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Hello AmeriCeltic Reader, • In light of last week's mob assault on our U.S. Capitol, co-founder Celia Fábos-Becker offers her analysis of what our historically Celtic U.S. Constitution meant by 'A Well-Regulated Militia'. (See Below)
• Co-founder Celia Fábos-Becker updates us on the latest of the Post-Brexit morass of new, unintended concequences for trade. (See Below)
• On Saturday, January 30th, 6:00 PM, the Saint Andrews Society of San Francsico is offering a catered Robert Burns Dinner along side their online Zoom Show to honor Robert Burns the Poet as well as all things Scottish. The catered Burns Supper is available to all who live within 70 miles of San Francisco. Purchase Tickets here before Tuesday, January 19th, and use Promo Code: 'FriendsOfCelts21' for 5% off your Tickets. (See Below for more details)
• Beginning in mid-January, the annual rounds of Robert Burns Events begins, as Scots all around Northern California and the world gather to honor Burns the Poet as well as all things Scottish. (See Below)
• On Friday, January 15th, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM PDT it's Accordion Fridays, with TOP NOTCH Celtic accordion masters streaming Online via Facebook Live. (See Below)
• On Friday, January 15th, 7:00 PM, join Kathryn Rose entertains with Folktastic Fridays With Kathryn Rose, via Facebook LIVE from Portland, OR. (See Below)
• On Friday, January 15th at 8:00 PM, and again Wednesday, January 6th at 4:00 PM, Amelia Hogan will perform a few Songs LIVE Online via Facebook and YouTube Live from the Hobbit Hole in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Friday, January 15th, 8:00 PM, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) of San Francisco hosts an Open Irish Singing Session Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Saturday, January 16th, at 12:00 PM, it's SF Virtual Chantey Sing! After years singing from the wooden decks of the historic 1886 sailing ship Balclutha at the Maritime National Historical Park, Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, CA, this 39 year old maritime cultural tradition rises like the Phoenix from your computer or device. (See Below)
• On Saturday, January 16th, at 1:00 PM, Sin Silver, will perform piano bar show with the theme 'the 70s'. Stay safe at home, and stream it online from from 'Murray's Pub' (her recreation/piano room) in Concord, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, January 16th at 2:00 PM PST John Whelan conducts the 7th in his new series of Online Master Sessions, featuring Liam Kelly and Tom Morrow! (See Below)
On Saturday, January 16th, at 8:00 PM, The Black Donnellys, Dave Rooney and Dave Browne, will stream their high-energy show to you from the RiRa @ Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV as you stay safely sequestered in your homes. (See Below)
• Sunday, January 17th at 11:00 AM, it's the Piper Sundays, Zoom meeting for an hour and one half with host Patrick D'Arcy and his guest Cillian Vallely joining us from New York. (See Below)
• On Sunday, January 17th, from 4:00-5:30 PM, the SCVFA is sponsoring a mandolin workshop with Marla Fibish, all non-contact via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Monday, January 18th, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Michael Eskin offers a free, Irish Whistle Master Class Workshop live on Zoom! (See Below)
• On Sunday, January 24th, at Noon - 1:30 PM, The Golden Bough Trio, Margie, Kathy and Paul, will live stream a Robert Burns performance via Facebook Live from Oakley, CA. (See Below)
NOTICE! Due to public health officials orders for social distancing to limit the spread of the COVID-19 infections, all in person events and festivals, especially those involving singing, wind instruments, etc. have been postponed or cancelled, and many will continued to be cancelled through at least the Winter. If you have plans to attend ANY such event, large or small, we recommend that you call and confirm that they are NOT cancelled.
• Returning from July 30th through August 7th 2021 Lark Camp, the annual Music, Song, & Dance event will return to the Redwoods near Mendocino, CA from . (See Below)
• Co-Founder Cecilia Fábos-Becker's e-book Ancestry & DNA: Beyond the basics, is available for download now! (See Below)
• Cedar Dobson offers one-on-one whistle lessons live on Zoom! (See Below)
• Michael Eskin offers one-on-one Irish whistle and flute, Uilleann pipes, and Anglo concertina lessons live on Zoom! (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)
• While Lark In The Morning in Berkeley, CA and Exploring Music in the outer sunset neighborhood of San Francisco, CA are closed for walk-ins, both stores are open for online sales and lessons. (See Below)
• Publican Stan Gamble has just recently re-opened The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant, offering outdoor service 7 days a week from 4pm to late. (See Below)
• Sláinte Pub offers a full menu of great food and drink with outdoor dining service Wednesday through Sunday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at their location at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. (See Below)
• The Plough and Stars, a SF Legacy Business, and THE place for Live Traditional Music in the inner Richmond district of San Francisco. (See Below)
• The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, local Irish Pub bringing the culture of Ireland to downtown at 5th and Howard in San Francisco. (See Below)
• The Celtic Society of Monterey Bay, has a 32 year record of producing Celtic Concerts in various venues in and around Santa Cruz and Monterey, CA. (See Below)
• The United Irish Cultural Center, hosts many Irish and other events in their large facility in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• Catherine Barry's Irish Culture Bay Area , offers a succinct listing of Irish events around Bay Area. (See Below)

Scan our feature articles below, or as always, you can click here to check the full listings on our website.

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Editorial - Our Celtic Constitution:
A Well Regulated Militia

Has the U.S. Forgotten Its Celtic Heritage?

By Celia Fábos-Becker - Published 2021-01-15

People forget that the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution comes not just out of the American Revolution and the few years leading up to it, including the French and Indian War, but out of earlier Scots and Ulster Scots history. Too many people also too conveniently forget the first part of the 2nd Amendment, 'A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State… '

Over the past two centuries, especially since the Civil War, we've seen a number of gangs spring up that claim to be 'militias.' Claiming to be one and being one in the historically understood sense of the term, especially as George Washington and our founders saw and wanted them, are two different things. In fact General George had quite a lot negative to say about untrained militias with no discipline, who, if they didn't accidentally shoot themselves, didn't follow officers' orders, ignored the experienced Continental army and often didn't cooperate with it, even in fighting the English, and ran from battle quickly. Washington wanted disciplined and experienced men of good standing in their communities, especially since he had to rely upon those same communities to provide all the additional, very real support for the Army, especially food and clothing.

What we saw in Washington DC last week were not militias! These were not men of good standing in their communities - rather, they were gangs of thugs, a lot like the roaming gangs of mercenaries in the medieval Renaissance period whom the Byzantine empire was pleased to hire to use against the Turks, knowing most would be killed and thus eliminating a second problem for Constantinople and its neighbors. The Turks also used such gangs of thugs, calling them 'crazy heads,' and put them out front in their battles, knowing that the more experienced Byzantine linemen and military regulars would do them the same favor as they were doing for the Byzantines. This was a common strategy in medieval Renaissance warfare — get rid of the mostly younger, excess male thugs in an area by making them cannon fodder in all the regional feuds and warfare.

This strategy was also used in Scotland in Clan warfare, and especially notably in the rebellion of 1745. The British noted that when their experienced, disciplined regulars killed and captured soldiers on the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie they found that most of e dead and captured were usually the youngest, least disciplined and least experienced members of their clans. These were the most dispensable, for one reason or another, to their extended families and clan leaders, and villages or towns. Few clan leaders and their oldest sons were taking the kinds of risks these Scots took at Flodden Field.

Read More ...

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Editorial - Brexit Rots Fish, Musicians and More

Post Brexit Problems for Scots and English Fishermen, Performing Artists, etc.

By Celia Fábos-Becker - Published 2021-01-14

PBS and the BBC reported today (Thursday, January 14) that English and Scottish fishermen who enthusiastically took advantage of their more complete sovereignty over coastal and nearby waters, caught many tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fish and crustaceans only to have them die and rot, undelivered, because the government had not prepared them for all the new forms, paperwork and delivery delays to sell their catches to the EU.

The BBC videos interviewed one company whose delivery of 'fresh caught' crustaceans took 5 days to get to the intended customer and arrived dead and rotten, which the customer then, naturally, refused. Another snippet showed over 10,000 pounds of fresh fish in boxes in a warehouse, sitting, going to waste. Some distributors are hastily trying to freeze their catches and hope that their French customers will accept frozen instead of fresh. Others are trying to route their deliveries through Denmark for greater speed. Not all can do either and distributors interviewed by the BBC were predicting higher costs of doing business fewer customers on the Continent, and of course more job losses in the fishing and fish packaging and delivery industries The British government has said it will make good the losses of the fishermen and work on streamlining the process for customs and delivery but has no process for either yet. UK fishers cry foul as Brexit red tape leaves catch rotting

Additionally, the BBC reported that performing artists who used to freely move between the UK and EU, now must obtain visas and are not finding it as easy to do so, and being otherwise limited in former EU venues. The EU has policies of prioritizing its own performing artists and, of course, the UK is no longer a member of the EU and thus competes now with EU performers. 'It's going to be devastating' - here's how Brexit will screw over British touring artists

These same British and also EU, particularly Irish, performers had noted that even with funding, such as from the Irish government, visas were getting much harder to obtain in the U.S. also, especially under the current administration. Nothing has been said yet by the incoming Biden administration about easing visas for British and European performing artists.

The English who have acquired second homes on the Costa del Sol in Spain have been finding new restrictions on how long they are permitted to be at these vacation homes/second residences for a stretch and how many times per year they can visit. The wealthier English had seen some of this coming and have been buying less Spanish real estate since the Brexit vote. However, unlike buying land in Bermuda, the Bahamas or Jamaica, it was an easy, inexpensive trip to the Costa del Sol and one could visit that vacation home or second residence more easily, and frequently, such as for a three day weekend, if one wanted. In a last minute deal between the UK and Spain, Gibraltar, however, avoided the effects of a 'hard Brexit.'

However, all the 17,000 fishermen whose catches are dying and rotting and have yet to receive any recompense from their government and all the inconvenienced owners of property in Spain have their full sovereignty as they declared they wished.

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Robert Burns Events in Northern California

Celebrating the National Poet Of Scotland

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns Performed by Andy M. Stewart

Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect which would have been accessible to a wider audience than native Scottish speakers. Burns wrote many blunt political and civil commentaries about the Scottish condition. For more on Robert Burns, Click Here.

This is also the time of year when Scots everywhere organize formal gatherings to commemorate Robert Burns and all things Scottish at Burns Suppers, with plenty of Burns poetry, Highland Dancing, Pipers, readings of Burns 'Address tae the Haggis', Toasts to the Lads & Lassies, and Entertainment of all kinds Celtic.

Act Now! Find a Burns Suppers near you (list below) and claim a spot, but remember that they generally have a deadline for reservations weeks in advance, and they sell out quickly.

• Saturday, January 23rd, 2:00 PM (noon Hawai‘i time) Honolulu, Hawai‘i, The Caledonian Society of Hawai‘i. $20. Online via Zoom. For an additional $30, Advanced Registrants on O’ahu can order a 2 person Caledonian Kitchen Highland Beef Haggis, two mini bottles of whisky, four Big Island cookies, and a paper program, all delivered by a kilted delivery person and a piper.
• Sunday, January 24th, 3:00 PM, St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles. Online via Zoom. Tickets Questions? Contact Kimberlee Blair Bradford, FSA Scot, President, 310-614-0814 or kvbbradford@gmail.com
• Saturday, January 30th, 6:00 PM, San Francisco, CA, Saint Andrews Society of San Francisco. Online via Zoom. 159th Annual Robert Burns Event, sponsored by Isle of Arran Distillery. Advance Orders purchased by Tuesday, January 19th include the complete, traditional 'Burns Supper' four course meal delivered to your door anywhere within 70 miles of San Francisco and all the add-on’s like wine/whisky! Purchase Tickets here before 1/19/21 and use Promo Code: 'FriendsOfCelts21' for 5% off your Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/saintandrewssocietyofsanfrancisco/310695# Email questions to Alex Sinclair 2ndvp@saintandrewssocietysf.org.
• Saturday, April 10th, 6:00 PM, Amador City, CA Mother Lode Scots Burns Supper, Imperial Hotel, 14202 Old Highway 49, $60, Registration and Details at Tickets Contact burnsdinner@motherlodescots.com
• Dixon Scottish Association is talking about a virtual event on January 30th.
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Accordion Fridays

Celtic Accordion World Masters in Concert

Online via Facebook Live!

Accordion Fridays is back with LOTS of fiery, gifted artists from the US, Canada and Europe doing free live video streams. Steve Normandin, Renee de la Prade, Will Allen, Susan Hwang, Christian Kuffner of the Zydepunks, and Salane's The Dark Family Hour. There will be a great mix of folk, jazz, soul, rock, and comedy so don't miss out!

Check out the box and click the links to see live online concerts and then look for the little red LIVE button.

More info about the artists:

10am PDT/ 1pm EDT/ 8pm CET: Steve Normandin plays traditional Quebequois fiddle tunes and gypsy jazz with joy and great technical skill on both melodeon and piano accordion. He also sings, and brings a vivacious, light-hearted show announced in both Quebequois French and English. Live from Bretagne, France. https://www.facebook.com/laccordeoniste.voyageur

11AM Pacific/ 2pm Eastern/ 8pm CET: Renée de la Prade brings a set of lively stomp-and-holler tunes with her button accordion, voice, and her boots, mixing Cajun, blues, reggae, Irish, French, punk, and other flavors that taste good together for a rocking-good show. Playing live in Hamburg, Germany https://www.facebook.com/Accordion-Babes-128066897203923

12pm Pacific/ 3pm Eastern/ 8pm GMT/ 9pm CET: Will Allen plays English, Scottish and Irish dance tunes on melodeon. His playing is very rhythmic, hypnotic and soulful. He's a member of the Ship Band; the U.K.'s Premier Ceilidh band. London, UK https://www.facebook.com/willthesqueezer

1pm (PST)/ 4pm(EST)/9pm U.K./10pm CET Susan Hwang, literary soul-music squeezebox diva with a powerful voice, and her very own book club. She presents her original songs with groovy percussion and backup vocals by Marlon Cherry. Brooklyn, NY USA https://www.facebook.com/susanhwanglalala

5pm (PST)/ 7pm (Central Time)/ 8pm (EST) Christian Kuffner of Zydepunks' fame gives us a taste from his new project Soul Trouvere. He plays and sings a mix of folk and original songs in English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Yiddish and possibly even more languages! His music is infused with Klezmer and Balkan rhythms. Minneapolis, MN USA https://www.facebook.com/ckuffner

7pm Pacific time: 10pm East Coast time: Salane's 'The Dark Family Hour': dark mysterious music, polkas and waltzes, psychedelia, comedy and Tom Waits covers. Salane is an unforgettable performer who brings us to other worlds. Oakland, CA USA https://www.facebook.com/The-Dark-Family-Hour-105784227882339

All shows are LIVE, FREE, and HAVE ACCORDIONS. You know you want - some bellows-shaking cheer!

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Folktastic Fridays with Kathryn Rose

Friday, January 15th 7:00 PM

Online via Facebook Live

Join Kathryn for Folktastic Fridays! Click Here to go to her Facebook Profile, and then look for the little red LIVE button.

Kathryn Rose is a folk singer and recording artist from Oregon. She has been singing since she could talk and grew up listening to Irish and Scottish folk music.

Kathryn says:
Join Me For My FRIDAY Evening Live-Stream Show!! Message Me With Any Requests. Your tips mean more than you could ever know!
paypal.me/kathrynrosefolk or Venmo -- @kathrynrosefolk
I Am Official Now!! Listen - Buy The New CD Here!! https://kathrynrose.hearnow.com/

Kathryn began seriously collecting songs after her grandmother passed away and she discovered a treasure trove of handwritten Irish folk songs tucked inside the piano bench. After that discovery, Kathryn transitioned from a classical singing background into the folk world. Her favorite musical style is Sean-nós, and she is working on her Gaeilge to perform more of these songs in the future. She performs folk music from both sides of the pond, with an emphasis on Ireland and even a dash of Gaeilge here and there.

Kathryn accompanies herself on the tenor guitar, but at various times in her life has had encounters with the piano, violin, lap harp, ukulele, and tin whistle. Her influences include Susan McKeown, Christy Moore, the Clancy Brothers, Seamus Begley, Sarah Ghriallais, Moya Brennan, and more. With her melodic voice, her love of world cultures and her attention to detail, she continues the tradition of Celtic folk music as an artist, a performer and an inspiration for peace and harmony in a complicated world. Kathryn and her husband live in somewhat peaceful harmony with their brood of hooligan cats.

More on Kathryn Rose Facebook Profile: https://facebook.com/kathrynrosefolk or check the Facebook Event.

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Amelia Hogan LIVE ONLINE
from the Hobbit Hole in San Francisco

Fridays at 8:00 PM & Wednesdays at 4:00 PM

Online via YouTube Live

Watch LIVE on Amelia's YouTube Channel or on Amelia's Facebook Profile.

Amelia Hogan sings traditional Irish, Scottish, English and American folk songs for over 30 years and plays a small Welsh lap-harp, across both sides of various ponds.

Amelia says:
Come sit a spell and sing along if you'd like, Wednesdays at 4:00 PM PT for Experimental renditions and all new songs, and Fridays at 8:00 PM for favorites you've already heard from my repertoire. These are mini-busking/ fireside chat sessions from my home in San Francisco.
Tip Jar: https://www.paypal.me/ameliahogan and if you'd like more content, Song-lists, blogposts, additional tracks, and other goodies, you can subscribe to my patreon at https://www.patreon.com/ameliahogan Thanks a million!

Here is a sample video of Amelia Hogan singing Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore https://youtu.be/pIr7XmLXDIc.

Check Amelia's Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/ameliahogansings

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Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) Irish Sing!

Friday, January 15th, 8:00 PM

Online Via Zoom

The Cooley-Keegan branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) hosts this monthly singing session, on the First Friday of the month, usually in private Bay Area homes with a different person hosting each month, but due to COVID-19, we now meet on Zoom. Finally, it seems that singing, especially indoors, is particularly high risk because of the airflow arising from a singer. The following article explains why. It may be a long time our session get back to "normal"!

https://www.inquirer.com/arts/choir-coronavirus-covid-19-cdc-report-philadelphia-mother-bethel-the-crossing-eaction-20200517.html

Only the person leading the song will be broadcast for everybody to hear, though you can sing along in the comfort of your own house. If somebody wants to lead or request a song they can message that in the chat area and then we can take it in turns. We should try to be fair to give anybody who wants to lead the opportunity.

Our Zoom-based singing sessions are usually held on the first Friday each month, with Michael Jones as Zoom host, but as the first Friday of January 2021 falls on New Year's day we decided at the last session to delay the January singing session to Friday January 15th, 2021.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/577694914?pwd=aFpMd1hpZ0JuZHRUVDdlVE5OVXNLZz09

Meeting ID: 577 694 914
Passcode: 694622

Please remember to mute yourself when somebody else is singing. I've noticed people sometimes forget.

I did consider using the "Breakout Room" feature of Zoom to allow folks to voluntarily take themselves there for extended audio chat separate from the main session. To do this, the meeting host would have to first enable you as a co-host and assign you to the breakout. After that you could come and go as you pleased. You'd have to know how the basics of using breakout rooms. You'd also have to know enough about Zoom generally to avoid doing bad things as a co-host, such as accidentally ending the entire meeting for everybody. Thoughts? Is this worth trying?

Here's the usual boilerplate:

We have the two songbooks we use a lot of course, but feel free to lead off-book.

• (book of numbers) http://idonotlike.tv/CCE_songs/CCE_songs.pdf
• (book of John) http://idonotlike.tv/CCE_songs/Book_Of_John_linked_TOC.pdf

There are certain audio settings recommended for musicians and singers, as Zoom is optimized for conversation by default. It might improve what you hear and also how others hear you. Here's an article about it:

https://www.thenakedvocalist.com/zoom-for-singing-teachers

For more information, about the session, email Michael Jones at mfj@ieee.org.

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SF Virtual Chantey Sing Series

Saturday, January 16th, 12:00 PM PDT

Online via Zoom from SF Maritime Association

A folk music 'landmark' on the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, this 39-year San Francisco singing tradition continues in the virtual realm, hosting singers from across the Bay Area – and the country - and now all around planet Earth!

Peter Kasin says,
Ahoy -
Amidst all the chaos going on around us, we still have the monthly virtual chantey sing to help bring joy, calm the nerves, and help us get through these trying times. The next one is on Saturday, January 16th, 12-2pm Pacific time, USA, around 8pm in London and 9pm in Paris.

This month's sing is dedicated to the memory of longtime chantey sing and sea music festival volunteer Noemi Levine, who crossed the bar in January, 2020.

Visit https://maritime.org/events-home/chantey-sing for details, including links to a signup sheet, info for lead singers, and some suggested virtual backgrounds. You should have a good internet connection and be ready to have fun!

Lead singers will receive a separate link in another email. Since the sings have gone virtual, they have gone international. We have singers from across the country, the UK, and the Czech Republic lined up to lead us in song. All but the lead singer will be muted. Enjoy singing along on the choruses to chanteys from home.

To enter on the day and time, please go to https://givebutter.com/ChanteySing.

Fair winds,
- Peter Kasin

• Sign up to Lead a Song Here: https://maritime.org/sea-chantey-sign-up/
• Virtual Backgrounds required for lead singers available here: https://maritime.org/chantey-virtual-backgrounds/
• Song Leader On-boarding Instruction Here: Chantey Sing Song Leader Guide

Donations to the Association will be accepted during the event, which will be used to buy virtual technologies to broadcast more events from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

For more details, check this Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP

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Sin Silver

Saturday, January 16th, 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT

Online via Facebook LIVE, from Concord, CA

Sin Silver is an Irish singer songwriter based in the Bay Area in California. To watch the show, go to Sin Silver's Facebook Profile, and then look for the little red LIVE button.

Sin live-streams from 'Murray's Pub' (her recreation/piano room) every week and this week's theme is 'the 70s'. Find Sin's Live Performance by checking Sin's Facebook Profile, or go to www.livestream.com/watch and search for Sin Silver.

During the live stream, just drop your requests in the comments.

Virtual Tip Jar:
PayPal https://www.paypal.me/sinsilversin
Venmo @Sin-Silver

With a unique style, her 'Irish piano' and angelic voice are delighting audiences. A featured artist at Northern California's Graton Casino Resort, she brings a unique flavor to her craft. Whether she is playing her expertly crafted originals, covers with her own twist or celtic music, Sin Silver is someone that deserves to be heard live.

Check out her website here:  www.sinsilverandtheavenue.com or email her at sinsilverandtheavenue@gmail.com.

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John Whelan Master Sessions #10

John and James Carty
Saturday, January 16th, 2:00 PM

Online via Zoom

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.

Since last March, John has stepped up his online activities, and his latest project is Master Sessions with John Whelan.

The next Whelan Master Session is happening next Saturday, January 16th, 2:00 PM, with John' friends John and James Carty.

John Carty needs no introduction in Irish traditional music circles. He received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil award in 2003 and has released numerous solo and collaborative albums on fiddle, banjo and tenor guitar. His son, James, since releasing his solo fiddle album Hiding Daylight in Dark Corners in 2017 and has been steadily building a noteworthy reputation within the genre.

John and his son, James Carty, have been musical partners since James was born. They have been playing and listening to music together for a couple of decades during which time James has developed a voice similar to John’s but very much his own. The result of this long-standing partnership has manifested itself in this exciting debut collaboration which explores duet fiddle and other instrumental combinations. The material is gathered from various sources from obscure recordings of the Sligo fiddle and flute tabernacle to the music of various influential and creative friends whether it be their own compositions or rekindled, time-honoured favourites.

The Saturday master session is open to players and listeners of all levels, from anywhere in the world. It'll start at 2pm Pacific time, 5pm Eastern time, 10pm GMT, and run for two hours. The master sessions do have a requested $20 donation for attending and we need at least 30 attendees to ensure the musicians are adequately compensated, so please share this with anyone you know who might be interested. Just email John at whelanbx1@me.com for more details.

All attendees need to do is make their donation via paypal.me/buttonboxman or by Venmo to John-Whelan-37, and make sure to note that it is for Whelan Master Session #9. We'll send out the Zoom link and tune list for the master session on Friday, and any last-minute sign-ups will get the link and tune list about an hour before the session starts on Saturday.

Easily sharable information on all John's master sessions lives here.

P.S. John's Wednesday 'Taking Time' slow session is still continuing as well - Check it out here: http://johnwhelanmusic.com/slow-session. It remains free and open to all, and we'll send out a tune list and Zoom link for tomorrow's 'Taking Time' Wednesday sessions. Email John at whelanbx1@me.com to get on the list or for more details.

Get more details on Johns website: http://johnwhelanmusic.com

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The Black Donnellys LIVE

Dave Rooney and Dave Browne
Saturday, January 16th, 8:00 PM

Facebook LIVE, from the RiRa @ Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV

Each Saturday, The Black Donnellys, (Dave Rooney and Dave Browne), stream their high-energy show to you from Las Vegas, NV as you stay safe at home.

Watch the Black Donnellys streaming show via Facebook LIVE by pointing your browser to the Black Donnellys Facebook Page, where you will find the little red LIVE button.

The Daves say:
Tune into our Residency Gig at Rira at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay!! Join us and our audience for a live performance and a few Requests!!

Last year, the two Daves from Dublin had the crazy idea to attempt a new World Record: 60 shows. 50 states. 40 days. What could go wrong? Find out what happened along the road as their beloved Irish band, The Black Donnellys set out to break this ambitious world record when Vision Films and Frequency Pictures present An Irish Story: This Is My Home.

The film was released, on March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day, 2020 and is available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Vimeo. Here is a link to the WATCH IT NOW!

For more, check Dave Browne's Facebook Profile.

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Piper Sundays

Sundays at 11:00 AM
Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club

Online via Zoom
Join the Zoom Event:

Event Website: http://socalpipers.com/piper_sunday.html

Host Patrick D'Arcy says:
'It's every Sunday from 11:00 AM (PDT) for about 90 minutes. I try to get high profile Uilleann piper guests from Ireland and elsewhere. It's not so much a concert as it is a talk show with the guest playing a handful of tunes throughout. Drop by this Sunday to check it out. Our guest will be Cillian Vallely joining us from New York.'

• January 24th, 2021: Éamonn Dillon — Details
• January 31th, 2021: Michael McGoldrick — Details
• February 07th, 2021: Máire Ní Ghráda — Details

Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club Facebook Events: https://www.facebook.com/SCUPC

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Irish Mandolin Workshop from Marla Fibish
Free event Sponsored by SCVFA

Sunday, January 17th, 4:00-5:30 PM (doors open at 3:45)

Online via Zoom - Free Tickets from Eventbrite

Learn how to put the pulse of Irish dance music into your playing! Free Tickets for this workshop are available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marla-fibish-mandolin-workshop-session-tickets-133040683265

San Francisco native, Marla Fibish is one of the prominent mandolinists in Irish music. She brings a deep and distinctive sensibility to the tradition on one of its lesser-heard instruments. She is a dynamic performer and a sought after teacher. Since March, Marla has offered non-contact mandolin classes.

Marla Fibish has performed and taught nationally and in Ireland, and was a featured performer at the 2018 Masters of Tradition festival in Bantry, Co. Cork. Her playing is featured on her 2020 album, The Bright Hollow Fog, the 2017 Noctambule release A Sweetish Tune, and The Morning Star, a duo CD with legendary Irish singer and bouzouki player Jimmy Crowley, as well as on the eponymous Three Mile Stone recording.

An experienced and sought-after teacher, Marla teaches private students and classes, online at Peghead Nation, and has been on the faculty of many music camps including The Swannanoa Gathering, The Mandolin Symposium, O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, Portal Irish Music Week, Lark Camp and others. Her instructional DVD has been a popular self-learning tool, focused on acquiring the foundational technique for playing Irish music on the mandolin. A multi-instrumentalist, Marla is known for her musical settings of works from a variety of poets, as well as original tunes written in traditional forms. This work is featured in the duo Noctambule, her longtime collaboration with guitarist and husband Bruce Victor. Their earlier releases include Travel in the Shadows in 2013 and The Waking in 2015.

'Some of the best mandolin playing in Irish music.' - Dennis Cahill, Guitarist

'Marla is a wonder on the mandolin; rhythmic beyond imagination, clear as a bell tone, great invention, lovely ornaments at just the right times and places, and a sureness and ease that allows the listener to relax and be carried away.' - Kevin Carr, Folkworks

'Though I have taught 1:1 over the web for years, it is only since the pandemic that I've held online classes. To my surprise I've learned that, though it's different and has it drawbacks, it also has a few distinct advantages -- participants really enjoy having the privacy to work on phrases or techniques during class without anyone hearing them, and you never have trouble hearing yourself because the person next to you is too loud! You also get plenty of practice time while others are playing for me, and the chance to hear your classmates individually has proved helpful and enlightening in surprising ways. And you can get a close up view of my hands in a way that would hardly be socially acceptable even if we weren't in a pandemic!' - Marla Fibish

TIP JAR: Instead of paying us for this amazing event, we ask that you leave a generous Tip. 100% of your TIP will go directly to Marla. Thanks for supporting independent musicians. Marla's Tip Jar will be available during the workshop.

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Irish Whistle Master Class with Michael Eskin

Monday, January 18th, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM PST

Live via Zoom

Free workshop best suited for intermediate level tin whistle players with some experience on the instrument.

This week we'll be back to the open class format, can cover whatever subjects or issues those attending want to address either one-on-one or as a group.

It would be ideal if you already can play some tunes on the instrument and have at least some basic understanding of ornamentation on the whistle. This is not a new beginner's class, but certainly newer players may benefit from the workshop.

I have no fixed agenda. I'll tailor the event based on the needs and requests of the participants. If it's all advanced players, we can share ideas.

I can play tunes you request, go over my approach to ornamentation and variation, address any specific challenges you might have, whatever the participants would be interested in.

Here’s the Zoom meeting link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6193681854?pwd=eXd3L2ZEeWNnMDBZYVI0RkJ2c3Vudz09
or if you prefer:
Meeting ID: 6193681854
Password: session

Bookmark my Website here: http://michaeleskin.com/whistle

Check the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/216422536688999

This workshop is free, but if you find the event useful, I would very much appreciate it if you would consider donating a few dollars to my PayPal tip jar:
https://paypal.me/MichaelEskin
Venmo: @MichaelEskin

Michael Eskin
http://michaeleskin.com
Michael's Facebook Profile

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Golden Bough does Robert Burns
Margie, Kathy and Paul

Sunday, January 24th, at Noon - 1:30 PM

Online via Facebook Live

On Sunday, January 24th, from Noon - 1:30 PM, The Golden Bough trio, Margie Butler, Kathy Sierra and Paul Espinoza will entertain you with a Salute to Robert Burns.

Join them at the appointed time by pointing your browser to Golden Bough Facebook Page, where you will find the little red LIVE button.

Here a link to their many music videos

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.

All three Golden Bough bandmates, are well versed in all genres of traditional folk songs, and have recently added favorites of the American Folk Revival from the 50's-60's. From working on the Railroads to leaving on that Jet plane, Golden Bough brings you the songs America loves.

For those of you seeking an entertaining respite that offers a bit of history, virtuosic instrumentation, sweet and seamless vocals, the occasional yarn and irrepressible toe-tapping, seek no more. Golden Bough is your answer.

For more on Golden Bough, email margie@goldenboughmusic.com or check the Golden Bough Facebook Page, or the Golden Bough website.

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Lark Camp

July 30th - August 7th, 2021

World Music, Song, and Dance Camp

Mendocino Woodlands State Park

Spend idyllic days and nights in the magical redwood forest filled with music, dance, and good times — that's the Lark Camp experience.

Click Here for the Video by Doug Plummer.

Take as many or as few of the workshops as you like; jam sessions 24 hours a day, big dances every evening. Plenty of good food, new friends, and musical stimulation for adults and families. Workshops for professional and beginner, alike.

Check out the Mendocino Woodlands website: Click Here

Visit http://larkcamp.org, Questions, email: registration@larkcamp.org or call (707) 397-5275 (LARK)

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