Please check individual concert listings for any COVID requirements that my be in effect at the concert venue.

Johnny Connolly, John Weed and Cary Novotny
Saturday Night Performance at St. Mary's, Pacific Grove
A Production Of St Mary's Celtic Music Series
Sat, Oct 7th 2023, 7:00PM
St Mary's By The Sea Episcopal Church, Pacific Grove place
Johnny Connolly, John Weed and Cary Novotny photo
Tickets
Advance $30 Door $35
Child Advance $12 Child Door $15
Member discount $3

 Join three of west coasts’ finest exponents of traditional music for a rare full-length concert: Dublin IR button accordion player Johnny B. Connolly, Carmel fiddle player John Weed, and Portland OR guitar wizard/vocalist Cary Novotny are uniting for a limited run of fall shows in the California Bay Area and Central Coast. The concert will intertwine driving sets of jigs and reels, rhythmic old time tunes highlighting the interplay between squeezebox and fiddle, and Americana ballads that’ll delight the soul. Seating for these events are limited — reservations and ticket info coming soon!
 
Johnny B. Connolly, a Dublin-born master of Irish traditional music, gained early recognition in his hometown before joining the renowned ensemble Anam. Touring extensively, he eventually made his home in Portland, Oregon. Settling in Portland, Oregon, Johnny's friendship with legendary fiddler Kevin Burke led to a record deal with Green Linnet Records in 2001. His album “Bridgetown“, a fusion of traditional Irish and French tunes, garnered widespread praise with guest appearances by Burke and production by guitarist Ged Foley.

Joining the esteemed Irish band Solas in 2014, Johnny showcased his exceptional talent on their latest CD.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m. This show will be in Edwards Hall. 
Johnny Connolly, John Weed and CaryNovotny
Sun, Oct 8th 2023, 7:30PM
House concert, Soquel
(Address supplied after ticket purchase)
Johnny Connolly, John Weed and CaryNovotny photo
Suggested Donation $25

 Join three of west coasts’ finest exponents of traditional music for a rare full-length concert: Dublin IR button accordion player Johnny B. Connolly, Carmel fiddle player John Weed, and Portland OR guitar wizard/vocalist Cary Novotny are uniting for a limited run of fall shows in the California Bay Area and Central Coast. The concert will intertwine driving sets of jigs and reels, rhythmic old time tunes highlighting the interplay between squeezebox and fiddle, and Americana ballads that’ll delight the soul. Seating for these events are limited — reservations and ticket info coming soon!
 
Johnny B. Connolly, a Dublin-born master of Irish traditional music, gained early recognition in his hometown before joining the renowned ensemble Anam. Touring extensively, he eventually made his home in Portland, Oregon. Settling in Portland, Oregon, Johnny's friendship with legendary fiddler Kevin Burke led to a record deal with Green Linnet Records in 2001. His album “Bridgetown“, a fusion of traditional Irish and French tunes, garnered widespread praise with guest appearances by Burke and production by guitarist Ged Foley.

Joining the esteemed Irish band Solas in 2014, Johnny showcased his exceptional talent on their latest CD, "All These Years". He has also toured and performed alongside notable artists such as Eammon McElholm, Kevin Burke, Nuala Kennedy, Tony Furtado, Aidan Brennan, and Casey Neill.
 
John Weed, fiddler for Molly’s Revenge and New World String Project, has spent the last 30 years immersed in various fiddle styles. With an affinity for folk traditions, John’s exploration has emphasized Irish, Scottish, Swedish, and Old-Time fiddle. While he holds a bachelor’s degree of music from CSU Chico, the musical education that charted his path began through a long series of Irish sessions. There, he learned the nuance of aural passing of melodies and the tradition of conversing in a deeply musical manner. John’s passion for the vital expressiveness of the session lead to performing across the United States and internationally. In addition to being a full time performer and instructor, John is currently on faculty at Palenke Arts, a multicultural arts organization in Seaside, California. 
 
Cary Novotny was born in South Dakota. He studied classical guitar in Bowling Green, KY where he was also influenced by country, folk, and bluegrass. Cary earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Portland and began a career as a professional guitarist, singer and songwriter in the Northwest. His band, Cul an Ti, is hugely popular for their lively traditional Irish tunes and unique blend of Irish and popular songs. Having recorded and performed with many other notable musicians including Kevin Burke, The Bridies, Johnny Connolly, Tony Furtado, Hanz Araki, Winifred Horan, and the touring Irish dance show Celtic Legends, Cary is described as “a masterful guitarist with an epic sense of harmony, song structure, and a soulful and captivating vocalist” by the Willamette Week newspaper in Portland, Oregon.
STEVE BAUGHMAN
Celtic Guitar
Sun, Oct 29th 2023, 7:00PM
The Ugly Mug, Soquel place
STEVE BAUGHMAN photo
Video videocam Website link
Tickets
Advance $25 Door $25
Member discount $3

Steve Baughman is a pioneering fingerstyle guitarist known for his emotive arrangements of Celtic fiddle and harp tunes. Steve's playing is characterized by a strong melodic presence and several right-hand techniques that enable guitarists to play old Celtic melodies with ease and emotion. Unlike most guitarists who play in open tunings, Steve rarely uses DADGAD but instead employs a wide variety of rather unusual open and alternate tunings with Orkney tuning (CGDGCD) figuring principally among them. 

Baughman is a Bay Area guitar player gaining fans and acclaim for his crystalline guitar sonics and ultra-clean fingerprinting.  He recently released a recording of 14 Turlough O'Carolan tunes to great reviews. This is Steve's first appearance in the Monterey Bay area.

IRISH CHRISTMAS in AMERICA
Wed, Nov 29th 2023, 7:30PM
Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz place
IRISH CHRISTMAS in AMERICA photo
Video videocam Website link
Tickets
Prices include 5% City Of Santa Cruz Admissions Tax
Advance $35 Door $40
Member discount $3

Celebrating its 18th year, the hugely popular holiday show “Irish Christmas in America” brings a fascinating performance of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions. Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, the long running show features top Irish music, song and dance in an engaging performance rich in humor and boundless energy. The 2023 tour features special guest singer Caitríona Sherlock, a vocalist from Monaghan who is one of the finest new voices from Ireland.

The family-friendly performance features lively instrumental tunes on fiddle by Mac Diarmada, flute and uilleann pipes by Sean Gavin and harp by Gráinne Hambly. They perform along with thrilling old-style Irish dancing from Samantha Harvey. In addition, evocative photographic images provide a backdrop to some of the rich historical traditions of Ireland. Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland, bring you on a fun-filled start to the holiday season of 2023.

The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring such stellar guest vocalists as Séamus & Méabh Begley, Teresa Horgan, Lumiere (Pauline Scanlon & Eilis Kennedy), Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States. “One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration,” says Mac Diarmada. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”
JIM & SUSIE MALCOLM
Tue, Jan 30th 2024, 7:30PM
House concert, Soquel
(Address supplied after ticket purchase)
JIM & SUSIE MALCOLM photo
Video videocam
Suggested Donation $25

Jim has been gracing us with his presence for several years now and his unique talents always make for a great, entertaining concert. Jim is again joined by his wife Susie, an award-winning Scottish traditional singer, who has been performing with Jim Malcolm throughout Scotland for over 20 years. She sings complex harmonies in a traditional style, and is known as a tradition bearer for the ancient ballads of Scotland, with particular expertise in the bothy ballad tradition from North East Scotland. Performing together, Jim and Susie Malcolm offer our audience a unique cultural experience. Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Traveling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, engaging wit (and recently his trumpet!), he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as a brilliant interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style. As a solo performer with over ten CDs to his credit, As well as a renowned singer, he is in the top handful of simultaneous guitar and harmonica players in the world. He plays mostly in the folk guitar tuning dadgad in both fingerpicking and plectrum styles. His concerts are always highly entertaining, peppered with funny stories and observations, in the great tradition of Scottish artists through the ages.
 

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Help us to continue bringing world class Celtic musicians to the area by becoming a member. Individual and family memberships are available, starting at $20 per year. . 

You can also join our mailing list for free

Community Events

These events are not sponsored by the Celtic Society. If you have any questions, please direct them to the contact information in the event listing. Check out the Americeltic and Irish Culture Bay Area events calendars for more local events.

You can now list online shows!

Featuring five musical stages and six demonstration stages, the festival brings international performers to Nevada County and showcases an ever-increasing cadre of regional talent including musicians, dancers, and performing artists of every kind.
Workshops and sessions and the Youth Arts Program are held throughout the event to provide musicians of every age and caliber an opportunity to learn from each other, perform in front of a live audience, and hone their craft.

Tickets and information:
https://kvmrcelticfestival.org

#irishmusic #celticmusic

You are invited to O'Flaherty's Traditional Irish Session every Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 10:00 pm or so at O'Flaherty's Irish Pub in downtown San Jose! Experienced Celtic musicians 21 and well behaved dogs. We play in the open doorway looking out onto the parklet on San Pedro Street. Celebrating 18 years of playing Irish music together on Tuesday nights at O'Flaherty's, where you are a stranger but once!

#livemusic #irishmusic #celticmusic #irishsession #irishjam #sanjose #sharks #oflats

Community Music School of Santa Cruz will host their annual outdoor fundraiser at El Vaquero Winery on Sunday, October 8th, from 2-5pm. This year’s event features two incredible music groups:  Fire & Grace (William Coulter and Edwin Huizinga), and the John Weed Trio (John Weed, Johnny B. Connolly, and Cary Novotny). An assortment of wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, as well as charcuterie plates, cheese and cracker assortments, hummus and chips, and cookies. The final hour of the afternoon will feature a traditional Irish session, where audience members can bring their instruments and join the performers in playing Celtic tunes. 

Tickets for adults are $25 in advance/$30 at the door. Kids under 18 get in for $10. All proceeds from ticket and food sales will go towards funding Community Music School's youth programming.
 
More information and tickets online at CommunityMusicSchool.org.

A community gathering of the finest kind. Join the Santa Cruz Irish music scene as we play rollicking tunes every third Thursday in downtown Santa Cruz. Join us at Rosie McCann's Irish Pub on Pacific Avenue from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. All ages. 

Irish musicians and dancers descend upon the town of Fairfax, California for the whole weekend performing in coffee shops and venues throughout. Free to attend. Come listen, dance, and sing! Information: https://www.fairfaxirishfestival.com/2019-festival-schedule

Performers and bands include:
Kyle Alden, Buncrana, Hector Bragado, Jon Berger, Comhaltas Cooley-Keegan Set Dancers, Carleton Eyster, Keith Dubinsky, Erica and Friends, Marla Fibish  The Gas Men, Amelia Hogan, The Iroids, Iseult Jordan, Vince Keehan, Doug Kaplan, Alina Larson, Ed Lynch, Jimmy Murphy, Rory  McNamara, Richard Mandel, Noctambule, Darcy Noonan, Robyn Gonzalez NiConney, New Wild Hog, Roxanne Oliva, Neil O' Neill, The Pure Drops, Riggy Rackin, Rebecca Richman,  Elizabeth Roddy, Erin Ruth, Todd Silverstein, Susan Spurlock, Lewis Santer, Robert Shaw,  Stacey Samuels, The Turf Cutters, Dana Trillo and David Winter

The Historic Brookdale Lodge and Mountain Music Productions welcome the return of Celtic rock legends Tempest on Saturday, November 11 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

Tickets: http://brookdale-lodge.ticketleap.com/tempest

Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock, fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 30 plus years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release eighteen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,500 gigs. Tempest used to hold epic concerts at the Brookdale Lodge back in the day. They're returning to rock the Brookdale scene after a sell-out show for Saint Patrick's Day 2023.

Don't miss this very special show. Make plans to join us for a night of high energy folk music like no other.

Artist sights and sounds: tempestmusic.com

Big Trees Productions presents Frankie Gavin w/ Catherine McHugh at Scott Kennedy Hall. Join us on Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm for an intimate concert of pure Irish music from living treasure, Irish fiddle master Frankie Gavin. The event takes place in Scott Kennedy Hall at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St. Santa Cruz.

This performance celebrates Frankie's long awaited return to the stage and highlights his most recent recording, Port Eireann, which includes legendary uplifting traditional melodies as well as Frankie's own compositions, including The Burren Barndance. Frankie is accompanied on this tour by talented young pianist Catherine McHugh.

Celtic Music On The Radio

Get your Celtic music fix and support our local radio stations by listening to the following programs.

89.3 FM

The Mountain Road

Julie Horner

Monday 8 PM - 10 PM

91.5 FM

New Wood

Peter Schwarz

Thursday 7 AM - 10 AM

Friday Folk-Off

Dave Stafford

Friday 3 PM - 6 PM

The Lark In The Morning

Greg Winslow

Wednesday 6 AM - 8 AM

107.5 FM

Please Stand By

John Sandidge

Sunday 10 AM - 12 PM

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