Celtic Sessions
Sessions are the soul of celtic music. There are a number of free Celtic music sessions in the area where many of the outstanding local Celtic musicians perform in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in or merely to enjoy the music and also have the chance to meet other people with interests in all aspects of the rich Celtic culture.
Sessions in Ireland
Ever wonder what sessions are on in Dublin? Check out the traditional music section of the Entertainment.ie site at www.entertainment.ie. Even pick your county!
Local Sessions
Please note that the session at O'Flaherty's Irish Pub has made some changes. See listing below.
| Tempo | When | Where | Info |
| In the Santa Cruz Area | |||
| Up-tempo |
Sundays 3:30-6:30pm |
Poet and Patriot Irish Pub 320 Cedar St. Ste E Santa Cruz, CA 95060 thepoetandpatriot.com |
An up-tempo traditional seisiun for experienced Irish style musicians and singers. Contact Julie: leap2three (at) yahoo.com or call Deidre at the Poet for more information: (831) 426-8620. Session Facebook page |
| Slow |
1st Sunday of Month 1pm-3pm |
Deli-Licious 21505 E. Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz |
Tane: (831) 469-3710 tachyon@tachyonlabs.com link to Web page |
| Moderate/ Intermediate |
2nd Sunday of Month 7pm-9pm |
Britannia Arms 8017 Soquel Ave. Aptos |
Tane: (831) 469-3710 tachyon@tachyonlabs.com link to Web page |
| Slow |
3rd Sunday of Month 2pm-4pm |
The Buttery Bakery & Cafe 702 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz |
Tane: (831) 469-3710 tachyon@tachyonlabs.com link to Web page |
|
Fridays 7:30pm-9:30pm |
Calvary Chapel 8065 ValenciaSt. Aptos -OR- The Common House 842 Western Dr. Santa Cruz |
Deby Benton Grosjean (831) 566-0441 deby.fiddler@gmail.com Hosted by the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, Monterey Bay contingent and led by Deby Benton Grosjean. Held alternately at Calvary Cahpel in Aptos and the Common House in Santa Cruz. This is an open session but by becoming a SFSF member, allows you get a massive binder of tunes, more sessions to join, concerts to perform, monthly newsletter & more. There is an optional one dollar in the basket for finger food. If interested, it's best to get on Deby's mailing list. |
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| In the Monterey Area | |||
|
1st & 3rd Sundays 3pm |
Nifty 50 Cafe 1760 Fremont Blvd., #B1 Seaside |
Marc (831) 333-1493 Directions: Take Hwy. 1 to Canyon Del Rey Blvd. and then turn left on Del Monte, then right on Broadway, then left on Fremont Blvd. & it's in the Olympic Shopping Center on the right. |
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| San Jose Area | |||
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12:00-3:00pm |
San Jose |
SUNDAY SESSION DISCONTINUED |
| Up-tempo |
Tuesdays 6:30pm until late |
O'Flaherty's Irish Pub 25 N. San Pedro St. San Jose |
A traditional Irish seisiún for experienced Irish style musicians every Tuesday evening.
The South Bay's longest running and only up-tempo seisiún! You're a stranger here but once! Please
visit us on Facebook or at our website: O'Flaherty's seisiún Facebook page www.leap2three.com Feel free to email ahead so that we know to save a seat for you at the table. Julia Horner leap2three@yahoo.com Art Friedman friedman_art@yahoo.com Peter Tommerup ptommerup@juno.com |
| In the San Francisco Penninsula Area | |||
|
Sundays 11:30am to 3pm |
La Di Da Cafe 500 Purissima St. Half Moon Bay -OR- Peet's Coffee (near the New Leaf) Route 92 Half Moon Bay |
Raymond mtn_kahuna@yahoo.com Celtic/Old-time string band sessions, alternately at La Di Da Cafe and Peet's Coffee. |
|
| Slow |
Tuesdays 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
St. Stephen's Green 223 Castro St. Mountain View |
Bob.Wilson@acm.org
Irish music session hosted by the San Francisco Pipers Club. |
|
Sundays 8:15pm to 11pm |
Starry Plough 3101 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley |
Shay Black www.starryploughpub.com/session Irish sessions hosted by Shay Black for all ages. All musicians, singers, & dancers are welcome. |
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Sundays 6am-8pm or so |
Lily Mac's 187 South Murphy Ave. Sunnyvale |
Celtic Soul DPjazz@aol.com Alternating hosts: Celtic Soul, the Kavanaugh Brothers, The Crubeens, and Banish the Dogs. |
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A really good source of information about local sessions is Tony Becker's AmeriCeltic sessions listings. Check his page on Facebook www.facebook.com/AmeriCeltic or his AmeriCeltic Web site at www.AmeriCeltic.net and click on the Music button for full details and music downloads.
Celtic Music Night
The marvelous Celtic music multi-instrumentalist David Brewer has moved to the East Coast, however, he still occasionally hosts his Celtic Music Night at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Aptos. These delightful concerts are held on rare Tuesdays that he is in town touring with his band Molly's Revenge.
The evening is for people interested in listening to & learning more about the instruments in a casual, fun, friendly environment. Each session there is a presentation of the music by different performers with related history & cultural context, question & answer and free coaching for those interested in learning Celtic technique & tunes on an instrument.
There is also an informal Celtic jam session with refreshments following the concert.