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Learn more in our Video Introduction
• On Saturday, July 17th, at 11:00 AM, 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, July 17th, from 1:00 - 8:00 PM at the United Irish Cultural Center, there will be outdoor dining from 1:00 - 8:00 PM with LIVE Parrothead music from 4:00 PM by License to Chill, under their 1800 sq.ft. 'Big Top', and now inside their large facility in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Sunday, July 18th at 11:00 AM, Piper Sundays, an hour and one half long Zoom meeting is hosted Patrick D'Arcy, returns with guest Becky Taylor joining us from Yorkshire, England. (See Below)
• On Saturday, July 24th at 5:00 PM, the fabulous Shipwrecked Shanty Band are back in person (keepin' their distance) and online via Facebook Live from Sláinte Irish Pub in Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. (See Below)
• On Friday, July 30th at 7:00 PM, Matt Seidel will host an online event, singing Irish revolutionary folk music as part of San Francisco Laborfest. (See Below)
• Wednesday, August 4th, Lark Camp Online, the Zoom version of Lark Camp's annual Music, Song, & Dance event for 2021 that is usually held in the Mendocino Woodlands starts a four day run through Sunday, August 8th, 2021. (See Below)
• On Saturday, August 21st Redwood Dulcimer Day kicks off at 9:00 AM the Community Music School of Santa Cruz offers their annual day of dulcimer workshops Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 4th & Sunday, September 5th, from 9 AM to 6:30 PM, its the World's Largest Celtic Festival, aka the 155th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, in Pleasanton. (See Below)
• On Saturday, September 18th at 9:00 AM, its the 44th Annual Fresno Highland Games, at Kearney Park in Fresno, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturdays, at 1:00 PM, Sin Silver, performs her piano bar show, and this week the theme is 'Songs of the Sea'. Stay safe at home, and stream it online from from 'Murray's Pub' (her recreation/piano room) in Concord, CA. (See Below)
• On Wednesdays, well known button accordionist John Whelan offers two free events, a 'Tune Teach' and John's 'Taking Time' Session (See Below)
• The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, the local Irish Pub bringing the culture of Ireland to downtown San Francisco at 5th and Howard, is Open again as of Thursday, July 8th! (See Below)
• Music is returning to the cherished San Francisco Celtic cultural institution, The Plough and the Stars, now open from Wednesday through Sunday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM. (See Below)
• Sláinte Pub Jack London Square in Oakland, CA is open Tuesday - Sunday, with a full menu of great food and drink with outdoor and limited indoor dining service and on Sundays from 4 PM to 7 PM offers traditional Irish music from their house band, Buncrana. (See Below)
• On the first Sunday of each month, a small group of Starry Plough regulars stream a re-newed online Irish Session from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. (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)
• Live music is slowly re-emerging in California! Every Sunday, there are now LIVE Irish tunes at the Auld Dubliner in Long Beach, CA. (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 re-opened The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant, offering outdoor service 7 days a week from 4pm to late. (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)
• 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.
Bruce Baker leads a song circle at Carkeek Park
Editorial: To Zoom or Not
Will the Circle be Unbroken as COVID restrictions ease?
YES!
by Tony Becker
Throughout the past 17 months, I've been attending Zoom based music events several times per week. As Seattle based freelance writer Christy Karras gather@seattletimes.com writes in her article of July 11th on song circles, Local song circles keep their singers close amid pandemic by going virtual — and global, none of these online virtual events were available to us prior to the imposition of COVID related public health restrictions in March of 2020. And for me, I HAVE indeed, met countless new friends who share my affinity for music, BOTH, song and instrumental of that ilk.
As session leader Bruce Baker says in that article:
'Inclusion is really one of the delightful things of it,' Baker says. 'Everyone's got something to offer, and if you just try a little bit, you'll get something out of it.'
Compared to in-person cultural gatherings in pre-pandemic days, in my experience these virtual gatherings have several advantages.
• After nearly a year and a half of having no safe in-person alternatives, even the technology challenged among us have learned the rudiments of participating on the Zoom platform (at a minimum). As a result, one can fairly assume that anyone they might like to invite, from anywhere in the world, can join them for a bit of music/dialog/or even solo dancing forms, on a Zoom meeting. (I have personally made dozens of new friends in these virtual meetings over these past months!!!)
• There is a natural accountability to them. Gatekeepers and pendantic bullies don't have any exclusive hold on where and when folks can meet for music. There are a dozen free services, including Facebook messanger where people can gather to make music, and anyone with $15/month can become a Zoom Pro host with unlimited access for virtual meetings. If some overbearing individual tries to force their will on others, or exclude (ostracize) others unjustly, because the rest of the gathering can easily find another session to join, and the miscreant finds themselves alone with no-one to dominate or abuse.
There are many other advantages.
Of course there are some disadvantages and things that these virtual meetings lack...
• One cannot hug, shake hands or otherwise touch each other in a virtual meeting. (But in some cases, this is also an advantage, given the prevalance of #metoo complaints.)
• One cannot do group activities like set dances or ceili dances in a virtual meeting.
• In the case of music, compared to in person music making, with virtual meetings, one must learn to use and take personal responsibility for technical controls related to their own audio input and output, or risk 'sounding bad' or 'poor hearing'.
and there are a few others.
In our opinion in person cultural events will surely resume and continue to have a place in our collective futures, but with all those new friends available for us, virtual meetings will join them, as there is no way we will want to abandon all those new friends.
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Accordion Fridays
Celtic Accordion World Masters in Concert
Online via Facebook Live!
Accordion Fridays is back with a mix of folk, European and independent music. Our featured artist is Susan Hwang who is bringing us an indie-pop variety show from 2nd Ave. in New York. We'll also have great tunes from: Renée de la Prade, Will Allen, Breezy Bellows and Calvaleigh Rasmussen.
TIME ZONES — ARTISTS INFO — LINKS:
11:00 AM PDT/2:00 PM EDT/7:00 PM GMT/8:00 PM 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
• 12:00 PM PDT/3:00 PM EDT/8:00 PM GMT/9:00 PM 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/
• 1:00 PM PDT/4:00 PM EDT/9:00 PM GMT/10:00 PM CET
Susan Hwang is a 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. Special for July 16th, Susan is inviting a bunch of songwriter friends and hosting a live street show on 2nd Ave. in New York City.
https://www.facebook.com/susanhwanglalala
• 4:00 PM PDT/7:00 PM EDT
Calvaleigh Rasmussen plays dance music from across the centuries, weaving medieval songs with strands of international folk music into big cozy sound tapestries. Live from Berkeley, California.
https://www.facebook.com/calvaleigh.rasmussen
• 5:00 PM PDT/8:00 PM EDT
Breezy Bellows performs music from around the world, from classics to contemporary favorites. His sensitive renditions of the music bring a sweet and breezy flair to his shows. Live from San Francisco, California.
https://www.facebook.com/breezybellows
SF Virtual Chantey Sing Series
Saturday, July 17th, 11:00 AM to 1:15 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, July 17th, 11:00 AM to 1:15 PM Pacific time, USA, around 7pm in London and 8pm in Paris.
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.
Link for signing up to lead a song: https://maritime.org/sea-chantey-sign-up/ Please use this link ONLY if you are signing up to lead a song. You will be sent a link a few days prior to log on.
For general information,. and for non-song leaders to log in on the day and time: https://givebutter.com/ChanteySing
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!
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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License to Chill
United Irish Cultural Center
Wawona Gates 2nd Year!
Saturday, July 17th 'License to Chill'
Outdoor Dining and limited Indoor Dining
2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA
1. Grilled Hamburger $8
2. Grilled Cheeseburger $9
3. Special: Shepherd's Pie $11
4. Grilled Hot Dog on Bun $7
5. Irish Sausage on Roll/Grilled Onions $8
6. Ron's Grilled Cheese $6
7. Chicken Wings with choice of sauce $7
8. Special: Corned Beef Slider $10
Soft Drinks:
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Root Beer
Hot Chocolate | Lucozade
Bottled water, sparkling water
Wine: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Rose
S. Blanc, Prosecco or Champagne
Draft Guinness and 805
Bud, Bud Light
Coors, Coors Light
Sierra Nevada Hazy
Lagunitas IPA
Corona and Modelo
Heineken
Magner's Cider
White Claw
Cocktails:
Margaritas, Mai-Tai, Hot Toddy,
Irish Coffee, Bailey's Coffee
Club Orange, Club Lemon
Club Rock Shandy
Wear mask unless eating or drinking
Maximum six per table
Respect social distance rules
On Saturday, we continue the Summer at Wawona Gates as San Francisco GAA presents License to Chill, the ultimate Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band in our outdoor #WawonaGates stage from 4:00 PM.
Despite the pandemic, the United Irish Cultural Center has successfully operated a large event facility near the Zoo in San Francisco, serving the Irish and other Cultural communities, in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Thanks to our hard working small staff and dozens of volunteers, the UICC Wawona Gates Outdoor Dining has operated a bustling outdoor dining space under a 1,800 square foot open-sided canopy since January 2021.
And now, thanks to the reductions in related restrictions, the UICC is also offering limited indoor dining in their spacious Saint Patrick's Room!
Anne Cassidy Carew is busy collating photos and stories for the San Francisco Irish Dance Exhibition later on this year.
Facebook Event
UICC website
UICC Facebook Page
'Irish Shoppe' Facebook Event
Becky Taylor
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 Becky Taylor joining us from Yorkshire, England.
Here is a video preview: Piper Sunday trailer with Tom Klein
- July 18th, Becky Taylor — Details
- July 25th, Catherine Ashcroft — Details
- August 1st, Michael Stribling — Details
- August 8th, Ben Jaber — Details
- August 15th, Mac Dara Mac Donncha — Details
- August 22th, Leo Rickard — Details
- August 29th, Kara Doyle — Details
- Sepember 5th, Debbie Quigley — Details
From 1:30 PM on this will become our monthly So Cal Pipers Club social call
Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club Facebook Events: https://www.facebook.com/SCUPC
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The Shipwrecked Shanty Band
Sláinte's Sea Shanty Saturday
Saturday, July 24th at 5:00 PM
Live at Sláinte Pub, 131 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Also Online via Facebook LIVE
Born out of Covid, kicked out of venues, a rag-tag group of Sea Shanty lovers became shipwrecked...but the band played on! The Shipwrecked Shanty Band, appears LIVE and LIVE STREAMIN' on Facebook for you land-locked, from Sláinte in Oakland! For the live stream, just navigate to the Shipwrecked Sea Shanty Crew Facebook group, click 'Join', and then look for the little red LIVE button.
The Shipwrecked Shanty Band:
• Jim Nelson - Banjo
• Micha Dunston - Whistle, Bodhran
• John Palme - Guitar
• Steven Strauss - Stand up bass
Micha says:
Come and SHANTY with us OUTSIDE, AGAIN at Sláinte's! Sláinte's is OPEN for drinks and take out food, so Bring yer' mask and Keep yer' distance!
Sláinte! host Jackie says:
Welcome back to Sláinte Oakland! We’re here Tuesday through Sunday, 12-8pm with over 75 whiskeys, the perfect pints and a delicious new menu. Come on by. Cead Mile Failte!!!
We love you all so very much xxx.
The menu at Sláinte features Irish cuisine from Irish-born Executive Chef, Jackie Gallanagh, with dishes that include both imported & local ingredients and a bar menu of classic cocktails, a well-stocked selection of whisky, premium spirits, and local & imported beers.
More Details on the Sláinte Facebook Page.
Check the Sláinte's & Shipwrecked Sea Shanty Crew Facebook group
for updates. Contact them at (510) 823-2644 @slainteoakland or check the website https://slainteoakland.com.
Irish Revolutionary Songs and Music
Irish Musical Event – Matt Seidel & others
Friday, July 30th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT
San Francisco Laborfest
Join Matt Seidel and others for revolutionary folk music from Ireland.
Listen to these timeless songs and learn about the centuries of struggle against colonialism, imperialism, and fascism that inspired them.
Register Here: https://laborfest.net/event/international-laborfest-musical-event-matt-seidel
Find out more about Laborfest on the Laborfest Website
Or call them at (415) 642-8066 or email them at laborfest@laborfest.net
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Lark Camp Online
Wednesday, August 4th — Sunday, August 8th
10:00 AM — 5:00 PM PDT
Online via Zoom
(Main Room)
Th 8/5: Old Time Jam with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow
Fr 8/6: Breton tunes with Shira Kammen & Jim Oakden
Sa 8/7: Swing Dance with David Brown & Simon Lace
Su 8/8: Kids' & Improv Showcase with Susan Spurlock/Yael Schy.
(Room 1)
Th 8/5: Greek Session with Greg Jenkins
Fr 8/6: Euro Slow Tune Session with Jason Adajian
Sa 8/7: Greek Tent Session with Paul Wernick
Su 8/8: Chantey Sing with Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianowicz.
Lark Camp will be Online via Zoom this August 4th - 8th! Registration is open now and it's FREE!
Each day will include 18 workshops, beginning at 10 AM and ending at 5 PM, with a Breema session and lunch break in the middle.
Lark Camp offers workshops for professional and beginner, adults and families — take as many as you like.
These will be followed a happy hour and two evening sessions every night.
Plenty of new friends and musical stimulation!
For the schedule, registration form and details, visit their Website: https://www.larkcamp.org/lark-online-workshops
Register now for workshops, Breema, happy hours, a virtual swap meet, and TWO evening sessions every night. Campers reported they loved the live sessions in February, so we're offering an additional session each day (more variety!) in lieu of having pre-recorded concerts.
• Irish sean nos dance with Maldon Meehan
• Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish
• Celtic Bodhran with Christa Burch
• Celtic tunes for cello and strings with Summer McCall
• Latin percussion with Emilio Davalos
• Middle Eastern percussion with Mark Bell
• Quebecois tunes with Kevin Carr
• North Indian music with Wade Evans
& many more... See which full workshops are right for you!
• Medieval and Renaissance songs with Shira Kammen
• Greek Rebetiko with Greg Jenkins
• Gaita ornamentation with Suso Vaamonde and Tesser Call
• Mariachi and Traditional Songs with Nydia Gonzalez and Martha Montoya
& many more... See which full workshops are right for you!
View the full details on the Lark Camp website.
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Lois Hornbostel and Ehukai Teves
Redwood Dulcimer Day
Saturday, August 21st, 9:00 AM
Registration is Now Open!
Now in its 21st year, our annual event - staying virtual in 2021 - offers beginning to advanced music workshops on playing both the mountain and hammered dulcimers. Redwood Dulcimer Day offers a low-pressure, low stress environment where everyone can relax and have fun playing and learning about the dulcimer and just making music.
This year's special guest artists are Lois Hornbostel and Ehukai Teves. Also teaching will be Jessica Comeau, Kevin Roth, Neal Hellman, Janet Herman, Peter Tommerup, Steve Eulberg, Laura Devine, Dusty Thorburn, and Ron Beardslee.
Cost: $60 for the Saturday workshops, $15 for the Friday concert, or $70 for both.
Tickets: https://www.communitymusicschool.org/dulcimer-day
More information (including descriptions of the 19 workshops) is online at the official Redwood Dulcimer Day website or on our Facebook Events Page.
For additional information contact Neal Hellman: 831-425-4939 or e-mail: neal@gourd.com
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155th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton — Labor Day Weekend,
Saturday, September 4th & Sunday, September 5th
9:00 AM to 6:30 PM PDT
Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton, CA
This year's Games will be an outdoor-only event featuring Scottish country and Irish dancing, celtic heritage stages, folk singers, heavy athletics, gathering of the clans, highland dancing, living history, piping and drumming, opening & closing ceremonies, Scottish vendors and whisky tasting.
Thanks for your patience, and we hope you can join us on Labor Day Weekend.
Check our event website, https://thescottishgames.com for updates.
Come join us for some Celtic Craic!
The Caledonian Club of San Francisco and the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton are determined to present The 155nd Pleasanton Scottish Highland Games, two glorious days of fun and entertainment for the whole family!
This annual event has taken place every year since 1866, when we inaugurated this event in Hayes Park in San Francisco. The Alameda County Fairgrounds are enormous and despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, we are in the process of finalizing our arrangements.
The annual Scottish Highland Gathering and Games are produced entirely by volunteers from the Caledonian Club of San Francisco, and does not accept any government funding or apply for foundation support.
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44th Annual Fresno Highland Games
Kearney Park, 6725 W Kearney Blvd, Fresno, CA
Saturday, September 18th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
A Family Event To Be Enjoyed.
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Gate Opens @ 8:00 AM
Event Opens @ 9:00 to 5:00PM
Clan March @ 12:00 Noon
General Admission: $15.00
Seniors (60 +), Students and
Military with ID is: $10.00
Children 12 and Under are Free
County of Fresno Parking Fees per Vehicle, currently is $5.00 and is Mandatory. CASH ONLY!!!
Scottish Athletic Competitions start @ 9:30am
Advance tickets and full details available at www.fresnoscottishsociety.com
Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O'Neill
The Cross Keys
The Cross Keys
Fridays, 5:30 - 8 PM PDT
Way Station Smokehouse & Beer Garden, 2001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA
The Cross Keys are a Folk Explosion, with Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O'Neill.
Cormac says:
Looking forward to playing with my comrades!
Here is a sample video featuring Stacy Samuels: https://youtu.be/8wKMcbIzKzs
Located in beautiful Fairfax, in the heart of Marin County, the Way Station has risen from the site of a former gas station into a family-friendly beer garden and smokehouse. The Way Station team prides itself on super friendly customer-focused service.
Check waystationmarin.com or The Facebook Page or call (415) 300-3099.
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Sin Silver
Saturday, July 10th, 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT
Online via YouTube and 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 YouTube channel or 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 'Songs of the Sea'. 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 on 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
John Whelan Tune Workshop & Session
Wednesdays, 2:30 - 5:00 PM
Online via Zoom
Since March 2020, John has stepped up his online activities, and his latest project is Master Sessions with John Whelan. This edition of Whelan Master Sessions features The McCarthy Family.
On Wednesdays, John also offers a free one-hour tune teach from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM followed by John's 'Taking Time' slow session at 4:00 PM Pacific - Check them out here: http://johnwhelanmusic.com/slow-session. John sends out a tune list and Zoom link for them on Wednesday mornings. Email John at whelanbx1@me.com to get on the list or for more details.
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.
Get more details on John's website: http://johnwhelanmusic.com
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Break Through your Ancestry Brick Walls!
by Cecilia Fábos-Becker
There are many good basic manuals, both in print and online, that can help you get started researching your ancestors and finding lost cousins, but in over fifty years of research into our own Scots-Irish, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ancestry, I've learned what works well and what doesn't, as well as many useful sources and links.
Now, I have written a book, Ancestry & DNA - Beyond the Basics , to help you, and all Americans find their origins. My book will be especially useful to especially Celtic Americans doing family history research, and it is available for immediate download!
Author Celia Fábos-Becker
• Introduction to Family History Documents
• What are REAL Primary Sources?
• America's Dark Age (1783 to 1850)
• Finding Family Records with online services
• Introduction to Family History DNA
• Using DNA Tests to help Find Family History
• How autosomal, MtDNA, or Y-DNA tests can help
• DNA Testing Company Reviews
• Loads of Examples
Debbie and Mark Nagle
The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant
198 5th St, San Francisco
The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, is a bustling SoMa spot with delicious food offerings to choose from. Large beer selection, wine menu and cocktail list to feast from.
This local Irish Pub brings the culture of Ireland to San Francisco, offering a full bar, Happy Hour specials, and a full Irish restaurant menu, including favorites like Fish And Chips and our signature Spicy Potato Bites which go with any style of sport, music or fun.
Says Publican, Mark Nagle:
We are glad to be back in action and are since re-opening Thursday, July 8th. We plan to go back to 'normal' as best as possible, asking only that you wear a mask practice Social Distancing if you are not vaccinated.
Good health to you all and look forward to seeing you back at The Chieftain soon! — Mark Nagle
For the latest happenings, check the Chieftain facebook Page, or call 415-615-0916, or email Mark Nagle at mark@thechieftain.com or check www.thechieftain.com.
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The Plough and Stars Update
Wednesday — Sunday 4 to 12 PM
The Plough and Stars Irish Pub, 116 Clement Street at 2nd Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Sean Heaney says:
Music at the Plough is returning this July. We are now hosting an instrumental Irish Traditional session Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM and a song session lead by Christy O'Connell and Vince Keehan on the second Wednesday of every month at 8:00 PM. Drop by for a pint!
The Plough and Stars Irish Pub, is known around the world for hosting incredible Irish music and pulling beautiful pints of Guinness since 1975. Since then, it has evolved to host live music every night of the week, except Monday, including all genres of music; Bluegrass, Country, Rock, Zydeco, acoustic Americana, and of course, Irish Traditional.
Over the years The Plough and the Stars in San Francisco has hosted many well-known musicians from Ireland and around the globe, but the COVID pandemic and related public health restrictions put a stop to all that for over a year. The resulting business losses threatened to put The Plough out of business permanently, but a sustained community crowdfunding effort helped keep it going, and now it appears to have emerged intact.
Check The Plough and Stars Website for the latest updates.
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Buncrana at Sláinte
Susan Spurlock, Tedd Colt, Darcy Noonan, Hector Bragado,
Michael Stack, Patricia Ross, Tim Hill, and Autumn Rhodes.
"Buncrana" @ Sláinte Pub, Oakland Sundays
Sláinte is open outside Tuesday through Sunday, 12-8 PM
Sláinte Pub, 131 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Since opening in April 2017, Sláinte has also featured some of the finest local and regional singers and musicians, in live, acoustic performance and quickly become the hot new place for Irish music in the East Bay.
Host Jackie says:
Welcome back to Sláinte Oakland! We’re here Tuesday through Sunday, noon - 10 PM and until midnight Thursday - Saturday with over 75 whiskeys, the perfect pints and a delicious new menu. Come on by. Cead Mile Failte!!!
We are overwhelmed by the support you all gave us on St Patrick's Day! After only being open for a few days before, it was super crazy and we apologize for the long wait times and thank you for your patience and advice. Hopefully we entertained you all while you were waiting. Here's a photo of just one of the wonderful things you might have missed due to the insane crowd - our brand new Irish house band Buncrana! - and they will be back this Sunday, 4 PM to 7 PM!
Thanks again-and if you missed out on St Patrick's Day, we’re back in the kitchen today for delicious Irish food, rain or shine because of our new table coverings!
The menu at Sláinte features Irish cuisine from Irish-born Executive Chef, Jackie Gallanagh, with dishes that include both imported & local ingredients and a bar menu of classic cocktails, a well-stocked selection of whisky, premium spirits, and local & imported beers.
More Details on the Sláinte Facebook Page.
Contact them at (510) 823-2644 @slainteoakland or check the website https://slainteoakland.com.
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Starry Session Online
First Sunday of each month, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM
Online via YouTube for The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
The pandemic shut down the well loved Starry Plough in Berkeley a year ago, halting the Sunday night Irish session and Monday night Irish dancing that had been hosted there for decades.
A small group of Plough regulars are convening electronically, and have begun a monthly open session online, on the first Sunday of the month, running for two hours and starting at 8:00 PM. It kicked off on Easter Sunday, as that holiday has always been a time for new beginnings--particularly in Ireland.
The online Starry Session is live-streamed on YouTube allowing other people listen, play, sing or dance along. It works like this: individuals among a pre-selected group of musicians will be called upon to lead a dance tune or song in rotation. Everyone else is on mute; they can follow the music at home with their own instruments or voices or whatever. It's not as magical as being able to hear each other, but it can still be surprisingly therapeutic.
You can tune in on THIS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMR8XRkX_HX9NdL7bRKCp-g
Other ringleaders of this effort are Don Clark, Sean Wahl, Michele Delattre and Shay Black, so you might see communications from any of them as this process goes forward.
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Darcy Noonan
Darcy Noonan
Available for Performances or Lessons
darcynoonanviolin@gmail.com
Darcy Noonan is an accomplished violinist based in the Bay Area. Following her heart, she has studied and performed a variety of musical genres including classical, ragtime, mariachi, Greek, and (closest to her heart) Irish traditional music. In fact practically the second after graduating from High School she was off to Ireland to study with her idols for a few years.
Darcy has played with numberous bands and orchestras, including Jammy Dodgers, Violins of Hope, Noonan, Howard, and Straw, The Get Happy String Band, Disciples of Markos, Tipsy House and Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano.
Darcy is now back in the Bay Area, and Darcy is accepting students as an expert fiddler and Suzuki certified teacher with years of experience performing and teaching.
If you are interested in booking Darcy for a gig or for violin lessons, send her an email at darcynoonanviolin@gmail.com or visit her website at darcynoonanviolin.com
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AmeriCeltic Logo Items
→ AmeriCeltic Logo Gifts! ←
Shirt, Hat, Mug, Apron or Patch
5 FULLY EMBROIDERED - MADE IN USA
Celebrate your rich AmeriCeltic history and heritage in style and class and support AmeriCeltic by sporting a shirt, hat, mug, apron or patch, all except the mug, embroidered in full color with the AmeriCeltic logo! And don't forget to give one to yourself!
Click Here for the full line-up of AmeriCeltic Logo items.
The AmeriCeltic logo, styled like a coat of arms, commemorates your MIXED, Scots, Irish, Welsh Celtic American heritage! Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the thirteen colonies of mostly Scots, Scots-Irish, Irish and Welsh who joined with many others from many other countries, and together fought tyranny to assert our Independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Click for more information about the AmeriCeltic Logo design
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The Celtic Tea Shoppe
Home of Artisan Candies
4432 Pearl Avenue, San Jose CA | 408-267-7090
The Celtic Tea Shoppe offers a great selection of Celtic and Celtic inspired foods, including:
• Meat Pies
• Sausage Rolls
• Liquor Cakes
• Irish Soda Bread
• Salted Caramels
• Gift Boxes
• Premium Loose-leaf Teas
Everything is handmade at our shoppe in San José, CA and curbside pickup service and shipping are available.
To check The Celtic Tea Shoppe Facebook Page, Click Here!Call us directly at 408-267-7090 or check our website www.celticteashoppe.com for all our other baked goods and confections. To order, contact Kristen Scott with a call to 408-267-7090, or an email to sales@artisancandies
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Auld Dubliner Session Resumes!
Rotating Hosts / Live Irish Tunes
The Auld Dubliner, 71 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA
The Auld Dubliner is a classic, convivial Irish haunt with across-the-pond grub, live music & a full bar turning out pints.
On Sunday's, The Auld Dubliner hosts a classic Irish tune and song session:
Session Leaders:
1st Sunday: Melanie Nolley and co-host
2nd Sunday: Michael Eskin & John O'Hara
3rd Sunday: Patrick D'Arcy & Kira Ott
4th Sunday: Patti Amelotte and co-host
th Sunday: Tim Taylor and co-host
(562) 437-8300
http://aulddubliner.com
New Store in San Francisco
Lark In The Morning Stores in Berkeley and San Francisco
Tuesday - Saturday, noon - 6 PM
Sundays, noon - 5:00 PM
Lark In The Morning, 1001 Camelia Street, Berkeley, CA
and Exploring Music, 814 Clement Street, Inner Richmond of San Francisco
Eric says:
"Our Berkeley location, 1001 Camelia Street, Berkeley, CA, is open for online lessons and instrument sales and Exploring Music, 814 Clement Street in San Francisco, CA, is open and actively seeking new online students. Lark Berkeley is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 – 6:00 PM, and is offering free lessons with the purchase of a ukulele or guitar!"
Thorn Land and Eric Azumi
Lark in the Morning has been a folk musician's favorite since 1974 and has musical instruments and instructional material from all over the world.
You can shop online at https://larkinthemorning.com, call us at 707-964-5569, or check out our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/LarkInAM.
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Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant Across from Apple Park |
The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant
Open 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM every day of the year
10801 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA
Many of you have heard the rumors about the The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant.
For details, Watch the official Video!
The Duke is, and will remain, THE only Authentic, (and we do mean AUTHENTIC!), British Pub in the Bay Area, located across the street from Apple Headquarters on Wolfe Road in Cupertino.
The atmosphere at the 'The Duke', is the same as you would find in any pub in the British Isles, full of friendly patrons who come in to socialize, play darts, have a pint or two, and eat a meal. If you are looking for a comfortable elegance, pints of beer and authentic food, in an authentic English Pub, there is no a better choice in the Bay Area. The Duke offers a large number of beers on draft and by the bottle. Almost anything English, Scottish or Irish is available. Murphy's Irish Stout brewed in Cork, Ireland and Scotch Eggs is always a good choice.
The servers are excellent and very knowledgeable about the beer and food menu. The menu is expansive and worth exploring. The dark pubsy feel with old regulars in their respective, but not crowded corners around lunch hour in Cupertino, is a great boon.
You can't find more 'authentic' atmosphere, because the entire building was built in jolly old England, then disassembled, shipped and reassembled on site in Cupertino. With the red velvet seating and wall paper and ornate, dim lighting, you are transported to London as soon as you enter the etched glass door.
More info. on The Duke Facebook Page, website www.theduke.com or call 408-446-3853.
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Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
The venerable Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay has a 32 year record of bringing world class Celtic musicians to the Monterey Bay Area and is a key sponsor of AmeriCeltic.
ALL EVENTS CANCELLED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMICClick here for full details of All Celtic Society of Monterey Bay Concerts on the CSoMB website! (Click on 'Video' button for videos.)
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Irish Culture Bay Area
Catherine Barry maintains a separate Irish Culture Bay Area website, with a calendar focused on Bay Area Irish events, supported by the Consulate of Ireland in San Francisco.
ALL EVENTS CANCELLED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Click here for details of these events and more on the Irish Culture Bay Area website!
Wanna help, comment or get published?
We publish articles or comments that relate to our Mission (see below), to our thousands of Celtic concordant readers. If you have one, email us: Tony and Celia Becker, americeltic@gmail.com
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Click to display the combined AmeriCeltic Calendar, covering the Northern California Coast and Bay Area, and the Celtic Events Calendar, from Chuck Jamison, covering the Central Valley.
To submit an event for listing in our Calendars, email your Celtic event info., including Who, What, Where, Why & Description to us.
Coastal Celtic events - Email AmeriCeltic. Central Valley events - Email Chuck Jamison.
Click Here to use the online form.
We love videos! Include a link to an online video, and you will likely get featured in this weekly newsletter!
AmeriCeltic Mission
AmeriCeltic is a user supported, non-profit service organization. Our Mission is to restore awareness, celebrate and preserve the culture and history of Celtic Americans by promoting live Celtic music, festivals, history & ancestry as well as report and comment on related current events. To help fund our efforts, click here or click on the Donate Button on our AmeriCeltic Website www.americeltic.net.
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AmeriCeltic@gmail.com