francisco, CA Celtic cultural institution, The Plough and the Stars, now open from Wednesday through Sunday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM. (See Below)
• The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, the local Irish Pub bringing the culture of Ireland to downtown San Francisco at 5th and Howard. (See Below)
• Multi-genre violin teacher (especially Irish Traditional Music) and performer Darcy Noonan is available for gigs and lessons. (See Below)
• Sport your Celtic heritage! AmeriCeltic offers a colorful array of items, each emblazoned with the AmeriCeltic logo. (See Below)
• The Celtic Tea Shoppe, in San Jose is your source for Celtic and Celtic inspired carry-out fresh baked foods, confections and rare teas. (See Below)
• With an extensive selection of instruments and instructional material from around the world, Lark In The Morning in Berkeley, CA is open for in person and online sales and lessons. (See Below)
• Publican Stan Gamble has re-opened The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant, offering full service 7 days a week from 4pm to late. (See Below)
Scan our feature articles below, or as always, you can click here to check the full listings on our website.
Friday, December 6th
7:30 PM Ireland/UK
2:30 PM Eastern
11:30 AM Pacific
On the first or second Friday of each month, Linn Phipps hosts a Srùbag Gaelic singing session online via Zoom. Linn always invites a Special Guest who sings five songs and the rest of the time is a participatory singaround.
We are delighted to invite you to our next Srùbag, Friday, December 6th, 19:30 UK / Ireland time. We welcome Conor Ó Gallachóir as our special Guest, who will sing songs in Irish.
Conor Ó Gallachóir hails from Gort a’Choirce in Northwest Donegal and is a renowned sean nós singer nationwide. He has won may prizes for his singing, being a three time U18 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann champion as well as winning Corn Annie Eoghain Éamoinn for U18 singers at Oireachtas na Samhna twice. His most recent achievement was winning Corn Cuimhneacháin Amhránaithe Mhúscraí for Men U35 at Oireachtas na Samhna 2023.
As usual everyone who wants to join in to listen to or to sing a Celtic language (Scottish/Irish Gaelic, Breton or Welsh) song is very welcome, as are ceilidh songs so we can all join in. Srùbag has become an ambassador for Gàidhlig and Celtic languages and we all enjoy joining in the Srùbag adventure, whether occasional or regular. As usual everyone who wants to join in to listen to or to sing a Celtic language (Scottish/Irish Gaelic, Breton or Welsh) song is very welcome, as are ceilidh songs so we can all join in.
There are a lot of pre-recorded ceilidhs out there – we wanted to create a space for sharing Gaelic songs live online. Scottish and Irish Gaelic songs are welcome, as are songs from the wider Celtic family such as Breton songs. We have a monthly Guest singer and additionally the song turn goes round the virtual ‘Room’. Please drop in and bring your own Srùbag (cuppa) and a song, or drop in to listen. Please see our Facebook page or contact me, Linn Phipps, at linnphipps@gmail.com for the Zoom link and/or more information.
Linn Phipps is a Royal National Mod Medallist having won the Silver Pendant (the highest solo singing prize for learners of Scottish Gaelic) in 2008, along with many other national Gaelic song competitions.
For the past several years, Linn has hugely enjoyed participating as a Regular in Zoom sings around the world, now over 1000 folk and shanty sings, from Western to Eastern USA, through to Ireland (including An Goilin and SEAC), UK, Brittany, Paris and Australia.
Linn Zoom-hosts two monthly, free Zoom meetings: Learn-Gaelic-Song session and Srùbag, a monthly Gaelic/Celtic language sing based in Edinburgh. She has contributed to many to virtual folk festivals from the USA to Australia, as a Zoom host and the host of workshop sessions to Learn-a Gaelic Song. She has created a Youtube channel featuring solos songs, and collaborations with Australia, Gaelic songs ‘Cho sean ris na cnuic’ and ‘Tha mi duilich, cianail, duilich’, and ‘Amazon’ (about the burning rainforest).
Linn has issued 5 CDs: ‘Andes to Antarctica’ (live-recording from on-ship in Antarctica), Leth Linn (re-issue), Salute to Rona Lightfoot (double CD, Rona’s life and piping stories, Rona’s piping songs and piping of the tunes/ pibrochs, all on Linn’s Website to listen or buy. And a new CD as Sillertides with her co-sing partner Doug Huggins in Colorado, on bandcamp at sillertides.bandcamp.com. The CD launch concert is on the Sillertides’ new Youtube channel at https://bit.ly/3hzmYNC.
Check Linn’s website: https://linnphippsfolk.co.uk for full details.
Merced Theatre, Merced, CA. Details
Old First Church, San Francisco, CA. Details
The Backroom, Berkeley, CA. Details
Los Gatos United Methodist Church, Los Gatos, CA. Details
Music and More Performing Arts and Visual Center, Auburn, CA. Details
Acclaimed trio, Golden Bough, is rooted in the traditional music of the seven Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, The Isle of Man, French Brittany and Spanish Galicia). Golden Bough has become a popular and in-demand group on both sides of the Atlantic. Since their formation in 1980, this trio of modern day minstrels has traveled great distances to numerous countries, to bring their music to enthusiastic folk fans the world over. Backing themselves on an array of acoustic instruments; Celtic harp, guitar, octave-mandolin, mandolin, accordion, violin, penny-whistle and bodhran, they blend their voices in the pristine harmonies that have become a Golden Bough trademark. To date they have released over 30 recordings. In the recording studio, as well as on stage, Golden Bough captures the essence and joy of traditional music.
Golden Bough is:
Paul Espinoza, vocals, guitar, accordion
Margie Butler, lead vocals, harp, whistles, recorders
Kathy Sierra, fiddle, whistles
For more information, email info@goldenboughmusic.com.
Here a link to their many music videos
For more on Golden Bough, email margie@goldenboughmusic.com or check the website: www.goldenboughmusic.com.
More information on the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/goldenboughmusic
Now in its 19th season, Irish Christmas in America brings together world-class musicians, singers, and dancers in an intimate and engaging performance rich in history, humor, and boundless energy. Pensive ballads, lively instrumentals, and thrilling Irish dance, plus evocative photographic images, create an enchanting start to the holiday season.
Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil / That Night in Bethlehem, sung by Caitríona Sherlock
The Wren’s Nest with Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl on Uillean Pipes
Produced by fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada of the award-winning Irish group Téada, this years show features Caitríona Sherlock, a talented young singer from Monaghan. Winner of All-Ireland titles for singing in 2013 & 2017, since then, Caitríona has gone on to perform internationally with Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, appearing frequently alongside Ireland’s leading instrumentalists and orchestras. Caitríona brings to Irish Christmas in America a magical voice and stage presence, invoking the warmth and charm of an Irish Christmas evening.
The cast also includes Gráinne Hambly, Irish Harp, Concertina, Seán Gavin, Uilleann Pipes, Flute and Patrick Doocey, Guitar, with lively instrumental tunes and thrilling Irish old-style dancing by Samantha Harvey, this is a holiday celebration to remember. This family-friendly performance offers a view into some of the rich historical traditions of the Emerald Isle.
The show was originally conceived to share traditional, if sometimes unknown, seasonal Irish customs in a heartfelt demonstration of how music kept early Irish immigrants close to home as they made their way in the new world and powerful photographic images provide a backdrop to rich historical traditions of Ireland.
Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring you a fun-filled start to the holiday season.
Check out the Website: Irish Christmas in America
‘Lively and reflective…a powerful evocation of the season‘
Cornish Christmas in Grass Valley
Main and Mill streets in downtown Grass Valley, CA
Friday nights from 6 to 9 PM, November 29th through, December 20th
Christmas past beckons from Grass Valley’s Cornish fair, recalling the area’s Cornish heritage and traditions. Expect a multi-sensory overload during the festivities, which begin Nov. 23. Streets teem with Christmas cheer from carolers, musicians, jugglers, the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir, Santa Claus and the Tommyknocker Cloggers. Historic buildings twinkle with lights. Food carts of roasting chestnuts and other delicious food and drink options line the streets, and California artists will have their handcrafted goods and decorations on display.
Santa will take up residence at Three Lilies Photography, Mrs. Clause and elves will be handing out candy canes. Cornish Cousin history booth by The Union steps, Annual Downtown merchant ornament and Cornish Christmas button at Foothill Mercantile. Kids’ crafts at the Artists Workshop and the Holbrooke Hotel, Holbrooke Hotel will host music and activities outside the building. Something different each week! Letters to Santa that receive a reply at Tofanelli’s Gold Country Bistro, Special appearances will include the CHP horses time to be determined, Pony Rides and Bounce house will be a part of the festivities on Mill Street. Chestnuts by Cecil Snow of Snowden drafting on Main Street across from Foothill Flowers, Fire pit by Old Town Cafe and at top of Main by Holbrooke, Toys For Tots will be taking donations at the Clocktower at their booth. The Cornish Connection at M3Mall includes free gift-wrapping, Cornish Trivia, and Cornish King and Queen photo opportunities. Mulled wine at Lucchesi Winery and Avanguardia, Face Painting and Balloons on Mill street.
Full Details at https://downtowngrassvalley.com/gvda-events/56th-annual-cornish-christmas-2/. More on Grass Valley at http://downtowngrassvalley.com.
4:00 – 7:00 PM Emerald Pub: Fast Session
Wednesdays 7:00 PM: Fiddle/Whistle
Thursdays 7:00 PM: Bag Pipes
Every Saturday, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, there are free Irish Traditional Music Fast Sessions in the UICC’s Emerald Pub. Email Cormac Gannon for details.
On the First Saturday of every month, there are free, Irish Traditional Music Slow Sessions in the UICC’s Members’s Room.
Email Matt Moore for details.
Thursday December 12th, at 7:00 PM, in the St. Francis Room, An Evening with Brian Brady
Crime Book Author | Ex-Head of Movie Studio Security | Retired Chief of Police
Brian Brady is the author of the SPFD Homicide Inspector series, including, Oh, What a Tangled Web and Hiding in Plain Sight. A native of San Francisco, California, Brian found bountiful inspiration in his city’s architecture, sports, people, and traditions. He has worked hard as a chief of police and has more than 40 years’ experience working in security field, such as his role of security for the Vice President and Deputy Chief Security Officer at NBC Universal Media, LLC and Directory of Security at SFMOMA.
Youth Music Classes are ongoing at UICC-SF. On Mondays, drumming classes at 5:00 PM, on Wednesdays for fiddle at 7:00 PM and on Thursdays at 7:00 PM for tin whistle and bag pipe classes. They are gauging interest in button accordion classes, and organizing a youth ceili band. These music classes are offered in partnership with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Cooley Keegan Branch, and scholarships are available to defray the cost of tuition. For info., email class instructor Dan Cotter terrimaverick@yahoo.com or call him at 650-784-9347, or email organizer Liam Reidy lreidy@irishcentersf.org or call him at 415-860-1854.
The United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco (UICC-SF) operates a large event facility serving the Irish and other Cultural communities, in the Sunset District near the San Francisco Zoo. Thanks to our hard working small staff and dozens of volunteers, the UICC Wawona Gates Outdoor Dining has operated a bustling outdoor dining space under a 1,800 square foot open-sided canopy since January 2021, and offers indoor events in their St. Francis Room as well as their spacious Saint Patrick’s Room!
We hope you can join us for our 8th annual Irish Christmas Hooley for dinner, drinks & craic at the Juniper Hotel by Hilton in Cupertino.
The Hooley includes a champagne reception at 6 PM, followed by a three course meal with Irish Christmas cake and wine, fun prizes, music, and dancing. At 11 PM we will adjorn to the hotel bar (next to the ballroom) for an Irish sing-song, where we will have craic agus ceol until the night ends at 2 AM.
Please invite friends and all those you think might be interested in joining in the festivities. The more the merrier!
For guests wishing to stay at the hotel, a special discounted room rate will be shared shortly.
Tickets are now on sale for the Irish Christmas Hooley on Saturday, December 7th, 2024. Purchase your tickets today! Tickets can be purchased here:
https://irishchristmashooley.ticketspice.com/irish-christmas-hooley
• Drinks Reception: 6:00 PM
• Dinner: 7:00 PM
• Music, Dancing & Sing Song 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Dress code: Cocktail Attire.
Tickets $170 https://irishchristmashooley.ticketspice.com/irish-christmas-hooley
All Sales final.
Organizers: Jim Slevin, Aine O’Donovan, Helen Hartnett & Sandra Pelino
Questions: Email us at irishchristmashooley@gmail.com
Get more information via email to Jim Slevin, jim.slevin@comcast.net
Hooley Website: https://irishchristmashooley.org/
Mr. & Mrs. Claus — 1:30-2:30
Concert — 3:00-5:00
Join The Valerie Rose Trio at beautiful St. Columba’s in Inverness, CA reveling in gorgeous Celtic Christmas songs such as Wexford Carol, singing along with classic Christmas favorites such as Winter Wonderland and Jingle Bells, and tapping your toes to joyous jigs and reels. Featuring three-part vocals along with guitar, fiddle, and Irish flute, this concert will put a smile on your face. Got young kids/grandkids? Come early and they can meet Santa!
Valerie Rose, a current member of Wake the Dead, presents songs and dance tunes from the great Irish / Celtic tradition. Hearkening back to the pioneers of the Celtic folk music revival such as Clannad and Altan, Valerie’s arrangements of traditional tunes and songs are spiced with rich harmonies and playful interchanges between voice and instruments. Audiences find captivating the pure, haunting quality of her voice and the vibrant intensity of her fiddling. With each piece, she brings to life the transcendent beauty of Celtic melodies and the joyous energy of the tradition’s jigs and reels. Find out more about Valerie on her website: http://www.vrosemusic.com/
Jason Pollack is one of the most dynamic Irish flute players in the Bay Area. His full sound and crisp ornamentations help bring the tunes of Irish Traditional Music alive. He always seeks to express the unique character and energy of each tune, from lively and bright to somber and dark, and many shades in between. Having been classically trained, Jason found Irish music later in life and has been devoted to it ever since. He believes that, since the tunes are dance music, if people are moving to the music, then he’s done his job, he’s doing it right.
Sylvia Herold in her first appearance at St. Columba’s is a noted singer and guitar performer from the San Francisco Bay Area. As a song sleuth Sylvia Herold mines the motherlode of American jazz and popular song from the 1930s through the 1960s. Songs of wit and romance by composers Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, George Gershwin, and Harold Arlen are lovingly rendered in a voice the San Francisco Examiner calls ‘mesmerizing.’ Herold was a member of the swing vocal trio Cats & Jammers and The Hot Club of San Francisco. Currently, she tours and records with Wake the Dead, The Lonestar Retrobates and The Sylvia Herold Ensemble. She has appeared on more than 25 albums, including five solo recordings. and is a highly regarded instructor of guitar and repertoire privately, online, and at adult music camps across the United States.
From early days with The Bothy Band to his celebrated solo performances, Kevin Burke is considered one of Irish music’s luminaries. The recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA in the US, and in Ireland the prestigious Gradam Ceoil award, he is acknowledged as a master of the tradition. Although Kevin has spent much of his life playing in a group context, he has never lost his love for solo fiddle music.
One of the greatest fiddlers of this or any generation, Kevin Burke is known far and wide, a legend in traditional Irish music. His bow has driven the Bothy Band, Patrick Street, Open House and Celtic Fiddle Festival. He was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in the US, and in Ireland the prestigious Gradam Ceoil Award. His solo performances of flawless unaccompanied fiddle, delivered with humorous stories of the tunes and their makers, are an absolute delight. Kevin’s easy and welcoming manner leaves the audience feeling like privileged guests, and with a richer understanding of this great tradition. Whatever context, band or solo, Kevin Burke’s fiddle is a dynamic melodic force, the voice of the master.
A lyrical player of emotional electricity. – The Washington Post
More Details on www.kevinburke.com
After Christmas Céili
Join the Cooley Keegan Branch of Comhaltas for a fun night of music and dancing during our Céilí on Sunday, December 8th in the large upstairs ballroom of the United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco!
A céilí is a traditional Irish dance event. Complete beginners and advanced dancers alike are welcome. No experience or partner needed to attend. Live traditional Irish music will be performed by the Sourdough Céilí Band!
Snacks, tea, and coffee will be provided. Please feel free to bring a treat to share during break time.
Admission:
• $15 for members of Comhaltas. You can become a member by following this link.
• $20 otherwise
How to find us: The ceili is on the 2nd floor in St. Patrick’s Room (the large ballroom). Entrance will be from the REAR of the UICC through Wawona Gates on Wawona Street and up the steps from the parking lot. Elevator access will also be open.
Please RSVP through Meetup. Get info at the Irish Dance-San Francisco Bay Area Meetup group.
Any questions can be emailed to Susan Keith.
A Celtic Christmas
UCSC Music Center Recital Hall, Santa Cruz, CA. Details
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, Sebastopol, CA. Details
Van Duzer Theatre @ Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA. Details
Cascade Theatre, Redding, CA. Details
Craterian Theater, Medford, OR. Details
The Reser, Beaverton, OR. Details
Every Christmas for the past 29 years, William Coulter (lecturer in guitar and UCSC alumnus) has performed with and acted as Music Director for Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas.
With a world-class ensemble of musicians, dancers and singers from both sides of the Atlantic, Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas has played to packed concert halls and to critical acclaim nationwide, recreating on stage the now-famous Rambling House; that remote cottage in the West of Ireland, where the neighbors gather every year for a communal night before Christmas. There, the rafters ring with fiery traditional music, Irish Christmas carols, riveting traditional dance and, of course, stories of life in the remote parish of Teampall an Ghleanntáin, Tomáseen’s birthplace. The show invites its audience to come into that cottage, into that world, into that era, with us, and be our neighbors for the night.
If you can’t cross the Atlantic, at least make your way to A Celtic Christmas. – Cleveland Plain Dealer
A Celtic Christmas received a standing ovation at the end. Some people may have been standing to reach for a tissue … it was heart tugging. Foley runs pictures and thoughts across the mind like shooting stars on a crystalline night, with emotions shaking the ground. – Green Bay Press Gazette
…fashion an imagined moment in time co-existing peacefully with the spirit of Christmas, recreating the innocence and charm of times gone by…’ –The State Journal-Register, Springfield, IL
Click Here for Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas Videos http://bit.ly/32cCXWY
Show Site: www.acelticchristmas.com
For more info, sights and sounds, visit http://tomaseenfoley.com
St Michael’s Episcopal Church, Carmichael, CA. Details
Trinity Cathedral, San Jose, CA. Details
Calvary Church, Santa Cruz, CA. Details
The Lost Church, San Francisco, CA. Details
Hillside Club, Berkeley, CA. Details
St Mary’s by the Sea, Pacific Grove, CA. Details
St Mary’s by the Sea, Pacific Grove, CA. Details
Milking Parlour, San Luis Obispo, CA. Details
The 18th Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration will once again crisscross the Golden State for the Yuletide season. Over the years, previous iterations of the show have highlighted Scottish bagpipes and Swedish polskas, but this year the show will spotlight the mandolin and banjo skills of young prodigy Tyler Weed. The band will include his father John Weed on fiddle, Paul Kotapish on guitar and vocals, Amelia Hogan on vocals and bodhran, and Marisa Gilman will be back his year with along with Cameron Carlson-Riddle with their lively brand of traditional Irish dance. This will be a fun and lively evening full of holiday music and youthful energy led by veterans of the west coast Celtic music scene.
John Weed has toured and recorded for dozens of years as part of the highly regarded Celtic band Molly’s Revenge, New World String Project, Little Black Train, and other ensembles. Paul Kotapish is a well-known virtuoso on guitar and is new this year to the Winterdance family. Amelia Hogan is an impeccably authentic singer of Celtic music, and her heart comes through in honeyed tones on Irish, Scottish, British, and American-styled vocals. Tyler Weed, the youngest member of the group, comes by Celtic music naturally. He was raised in a musical family, hearing his mother and father playing fiddle since birth, and he learned guitar from ‘Uncle’ Stuart Mason, Winterdance emeritus, since a wee lad.
Full Details at mollysrevenge.com
Songbook Release & Holiday Concert
Ring in the Solstice with fresh arrangements of traditional tunes and carols from the British Isles and European cultures!
In keeping with their annual tradition, Celtic/Medieval Ensemble Broceliande will welcome in the Winter Solstice with a joyous concert of traditional and Early music of the season. Between them they play Celtic harp, cello, guitars, recorders, nyckelharpa, octave mandolin, flute, hardanger cello d’amore, and oboe. Join us for dances, carols, ballads and the traditional drink of wassail after the show!
For Tickets and Details, email Margaret Davis.
This will be a 6 PM show on the lawn. Gather at from 6 PM for a beautiful concert with Celtic traditional and early European Classical music. Go back in time surrounded by beauty.
Margaret Davis (soprano, Celtic harp, recorders, and flute), Kristoph Klover (tenor, guitar, octave mandolin and oboe), and Kris Yenney (alto, cello, nyckelharpa and percussion) weave a timeless musical tapestry of blended harmonies and striking instrumental textures.
The concert’s musical travels will transport you to Castles, Courts, Countrysides and beyond.
CLICK HERE for a video preview.
Check out the Brocelïande Website
of San Francisco
Annual Banquet & Ball
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saint Andrew’s Society of San Francisco has the best ceilidhs and is thrilled to announce the highly-anticipated 159th Annual Banquet & Ball, a signature event known for its refined opulence and Scottish cultural significance. Break out that evening dress or Prince Charlie or tuxedo for a SPECTACULAR evening of friends and community as we celebrate our Annual Banquet and Ball.
The night begins with arrival cocktails and entertainment at 6:00 PM, followed by a seated dinner at 7:00 PM featuring Scottish delicacies such as haggis, Cullen skink, and clootie dumpling. Throughout the evening, enjoy lively performances by Highland dancers, pipers, and world-class fiddlers, immersing you in Scotland’s rich musical traditions.
We’ll conclude the evening with a Ceilidh dance, where Scottish Country Dancing Caller Juliet Davoren will guide guests through the steps to ensure everyone can join the fun.
The Saint Andrews Society of San Francisco welcomes you to share in this exceptional celebration, embracing tradition, philanthropy, and cherished memories at the 159th Annual Banquet & Ball. Together, we elevate Scottish culture and extend support to those in need.
• Member Ticket: $225
• Non-Member Ticket: $250
• Couples Ticket: $425
• Table of 8 Tickets: $1,700
S`Get Your Tickets NOW!
Full Price Ticket Sales close December 6th.
Saint Andrews Society of San Francisco Website: https://saintandrewssocietysf.org/
Saturday, December 21st 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Join our Celtic Chistmas Celebration and Holiday Marketplace!
• Walk our Celtic Labyrinth
• Experience Celtic Folk Culture
• Sample Celtic Food and Drink
• Shop our Holiday Marketplace
1:00 PM Turf in the Bog with Irish flute player
Eric Owens. Eric leads the Turf in the Bog band which includes many of Irish flute player Eric Owens’s musician friends from across California.
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@ericowensflute
3:00 PM Album Launch and Special Performance by Cedar Dobson
Multi-talented, Cedar Dobson, an Oakhurst native, will release her second album, A Whistle Wonderland, Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style and give a special holiday concert.
Check Cedar’s Website: www.cedardobson.com
For more info check https://ygac.org/, email yosemitegatewayartcenter@gmail.com or call 559-683-5551.
Yosemite Gateway Art Center, Oakhurst, CA. Details
Yosemite Wine Tails, Oakhurst, CA. Details
The North Fork Studio, North Fork, CA. Details
The Positive Living Center, Oakhurst, CA. Details
Yosemite Wine Tails, Oakhurst, CA. Details
Cope-a-Cabana, San Jose, CA. Details
Cedar Dobson, 24, is a multi-credentialed visual artist, photographer, videographer, musician and composer specializing in traditional Irish and Scottish music. Cedar plays the Tin Whistle, Irish Flute, Bodhrán, Mandolin, Uilleann Pipes, and Guitar. Although born and raised in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, Cedar has moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she has earned her BA degree in Music Production and now aspires to a career as an independent musician.
Cedar has just released her second album, A Whistle Wonderland, Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style, and will be giving several in person performances, accompanied by guitarist Mark Dunn, around the Sierra Foothills over the upcoming holidays, beginning Saturday, December 21st.
Whistle Demo
Cradling Arms of Croaghan/Back to Belfast
Two Jigs and Two Reels with John Doyle
Promo: A Whistle Wonderland, Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style
https://tradify.bandcamp.com/album/take-flight
https://cedardobsonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-whistle-wonderland-christmas-melodies-in-a-celtic-style
https://cedardobsonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/harmonies
Cedar has just released her second album, A Whistle Wonderland, Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style. She is still gathering donations for her third album, Decade.
Fridays: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Mondays: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Tu,We,Th: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
(Pacific Time)
Online via Zoom or In-Person
from Gandharva Loka World Music Store, 62 South Great Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Cedar also offers private, affordable and enjoyable tin whistle lessons! Lessons, either in-person or via Zoom, are taught from the studio at Gandharva Loka World Music Store in Central Dublin, Ireland. Lessons are available at Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced levels, as well as Low Whistle and Percussive and Improvisation style lessons.
Your first lesson is a free trial. If the student would like to continue lessons, they can book four or eight of them (one a week for four/eight weeks) for an affordable set price. The lessons are 45 minutes long and the student will be given notes and resources from the lessons.
To book a lesson, email Cedar or message her on Facebook
Email: cedardobsonmusic@gmail.com
Facebook: Cedar Dobson Music
Instagram: @cedar_dobson_music
Youtube: Cedar Dobson Music
Website: www.cedardobson.com
The Pub Scouts, an Irish band, plays every Friday (30+ years) at Duffy’s Tavern, Chico, from 5pm-8pm.
A Chico Tradition for over 30 years – Great Tunes – Good Friends – Cocktails and Pints
Aquatic Park bleachers east of the Maritime Museum building
3rd Saturdays 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Online via Zoom
The San Francisco Chantey Sing is a beloved Bay Area musical tradition. Chanteys are the work songs of seafaring, dock labor, fishing and rowing, are one of the most compelling ways to celebrate our maritime heritage. International and multi-cultural in scope, they tell stories of life in long-ago History, but resonate today with tales of bravery, fear, international port of call, and of longing for a better life.
Now in its 41st year, Park volunteer and retired Park Ranger Peter Kasin continues as emcee for 2 monthly sings taking the role of chantey Empresario, introducing singers and setting up the songs, and you can join either in person or from your own home via online connections, to help bring joy, calm the nerves, and help us get through these trying times!
Peter Kasin says,
Ahoy –
In-person chantey sings have returned to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park every first Saturday, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, in the Aquatic Park bleachers east of the Maritime Museum building, 900 Beach Street, foot of Polk.RESERVATIONS: To reserve, please email me here peterkasin5@gmail.com. Your last name with the number in your party will be on the reservation list held inside the museum entrance by a volunteer.
We will also continue the monthly virtual chantey sing online. Virtual Singing participants, who have signed up for performing slots in advance, will share their favorite songs, either accompanying themselves on traditional instruments, or a cappella.
If not leading a song, no registration necessary. givebutter.com/ChanteySing activates at 11:00 AM on 3rd Saturdays, where lead singers will be in the “Hollywood squares” (gallery view) and you can sing along from home!
Visit https://maritime.org/events-home/chantey-sing for complete details, including links to an online signup sheet, instructions for lead singers, and some suggested virtual backgrounds (just in case your bunk isn’t completely ship-shape). You’ll need a good internet connection, and should be prepared to have fun!
Donations to the Association will be accepted during the event, which will be used to buy virtual technologies to broadcast more events from the Park.
For more details, check this Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP
The San Francisco Chantey Sings became a park program in 1981, led by it’s founding Park Ranger Dave Nettell from 1981 to 1989 aboard the Schooner C.A. Thayer and the square-rigged ship Balclutha. Over the years, the sings popularity, led by Park Rangers, required them to be held in a larger venue, and, up until Covid, were held aboard the historic ferry Eureka, garnering 100 to 200 people monthly.
If you’d like to learn more about this fascinating folk music tradition, the Park Maritime Research Center’s Chantey Pathfinder has links to books, music and scholarly journal articles at https://go.nps.gov/chanteyinfo. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park includes a fleet of historic ships, Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and the Aquatic Park Historic District. Visit the Park online at http://www.nps.gov/safr
Eric Owens is an Irish flute player.
Eric Owens Says:
Every Sunday I play jigs and reels solo or with friends for 4 hours in the large room in the Yosemite Wine Tails wine bar. I’m joined by a bodhran player approx 25% of the time, but I also play with other friends as well as all across California under the name Turf in the Bog to include my musician friends from around the state.
Many such gigs have a completely different lineup, with some regulars as well depending on the location and venue. Last year we played the Kern County Scottish games, Oakhurst Harvest Festival, Tradfest West, Rock the Gates, Fairfax Irish Music Festival and many more events.
Some of these events can be viewed at my YouTube channel (see below).
On Saturdays, I attend the session at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. All levels are welcome and audience is welcome as well.
Eric Owens woden.eric@gmail.com
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@ericowensflute
First Sundays Online Workshop
Lets Learn Irish is an online Irish community, providing daily classes, conversation sessions and workshops for learners throughout the world. First established by Dr. Ronan Connolly in Washington DC in 2009, and the Let’s Learn Irish story of ‘the online Gaeltacht’ has resonated with a global online audience. Let’s Learn Irish is now the largest provider of online Irish courses and comhrá sessions for learners.
Check out their Free Workshop on the first Sunday of every month. This one hour online session is suitable for those who are new to Irish, as well as for those who are currently studying the language! Click Here to get register for the Zoom Link. After the Free Workshop, Attendees are welcome to stay on afterwards to ask questions and learn about the online Irish language community.
Registration closes one hour before the workshop begins early on Sunday mornings, so do it now to be ready for the next first Sunday.
They also offer a free three video self-directed phrase course, https://letslearnirish.com/courses/freeclass, you can take at a time convenient to you.
The Let’s Learn Irish online community was developed at University of Galway, Ireland to support Irish learners throughout the world.
They provide daily online classes, comhrá sessions and community workshops, and weekly courses for all levels. Learners from all over the USA and further afield attend these classes, and since all sessions are video recorded, many more learners follow along in their own time and/or timezone each week. If you want to attend one of our Cúrsaí, but are unable to attend the live sessions, then you can still join us by following our video recordings! Use coupon ‘VideoOnly’ at the checkout for a 25% discount.
The upsurge in interest in the language, and the success of the Oscar-nominated ‘An Cailín Ciúin‘, marks a watershed moment. On their website, there are links to learner profiles, articles and news from their community. Their Press page provides further insights into their story and online activities.
Links:
YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/letslearnirish
Courses: LetsLearnIrish.com/cursai
Press: LetsLearnIrish.com/press/
Articles: LetsLearnIrish.com/ailt/
Learner Profiles: LetsLearnIrish.com/member-profiles/
About: LetsLearnIrish.com/about
Contact Info: LetsLearnIrish.com/contact/
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go partner dancing in Ireland? Well, set dance events have been happening in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 30 years, and more recently, Irish Dance – San Francisco Bay Area has been continuing that tradition.
Set dancing is the social form of folk dancing. It is NOT the performance style dancing you may have seen on ‘Riverdance’, rather, set dancing is very beginner friendly, but engaging enough to appeal to experienced dancers. So whether you are an experienced dancer looking to try something new, or an absolute beginner who wants to give dancing a try, set dancing may be for you.
If you would like to see what set dancing looks like, here are a few example videos:
• Dance: Polca an Ri – Clare Lancers
• Dance: Clare Meserks – Sona Sól
Set dancing may look complicated if you have never done it before, but it is fun and the moves and patterns become easy to do with a bit of instruction. Irish Dance – San Francisco Bay Area offers set dancing lessons on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Ireland’s 32 pub in San Francisco. Lessons are taught by Michael Murphy and Michael Riemer and are typically attended by 10-20 other dancers.
No prior dance experience of any kind is necessary. You don’t need to bring a partner – there will always be one available – but feel free to take one (or more!) along. You can wear any clothes and shoes that you’re comfortable dancing and sweating in, as dancing can be quite a workout. Removable layers are suggested, and flat shoes are recommended over heels.
Admission is only $10 per person.
If you are not yet a set dancer but are curious, their ‘Meetup’ group is the easiest way to get started: https://www.meetup.com/irishdance. If you are already a dancer, you too should join the Meetup group to get updates on upcoming events and stay in touch with other dancers.
Thank you for supporting over three decades of Irish dancing in the Bay Area!
The Delta King in Sacramento, CA
Every Thursday, at 6:00 PM with few exceptions
Father Paddy’s in Woodland, CA
All 3rd Saturdays with few exceptions
One Eyed Reilly is a genre-bending Celtic/Americana rock band from Sacramento that blends dynamic originals with Celtic rock, Americana, and energetic, innovative versions of Irish and Scottish trad. One Eyed Reilly’s original songs draw on musical influences from Irish folk to Celtic punk with occasional unexpected nuggets ranging from the likes of Bob Dylan, John Prine, Tom Waits, Wilco or the Old Crow Medicine Show. This musical mash-up forms the perfect beer-and-whiskey drenched milieu for a good time night out at the Pub.
For a One Eyed Reilly sample video, Tipperary Blood, Click Here.
More on One Eyed Reilly on their website.
One Eyed Reilly is:
• Rick Meagher, lead vocals/acoustic guitar
• Geith St John Fraser, fiddle; harmony vocals
• Aaron Hendel, bass & electric guitars
• Tim Kurteff-Schatz, drums/percussion
8:00 PM in Ireland/UK
3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
12:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Do you fancy going to the Folk Club?
Join Maria Hawthorne Boyle and her world-wide group of singing friends using Zoom, and you can give us a song or a tune from the comfort of your own home or just listen in.
This singing circle will be hosted by Andy Clapham as Caretaking Loch Down folk club while Maria Hawthorne Boyle is recovering from her illness.
Description: Andy Clapham is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Loch Down Caretaking Sundays
Join Zoom Meeting
https://link.americeltic.net/lochdown
Maria’s Meeting ID: 861 6124 5826
Andy’s email is ac@aclapham.co.uk.
To find out more contact: mariaboylegalway@gmail.com or take a look at https://www.comeandsingatgosforth.com.
The Cross Keys are a Folk Explosion, with Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O’Neill.
Cormac says:
Looking forward to playing with my comrades!
Here is a sample video featuring Stacy Samuels: https://youtu.be/8wKMcbIzKzs
Located in beautiful Fairfax, in the heart of Marin County, the Way Station has risen from the site of a former gas station into a family-friendly beer garden and smokehouse. The Way Station team prides itself on super friendly customer-focused service.
Check waystationmarin.com or The Facebook Page or call (415) 300-3099.
Please join Lynda and Verlene as they continue to enchant you on their new musical duo band, Celtic Moon in Downtown Willow Glen in San Jose, CA.
You can expect to be enchanted, by all the vocal melodies, and harmonies, inspired, by the original songs and unique folk instrumentation, mesmerized, by the double harp tunes, energized, by the blend of traditional tunes and genres like jazz, blues, country, movie themes, and world folk music, and entertained, by the multi-instrumental skills, sing-a-longs, and special guest artist appearances.
Celtic Moon is:
Lynda MacNeil: keyboard, harp, guitar, vocals
Verlene Schermer: fiddle, nyckelharpa, mandolin, concertina, harp, vocals
Verlene and Lynda hope that you can join us indoors as we explore Celtic music through the lens of many genres. This Sunday’s playlist will include John Coltrane, Taylor Swift, Emmy Lou Harris, Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Dr. Who, Verlene Schermer, Zelda, and Lynda MacNeil. We will play double harps, guitar, nickelharpa, melodica, fiddle, keys, and tenor banjo, and we will sing melodies and harmonies, recite poetry, and limericks.
Great Pizza! Beer and Cider on Tap!
To watch the Celtic Moon videos, Click Here.
Check out:
The Celtic Moon Website
Join Alexandra Annen as she leads a free community class in Irish traditional instrumental music. No experience is required to join us on the last Sunday of each month. Bring an Irish instrument.
Website: https://www.saylamusicacademy.com
Check their website, www.threetimesthrough.com for more dates.
Three Times Through is Gale Peach, Jeff Peach, Greg Mirken and Margie Mirken. We are a colorful funky kinda Celtic string quartet. We re-imagine and blend traditional and modern tunes and songs with hammered dulcimer, bodhran, concertina, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, fiddle and guitar. The emphasis is on eclectic Celtic music; spirited instrumentals, engaging vocals and haunting melodies.
People stop, stare, and ask us, ‘What is that instrument?’ Whether you’re a devoted fan of Celtic music or simply curious to experience its enchanting allure, Three Times Through invites you to join them for an unforgettable musical experience.
People often don’t realize they love Celtic music until they hear it, and the mashups are only adding to the popularity. Our a cappella vocals transport you to the North Sea, the Caribbean, or to a remote village pub in County Clare
Watch a video of the Band here: https://youtu.be/ZUq7MxtpUfM
For more on the band, check their website, www.threetimesthrough.com, Three Times Through Facebook page, Three Times Through YouTube Channel or email Jeff Peach at jwpeach@gmail.com
11 AM – 1 PM Pacific Time
The Mermaid’s Tavern is the moniker Lynn Noel gave the online folk sings she began when the COVID pandemic began and as of October, 2023, Lynn still hosts a monthly Ballad sing on the first Sunday of each month, online via Zoom.
The time slot for these sessions is a bit inconvenient for those in South Asia, (11:30 PM – 1:30 AM in New Delhi), and in Australasia, (4 – 6 AM Monday morning in Sydney), but for participants in the rest of the English speaking parts of the world it is daytime or evening on Sunday: 11 AM – 1 PM in the Pacific Time Zone / 2 PM – 4 PM Eastern / 7 PM – 9 PM in Ireland and the UK.
David Kidman is a regular participant from Yorkshire, UK. David says,
The sessions are well steered, with no idle chat – and yet there’s always time for a cordial welcome. The host’s respect for the participants goes hand-in-voice with the sense of mutual trust that this engenders. Singers therefore experience a feeling of being valued, not least for adding value to the shared experience.
Lynn has undertaken a significantly larger role in the ‘new online music community’. Lynn Noel says,
We connect and coach participatory audiences, session leaders, and performers pivoting to digital to create and cultivate online community.
For details and links, check out The Mermaid’s Tavern website, and then check out the rosters to see who joins us and what we sing, and join the mailing list for links to more online sessions.
Tips and patrons keep us on the air and releasing new music on Bandcamp, so thanks for your donations toward studio services.
More details on Lynn Noel’s personal website
12:00 PM Pacific / 3:00 PM Eastern / 8:00 PM UK
Play Along with Irish Tunes at a steady pace
Join the Meeting Passcode: 245476
Song and Tune Round Robin
11:30 AM Pacific / 2:30 PM Eastern / 7:30 PM UK
Join the Meeting Passcode: 715687
12:00 PM Pacific / 3:00 PM Eastern / 8:00 PM UK
Play Along with Irish Tunes at Full Speed
Join the Meeting Passcode: 245476
Established in 2009, Phoenix Folk exists to promote performance and participation in folk music, song and dance. We offer regular folk sessions, events and ensemble opportunities, both in the North East of England and online. Additionally, we provide a range of resources aimed at helping people to engage with folk music as both participant and listener. We put participation at the centre of all that we do, and aim to provide a comfortable space where musicians of all levels of ability can experience the joy of making music with others, extend their repertoire, challenge themselves and be inspired.
On Mondays, Maurice & Marina host a Play Along tune session leading mostly Irish Traditional Music tunes at a steady pace.
On Tuesdays, Maurice & Marina host a ‘Folk Singaround’, featuring mostly (but not exclusively) folk and traditional tunes and songs from the British Isles and North America. This regularly includes acappella and self accompanied songs, tunes, poems and readings from many attendees.
On Thursdays, Maurice & Marina host another ‘Play Along’ tune session, leading lots of Celtic tunes at full speed. They have a particular interest in Northumbrian music and see their online presence as a great opportunity to share local tunes with musicians from outside the region/outside the UK.
Phoenix Folk Website: https://phoenixfolk.co.uk
Welcome to the ONLINE ZOOM Moosehead Traditional Irish Music Session! Hosted by Mark Wallis & Alix Sandra Huntley-Speirs.
All are welcome to attend to play, and/or listen and enjoy! This is a traditional Irish tune instrument session only, Read More …
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89155330559?pwd=NHF4aTU0TSsxd01aUVdNbXhoODRGQT09
Meeting ID: 891 5533 0559
Passcode: tunes
Please also join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/trad.irish.music.session
Welcome to the Ag Teacht Le Chéile Irish Session! Hosted by native Irish singer Maureen McNally, this Traditional Irish Tune and Song Session meets every Monday at 11 PM Ireland/UK | 6 PM Eastern | 3 PM Pacific, online via Zoom.
All are welcome to attend to play, sing, and/or listen and enjoy!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://link.americeltic.net/atlc
Long time participant Cornelius (Connie) McEleney passed on in early 2023, but we still have his playlist, with lyrics and recordings of Connie singing 33 of his Irish songs to learn ourselves. Cornelius McEleney Collection.
Please email questions to: maureenmcnally6@gmail.com
Monday Social Events
Every Monday night the Celtic Arts Center offers a free introductory Irish language workshop online via Zoom for complete beginners that starts at 7PM. Check out the full details on their website here: Online Beginners Irish Language Class Mondays, 7–8PM. This beginners level emphasises on pronunciation, lower level grammar and basic conversation practice. Classes are FREE for first-timers and Celtic Arts Center members. The current term began on Monday, February. 5th, 2024, but they are still accepting new students. Email James Murphy at language@celticartscenter.com with any questions.
In addition, CAC hosts many in-person events at the Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd., in North Hollywood, CA. On Monday, October 28th, at 7:00 PM Celtic Arts Center, presents Samhain 2024, A Celtic New Year Celebration and Hallowe’en Party at The Mayflower Club! Check out the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/907760217385097. They also host a half-dozen more annual Festivals, starting with Saint Patrick’s Day, and continuing through the Celtic Year. Check out the venue website here: https://mayflowerclub.com
Weekly, on Mondays, they host several social events, beginning at 7PM with an in-person Irish Traditional Music Learners session where musicians can learn and practice traditional Celtic tunes. At 8PM there is a free Irish céilí dance workshop for both beginner and intermediate level students. All that is followed by the Center’s famous traditional music seisiún where singers and musicians from all across the L.A. area gather to play and share their love for the music of the Celts. There is no admission fee for performers or audience members and everyone is welcome to participate or just listen and watch. You may also hear the recitation of a Celtic-themed poem or even a joke told in Irish! The Center has seen many of its young members, traditional Celtic musicians and performers grow into accomplished performers who successfully tour and compete both in the U.S. and internationally.
Check out the Celtic Arts Center Website
Every week on Tuesday at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 862 8705 8150
Passcode: 312389
This gathering on Zoom is hosted every Tuesday from 7:00-8:30 PM Pacific Time, by Dinah and Noah Stroe, with a mix of old time music, some Irish, some Québécois and more. On 1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesdays, this is a hybrid Zoom and in-person event. The in-person portion happens in the Peet’s Coffee Shop area at Andronico’s Market, Funston between Lincoln & Irving, San Francisco, CA
Dinah says:
We’ve been at it since 2020 with a good system: lead tunes, you mute and play along, and every three tunes we do a friendly, eclectic round robin, where anybody who wants to lead a tune or two. If we like it — we play it!In addition to the great tunes, there are sometimes a few ‘sketchers’ creating drawings of the participants (with permission)
It’s sprinkled with jokes, books and TV recommendations and we conclude with our sketchers showing their pictures in the big reveal.
Spread the word, please and join the fun!
More info here: Old Time Open Jams Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/390588871395459
Contact Dinah Stroe dinahbeatrice@gmail.com
3:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern
8:00 – 10:00 PM GMT
10:00 – 1:00 AM Eastern
11:00 – 1:00 PM Tokyo Thurs.
Tony Becker
americeltic@gmail.com (email)
M 408 600-8783 (text)
Tony Becker of San Jose, California hosts this Trans-Atlantic Session for all interested parties on Wednesdays, at 7:00 PM Ireland and UK time, 3:00 PM Eastern or 12:00 PM Pacific in the USA.
Later that same evening, from 11:00 PM Eastern or 7:00 PM Pacific Time, Tony hosts the Pacific Evening Session, timed to for participants on the West Coast of the US and across the Pacific Ocean.
Both are a participatory online music events via Zoom.
Click here to Join the Zoom Meeting!
Each of these two sessions is open for a couple of hours to all who play or sing traditional music and with the obvious limitations of Zoom in that only one musician can play at a time but we go round the ‘room’ and take it in turns – no pressure though and the baton can be passed if you just want to listen.
On a good day we have a variety of tunes with instruments from pipes to melodeon, banjo to fiddle and an equal number of songs, with some from other cultures and languages like Irish or Scottish Gaelic! The participants are very friendly and we welcome everyone – it can be a good way to pick up any of the above! The only criterion is we try to have some of the offerings in Celtic traditional genre(s).
Please come along if you can!
with John Whelan
2:30 PM Pacific: Tune Learning
4:00 PM Pacific: Taking Time
Meeting ID: 819 0694 6608
Seven-time All-Ireland Button Accordion Champion John Whelan is one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players. John was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, and learned his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O Connor and his teacher Brendan Mulkaire. Along with his All-Ireland Championships, he was twice awarded musician of the year from the Irish Music Association. He has over 15 CDs and has performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. John’s music has been featured on such TV shows as ‘Sex in the City,’ ‘History’s Mysteries’ and ‘History Detective.’ John performs with the John Whelan Band and has also teamed up with his old pal Brian Conway forming the group Gailfean, which also features Máirtin De Cógáin and Don Penzien have released their first new CD. For over a decade, John has performed ‘Monday’s with John’ every Monday evening on his Facebook Profile.
Every Wednesday, live on Zoom, John hosts two free, play along style events: a ‘Tune Learning’ workshop, and after a break a ‘Taking Time’ slow session, both of which regularly draw attendees from around the world (see box for times).
This is also a great opportunity for learning new tunes, as everybody but the session leader (John) will be muted while they play. Unlike an in-person session you can noodle along to your heart’s content, and nobody will ever know unless you tell them.
Check them out here: http://johnwhelanmusic.com/slow-session. We send out a tune list and Zoom link for them on the same mornings. Email John at whelanbx1@me.com to get on the list or for more details.
Get more details on John’s John’s Facebook Page or John’s Website
Traditional Celtic folk duo Stepwise, Liam Lewis (mandolin, guitar, fiddle, voice) and Olivia Breidenthal (fiddle and voice) performs a mixture of traditional Irish songs with tight vocal harmonies and traditional Irish tune sets. Olivia is a practitioner of the Galway fiddle style with influences including Kevin Burke, the Kane Sisters, and Liz Carroll.
In 2022 they completed a new album of original music, Stepwise.
Click to watch a video of Stepwise performing Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still: https://youtu.be/geC8snZoqqM
Seeking a safe and socially distant place to meetup and play tunes, Stepwise was created very organically in the park; purely because it was too much fun to play so many good tunes together and not share it with an audience.
Together, Olivia and Liam’s instrumental arrangements feature intricate twin fiddles or groovy rhythm guitar fit for a traditional Ceili or the discerning ears of an Irish-enthusiast audience.
Check their Website.
Check their YouTube Channel.
Check their Facebook Page.
Email Stepwise: stepwisemusic@gmail.com
In 1872, teacher and school principal Mícheál Ó Lócháin started The Philo-Celtic Society in Brooklyn, NY, to establish a worldwide renaissance of the Irish language.
There were and are other organizations and people dedicated to other areas of Gaelic culture, such as dance and music, and we have great respect for them and we praise their work on behalf of those arts. At other periods of our history, we tried to be active in various other aspects of our culture besides the Irish language, all things for all people, until the Irish language wasn’t important at all to most of our membership. In that way, we forgot our original purpose of supporting the Irish language and the organization was on the brink of going out of existence.
However, Mícheál Ó Lócháin’s vision was still remembered, especially as the name, ‘Philo-Celtic’ literally means ‘lover of the Celtic language’, and since December of 2004, The Philo-Celtic Society has re-focused it’s activities on teaching the Irish language. Our activities went on-line, conducting classes in the Irish Language around the world using emails and through, at first on the Yahoo Groups platform, and later in Groups.io. By Fall of 2020, all our classes are offered as video classes on Zoom, making them accessible to students throughout the world.
The Philo-Celtic Society offers four full quarters of multiple free classes focused on learning the Irish Language, and some quarters include classes in Irish Song. Fall Quarter 2024 classes began in mid-September and run through December, and include a Children’s Reading Class. All are accessible to everyone everywhere, Online via Zoom
With so many different classes running at once, the school is organized using an online Group membership method. Unlike in-person classes, there is a separate Group.io webpage for each particular Class. The use of separate Groups.io webpages for administration functions avoids having the teachers directly collect and email reminders to every student. Join the particular Group.io ‘Group’, then ‘sign in’ to that particular webpage, and you are registered to attend that class.
To attend class, students simply point their browser at the Class webpage, and then open the Zoom link posted there. Since the meetings are video recorded, they remain accessible on Groups.io along with class materials, and if a student misses a class, they can always review these posts and ‘catch up’.
Here is a document that will guide you, step-by-step, through the registration process on Groups.io: Getting Started Guide (PDF)
The ‘Starting to Learn’ class for Absolute Beginners in the Irish language happens on Fridays. ‘Starting to Learn’ is suitable for Absolute Beginners — This is where you start. https://groups.io/g/philo-startingtolearn.
Check on which Irish language classes currently available on their Groups.io Messages webpage here: https://groups.io/g/philo-celtic-society/messages. Follow the links and sign into your class(es), and spread the word !!!
Current classes are also summarized on the Philo-Celtic Society Main Groups.io webpage: https://groups.io/g/philo-celtic-society
Check the Philo-Celtic Society Website: https://www.philo-celtic.com
• Wednesdays at 8 – 9:30 PM Eastern / 5 – 6:30 PM Pacific (Early for East Coast)
• Thursdays at 8 – 9:30 PM Pacific / 11 – 12:30 AM Eastern (Late for West Coast)
Autumn Rhodes was raised in a rural Indiana household full of Irish music. At the age of 12, Autumn got a tin whistle for a birthday present and a year later was performing professionally
Shortly after, Autumn progressed to the flute and concertina and learned from master players such as Laurence Nugent, Kevin Henry, and John Williams. Autumn is equally renowned as a singer in the Sean-nós style of Irish tradition.
Autumn plays wooden flute, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, and concertina in several bands, including Buncrana, Soltre, Bardic Apostles, Slaggy Maggie, Meitheal, Mira, Na Cailini, and a few others, in styles including traditional Irish, jazz, classical, Breton, folk, and Bulgarian/Romanian music.
Autumn says:
Join us for a weekly drop-in Irish tune learning class for all instruments. The only requirements are for you to have an instrument that can play in D, a little bit of experience playing Irish music, and an internet connection.I have more than 20 years of experience teaching students of all levels. Join my class for all instruments and learn classic session tunes along with technique, ornamentation, and phrasing. We will be mostly learning by ear, but I’ll provide sheet music and recordings.
On my website, https://sites.google.com/view/irishtuneclass,
I’ll be posting tunes, sheet music, recordings, history, and other resources. It’s a work in progress at the moment, but you can e-mail me with questions: autumn@cei.li (yes, it’s a real email address). Stay tuned (pun 100% intended).$15-20 suggested donation (but nobody turned away) via PayPal, paypal.me/concertinachick or @Autumn-Rhodes on Venmo, or CashApp $ConcertinaChick, Apple Pay, or other.
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/irishtuneclass
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/irishtuneclass
Email Autumn: autumn@cei.li
The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Traditional Session on Zoom
When COVID restrictions began in March, 2020, many weekly gatherings shifted to meeting online via the Zoom platform. With restrictions in California easing a bit, some are reducing or ending their Zoom musical meetings, but Michael Eskin says his, and since he has hosted over a hundred of these accessible performances so far, I believe him!
Michael Eskin says:
With other Zoom sessions either closing down or changing to once-a-month format, and a few in person sessions restarting, I wanted to remind everyone that I’ll continue to host The Ould Sod Virtual Session on Zoom every first Thursday evening for as long as there are enough players each time, and we’ve generally been between 20 and 30 players on the past few first Thursdays.Players: Please join us and let other players know about our weekly Zoom event!
Punters: You are welcome to attend and listen, but please also and let others know about our weekly event!
More information at: http://michaeleskin.com/session
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Our friend Phillip Taylor is hosting an Irish/Scottish learning session at the Strum Shop in Roseville, CA. We are a group of learners supporting one another’s musical growth and knowledge of Celtic tunes. Advanced musicians should be aware and bring their patience as well as their instruments. Newer musicians are welcome, but we are not instructors…
Phil says:
It’s a learning session, meaning we have a stable list that changes slowly to allow people to practice between sessions. It is slower than a normal session, and we hand out written music and may practice the same song more than once at different speeds. You can contact me at phillipetaylor@yahoo.com
Break Through your Ancestry Brick Walls!
by Cecilia Fábos-Becker
There are many good basic manuals, both in print and online, that can help you get started researching your ancestors and finding lost cousins, but in over fifty years of research into our own Scots-Irish, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ancestry, I’ve learned what works well and what doesn’t, as well as many useful sources and links.
Now, I have written a book, Ancestry & DNA – Beyond the Basics, to help you, and all Americans find their origins. My book will be especially useful to especially Celtic Americans doing family history research, and it is available for immediate download!
Author Celia Fábos-Becker
My Book includes:
• Introduction to Family History Documents
• What are REAL Primary Sources?
• America’s Dark Age (1783 to 1850)
• Finding Family Records with online services
• Introduction to Family History DNA
• Using DNA Tests to help Find Family History
• How autosomal, MtDNA, or Y-DNA tests can help
• DNA Testing Company Reviews
• Loads of Examples
Dancing Details: Irish Dance Meetup Group
The Plough and Stars Irish Pub, is known around the world for hosting incredible Irish music and pulling beautiful pints of Guinness since 1975. Since then, it has evolved to host live music every night of the week, except Monday, including all genres of music; Bluegrass, Country, Rock, Zydeco, acoustic Americana, and of course, Irish Traditional.
Over the years The Plough and the Stars in San Francisco has hosted many well-known musicians from Ireland and around the globe, but the COVID pandemic and related public health restrictions put a stop to all that for over a year. The resulting business losses threatened to put The Plough out of business permanently, but a sustained community crowdfunding effort helped keep it going, and now it appears to have emerged intact.
Sean Heaney says:
Music and Dance at the Plough are back. See the boxes for the latest details or check our website or just drop by for a pint!
Check for the latest updates:
The Plough and Stars Website
The Plough and Stars Facebook Page
Monday – Thursday 3:00 PM til close
Friday – Sunday 12:00 PM til close
The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, is a bustling SoMa spot with delicious food offerings to choose from. Large beer selection, wine menu and cocktail list to feast from.
This local Irish Pub brings the culture of Ireland to San Francisco, offering a full bar, Happy Hour specials, and a full Irish restaurant menu, including favorites like Fish And Chips and our signature Spicy Potato Bites which go with any style of sport, music or fun.
Says Publican, Mark Nagle:
Good health to you all and look forward to seeing you back at The Chieftain soon! — Mark Nagle
The Chieftain hosts live performers every Friday and Saturday, often featuring new musical talents, and Live Irish Music on Sundays from 6:30 PM.
For the latest happenings, check the Chieftain facebook Page, or call 415-615-0916, or email Mark Nagle at mark@thechieftain.com or check www.thechieftain.com.
Irish Tin Whistle Lessons
Fridays: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Mondays: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Tu,We,Th: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
(Pacific Time)
Online via Zoom or In-Person
Cedar Dobson, 23, is a multi-credentialed visual artist, photographer, videographer, musician and composer specializing in traditional Irish and Scottish music. Cedar plays the Tin Whistle, Irish Flute, Bodhrán, Mandolin, Uilleann Pipes, and Guitar.
Cedar is releasing her 2nd Album, A Whistle Wonderland – Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style, on BandCamp today, Friday, November 15th. Check her Facebook Page for links and updates https://www.facebook.com/CedarDobsonMusic
Whistle Demo
Cradling Arms of Croaghan/Back to Belfast
Two Jigs and Two Reels with John Doyle
Cedar says:
I’m so excited to be currently creating my first Irish traditional/contemporary trad solo album, Decade! This project is a heartfelt journey through the most influential tunes of my ten-year whistle-playing career. Every donation will directly support the brilliant musicians who bring this album to life and fund the production of physical copies. Join me in celebrating this beautiful genre and the incredible talent behind it! Click here to make a donation Thank you so much for your support! – Cedar
Cedar offers private, affordable and enjoyable tin whistle lessons! Lessons, either in-person or via Zoom, are taught from the studio at Gandharva Loka World Music Store in Central Dublin, Ireland. Lessons are available at Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced levels, as well as Low Whistle and Percussive and Improvisation style lessons.
Your first lesson is a free trial. If the student would like to continue lessons, they can book four or eight of them (one a week for four/eight weeks) for an affordable set price. The lessons are 45 minutes long and the student will be given notes and resources from the lessons.
To book a lesson, email Cedar at cedardobsonmusic@gmail.com, or Message Cedar on Facebook
Saturdays: 11 AM – 12 AM
Sundays: 11 AM – 10 PM
Tues, Wed, & Thurs: 3 PM – 10 PM
Pacific Time
Buncrana at Sláinte
Susan Spurlock, Tedd Colt, Darcy Noonan, Hector Bragado,
Michael Stack, Patricia Ross, Tim Hill, and Autumn Rhodes.
After opening in April 2017, Sláinte Pub in Oakland featured some of the finest local food, drink, and regional singers and musicians, in live, acoustic performance and quickly become the hot new place for Irish hospitality, culture and music in the East Bay. But unfortunately, post pandemic, Sláinte Pub had to close it’s doors last October.
But now, Sláinte Pub is rising from the ashes! Here is what publican Jackie Gallanagh has to say:
Well folks, we closed our doors on Oct. 31, 2023 but are reopening them on Friday, December 15th, 2023.
Summer was very slow and between decreasing business and increasing costs of supplies and labor, along with the rising crime in the area, we just couldn’t make the numbers work anymore. This means that we, like so many others, made the heartbreaking decision to close on October 31st, 2023.
However, Sláinte Oakland is now rising from the ashes!!
A few of our oldest friends (and former employees), Joe Lee, Ginny Brown, and Eddie Bustos, have joined together to bring the pub back to life!! Sláinte’s doors reopen on Friday December 15th, 2023 at 5 PM and the live, Irish music we’re famous for starts at 6 PM to help us celebrate.
We’ll have a very limited menu and limited hours to start but keep an eye out for expanding menus, specials, and increasing hours of operation over the next few weeks and months.
In the meantime, we’ll see you Friday and Saturday night from 5 PM – 12 AM (Kitchen closed at 10 PM) and Sunday from 5-10 PM (Kitchen closed at 9 PM) starting This Weekend!!
We can’t wait to see you all. We love you. XX
Slainte (Jack London Square, Oakland)
https://www.facebook.com/slainteoak
https://slainteoakland.com
Contact them at (510) 823-2644 @slainteoakland or check the website https://slainteoakland.com.
Weekends 10:00-7:00
Friend of the Family Alex Sinclair, has now operated his Celtic business Willow on the Green, for a more than a year.
The shop is on the not-so-quiet 9th Avenue, which is directly in front of the main entrance to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA.
Alex says:
We cater to the ‘Day in the Park’ crowd, offering all manner of Scottish, Welsh, English and Irish goodies, one might like to have for a Picnic In The Park, including cheese, chutney, clotted cream, cuppa, kippers, and many other delectable wares that don’t begin with a ‘c’. With a bit of prior notice, Celtic musicians and buskers are welcome to our store front on 9th Avenue, just a stones throw from the main entrance to Golden Gate Park.
Willow on the Green is dedicated to British and Californian fine foods, cheeses, meats, provisions, and products. Located in the heart of the Inner Sunset District, San Francisco, just a stone’s throw from the entrance to Golden Gate Park.
Facebook Page: Willow on the Green
Phone: (415) 259-1811
Email: indulge@willowonthegreen.com
Celtic music recording artist and multi-instrumentalist David Brewer is Fired up on teaching music over Zoom—Anytime, from Anywhere!
David is offering relaxed and fun, yet informative and in-depth lessons on any or all of these topics:
• Penny-whistle
• Bodhran
• Scottish Bagpipes
• Uilleann pipes
• Tune-writing & composition
• Music theory
• Accent City & phrasing
• Performance techniques
• Guided recording project consulting
• And more!
For more information, to schedule a lesson on Zoom, or to find out more about David’s upcoming tutorial series launching on Patreon later this summer, please email: davidbrewerbooking@gmail.com
David Brewer is a member of the Scottish folk band, The Fire, and has performed around the world with Molly’s Revenge, The Chieftains, and The Old Blind Dogs.
For more about David Brewer, visit: www.davidbrewermusic.com
5:30-7:00 PM Moderate-Pace
7:30-10:30 PM The Starry Session
Monday: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Irish Ceili Dancing
Tuesday: 7:30 PM Open Mic Night
Wednesday: 8:00 PM The Berkeley Poetry Slam
Thursday: 8:00 PM Trivia with Miss Jenna
Friday/Saturday: See our Schedule!
Manager Shahin Naima reopened The fabled Starry Plough on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022. We are now open 7 days a week with all of the Plough’s treasured events returning, from Irish dancing to open mic nights (except Funk Night, for now).
We Are Back! We are so happy to be back and look forward to serving you all for many years to come. To keep our community space thriving we have partnered with our fiscal sponsorship, Haven of Hope, to begin accepting donations from our loyal patrons and members of The Starry Plough community. This provides the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the expenses that go into making our famous community events so special. Please consider donating through thehavenofhope.org/donate to keep the Starry Plough in our amazing community for the future generations of Berkeley.’ — Starry Plough manager Shahin Naima
The pub was open for Saint Patrick’s day with a ‘scratch band’ of staff to serve the traditional corned beef and cabbage, and songs, tunes and dancing filled this treasured Arts institution one again, as explained in this Detailed Article by Madeline Wells of SFGATE.
Website: www.thestarryplough.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/StarryPlough
Darcy Noonan
Darcy Noonan
Available for Performances or Lessons
darcynoonanviolin@gmail.com
Darcy Noonan is an accomplished violinist based in the Bay Area. Following her heart, she has studied and performed a variety of musical genres including classical, ragtime, mariachi, Greek, and (closest to her heart) Irish traditional music. In fact practically the second after graduating from High School she was off to Ireland to study with her idols for a few years.
Darcy has played with numberous bands and orchestras, including Jammy Dodgers, Violins of Hope, Noonan, Howard, and Straw, The Get Happy String Band, Disciples of Markos, Tipsy House and Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano.
Darcy is now back in the Bay Area, and Darcy is accepting students as an expert fiddler and Suzuki certified teacher with years of experience performing and teaching.
If you are interested in booking Darcy for a gig or for violin lessons, send her an email at darcynoonanviolin@gmail.com or visit her website at darcynoonanviolin.com
AmeriCeltic Logo Items
→ AmeriCeltic Logo Gifts! ←
Shirt, Hat, Mug, Apron
3 FULLY EMBROIDERED – MADE IN USA
Celebrate your rich AmeriCeltic history and heritage in style and class and support AmeriCeltic by sporting a shirt, hat, mug, apron or patch, all except the mug, embroidered in full color with the AmeriCeltic logo! And don’t forget to give one to yourself!
Click Here for the full line-up of AmeriCeltic Logo items.
The AmeriCeltic logo, styled like a coat of arms, commemorates your MIXED, Scots, Irish, Welsh Celtic American heritage! Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the thirteen colonies of mostly Scots, Scots-Irish, Irish and Welsh who joined with many others from many other countries, and together fought tyranny to assert our Independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Click for more information about the AmeriCeltic Logo design
The Celtic Tea Shoppe offers a great selection of Celtic and Celtic inspired foods, including:
• Meat Pies
• Sausage Rolls
• Liquor Cakes
• Irish Soda Bread
• Salted Caramels
• Gift Boxes
• Premium Loose-leaf Teas
Everything is handmade at our shoppe in San José, CA and curbside pickup service and shipping are available.
To check The Celtic Tea Shoppe Facebook Page, Click Here!
Call us directly at 408-267-7090 or check our website www.celticteashoppe.com for all our other baked goods and confections. To order, contact Kristen Scott with a call to 408-267-7090, or an email to sales@artisancandies
Important Announcement: Going forward in 2023, we are looking to give scholarships to young dancers in local Scottish and Irish dance schools, and would love to have your help. Dance is very near and dear to Dean and Kristen’s hearts, and they want to help those dancers who show much promise and talent, but who have less resources and thus barriers to success compared to others who do.
If you are interested in participating, please let us know and how much you would like to give toward this scholarship. We are currently looking at a candidate for whom we’d like to raise $1000 – to help them with their dance studies, whether it be shoes, costumes, lessons, travel funds, etc. If you are interested in contributing, please let us know ASAP. We must stress that this is not a charity organization we are contributing to, but it is a fundraiser to help local dancers in need. Cheers!
(photo is of Dean Scott in a Los Angeles professional company of Brigadoon, 1984)
Lark in the Morning has been a folk musician’s favorite since 1974 and has an amazing selection of musical instruments and instructional material from around the world.
Eric says:
“Our Berkeley location, 1001 Camelia Street, Berkeley, CA, is open for online lessons and instrument sales Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 – 6:00 PM!”
Thorn Land and Eric Azumi
Call us at 707-964-5569
Shop online at https://larkinthemorning.com
Check out our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/LarkInAM.
 Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant Across from Apple Park |
The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant
Open 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM every day of the year
10801 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA
Many of you have heard the rumors about the The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant.
For details, Watch the official Video!
The Duke is, and will remain, THE only Authentic, (and we do mean AUTHENTIC!), British Pub in the Bay Area, located across the street from Apple Headquarters on Wolfe Road in Cupertino.
The atmosphere at the ‘The Duke‘, is the same as you would find in any pub in the British Isles, full of friendly patrons who come in to socialize, play darts, have a pint or two, and eat a meal. If you are looking for a comfortable elegance, pints of beer and authentic food, in an authentic English Pub, there is no a better choice in the Bay Area. The Duke offers a large number of beers on draft and by the bottle. Almost anything English, Scottish or Irish is available. Murphy’s Irish Stout brewed in Cork, Ireland and Scotch Eggs is always a good choice.
The servers are excellent and very knowledgeable about the beer and food menu. The menu is expansive and worth exploring. The dark pubsy feel with old regulars in their respective, but not crowded corners around lunch hour in Cupertino, is a great boon.
You can’t find more ‘authentic’ atmosphere, because the entire building was built in jolly old England, then disassembled, shipped and reassembled on site in Cupertino. With the red velvet seating and wall paper and ornate, dim lighting, you are transported to London as soon as you enter the etched glass door.
More info. on The Duke Facebook Page, website www.theduke.com or call 408-446-3853.
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Click to display the combined AmeriCeltic Calendar, covering the Northern California Coast and Bay Area, and the Celtic Events Calendar, from Chuck Jamison, covering the Central Valley.
To submit an event for listing in our Calendars, email your Celtic event info., including Who, What, Where, Why & Description to us.
Coastal Celtic events – Email AmeriCeltic. Central Valley events – Email Chuck Jamison.
Click Here to use the online form.
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AmeriCeltic Mission
AmeriCeltic is a user supported, non-profit service organization. Our Mission is to restore awareness, celebrate and preserve the culture and history of Celtic Americans by promoting live Celtic music, festivals, history & ancestry as well as report and comment on related current events. To help fund our efforts, click here or click on the Donate Button on our AmeriCeltic Website www.americeltic.net.
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