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Hello AmeriCeltic Reader,

• New! Kathleen McDonnell has published an 8 hour long audiobook, based on her grandmothers history as an Irish immigrant, called
Brideen — The Journeys of a Famine Daughter available on the usual online platforms. (See Below)

• On Friday, May 1st, at 7:30 PM, fresh, young, Boston-based Celtic quintet Scottish Fish continues their West Coast tour at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, , in Santa Cruz, CA, followed by 6 more shows in CA, OR & WA. (See Below)
• On Friday, May 1st, at 7:30 PM, Irish Band Dervish performs at the Sebastopol Community Center Annex, Sebastopol, CA. Dervish is also the headliner at the KVMR festival that weekend. (See Below)
• On Friday, May 1st, at 6:30 PM, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter perform at Cage Free Concerts, in Ashland, OR, followed by shows on Saturday, May 2nd, at 7:00 PM in Santa Rosa, CA and Sunday, May 3rd, at 4:00 PM in Inverness, CA. (See Details)
• New! On Friday, May 1st, at 7:30 PM, Celtic trio Kalos launches a concert tour of eight California cities with a House Concert in Santa Clara, CA, with seven more shows to follow in Berkeley, Pacific Grove, Healdsburg, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Pasadena and Goleta . (See Below)
• New! On Saturday, May 2nd, 10:00 AM, through Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 PM, it’s the return of the KVMR Celtic Festival, to the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA. (See Below)
• New! On Saturday, May 2nd, at 4:00 PM, Suzuki Cady
Jimmy Murphy perform at the OX Wine Bar in Occidental, CA(See Below)
• New! On Saturday, May 2nd, from 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM it’s The Fae & Folk Faire, (& Enchanted Night Market), at Brookdale Lodge, in Brookdale, CA. (See Below)
• On Friday, May 9th, at 7:00 PM, the Katie Jane Band performs at the Historic Butteville Store, in Butteville, OR. (See Below)
• New! On Monday, May 4th, at 12:00 PM Pacific, 3:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 PM Ireland/UK, The Cle Club of Dublin, Ireland hosts Special Guest Grace Toland, plus members of the audience, for a couple of hours of pleasant performances of songs, tunes or verse, Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• New! On Friday, May 8th, at 7:00 PM the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers will perform their annual Stravaig Concert, at Veterans Memorial Theatre, in Davis, CA followed by two more concerts – Saturday in Berkeley and Sunday in Aptos, 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 or 3rd Saturday of the month, at 11:00 AM, the San Francisco Virtual Chantey Sing happens Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• 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. They also offer a free, on demand starter course of three short videos. (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 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)
• Beginning Sunday, April 5th, and on the 1st Sunday of every month, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, the Savage Craic Irish session performs at The Mad Dog in the Fog, 1568 Haight St., San Francisco, CA. See Details
• On 1st Sundays at 6:00 PM, 1st Thursdays at 8:00 PM, and other Thursdays at 8:30 PM, Irish Dance – San Francisco Bay Area organizes Irish set dancing in San Francisco, CA. (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 at 9:00 AM Pacific and Wednesdays at 3:00 PM Pacific, moreGaelic hosts Scottish Gaelic language events live on 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 Cheile 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 6:00 – 7:15 PM at her home in Sebastopol, CA, Suzuki Cady gives Irish Music Classses for All Instruments. (See Below)
• On Monday, December 15th, at 7:00 PM Celtic Arts Center host their annual Grand Music Session, Winter Holiday. On Mondays, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, the Celtic Arts Center offers beginner level Irish classes online via Zoom and a full evening of Celtic in-person music and dance at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood, 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 3:00 PM Pacific and Taking Time at 4:00 PM both Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 PM, Irish American Writers and Artists West’s Lori Cassels hosts a salon of local artists at Slainte Pub in Berkeley, 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 The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Sessions, the best and most popular participatory online Irish traditional music event. (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 Fabos-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)
• Slainte Pub continues to provide a proper Irish Pub experience 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.

Brideen

Brideen began with a grainy old photo in a family album full of grainy old photos, mostly of family groupings from the early twentieth century. But one was a full-page formal portrait of a middle-aged woman, identified as Bridget Sweeney McDonnell. I knew it was a photo of a great-grandmother on my father’s side, and that was pretty much all I knew about this woman staring out at me from across the centuries. Until I dug a bit further and discovered a fact that stunned me: Bridget Sweeney left Ireland in 1847 – the year known as ‘Black 47’, the height of the so called Famine. I’d had a longtime preoccupation with stories from the time the Irish call the An Gorta Mor. But until that moment I had no idea that I had a direct familial connection to it.

I am a writer. I’ve published nine books, both fiction and non-fiction. Still, at first, I dismissed all thought taking on this subject. Who’d want to read about a time of such unspeakable misery and suffering? But as I learned more about her, the realization began to sink in — Bridget Sweeney was more than a victim of the famine, she was a survivor of it. She’d lived a long life, to the age of 68. She’d crossed an ocean and lived in three different countries, places marked by other great upheavals of the 19th century: the industrial revolution in England and the Civil War in the United States. My great-grandmother’s life was more than a tale of woe. It was a saga of the great Irish Diaspora, embodied in the story of one woman’s determination and courage.

The idea of making an audiobook of Brideen followed naturally, given my lifelong love of Irish traditional music.

As wrenching as it was to leave their homeland, Irish emigrants like Brideen brought their unique musical culture to our shores, the ballads and dance tunes that kept their spirits alive. We’re still playing and singing this music today, and the audiobook is a way to give readers at least a taste of that remarkable heritage.

Brideen is published by Montreal-based AoS and is available for order at:

https://www.aospublishing.com/kathleen-mcdonnell and

https://www.amazon.ca/Brideen-Kathleen-McDonnell/dp/1998662608

The audiobook edition of BRIDEEN is also available at major online audio retailers including Audible, Spotify and Kobo.

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Scottish Fish

Scottish Fish is a Boston-based Celtic quintet that presents a fresh take on traditional and contemporary Scottish and Cape Breton music. Their lively and unique arrangements are woven together from session music handed down from generations of the tradition’s finest players, many of whom they have had the opportunity to share the stage with. Their music and performances have earned them features on WGBH, KALW, and in American Girl and Folkworld Magazines; attracted the attention of programs such as America’s Got Talent

Scottish Fish have performed at a wide variety of venues and festivals across the U.S. and Europe, including Boston Celtic Music Festival, Bellingham Celtic Festival, and Festival de Ortigueira. In 2017, the group released their debut album, ‘Splash,’ followed by ‘Tidings,’ a 5-track holiday EP, and ‘Upscale’ in 2022. Their newest record, ‘Currently’ was released in July 2025.

The Scottish Fish include Ava Montesi (fiddle), Caroline Dressler (fiddle), Giulia Haible (cello, piano), Julia Homa (fiddle, piano), and Maggie MacPhail (fiddle, piano)

These five young women have a very long and unique history, starting the band on their own accord at the ages of 8-11, and still together over 10 years later. Now in their late teens and early 20s, their intense chemistry is clear in their performances and music. You won’t be able to keep your toes from tapping and hands from clapping, especially when experiencing their arrangements live.

Upscale Album Release Concert Highlight Reel Video: https://youtu.be/A8lee_hFBM0?si=qQjSdus8GCYiwAl

https://www.scottishfishfiddle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/scottishfishband/
https://www.facebook.com/ScottishFishBoston/
https://www.youtube.com/@scottishfishband
https://www.tiktok.com/@scottishfishband

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Dervish

Built upon two sturdy pillars — the hauntingly charismatic vocals of Cathy Jordan and the dazzling virtuosity of award-winning instrumentalists like Tom Morrow on fiddle, Liam Kelly on flute, and Shane Mitchell on accordion, Dervish is a solid structure of a band, its foundation in legendary pub sessions, its shape the result of years of international touring. The solid rhythm playing of Brian McDonagh and Michael Holmes drives the band. All the elements are drawn together by Cathy Jordan’s masterful stage presence. Her stories to the songs and her interaction with the audience draws people into the music in a way very few performers can achieve.

Dervish have been bringing Irish traditional music to the world for more than 30 years. The band have played at festivals from Rio to Glastonbury. They accompanied the Irish President on state visits to Latvia and Lithuania and Prime Minister of Ireland on a trade mission to China as Cultural Ambassadors taking time out to play an impromptu session on the Great Wall of China.

Dervish are long-established as one of the biggest names in Irish music internationally. They’re renowned for live performances which match dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs. Their studio and live albums – 12 to date – make up one of the outstanding catalogues in Irish Music.

As one of the world’s most renowned and imaginative interpreters of Irish folk music, Dervish have devoted decades to gently reinventing the traditional songs of their homeland. On their debut release for Rounder Records, the Sligo-based band take that effort to a new level by joining up with over a dozen luminaries across an eclectic range of genres. Featuring such beloved artists as Vince Gill, Steve Earle, and David Gray, The Great Irish Songbook both preserves the boundless spirit of each song and brings a whole new vitality to iconic traditional songs of their homeland, one that’s sure to endure for generations to come.

The Sligo Borough Council’s decision to award Dervish the Freedom of the Borough of Sligo cemented the group’s position as preeminent band in Ireland’s wild west. It raised them into the exalted company of poet W.B. Yeats, who was the first person to be awarded the freedom of Sligo.

In 2019 Dervish received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the BBC, a fitting tribute to the band after over 30 years of recording and performing all over the world.

For a Dervish Video, Click Here!

The Guardian newspaper commented: ‘Dervish are simply brilliant . . They carry Irish history with them.’

Dervish Website: https://www.dervish.ie

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Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter

Lisa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter perform with two Celtic harps, the rare Swedish Nyckelharpa, Ukrainian Bandura, Cittern and more. The audience will hear music hailing from Celtic and Nordic Traditions as well as heartwarming original compositions. The multi-instrumental duo will present a unique blend of music and tales from their adventures as modern day troubadours.

Here is a video of some excerpts from their recent live shows: https://youtu.be/NvJdFA0ktsw

Lisa Lynne is a multi-instrumentalist and performer who has gained worldwide recognition for her original music featuring her Celtic Harp. She is widely acclaimed for composing memorable and heartwarming melodies on the Windham Hill/Sony music labels that have repeatedly placed in the Top 10 & Top 20 on the Billboard New age music charts. Lisa tours year round performing at large US festivals and performing art centers. Her work in Therapeutic music has gained recognition from NBC, CNN, Fox News Atlanta and numerous newspaper and magazine articles including Wall Street Journal. Lisa’s music is heard throughout the award winning PBS special ‘Alone in the Wilderness,’ amongst many other soundtracks for commercial television and independent films. She performs regularly as a solo artist, with Aryeh Frankfurter, Patrick Ball and the Windham Hill tours. She was recently named one of the 50 most inspiring women by Los Angeles Magazine.¢â‚¬Å¡‚ http://www.LisaLynne.com

Aryeh Frankfurter is a renowned Celtic harper and multi- instrumentalist who went from virtuosic progressive rock violin to intricate Swedish folk and Celtic Music. He began with Classical violin at the age of three, and studied music throughout his life. He has 17 albums to his credit, works on film and television scores as composer and arranger, and continues to teach himself to play a variety of instruments, most recently the rarely seen Swedish Nyckelharpa. He earned his masters in philosophy as he was becoming one of the most successful street performers in the US. He is a full time musician and producer whose uncommon approach to the Celtic harp and folk harp repertoire, his critically acclaimed albums have earned him high regard as an artist of extraordinary talents and abilities.¢â‚¬Å¡‚ www.Lionharp.com

Check out Lisa’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LisaLynne
Check their calendar at: https://lionharp.com/calendar
For more information, please contact: Lisa Lynne 541-972-3068 Lisa@LisaLynne.com.

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Kalos!

The name Kalos is not Celtic but ancient Greek for ‘beautiful’ or ‘praisworthy,’ and yes, they are!

Kalos is drawn to water. Every performance is like stepping into a river—they never play a song the same way twice. They make music inspired by the maritime traditions of Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia and North America. Their album titles—Harbour and Headland—honor the meeting point between the land and sea and they sing songs about shorelines, seafarers and drownings. They revel in the driving danceability of Irish tunes, but also take inspiration from the pastoral melodies and naturalistic metaphors of Scottish music. But while the music they write is forged in tradition, it is nonetheless cast and tempered in new and unexpected ways. The trio spans three generations, three cities and two countries. They met over the years at highland games, contra dances and fiddle camps across North America, made their first recording in 2016 and have been touring together since 2019. Kalos prizes the magic of live performance—breathing, dancing and weaving together like high-wire acrobats. They are as generous as they are virtuosic. Like nature itself, their music is full of chaos and chance yet always feels spacious and balanced. Their concerts are more an exposé than a performance—they are immersive, trance-inducing experiences.

Ryan McKasson, (violin, viola, voice), has gained a strong reputation as a performer, composer, collaborator and teacher. In 1994, he began attending Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School (VOM), which led him deep into the world of traditional music. In 1996 he became the youngest ever to win the US National Scottish Fiddle Championship and in 1997 he was awarded a Merit Scholarship for Viola Performance from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Donald McInnes. Ryan’s professional career took a step forward when in 2004 he spearheaded the formation and development of ‘The McKassons’. This group released two critically acclaimed albums, Tall Tales (2004) and Tripping Maggie (2006). Over the years Ryan has recorded with a number of influential artists, namely his playing appears on fellow Scottish fiddle champion Hanneke Cassel’s three albums Silver (2006), For Reasons Unseen (2009), and Dot the Dragon’s Eyes (2013), as well as Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas’s recording Highlander’s Farewell (2011). In addition to McKasson & McDonald, other current projects include MAC, Ensemble Galilei and The Syncopaths.

Eric McDonald, guitar, mandolin, lead vocals
, found his way to traditional music through the rich local music scene in his hometown Boston. Nearly a decade after studying at Berklee College of Music under world renowned musicians such as guitarist/mandolinist John McGann and cellist Eugene Friesene, he is now established as one of the USA’s premier accompanists in many styles. Eric cut his teeth playing for contra dances in New England, and can still often be seen from the dance floor. Nowadays he is an active session player, regularly recording and traveling with musicians of many stripes. Touring credits include The Outside Track, Andrea Beaton, Wendy MacIsaac and Katie McNally. In addition to McKasson & McDonald, he can currently be seen touring with the lively trio Daymark, Scottish powerhouse Cantrip, and award winning singer/songwriter Connor Garvey. In addition to guitar accompaniment, Eric’s debut solo album Rove features his unique style and approach to tunes on the mandolin, as well as carefully crafted deliveries of traditional ballads on voice and guitar.

Jeremiah McLane, accordion, piano, background vocals, was raised in a family with deep ties to both its Scottish heritage and its New Hampshire roots. Traditional New England music and dance were a part of his parents and grandparents generations. After an early formation in classical piano, Jeremiah spent his teenage years playing blues and jazz, studying with legend Gary Peacock in university. He then studied Indonesian Gamelan, West African drumming, and the music of minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass. It wasn’t until his mid twenties that Jeremiah began to immerse himself in the world of traditional Celtic and French music, studying accordion with Jimmy Keene and Frederic Paris. He then spent several decades traveling in Europe, doing field research that laid the groundwork for a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory. In the early 1990s Jeremiah formed two bands: The Clayfoot Strutters and Nightingale. Both bands had strong traditional New England roots and had a deep and lasting impact on the traditional dance scene in New England. Jeremiah has recorded over a dozen CDs with Nightingale, the Clayfoot Strutters, Bob & the Trubadors, Le Bon Vent, and with Ruthie Dornfeld. His second solo recording, Smile When You’re Ready, was nominated by NPR in their ‘favorite picks’, and his fifth release, Hummingbird, with Ruthie Dornfeld, received the French music magazine ‘Trad Mag’ Bravo award, as did his CD Goodnight Marc Chagall with Le Bon Vent. He has composed music for theatre and film, including Sam Shepard’s ‘A Lie Of The Mind’, and been awarded the Ontario Center For The Performing Arts ‘Meet The Composer’ Award, and the Vermont Council On The Arts ‘Creation Of New Work’ grant.

Devon Leger of Hearth Music says, ‘This trio really shows how masterful musicians listen and play off each other.’ The music they create is to share, and live performance is the forte. But their mutual attitude stretches beyond the music. They have been good friends ever since they met, and this is present in their live performances, which are full of organic banter and good humor to go along with the music. They create an environment of their own design, drawing in listeners without pretense. Despite living active musical lives thousands of miles apart these musicians have committed to working together to forge a new musical path.

There’s a certain spontenaity at work as the three musicians alternately contest and duel, combine and coalesce to bring their talents together. — Folkwords

Kalos Website
Email Kalos

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KVMR Celtic Festival

On the weekend of May 2nd – 3rd, the Nevada County Fairgrounds, will be transformed into a Celtic Village and concert venue, with eight stages and performance areas. Join publically supported KVMR radio for another spectacular mix of Celtic music and magic in their bucolic setting amidst 100 acres of giant ponderosa pines.

The KVMR Celtic Festival is thrilled to unveil the complete daily stage schedule, artist lineup, and a diverse range of festival activities, promising attendees an unforgettable celebration of Celtic culture, music, and tradition. Set to take place from May 2-4, 2025 at The Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA, this year’s festival is a blend of entertainment, education and wholesome fun.

Building upon its legacy of showcasing the finest talent in Celtic music locally, regionally and globally, the KVMR Celtic Festival announces an unparalleled artist lineup, featuring renowned artists from across the globe. Participants can look forward to performances by Dervish, Nuala Kennedy & Eamon O’Leary, Gnoss, McKeever Irish Dancers, Merloch, Cotter/Jackson/Clarridge/Colliton, Three Times Through, and many, many more, promising an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic sounds. The festival also includes a full Celtic Sessions Stage featuring local, regional and international musicians playing and singing traditional tunes in a lively group atmosphere.

In addition to the stellar musical lineup, the festival offers a plethora of activities and attractions to delight attendees of all ages. From the free Youth Arts Program on Friday, May 3 to the full program of kid’s activities throughout the festival, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Revelers can also join us at the Friday Night Ceilidh – a Celtic social gathering filled with music and dancing where folks of all ages join in traditional dances, featuring tunes from Ryan McKasson & Colin Cotter, called by the talented Summer McCall. The Ceilidh is a separate ticketed event – also on sale now!

Furthermore, festival-goers can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Celtic culture through a variety of engaging activities, including the Scottish Highland Games featuring the Gold Country Highlanders and the Animals of Celtic Lands demonstrations featuring the Northern California Irish Wolfhound Club and the Birds of Prey exhibition.

Whether it’s perusing the Living History encampments of the Guilds and Clans, exploring artisanal vendors offering unique wares, or indulging in delectable Celtic cuisine, attendees are sure to find endless opportunities for entertainment and enrichment. The KVMR Celtic Festival creates memories that will last a lifetime for all ages.

‘I’m thrilled to be behind the scenes for the 28th Annual KVMR Celtic Festival. With decades of festival experience under my belt, I can confidently say that this event stands apart from the rest,’ shared Christian Gutt, Event Producer. ‘It’s not just another festival; it’s a safe, welcoming, and affordable haven for families seeking joy and connection. Our focus on top-notch entertainment and engaging attractions ensures an unforgettable experience.’

He continued, ‘From the enchanting Living History reenactments to the whimsical Faery Wood, every corner offers both fun and learning for all ages. But what truly sets this festival apart is the sense of community it fosters. It’s a place where cherished memories are made, laughter fills the air, and lifelong friendships are forged. For me, it’s more than just an event; it’s a cherished tradition and one of my absolute favorites!’

Tickets for the KVMR Celtic Festival are available for purchase now online and in-person at KVMR headquarters in downtown Nevada City, CA, offering attendees the opportunity to secure their spot at one of the most anticipated Celtic events of the year. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.kvmrcelticfestival.org.

First founded in 1996, the KVMR Celtic Festival includes eleven performance areas including five musical and six demonstration stages and a weekend-long youth arts instruction that has included Celtic music, magic, dance and songwriting.

The Festival is the main fundraising event of the year for KVMR Community Radio which operates as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity. The festival regularly draws over 7,000 attendees for the two days and the promotional outreach extends throughout KVMR’s listening area including a worldwide live streaming broadcast over the internet through iTunes and the KVMR website.

We continue to bring international performers to Nevada County and showcase an ever-increasing cadre of regional talent including musicians, dancers, and performing artists of every type.

Can’t make it? Click here to make a donation.

More information check The KVMR Celtic Festival website or email celtfest@kvmr.org or call 530-265-9073.

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Dublin’s Clé (Left) Club has in person traditional music and song sessions at the Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, but on the first Monday of each month, at 8:00 PM, their Séamas Sheils hosts an Online music and song session on the Zoom platform, called Clé Abhaile (Left Home).

At these Clé Abhaile monthly Zoom meetings, the host for the evening, usually Séamas Sheils, hosts a special guest who sings several songs, tunes or verse, and also seeks contributions from the attendees, and generally gets enough to fill a couple of hours with pleasant performances. Our guest for this event will be Grace Toland.

From Clonmany in Inishowen, Grace Toland is a great exponent of unaccompanied traditional singing. She enthusiastically carries on her community’s rich musical tradition and enjoys sharing the songs she learned from her elders and friends. Grace is a key driving force behind the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle and of the annual Inishowen International Traditional Singing Weekend.

A former director the Irish Traditional Music Archive, she has brought her expertise as an archivist and documentarian into the development of the online collection – the Inishowen Song Project – which is a subsite under the auspices of the ITMA.

Grace Toland

The Zoom code needed to join the meeting changes for each month. Here are the Zoom links for this month’s event:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86259641535?pwd=PHNxpYX3uib2UmGli16LmHNPuIXJm8.1

Meeting ID: 862 5964 1535
Passcode: Connolly

Join instructions

The Clé Club is devoted to traditional music and song, and currently meets in person at historic Liberty Hall, Dublin at 7:30 PM (Doors from 7:00 PM) on the third Wednesday of the month (except July and August). If you are in Dublin, drop in!

Clé Abhaile Online Session email: info@cleabhaile.com
Clé Club email: cleclub@gmail.com
Clé Club Webpage: https://cleclub.org/home/

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The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers

Now lead by Caroline McCaskey, the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers continue to fill the stage with tunes, song and dance rooted in Celtic tradition! The highlight of the Fiddlers’ year comes each spring when, the group rehearses for and presents a three-concert series in the greater Bay Area.

The Stravaig concerts in Davis, Berkeley, and Aptos will now feature over 90 musicians, a major increase and a testament to the scale and energy of this year’s performances. Alasdair Fraser said, “It’s not an orchestra, but an unruly, rabble-rousing, anarchistic bunch.”

Suitable for all ages, this is a musical experience unlike any other! Get a taste here: Click for Video

The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers formed in 1986 around a nucleus of musicians passionate to learn the joyous and moving traditional music of Scotland, and now has a membership numbering more than 200. It is a decisively inclusive group with members who play not only fiddle but cello, bass, guitar, percussion and piano–and the occasional flute, harmonica and, in one case, the musical saw.

A core group of members has remained from the beginning, while new players, often in their teens or younger, join every year. The ‘fiddle club,’ as longtime members call it, offers instrumentalists of all levels and every age to play with and learn from each other. A significant number of young players have gone on to study at Juilliard, Berklee and other renowned music conservatories, and have established themselves in professional careers. But they always consider the Fiddlers to be their musical family.

The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers meet monthly to play favorite tunes and learn new ones. Their repertoire over the years has expanded to include the music of Brittany, Galicia, Scandinavia and America, while remaining firmly anchored in the Scottish fiddle forms of dance, pipe tunes, and song.

More information, as well as tickets and donations can be found at sffiddles.org

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Pub Scouts

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

pubscouts@mac.com

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SF Virtual Chantey Sing on 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 athttps://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 athttp://www.nps.gov/safr

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Turf in the Bog

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

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Let’s Learn Irish¢â‚¬Å¡‚ 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, the Let’s Learn Irish story¢â‚¬Å¡‚ of ‘the online Gaeltacht’ has resonated with a global online audience. Let’s Learn Irish¢â‚¬Å¡‚ is now the largest provider of online Irish courses and comhra sessions for learners.

The Let’s Learn Irish online community was developed at¢â‚¬Å¡‚ University of Galway, Ireland¢â‚¬Å¡‚ to support Irish learners throughout the world.

They provide¢â‚¬Å¡‚ daily¢â‚¬Å¡‚ online classes,¢â‚¬Å¡‚ comhra¢â‚¬Å¡‚¡ sessions¢â‚¬Å¡‚ and¢â‚¬Å¡‚ 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 Ceilis, but are unable to attend the live sessions, then you can still join us by following our video recordings! Use coupon Online at the checkout for a 25% discount.

The upsurge in interest in the language, and the success of the Oscar-nominated ‘were, marks a watershed moments. On their website, there are links to¢â‚¬Å¡‚ learner profiles,¢â‚¬Å¡‚ articles¢â‚¬Å¡‚ and¢â‚¬Å¡‚ news¢â‚¬Å¡‚ from their community. Their¢â‚¬Å¡‚ Press page¢â‚¬Å¡‚ provides further insights into their story and online activities.

Links:
YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/letslearnirish
Courses:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/cursai
Press:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/press/
Articles:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/ailt/
Learner¢â‚¬Å¡‚ Profiles:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/member-profiles/
About:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/about
Contact Info:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ LetsLearnIrish.com/contact/
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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One Eyed Reilly

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

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Maria Hawthorne

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Three Times Through

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

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The Mermaid’s Tavern

The Mermaid’s Tavern is the moniker Lynn Noel gave the online folk sings she began when the COVID pandemic began and as of March, 2026, 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

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Savage Craic Irish Session

We are an open Irish traditional session in San Francisco. We meet every Sunday at various venues for music and fun. Everyone is welcome!

Facebook Page: Savage Craic on Facebook

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Irish Set Dancers

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:
•¢â‚¬Å¡‚ Dance: Polca an Ri – Clare Lancers

•¢â‚¬Å¡‚ Dance: Clare Meserks – Sona S†â€™ƒâ€ ¢â‚¬â„¢¢â‚¬Å¡‚³l

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.

On the first Sundays of every month, Yevgeny Binder leads an Irish set dance class followed by dancing to live music at O’Reilly’s Pub in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Lessons at 6pm sharp and dancing 7-10 PM. Beginners welcome and encouraged! No partner needed. The environment is very friendly to newcomers. RSVP required: https://sundays.irishdancesf.com

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!

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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

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Since 2021, More Gaelic has been supporting Scottish Gaelic learners beyond the classroom with online and in-person conversation circles, game sessions, book clubs, Gaelic swag like stickers and t-shirts in the Scottish Gaelic language, and Gaelic content on Instagram and TikTok. Suas leis a‚¢¢â‚¬Å¡‚¬¢â‚¬Å¾‚¢ Gh†â€™‚ idhlig!

D†â€™‚© Tha Dol, weekly on Wednesdays, at 3:00 PM Pacific.
Scottish Gaelic Conversation
Come speak Scottish Gaelic with a friendly group of learners! We meet on Zoom for an hour on Wednesdays. Gaelic conversation is a great way to practice and improve your speaking and listening skills. All levels of Gaelic are welcome. For more information and to register visit https://www.moregaelic.com/dol
Registration: To receive the link, register on the Google form here: https://forms.gle/uHeYpuJzj2vgdX1b6

An S†â€™‚ s, weekly on Mondays, at 9:00 AM Pacific.
Gaelic Co-working session.
Come on Mondays and be a part of the first ever online Scottish Gaelic co-working session!
In a co-working space, each person brings a bit of their own quiet work to do and uses the energy of the group to help focus, stay on task, and get things done. You can bring whatever task you choose, anything from work emails, books to read, or socks to fold.
After a quick hello, we settle in for 45 minutes of independent work. At the end of 45 minutes, we check in and have a quit chat before going on our way until next time.
Registration: To receive the link, register on the Google form here:
https://forms.gle/cjPqFRUoBpHiYzsR9

Join the newsletter to get details about future events, language classes, song workshops, and game sessions https://www.moregaelic.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moregaelic/
Website: https://www.moregaelic.com/
Email: Ceana hello@moregaelic.com

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The Moosehead Session

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

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Welcome to the Ag Teacht Le Cheile 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:¢â‚¬Å¡‚ maureenmcnally6@gmail.com

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Suzuki Cady

Irish fiddle player, singer, and teacher Suzuki Cady brings a dynamic mix of acoustic Irish and American folk music to San Francisco Bay Area venues, and now she is teaching others to learn the same!

Suzuki has room for 2 more folks to join her current session at $30/week. A new 6-week Session Starts February 24 ~ $150

Suzuki says:
Discover the hypnotic melodies, pulsing rhythms, and worldwide customs of traditional Irish music! Classes are held at a private home in Sebastopol, California (address provided upon signup). *We have room for a couple more folks to join the current class session at a $30/week rate.

Learn to play captivating tunes and build your repertoire! Have fun and build a musical community in the process. We will focus on learning tunes by ear, which is part of the folk tradition. Please bring a recording device to class.

Website: https://www.suzukicady.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/suzuki.cady
Classes Webpage: https://www.suzukicady.com/irish-music-class-for-all-instruments
Email Suzuki: suzukicady@gmail.com
Call Suzuki: 415-302-9658

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Every Monday night the Celtic Arts Center offers a free introductory Irish language workshop online via Zoom for complete beginners that starts at 7PM and TraditionalCelticmusic jam session in the Lounge – Musicians and singers are welcome!

Check out the full details on their website here: Online Beginners Irish Language ClassMondays, 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 ceili dance workshop for both beginner and intermediate level students. All that is followed by the Center’s famous traditional music seisiun 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

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The Trans-Atlantic Session on Zoom

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!

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John Whelan

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 M†â€™‚¡irtin De C†â€™‚³g†â€™‚¡in 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 except the session leader (John) will be muted while they play. Unlike an in-person session, you can noodle along to your heart‚¢¢â‚¬Å¡‚¬¢â‚¬Å¾‚¢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 Facebook Page or John’s Website

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On the second Wednesday, of each month at 7:00 PM, the Irish American Writers and Artists West, hosted by Lori Cassels, will conduct another in-person salon at the authentic Irish pub, Slainte Oakland in the historic Jack London Square district, of Oakland, CA.

Sign ups are available now. Please submit your email to to Lori at¢â‚¬Å¡‚ lcassels@aol.com.

Click here to RSVP mailto:lcassels@aol.com

After a short introduction sizzle reel about Irish American Writers and Artists the host will introduce the organization and the talent that will share their work.

IAW&A Artist Salons are a curated collections of artists: musicians, writers, playwrights, poets, and filmmakers that share their talent.

Click this link for all the latest information on the IAW&A Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IrishAmericanWritersAndArtistsInc and be certain to visit the IAW&A website,¢â‚¬Å¡‚ https://iamwa.org.

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Stepwise

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

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The Philo-Celtic Society

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 Basic Level ‘Starting to Learn’ class in the Irish language happens on Fridays. ‘Starting to Learn’, taught by Jerry Kelly, is suitable for Absolute Beginners — This is where you start. https://groups.io/g/philo-startingtolearn.

Spring Quarter classes begin the first week of February. Check on the many other Irish language classes 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

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Autumn Rhodes

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-nos 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

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The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Traditional Session

On the first Thursday of each month, multi-instrumentalist Michael Eskin hosts the The Ould Sod Virtual Session.

These are easily best and most popular online instrumental sessions in the world. The music is 95% Irish traditional dance tunes and the participation level is massive!

The Zoom meeting detailed information is posted on Michael’s website:

Get the Zoom Link

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Our friend Phillip Taylor is hosting an Irish/Scottish Instrumental Tund learning session at the Strum Shop in Roseville, CA. We are a group of Irish/Scottish instrument 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

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