davbrown - Celtic Music Calendar for SF Bay Area

Upcoming events of Celtic & British Isles music interest in the SF Bay Area

=============================================================

10/1/25

GENERAL INFO:

=============

To keep up with Celtic, British Isles, & related music happenings in the Bay Area, join the CelticSF groups.io group:

Go to https://groups.io/g/celticSF/ and click "Join this Group", or send an email to celticsf+subscribe@groups.io.

Also check the resources listed at the end of this message.

This calendar is also available at https://tinyurl.com/celticsf (https://sites.google.com/site/davbrown2/celtic)

and may be updated more frequently than the monthly email sent via celticSF.

My monthly calendar of old time music events in the SF Bay Area is posted to the OldtimeSF groups.io group, and can be found at:

https://tinyurl/oldtimeNC (NC=Northern Calif)

aka

https://sites.google.com/site/davbrown2/oldtimesf

Other lists:

SF Folk Music Club calendar

https://www.sffmc.org/community-folk-calendar/

CDSS Events Calendar

https://www.cdss.org/community/events-calendar

Tony Becker's AmeriCeltic website & newsletter

http://www.americeltic.net/

NEWS

====

* Cyprian's in SF (the location of the SF Folk Club gatherings on 2nd & 4th Fridays) closed at the end of August

Stay tuned for news about future SF Folk club meetings. Join the Harmony email list for latest info

https://www.sffmc.org/musical-meetings/

or join the Harmony email list at https://groups.io/g/harmony.

* The BACDS Berkeley contra and English dances at Christ Church East Bay (formerly on Thursday nights) are now on Wednesdays.

* The Sunday Irish session at the Chieftain in SF is suspended until at least after the Super Bowl in Feburary. Check the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/327635825683579 for updates.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

=====================

* Fairfax Irish Festival Oct 24-26

* Celtic Colours, Cape Breton Oct 10-18

Some concerts are live-streamed and available at https://celtic-colours.com/livestream/ until the end of October

https://celtic-colours.com/

* John Doyle, Andy Irvine, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

SAVE THE DATE

=============

* Braebach, Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet - November

* "Irish Christmas in America" (Oisin Mac Diarmada, Caitriona Sherlock & Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey & others) December

* Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & The Celtic All Stars March 2026

UPCOMING (IN PERSON & "LOCAL" ONLINE EVENTS)

============================================

Oct 3-5 2025

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Golden Gate Park SF

http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

Some stages are live-streamed.

here are some suggestions:

Fri 1pm Horseshoe Hill Paper Wings

Sat 12pm Arrow Stage Maria Muldaur

Sat 12:45pm banjo stage Celebration of Hazel Dickens - Della Mae, Laurie Lewis, Alice Gerrard.

Sat 2:05pm Swan Stage Dan Tyminski band

Sat 3:35pm Rooster Stage Sam Bush

Sun 3:50pm Swan Stage Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Playing Old & In the Way & More

Sat 4:50pm Horseshoe Hill Yoseff Tucker and the Bow Ties

Sun 11am Banjo Stage Dry Branch

Sun 12:30pm Banjo Stage Tim O’Brien

Sun 2:05 Banjo Stage songs of John Prine

Sun 5:30pm Banjo Stage Emmylou Harris

Oct 5

A Taste of Ireland (slick Riverdance-like show)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

https://www.atasteofirelandshow.com/

Oct 7

John Doyle

Arcata Playhouse

https://johndoylemusic.com/tour

Oct 8 7:30pm

John Doyle

United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA

https://irishcentersf.org/event/john-doyle-in-concert/

https://johndoylemusic.com/tour

Oct 9

John Doyle

Little River Inn (Mendocino)

https://johndoylemusic.com/tour

October 9 2025

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

Hopmonk, Sebastopol

https://alasdairandnatalie.com/tour-dates

Oct 10-12 2025

Jug Handle Campout in Caspar (Mendocino Coast)

presented by Lark Traditional Arts

https://www.jughandlecampout.org/

Oct 10-18 2025 Celtic Colours, Cape Breton

Some concerts are live-streamed and available at https://celtic-colours.com/livestream/ until the end of October

https://celtic-colours.com/

October 10, 2025 7:30pm

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA

https://alasdairandnatalie.com/tour-dates

https://www.celticsociety.org/

Oct 11 2025 3pm

John Doyle

Auburn house concert

http://auburnhouseconcerts.org/

Oct 11-12 2025

Port Orford Fiddle Camp

Port Orford OR

Hanneke Cassel, others

https://www.hannekecassel.com/port-orford-fiddle-camp/information

October 11, 2025

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

The Freight, Berkeley, CA

https://secure.thefreight.org/15280/15281-fraser-haas-251011

https://alasdairandnatalie.com/tour-dates

October 12, 2025 3pm

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

St. Mary's By The Sea, Pacific Grove, CA

https://www.celticsociety.org

https://alasdairandnatalie.com/tour-dates

Oct 13-19 2025

Galway Bay Pub's Celtic Festival

Ocean Shores WA (southwest tip of Olympic Peninsula)

https://celticmusicfeis.com/

https://irishmusicfestival.yapsody.com/

Oct 15 2025 7:30pm

Andy Irvine

United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco

https://www.andyirvine.com/gigs.html

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/andy-irvine-in-concert-tickets-1448241121179

Oct 15 2025

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

Little River Inn

https://alasdairandnatalie.com/tour-dates

Oct 16 2025

Andy Irvine

Chico Women's Club

https://www.andyirvine.com/gigs.html

October 16-20 2025

Strawberry Music Festival

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

https://strawberrymusic.com/

Oct 17-19 2025 (formerly in June)

Redwood Music Camp

Monte Toyon, Aptos

registration closes Oct 10

https://www.communitymusicschool.org/redwood-music-camp

Oct 17 2025

Andy Irvine

Sofia Theater, Sacramento

https://bstreettheatre.org

https://www.andyirvine.com/gigs.html

Oct 18 3pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Sunnyvale Public Library

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

Sun Oct 19 2025

El Cerrito Free Folk Festival

El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane El Cerrito

https://elcerritofreefolkfestival.org/

Oct 22 2025 7pm

Andy Irvine

McCloud River Mountain Music

https://www.andyirvine.com/gigs.html

Oct 23-26 2025

O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Midlothian, TX

http://www.oflahertyretreat.org

Oct 23-26 2025

Walker Creek Music Camp

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

Oct 24-26 2025

Fairfax Irish Festival

http://www.fairfaxirishfestival.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxirishfest/

Oct 24 2025

Juice of the Barley (from Liverpool, I think)

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juice-of-the-barley-in-concert-tickets-1545352574149?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Oct 25 1pm-2pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Davis library

Oct 25 6pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Sorella Caffe, 107 Bolinas Rd Fairfax

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

Oct 26 7pm

Holdstock, Clegg, and Pratt - Sea Shanties

Winters Opera House (formerly The Palms)

https://www.winterstheatre.org/

Nov 1-2 2025

Yosemite Celtic Festival

Oakhurst Community Center

https://www.yosemitecelticfestival.com/

Nov 1 2025

Wake the Dead

The Freight

https://secure.thefreight.org/15351/15352-wake-dead-251101

Nov 1 2025 2:30pm-5pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 1st St. E, Ste C, Sonoma

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

Nov 5 2025

Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet

Oakland house concert

Nov 6 2025 7pm

Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet

Healdsburg house concert

clenbarnconcerts AT gmail.com

Nov 7-9 2025

Yachats Celtic Music Festival

Braebach, É.T.É, Dreos, One for the Foxes, more

Yachats, OR (southern Oregon coast)

http://yachatscelticmusicfestival.org/

Nov 7 2025

Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet

Mendocino area (Oak and Thorn)

https://oakandthorn.wordpress.com/events/

Nov 7 2025

Brìghde Chaimbeul (experimental music on Scottish smallpipes)

Freight

https://secure.thefreight.org/15119/15120-brghde-chaimbeul-251107

https://www.brichaimbeul.com/

Nov 8 2025

Onóir (harmony-focused modern Irish folk group)

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/onoir-in-concertwest-coast-premiere-tickets-1374906224529

https://onoirmusic.com/

Nov 8 2025

Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet

Santa Rosa house concert

Nov 8 2025 3pm-5pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Reichwage Winery, 1689 Pleasant Hill Rd, Sebastopol, CA

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

Nov 9 2025 6:30pm-9:30pm

November Céilí

United Irish Cultural Center SF

https://sfcooleykeegancce.org

Nov 9, 7:30pm

Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet

Santa Cruz house concert

Concerts AT InstantHarmony.com

Nov 19 2025

Braebach (Scottish)

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz

https://www.celticsociety.org/

https://www.breabach.com/

Nov 22 2025

Braebach (Scottish)

The Freight

https://secure.thefreight.org/15161/15162-breabach-251122

https://www.breabach.com/

Nov 29 2025 11am-1pm

Probabillies du Nord (French Canadian tunes)

Noe Valley Farmers Market

https://noevalleytownsquare.com

Sun Dec 7 3pm

"Irish Christmas in America" (Oisin Mac Diarmada, Caitriona Sherlock & Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey & others)

Blue Note Napa

https://irishchristmas.com/shows

https://www.facebook.com/irishchristmas/events

Mon Dec 8 7:30pm

"Irish Christmas in America" (Oisin Mac Diarmada, Caitriona Sherlock & Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey & others)

Bankhead Theater, Livermore Valley Arts

https://livermorearts.org/events/irish-christmas-in-america-2025/

https://irishchristmas.com/shows

https://www.facebook.com/irishchristmas/events

Tues Dec 9 7:30pm

"Irish Christmas in America" (Oisin Mac Diarmada, Caitriona Sherlock & Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey & others)

Yoshi's, Jack London Square, Oakland

https://irishchristmas.com/shows

https://www.facebook.com/irishchristmas/events

Dec 14 2025 1pm-4pm

Probabillies du Nord (French Canadian tunes)

24th St, Noe Valley

Dec 14 2025 6:30pm-9:30pm

Christmas Céilí

United Irish Cultural Center SF

https://sfcooleykeegancce.org

Tomaseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas

https://www.tomaseenfoley.com/

- Dec 16 7:30pm Cascade Theatre Redding

- Dec 17 7:30pm Freight Berkeley

https://secure.thefreight.org/15484/15485-tomaseen-foleys-celtic-christmas-251217

- Dec 18 UCSC Santa Cruz Recital Hall

- Dec 19 United Irish Cultural Center 2700 45th Avenue, SAN FRANCISCO, CA,

https://irishcentersf.org/event/tomaseen-foleys-a-celtic-christmas/

- Dec 20 Sebastopol Community Center 390 Morris St Sebastopol

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/celtic-xmas

Dec 30 2025 -Jan 4 2026

Camp New Harmony (SF Folk Music Club)

Camp Newman (near Santa Rosa)

https://www.sffmc.org

Jan 2026

Alasdair Fraser Community Music Workshop & Ceilidh

Nevada City Odd Fellows Hall

2025: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alasdair-frasers-new-year-community-workshop-ceilidh-2025-registration-1032276866897

end of Jan 2026?

Weed's Winter Jam Camp

University of California Hastings Natural History Reservation, 38601 E Carmel Valley Rd Carmel Valley

https://www.communitymusicschool.org/jam-camp

Feb 2026 (1st weekend of Feb)

Virtual Lark

https://www.larkcamp.org/virtual-lark or https://www.virtuallark.org/

Feb 19-22 2026

Wintergrass

Hyatt Regency, Bellevue WA

Vasen

https://wintergrass.com/

Spring 2026

Spring Harmony Online

https://www.sffmc.org

March 6-8 2026

Calaveras Celtic Faire & Concert

(formerly Celtic Heritage Celebration or Sonora Celtic Faire)

Angels Camp CA

https://celticheritagecelebration.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sonoracelticfaire/

https://www.facebook.com/events/287671936622153

March 2026?

Annual Lark Traditional Arts Fundraising Concert and Jam Sessions

Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA.

https://www.larktraditionalarts.org/

2025: https://www.ashkenaz.com/full-calendar#/events/127380

Mar 20 2026 7:30pm

Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & The Celtic All Stars

Mondavi Center, Davis

https://www.mondaviarts.org/whats-on/celticallstars/

https://natalieanddonnell.com/shows/

Mar 21 2026

Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & The Celtic All Stars

(Karen Matheson, Enda Scahill, Ross Ainslie, Mary Frances)

Freight

https://secure.thefreight.org/15144/15145-natalie-macmaster-donnell-leahy-260321

https://natalieanddonnell.com/shows/

Mar 22 2026 3pm

Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & The Celtic All Stars

The Bankhead, Livermore

https://livermorearts.org/events/the-celtic-all-stars/

https://natalieanddonnell.com/shows/

Mar 27-27 2026

Epicenter contra dance weekend

Mill Valley

http://www.nbcds.org

Mar 28 2026

The High Kings

Saratoga

Sun Mar 29 2026 7pm

The High Kings

Freight

April 9-12 2026

Fiddle Hell Online

Recordings available for 4 months or more

https://www.fiddlehell.org/

April 2026

Walker Creek Music Camp - bluegrass, old time, and more

West Marin (between Novato & Marshall)

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

email: info AT walkercreekmusiccamp.org

Apr 2026 (typically 4th Sunday of April) Noon-5pm

SF Festival of the Mandolins

Croatian American Cultural Center

60 Onondaga Ave, San Francisco, California 94112

http://croatianamericanweb.org

https://www.facebook.com/sfmandofest

Apr 2026

Norcal Celtic Festival

Downtown Woodland

https://www.norcalcelticfestival.com/

May 1 2026

Windborne

Freight

May 2026 (typically first weekend of May)

KVMR Celtic Festival, Grass Valley

http://kvmrcelticfestival.org/

https://www.facebook.com/kvmrceltic

May 2026 10am-6pm

Marin Irish Festival (Céilí on the Lake)

Lagoon Park at the Marin County Fairgrounds (160 Armory Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903

https://marinirishfestival.com/ (redirect from https://ceilionthelake.com/ )

May 6-10 2026

Julian Family Fiddle Camp

https://californiabluegrass.org/cbaevent/julian-family-fiddle-camp/

May 8-10 2026

SF Scottish Fiddlers spring concert

5/8 7pm: Veteran's Memorial Theater, Davis

5/9 7pm: Freight, Berkeley

5/10 2pm: Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College, Aptos

https://sfscottishfiddlers.org/

May 2025 Noon-4pm

Fresno World Fiddle Day

Sponsored by the Fresno Folklore Society

First Congregational Church, 2131 N Van Ness Blvd Fresno

2024: https://www.facebook.com/events/404397362560175

presented by Fresno Folklore Society https://www.facebook.com/FresnoFolkloreSociety

https://www.fresnofolklore.net

Videos from previous Fiddle Days can be found at

https://cmac.tv/?s=fiddle&post_type=show

Also viewable on a Roku player (add the CMAC channel)

May 2026 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle Center

http://www.nwfolklife.org/

May 2026 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Strawberry Spring Music Festival

Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

https://strawberrymusic.com/

May 2026 (Memorial Day weekend) 12pm-8:30pm

SF Folk Club Gathering

typically Cedar Rose Park

https://www.sffmc.org/

May 30 2026 10am-9pm

World Music & Dance Day

Occidental Center for the Arts

2025: https://www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org/upcoming-events/owmdf25

June 2026

Trad Fest West

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://irishcentersf.org/calendar/festivals/

2025: https://irishcentersf.org/event/trad-fest-west-june-13-to-15/

Jun 2026

Sierra Fiddle Camp

Nevada City

https://www.sierrafiddlecamp.org/

June 14-21 2026

BACDS Hey Days - English Country Dance

Green Mountain Retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos

https://www.bacds.org

June 2026

Redwood Music Teen Camp

Monte Toyon, Aptos

https://www.communitymusicschool.org/redwood-music-teen-camp4

June 21-27 2026

BACDS Family Week Camp

Monte Toyon (Aptos, near Santa Cruz)

https://www.bacds.org/familyweek

June 2026

Big Sur Fiddle Camp

https://www.bigsurfiddlecamp.org/

June 22-27 2026

Voice Works (vocal workshop week)

Port Townsend WA

https://centrum.org/program/voice-works/

June 28 to July 03, 2026

BACDS American Week Camp

Quaker Center, Ben Lomond (Santa Cruz mountains)

https://www.bacds.org

https://amweek.camp/

June 2026

Ten Mile Creek Revival Festival

Black Oak Ranch U.S. 101, Laytonville, CA

https://www.tenmilecreekrevival.com/

June 28-July 5 2026

Festival of American Fiddle Tunes

Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend WA

https://centrum.org/program/fiddle-tunes/

June-July 2026

"Mule Barn Camp"

Jefferson County Fairgrounds (next to Fort Worden)

concurrent with Fiddle Tunes

Port Townsend WA

http://www.mulebarncamp.com/

July 2026

SFFMC July 4th weekend gathering

Camp Herms, El Cerrito

https://www.sffmc.org

July 2026?

Shasta String Celebration

hosted by Tristan & Tashina Clarridge

Weed

http://www.summerstringsummit.com

July 2026 11am-6pm

SF Free Folk Festival

Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, SF

http://www.sffolkfest.org/

July 2026

California Coast Music Camp

https://www.musiccamp.org/

July 2026 10am-3pm

Redwood Music Kid Camp

(A two-week day camp for young musicians ages 7-13)

St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley

https://www.communitymusicschool.org/kid-camp

July 2026 (4th weekend of July)

Corvallis Celtic Festival

https://www.corvalliscelticfestival.org/

https://corvallisfolklore.org

https://www.facebook.com/corvalliscelticfestival

July 31-Aug 8 2026

Lark in the Morning Camp

Mendocino

https://www.larkcamp.org

Aug 2026

Noel Hill concertina school

Tilikum Retreat Center, Newburg Oregon

http://www.noelhill.com/

Aug 14-16 2026

Balance the Bay (in-town contra dance weekend)

typically 2nd or 3rd weekend of August

Janet Pomeroy Center, SF (near the zoo)

https://www.bacds.org/camps/btb

Aug 2026

CBA Golden Old-time Campout

typically the weekend before Labor Day weekend

mostly old time, but there are usually some Irish and Quebecois sessions

Camp Russian River, Guerneville CA

https://californiabluegrass.org/goc/home/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064358995162

August 2026

(typically Thurs before Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle Camp)

Fiddle Summit w/ Scottish Fiddle Camp faculty

Freight, Berkeley

2025: https://secure.thefreight.org/15071/15072-annual-freight-fiddle-summit-250821

Aug 2026

Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle Camp

(typically Fri through following Sat, week ending in Labor Day weekend)

Camp Campbell, Boulder Creek

http://www.valleyofthemoon.org

Fri Aug or Sept 2026 7:30pm

(typically Friday of Labor Day Weekend somewhere near Santa Cruz)

Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School Concert & Dance

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

2025: https://www.facebook.com/events/1127841805920759/

Aug-Sept 2026 (Labor Day Weekend)

SF Folk Club campout

Camp Herms, El Cerrito

https://www.sffmc.org/

Aug/Sept 2026 (Sat & Sun of Labor Day Weekend)

Scottish Highland Gathering & Games

Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton

Sixpenny plays Sunday 8/31 at 10:40am & 1:30pm on the Jordanhill Stage

SF Scottish Fiddlers Sun 8/31 at 10am & 12:45pm on St. Andrew's stage

also lots of Scottish & Irish dancing

Golden Bough, Tempest, Reeling Banshees and more

https://www.thescottishgames.com/

Aug/Sept 2026

Festival of the Sea

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

2025: https://maritime.org/seafestival2025/

Sept 2026

Portal Irish Music Week

Kingston NM

http://portalmusicweek.com/

Sept 2026

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival

La Veta CO

https://celticmusicfest.com/

ON HIATUS OR STATUS UNCLEAR

===========================

July - not happening in 2025

Cascadia Irish Music Week

Evergreen State College, Olympia WA

http://cascadiairish.org/

July? happened in 2024 but not 2025

Celtic Music & Dance Camp (for ages 7-12+)

https://www.uncagedmusicians.com/Celtic-Music---Dance-Camps-

Sept - last happened 2024

Oregon Celtic Festival

Canby OR (near Portland)

https://orcelticfest.com/

https://www.facebook.com/oregoncelticfest/

Online highlights -

===================

* Passim (Boston) - https://www.passim.org/live-music/

shows typically start at 5pm PT and are live-streamed only (no recording available)

Tickets for Live Stream go on sale starting about 2 weeks before the date.

* Doug Plummer in Seattle records his house concerts and makes them available on YT.

https://www.youtube.com/c/DougPlummerPhoto

* Abbie Weisenbloom house concerts in Portland OR are available as streamed; typically 7:30pm PT.

Previous concerts available on YT.

https://froggie.com/livestream/

* Gaelic College ceilidh (music from Cape Breton) every Wed 3:30pm PT. Past recordings available.

https://www.facebook.com/GaelicCollege

Also - radio station playing Cape Breton music 24/7 - https://www.cbfm.ca/ or download Radio Garden

Old Songs

https://oldsongs.org/concerts/

including Livestream from the UK

Previous concerts available on YT.

ONGOING (Online)

================

* The "Old Time Open Jams" Facebook group and its associated Google calendar are a good resource for online jams (Zoom jams, where one person leads while everyone else mutes; oldtime & Irish)

Old Time Open Jams

https://www.facebook.com/groups/390588871395459

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r?cid=MGQzY2thZXZxcjQ1dGVscWl0dWxiYTZpcmNAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ

* Zoom Traditional Irish Music Session

Monday, May 8·12:00 – 2:00pm PT

Weekly on Monday

Hosted by Mark Wallis (UK) & Alix Sandra Huntley-Speirs (Nova Scotia),

You can find the Zoom link at the Google calendar referenced in the previous item.

* Ould Sod Pub in San Diego, CA

1st Thurs of the month 6pm PST

3rd Thurs of the month 12pm

Hosted by Michael Eskin

https://www.facebook.com/groups/345630819944098/

* Trans-Atlantic Session

Wednesdays 12:00 PM Pacific

* Pacific Evening Session

Wednesdays 7:00 PM Pacific

Tony Becker

https://americeltic.net/online/#ta

* Freight classes online & in-person (Shay Black, etc)

https://www.thefreight.org/learn-to-play/classes/

* Hyde St Pier online shanty sings

one Sat per month 11am

https://maritime.org/events-home/chantey-sing/

* South Street Seaport shanty sing

1st Sundays 11am

https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/chanteysing

* Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival Shanty sing

12pm 2nd Saturday

http://www.pmffest.org/

* SF Scottish Fiddlers meet via Zoom 3rd Sundays 2pm

http://www.scottishfiddlersofcalifornia.org/

https://sfscottishfiddlers43.wildapricot.org/

====================

SESSIONS:

IRISH SESSIONS:

* East Bay:

Starry Plough, Berkeley

Sunday 5:30pm-7pm Medium Speed FairPle’ seisiun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/509309492838084/

except 3rd Sunday = kids session

Sunday 7:30pm full seisiun (includes singing)

except 3rd Sunday - Medium Speed FairPle’ seisiun

Monday night 7pm dance lesson/review; 9pm live music

https://www.facebook.com/groups/79451280937

https://thestarryplough.com/sunday-irish-music-session/

Dublin Heritage Park, 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin, CA

1st, 3rd, 5th Tues 7pm

https://groups.io/g/dublinirishjam

Benicia sessions:

Mare Island Brewing Co. Taphouse at 440 First Street, Benicia

2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, 2pm-5pm - NO LONGER HAPPENING ACCORDING TO MESSAGES PAGE

Bruehol Brewing, 4828 E. 2nd St (Benicia Industrial Park)

2nd and 4th Thursday 4pm to 8pm - SUGGEST CONFIRMING

https://beniciasession.org/conc8/index.php/beniciasession-org

* San Francisco:

Plough & Stars - Sunday 1pm-4pm

116 Clement St, SF

Set dancing most Thursday nights 8:30pm-10:30pm

http://www.theploughandstars.com/

The Chieftain - Sunday 6:30pm-9:30pm - SUSPENDED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2026 OR BEYOND

198 Fifth Street San Francisco

Check the Facebook group for occasional cancellations (e.g. for football games or private parties)

http://www.thechieftain.com/live-music

https://www.facebook.com/groups/327635825683579

United Irish Cultural Center

(Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Cooley-Keegan Branch of San Francisco)

Sat 4pm-7pm

2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seisiun-saturday-tickets-1004825308547

http://sf.ccewest.org/

4th Sat 2pm UICC - Irish session (not full speed)

(sometimes also at Duboce Park 2nd Sun?)

https://www.meetup.com/irish-music-sessions-not-full-speed/

* Marin/Sonoma

Burren House

Tuesdays 7pm

925 4th St San Rafael

https://northbaylivemusic.com/venues/the-burren-house/

https://www.instagram.com/theburrenhouse/p/DE1Eq8Lx81U/

Redwood Cafe

1st & 3rd Sundays 5pm-8pm

8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati

https://redwoodcafecotati.com/

https://thesession.org/sessions/3398

* Peninsula/South Bay:

Hop Dogma Brewing Co. - 1st Wed 6pm-8pm

270 Capistrano Road Half Moon Bay

hosted by Fet & Fiddle and friends

https://hopdogma.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fretandfiddleHMB/

Molly O's Irish Pub - 2nd Sat 6pm-9pm

1163 San Carlos Ave. San Carlos, CA

hosted by Fret & Fiddle and friends

https://www.molly-os.com/calendar-events

https://www.facebook.com/fretandfiddleHMB/

O’Flaherty’s, San Jose - Tuesdays 6:30 to 10:00

25 N. San Pedro St. Downtown San Jose, CA

http://www.oflahertyspub.com/

https://www.facebook.com/OFlahertys.Irish.Seisiun

* Santa Cruz - see community listings at https://www.celticsociety.org

Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant

First & Third Thursdays 7:00 - 10:00

1220 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

1st and 3rd Wednesdays 7pm-8:30pm

Community Music School Teen Band (ages 12-19)

112 Plateau Avenue, Santa Cruz

https://www.communitymusicschool.org/teenband

* East:

Sacramento - 3rd Friday 7pm

Fox & Goose

1001 R Street (at 10th) Sacramento, CA 95811

hosted by Stepping Stone band

https://foxandgoose.com

https://www.facebook.com/steppingstonetheband

Roseville

3rd Thurs 6pm - Irish & Scottish Learning Session

5th Sat 12pm - Irish/Scottish Traditional Session

The Strum Shop

https://www.thestrumshop.com/events.htm

https://www.thestrumshop.com/module/class/450489/h3irishscottish-music-learning-sessionh3

Folsom

Pete's Restaurant & Brewhouse

6608 Folsom/Auburn Road, Folsom

https://www.petesfolsom.com/events-and-specials.html

Auburn - every Sunday from 6-8pm

Tap and Vine, 130 Maple Street, Auburn, CA.

https://www.facebook.com/AuburnIrishSessionPlayers

Grass Valley - 1st & 3rd Sun 3pm-5pm

Holbooke Hotel 212 W. Main St Grass Valley

https://holbrooke.com/happenings/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Holbrooke-Hotel-Sunday-Session-100094282022125/

Nevada City - Thursdays, 5:00 - 8:00 pm

National Hotel Pub 211 Broad Street Nevada City

Lodi - last Sunday of the month 6:30pm-8pm

Irish session led by Alexandra Annen

Sayla Music Academy

21 W Locust St. Lodi, CA 95240

https://www.saylamusicacademy.com/irish-sessions

Chico - Friday 5pm-8pm

hosted by Pub Scouts

Duffy's Tavern 337 Main St Chico, California

https://www.facebook.com/Pubscouts/

* North:

Eureka - Wednesdays 8pm

North of Fourth, 207 3rd St, Eureka, CA 95501

Blake Ritter

OTHER GENRES:

Pan-European session - date & time may vary, but often 3rd Sunday afternoon

contact Mick Phillips mick.phillips AT gmail.com to get on his mailing list to be notified of dates.

Dance tunes from all over - an dros, muiñeras, jotas, schottisches, marzurkas, hornpipes, waltzes, and some country dance and morris. It's not a strictly Celtic session, but there's Celtic stuff in there.

Way Station Brew (2120 Dwight Berkeley, east of Shattuck)

Old Time and Celtic session upstairs at SF Folk Music Club - 2nd & 4th Fridays 7pm-10pm

check website for new venue

https://www.sffmc.org/musical-meetings/

SF Scottish Fiddlers

http://www.sfscottishfiddlers.org/

2nd Sunday, afternoon. Different location every month. Ocassionally also streamed on Zoom.

see monthly newsletter for other local sessions (Berkeley some Saturdays 1pm-3pm; Scotts Valley 1st & 3rd Mon)

English country dance tunes (sometimes prep for open band at the 4th Thurs Berkeley dance):

once a month on a weekend (or occasionally weekday) afternoon in Albany.

https://bacds.groups.io/g/becd-open-band

https://bacds.groups.io/g/becd-sessions

Quebecois/French Canadian:

once a month on a weekend (or occasionally weekday) afternoon in Albany.

https://groups.io/g/QueTradSF

-- Singing

Chantey Sings:

-------------

General info:

join the Hyde Street Pier Chantey Sing Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hydestreetpier/

and check https://seashanties4all.com/

One Saturday per month - often the 1st Sat

Chantey Sing, Free

Hyde St Pier, SF

6pm to 9pm in the Maritime Museum, 900 Beach Street, foot of Polk

To reserve, peterkasin5 AT gmail.com

https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/chantey-sing.htm

https://www.nps.gov/safr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Monthly 3pm-4:30pm - often the 2nd Sat

Chantey Sing

courtyard of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach (Pt Reyes)

https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/events-chantey-sing-along.htm

e.g. Oct 2025: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=154B961F-EE7F-E181-F5817D71FA4962F8