davbrown - Celtic Music Calendar for SF Bay Area

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

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

5/5/26

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

====

* Suzuki Cady has another 6 week session of Irish Music Class for All Instruments

Mondays 5pm-6:15pm

Next session: starts May 11

https://www.suzukicady.com/class

* Shanty sing at Mare Island Coal Sheds 850 Nimitz Ave, Vallejo, CA

While Hyde Street Pier is being renovated, the C. A. Thayer is docked at Mare Island, and a new shanty sing session is happening there - the next one is May 23 from 12pm-4pm (this will be the 3rd sing there).

Since attendance on the Thayer is limited to 49 people and is not ADA accessible, there is a simultaneous session happening

in the Coal Sheds (next to where the ships are docked). RSVP to Casey Fenton to secure a spot on the Thayer: casey_fenton AT nps.gov.

To join the mailing list contact Janine Ryle javaj9 AT gmail.com.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

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

* Kalos May

* Faux Paws May

* Le Vent du Nord & Foghorn - Freight 5/7/26

* Marin Irish Festival May 16 & 17

* SF Folk Club Memorial Day weekend gathering at Cedar Rose Park Berkeley

workshops scheduled so far:

Saturday May 23

12:30-2 Slow jam including waltzes led by Karen Chester and Nancy Gendel

2-3:30 Old-time tune session led by Tony Phillips

2-3:30 Mostly a cappella chorus songs led by Deborah Sandler

3:30-5 Quebecois tune session led by David Brown

* Fiddle Hell Online is over, but you can still sign up for access to the recordings https://www.fiddlehell.org/

SAVE THE DATE

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

* Natalie & Brittany Haas June

* Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon June

* SF Free Folk Festival Band Concourse Golden Gate Park

tentative schedule includes

11am Cajun-Creole Music Workshop (Blair Kilpatrick and Steve Tabak)

12pm Morris dancing (Berkeley Morris)

4pm old time jam (Tony Phillips & friends)

5pm Quebecois tunes (David Brown & friends)

* Lark Camp July 31-Aug 8 2026

* Irish double header in the Northwest (of special interest to concertina players...)

Aug 2-7 2026 Noel Hill concertina school Newburg Oregon

Aug 12-16 2026 Cascadia Irish Music (not quite a) Week Olympia WA

* Solas November

* Cherish the Ladies December

UPCOMING (IN PERSON & "LOCAL" ONLINE EVENTS)

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

May 6-10 2026

Julian Family Fiddle Camp

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

May 6 2026 7pm

Kalos

Healdsburg barn concert

clenbarnconcerts AT gmail.com

May 7 2026 7:30pm

Kalos

Santa Cruz house concert

concerts AT instantharmony.com

May 7 2026

Le Vent du Nord & Foghorn Stringband

Freight Berkeley

https://secure.thefreight.org/15802/15803-le-vent-du-nord-foghorn-stringband-260507

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 9 2026 12:30pm-2:30pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Hopmonk Sonoma

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

May 9 2026

Teja Gerken, Doug Young and Noctambule

Studio Fourth St, San Rafael

https://www.studiofourthstreet.com/

Fri May 15 2026

Alan Doyle (Canada, ex-Great Big Sea) and his band

with Bandits on the Run

Hopmonk Novato

https://wl.eventim.us/event/alan-doyle/667665?afflky=HopMonkNovato

May 16-17 2026 10am-6pm

Marin Irish Festival (Ceili on the Lake)

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

https://marinirishfestival.com/

May 2026? 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 21-24 2026 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Strawberry Spring Music Festival

Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

https://strawberrymusic.com/

May 22-25 2026 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle Center

http://www.nwfolklife.org/

May 23-24 2026 (Memorial Day weekend) 12pm-8:30pm

SF Folk Club Gathering

Cedar Rose Park

https://www.sffmc.org/

May 23 12pm-4pm

Shanty sing on the C.A. Thayer and in the Coal Sheds at Mare Island Coal Sheds 850 Nimitz Ave, Vallejo, CA

RSVP to Casey Fenton to secure a spot on the Thayer: casey_fenton AT nps.gov.

To join the mailing list contact Janine Ryle javaj9 AT gmail.com.

May 24 2026 9am-1pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Moraga Farmers Market

May 30 2026 10am-9pm

World Music & Dance Day

Occidental Center for the Arts

https://www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org/upcoming-events/world-music-dance-festival

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

May 30 2026 1:30pm-2:30pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Salesforce Park, SF

June 5-June 8 2026

Celtic Music Workshop with Golden Bough

Camp Sierra (in the mountains near Fresno)

http://goldenboughmusic.com/CampSierra.htm

June 5 2026

Natalie & Brittany Haas

Freight

Livestream available

June 6 2026

Natalie & Brittany Haas

Healdsburg barn concert

https://nataliehaas.com/tour

clenbarnconcerts AT gmail.com

June 7 2026 3pm-4pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Cupertino Library

June 7 2026

Natalie & Brittany Haas

The Old Steeple, Ferndale, CA (Humboldt county)

https://nataliehaas.com/tour

June 9 2026

Natalie & Brittany Haas

Red Tail Ranch, Groveland (near Yosemite)

https://nataliehaas.com/tour

Natalie & Brittany Haas

Santa Cruz house concert

https://nataliehaas.com/tour

June 12 2026

Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon

Side Door, Sacramento

https://www.seangavinmusic.com

Jun 13-21 2026

Sierra Fiddle Camp

Nevada City

(concert in Pioneer Park on 6/20)

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 14-20 2026

Redwood Music Teen Camp

Monte Toyon, Aptos

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

June 14 2026 9am-1pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Evergreen Farmers Market, San Jose

June 14 2026 (typically 3pm?)

Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon

St Mary's by the Sea, Pacific Grove

https://www.seangavinmusic.com

June 16 2026 7pm

Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon

Ugly Mug Soquel

https://www.celticsociety.org

https://www.seangavinmusic.com

June 18 2026

Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon

Treehouse Concerts, San Anselmo

https://www.seangavinmusic.com

June 19-20 2026

Trad Fest West

Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://irishcentersf.org/calendar/festivals/ (not listed yet as of 4/13/26)

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

June 21-27 2026

BACDS Family Week Camp

Monte Toyon (Aptos, near Santa Cruz)

https://www.bacds.org/familyweek

June 21-28 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 24 2026 5-7:30pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Rio Nido Roadhouse

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

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 26-28 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 27-July 5 2026

"Mule Barn Camp"

Jefferson County Fairgrounds (next to Fort Worden)

concurrent with Fiddle Tunes

Port Townsend WA

http://www.mulebarncamp.com/

July 3-6 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 10-17, 18-24 2026

California Coast Music Camp

https://www.musiccamp.org/

July 10 2026 4pm-5:30pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Redwood Amphitheater, 17000 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, CA

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

July 11 2026 11am-6pm

SF Free Folk Festival

Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, SF

http://www.sffolkfest.org/

July 15 2026

Solas

Mendocino Music Festival

https://mendocinomusic.org/event/solas/

July 16-19 2026

Corvallis Celtic Festival

various downtown locations

https://www.corvalliscelticfestival.org/

https://corvallisfolklore.org

https://www.facebook.com/corvalliscelticfestival

July 16 2026 7pm

Iona Fyfe

Ugly Mug, Soquel

https://www.celticsociety.org/

July 18 2026 7:30pm

Four Shillings Short

Unitarian Universalist Church, Palo Alto

https://4shillingsshort.com/shows

July 20-31 2026 10am-3pm M-F

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 31-Aug 8 2026

Lark Camp

Mendocino

https://www.larkcamp.org

Aug 2-7 2026

Noel Hill concertina school

Tilikum Retreat Center, Newburg Oregon

https://www.noelhill.com/

https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/30007-noel-hill-concertina-workshop/

https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/30125-noel-hill-concertina-workshop-this-summer

Aug 12-16 2026

Cascadia Irish Music (not quite a) Week

Evergreen State College, Olympia WA

James Kelly and Randal Bays - fiddle

Florence Fahy - concertina

flute instructor TBA

http://cascadiairish.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CascadiaIrish

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 20-23 2026

CBA Golden Old-time Campout

typically the weekend before Labor Day weekend (or the 4th weekend of August)

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

Aug 20 2026 4pm-7pm

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

Bluewater Lounge, Bodega Bay

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

August 27 2026

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

Fiddle Summit w/ Scottish Fiddle Camp faculty

Freight, Berkeley

https://secure.thefreight.org/15922/15923-annual-freight-fiddle-summit-hosted-by-alasdair-fraser-friends-260827

Aug 28-Sept 5 2026

Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle Camp

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

Camp Campbell, Boulder Creek

https://www.valleyofthemoon.org

Aug 29 2026 11am-10pm

Rock the Gates

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://irishcentersf.org/event/rock-the-gates-2026-save-the-date/

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/

Sept 5-6 2026 (Labor Day Weekend)

SF Folk Club gathering

Center for the Blind, Berkeley

(typically at Camp Herms, El Cerrito)

https://www.sffmc.org/

Sept 5-6 2026 (Sat & Sun of Labor Day Weekend)

Scottish Highland Gathering & Games

Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton

https://www.thescottishgames.com/

Sept 2026 (typically Labor Day) 11am-3pm

Calif Revels Bromliad - Abbots Bromley dance & picnic

Joaquin Miller Park

https://www.californiarevels.org/bromliad.html (web page is gone, so maybe this is no longer happening)

Sept 12 2026

Festival of the Sea

SF Maritime National Historical Park

https://maritime.org/seafestival2026

Sept 17-21 2026

Portal Irish Music Week

Kingston NM

https://portalmusicweek.com/

Sept 17-20 2026

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival

La Veta CO

https://celticmusicfest.com/

Oct 2-4 2026

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Golden Gate Park SF

https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

Some stages are live-streamed.

Oct 3 2026 early morning

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Benefit for East Bay Regional Botanical Garden, Tilden Park

Oct 3 2026 10am

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Sebastopol Farmers Market

Oct 16-18 2026

Jug Handle Campout in Caspar (Mendocino Coast)

presented by Lark Traditional Arts

https://www.jughandlecampout.org/

Oct 2026

Port Orford Fiddle Camp

Port Orford OR

Hanneke Cassel, others

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

Oct 9-17 2026

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/

Oct 10 2026

El Cerrito Free Folk Festival

El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane El Cerrito

https://elcerritofreefolkfestival.org/

October 15-18 2026

Strawberry Music Festival

Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley

https://strawberrymusic.com/

Oct 16-18 2026

Redwood Music Camp

Monte Toyon, Aptos

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

Oct 17-18 2026

Yosemite Celtic Festival

Oakhurst Community Center

https://www.yosemitecelticfestival.com/

Oct 18 2026 4pm

Caliban (Jon Berger & Lief Sorbye)

Dala's Nest House concert, Menlo Park

https://www.tempestmusic.com/html/cschedule.html

https://www.dalasnesthouseconcerts.com/

Oct 20-25 2026

Galway Bay Pub's Celtic Festival

Ocean Shores WA (southwest tip of Olympic Peninsula)

https://celticmusicfeis.com/

https://irishmusicfestival.yapsody.com/

Oct 22-25 2026

O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Midlothian, TX

http://www.oflahertyretreat.org

Oct 22-25 2026

Walker Creek Music Camp

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

Oct 2026

Fairfax Irish Festival

https://www.fairfaxirishfestival.com/

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

Oct 24 2026 9am-1pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Saratoga Farmers Market

Oct 29 2026

Joe Newberry & April Verch

The Back Room, Berkeley

Oct. 30 2026

Joe Newberry & April Verch

Otter Opry, Monterey

https://otteropry.org/

Nov 5 2026

Solas

Freight, Berkeley

Nov 13-15 2026

Yachats Celtic Music Festival

Yachats, OR (southern Oregon coast)

https://yachatscelticmusicfestival.org/

Nov 13 & 14 2026

Onoir

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://irishcentersf.org/event/onoir-in-concert-2026-west-coast-premiere/

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/united-irish-cultural-center-39010272693

Nov 22 2026 9am-1pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Mountain View Farmers Market

Dec 4

Cherish the Ladies

Green Mountain Center Rohnert Park

https://cherishtheladies.com/tourdates/

Dec 5

Cherish the Ladies

The Freight Berkeley

https://cherishtheladies.com/tourdates/

Dec 6, 2026 3-6 PM

Amelia Hogan & Amhránaithe trio

St Columba’s Church- Christmas Concert in Inverness, CA

https://ameliahogan.com/calendar/

Dec 6 2026 4pm-7pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Monterey contra dance

Dec 29 2026 -Jan 3 2027

Camp New Harmony

SF Folk Music Club

Camp Newman (near Santa Rosa)

https://www.sffmc.org

Jan 2027

Alasdair Fraser Community Music Workshop & Ceilidh

Nevada City Odd Fellows Hall

2026: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alasdair-frasers-new-year-community-workshop-ceilidh-2026-registration-1777747934929

Jan 2027

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 2027 6:30pm

annual Irishpalooza

The McKeever School of Irish Dance, Whiskey & Stitches, One Eyed Reilly, Jig Monkeys, Stout Rebellion, and Pint Thieves!

Harlow's, Sacramento

https://www.harlows.com/event/irishpalooza-3/harlows/sacramento-california/

Feb 2027

Wintergrass

Hyatt Regency, Bellevue WA

https://wintergrass.com/

Feb 2027

Virtual Lark

https://www.virtuallark.org/

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

March 2027?

Lark Traditional Arts Fundraising Concert and Jam Sessions

("Worlds of Music Spring Celebration")

Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA.

https://www.larktraditionalarts.org/

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

possibly doing this every other year

March 2027

Spring Harmony Online

https://www.sffmc.org

March 2027

Calaveras Celtic Faire & Concert

(formerly Celtic Heritage Celebration or Sonora Celtic Faire)

Angels Camp CA

Erica & Friends

https://celticheritagecelebration.com/

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

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

Spring 2027 1pm-5pm

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Spring Situation

Berkeley Public Library (Central)

2026: https://www.berkeleyoldtimemusic.org/spring-situation-2026

Mar 2027

DUBLIN ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL Civic Center Dublin, CA

https://www.dublin.ca.gov/293/St-Patricks-Day-Celebration

Apr 2-4 2027

Epicenter contra dance weekend

Mill Valley

http://www.nbcds.org

April 2027

Fiddle Hell Online

Recordings available for 4 months or more

https://www.fiddlehell.org/

Apr 2027

Norcal Celtic Festival

Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland

https://www.norcalcelticfestival.com/

Apr 2027 3pm-4pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

John Muir Birthday Earth Day Festival

John Muir House, Martinez

Apr 2027 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 2027

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

West Marin (between Novato & Marshall)

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

email: info AT walkercreekmusiccamp.org

May 2027 (typically first weekend of May)

KVMR Celtic Festival, Grass Valley

https://kvmrcelticfestival.org/

https://www.facebook.com/kvmrceltic

May 2027

Cascade Celtic Festival

Leanvenworth WA

https://www.cascadecelticfestival.com

ON HIATUS OR STATUS UNCLEAR

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

Online highlights -

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

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

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 - https://www.youtube.com/@oldsongsfolk

* Rogue Folk Club Vancouver BC

https://roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/

* Princeton Folk Music Society

https://princetonfolk.org/

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 PT

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 4:30pm = 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/

Mad Dog in the Fog - 1st Sunday of the month 6pm-9pm, beginning in April 2026

1568 Haight St SF

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/

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

4th Sat 2pm-5pm Irish session

O'Reilly's Pub 1840 Haight St SF

hosted by Ceo (Blake Ritter & Alina Larson)

* 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

Alhambra Irish House

831 Main Street, Redwood City

Session (1st Sun 4pm-8pm?)

Céilí & set dancing with live music (typically last Sun 5pm-8pm)

https://alhambra-irish-house.com/

* 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, mui eras, 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