davbrown - Celtic Music Calendar for SF Bay Area

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

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

12/1/25

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

====

* 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.

* Suzuki Cady has another 6 week session of Irish Music Class for All Instruments Mondays 5pm-6:15pm Dec 1-Jan 26.

https://www.suzukicady.com/class

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

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

* "Irish Christmas in America"

(Oisin Mac Diarmada, Gráinne Hambly, Cathy Jordan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl, Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey, Emily Greaney, Torrin Ryan)

* Winterdance - Celtic Christmas (John & Tyler Weed, Amelia Hogan, Paul Kotapish, Marisa Gilman)

* Camp New Harmony (SF Folk Music Club) Dec 30 2025 -Jan 4 2026

Camp Newman (near Santa Rosa)

Registration closed Dec 12

https://www.sffmc.org

SAVE THE DATE

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

* Jim Malcolm Hillside Club & other venues February (details TBA)

* Virtual Lark Feb 20-22 2026

* March 2026 (St Patrick's season...)

Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & The Celtic All Stars

Lunasa

Eileen Ivers

High Kings

and likely many others

UPCOMING (IN PERSON & "LOCAL" ONLINE EVENTS)

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

Dec 2 2025 12pm-1pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Marin Civic Center library

Dec 3 2025

Suzuki Cady & Jimmy Murphy

San Jose Public Library, Almaden

https://www.suzukicady.com/events

Dec 5 2025 7:30pm

Erica & Friends

The Monkey House Berkeley

https://www.ericaandfriends.com/events

Dec 7 3:00-6:00 PM

Amhránaithe (Amelia Hogan, Jimmy Murphy, Skyler Blakeslee) - Christmas Concert

St Columba's Church Inverness, CA

https://ameliahogan.com/calendar/

Sun Dec 7 3pm

"Irish Christmas in America"

(Oisin Mac Diarmada, Gráinne Hambly, Cathy Jordan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl, Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey, Emily Greaney, Torrin Ryan)

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, Gráinne Hambly, Cathy Jordan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl, Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey, Emily Greaney, Torrin Ryan)

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, Gráinne Hambly, Cathy Jordan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl, Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey, Emily Greaney, Torrin Ryan)

Yoshi's, Jack London Square, Oakland

https://irishchristmas.com/shows

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

Dec 10 2025 4:45pm-7:45pm

Erica & Friends

The Cheeseboard Berkeley

https://www.ericaandfriends.com/events

Dec 10 6pm

"Irish Christmas in America"

(Oisin Mac Diarmada, Gráinne Hambly, Cathy Jordan, Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl, Jack Warnock, Samantha Harvey, Emily Greaney, Torrin Ryan)

Resource Center for Non-Violence, Santa Cruz

https://www.celticsociety.org

Winterdance - Celtic Christmas

John & Tyler Weed, Amelia Hogan, Paul Kotapish, Maris Gilman

Friday Dec 12 Sutter Creek Theater, Sutter Creek, CA

Saturday Dec 13 7pm St. Michaels Episcopal Church, Carmichael, CA

Sunday Dec 14, 3pm Art Freak Studio Theater, Niles, CA

- Thurs Dec 18 7:30pm Hillside Club 2286 Cedar St Berkeley

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hillside-echoes-presents-winterdance-returns-to-the-hillside-club-tickets-1717427203999

Saturday Dec 20 3pm St. Mary s By the Sea, Pacific Grove

Friday Dec 19 7:30pm St. Mary s By the Sea, Pacific Grove

- Sunday Dec 21 4pm the Milking Parlour, San Louis Obispo, CA

https://ameliahogan.com/calendar/

https://mollysrevenge.com/shows

Dec 14 2025 1pm-4pm

Probabillies du Nord (French Canadian tunes)

24th St, Noe Valley

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

Christmas Ceili

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 2-4 2026

Alasdair Fraser Community Music Workshop & Ceilidh

Nevada City Odd Fellows Hall

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

Jan 11 2026 2pm

SF Scottish Fiddlers

Cloverdale library

Jan 18 2026 2pm

Sixpenny

Livermore Jazz Society

https://larrymilder.com/sixpenny/

https://www.livermorejazzsociety.org/events/sixpenny

Jan 23-26 2026

Weed's Winter Jam Camp

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

registration opens Nov 15

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

Sun Feb 1 2026 7pm

Eamonn Flynn & Dublinesque - St. Brigid's Day Celebration

with Shay Black, Glide Memorial Choir, & others

Freight

https://www.eamonnflynn.com/dublinesque

Fri Feb 13 2026 9pm

Ye Vagabonds (young band from Ireland)

Brick & Mortar in San Francisco

https://www.brickandmortarmusic.com/tm-event/ye-vagabonds/

https://www.facebook.com/yevagabonds/videos

Feb 17 2026 7:30pm

Jim Malcolm

Soquel house concert

https://www.celticsociety.org

Thursday February 19, 2026

Jim Malcolm

Hillside Club Berkeley CA

https://www.jimmalcolm.com/concerts/

Feb 20-22 2026

Virtual Lark

https://www.virtuallark.org/

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

Friday February 20, 2026

Jim Malcolm

Chico CA

https://www.jimmalcolm.com/concerts/

Saturday February 21, 2026

Jim Malcolm

Davis CA

https://www.jimmalcolm.com/concerts/

Sunday February 22, 2026

Jim Malcolm

Lakeport CA

https://www.jimmalcolm.com/concerts/

Feb 19-22 2026

Wintergrass

Hyatt Regency, Bellevue WA

Vasen

https://wintergrass.com/

Feb 22 2026 7:30pm

Vasen-Duo

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz

https://www.celticsociety.org

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

Mar 6 2026 7pm

Gerry O'Connor with Don Penzien

The Ugly Mug, Soquel

https://www.celticsociety.org

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 14 2026

Eileen Ivers

with

Colin Forhan (lead vocals, guitar, banjo, concertina), Buddy Connolly (button accordion, keyboards, vocals), Lindsey Horner (upright and electric bass, baritone sax, harmonicas, vocals), Dave Barckow (lead vocals, percussion, guitar)

Freight

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 26 2025

Lunasa

The Sofia, Sacramento

https://www.lunasamusic.com/tour

Mar 27-29 2026

Epicenter contra dance weekend

Mill Valley

http://www.nbcds.org

Mar 27 2025

Lunasa

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center

https://www.lunasamusic.com/tour

Mar 28 2026

Eamonn Flynn & Dublinesque

Occidental Arts Center, Occidental, CA

Mar 28 2026 7:30pm

Lunasa

Kuumbwa Jazz Center Santa Cruz

https://www.celticsociety.org

Mar 28 2026

The High Kings

Saratoga

Mar 29 2025 2pm

Lunasa

Presidio Theatre SF

https://www.lunasamusic.com/tour

https://www.presidiotheatre.org/show-details/lunasa

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/

Apr 11-12 2026

Norcal Celtic Festival

Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland

https://www.norcalcelticfestival.com/

Apr 19 2026 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

April 23-26 2026

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

West Marin (between Novato & Marshall)

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

email: info AT walkercreekmusiccamp.org

Apr 23 2026 7:30pm

Nuala Kennedy & Eamon O Leary

United Irish Cultural Center, SF

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nuala-kennedy-eamon-oleary-tickets-1858195465659

https://www.nualakennedy.com/tour/

May 1 2026

Windborne

Freight

https://www.windbornesingers.com/

May 1-3 2026 (typically first weekend of May)

KVMR Celtic Festival, Grass Valley

https://kvmrcelticfestival.org/

https://www.facebook.com/kvmrceltic

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/

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 (C il 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 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

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

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

June 5 2026

Natalie & Brittany Haas

Freight

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 2-7 2026

Noel Hill concertina school

Tilikum Retreat Center, Newburg Oregon

https://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/

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

Calif Revels Bromliad - Abbots Bromley dance & picnic

Joaquin Miller Park

https://www.californiarevels.org/bromliad.html

Aug/Sept 2026?

Festival of the Sea

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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

Sept 17-21 2026

Portal Irish Music Week

Kingston NM

http://portalmusicweek.com/

Sept 17-20 2026

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival

La Veta CO

https://celticmusicfest.com/

Oct 2026

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Golden Gate Park SF

http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

Some stages are live-streamed.

Oct 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 2026

Galway Bay Pub's Celtic Festival

Ocean Shores WA (southwest tip of Olympic Peninsula)

https://celticmusicfeis.com/

https://irishmusicfestival.yapsody.com/

October 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 2026

El Cerrito Free Folk Festival

El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane El Cerrito

https://elcerritofreefolkfestival.org/

Oct 17-18 2026

Yosemite Celtic Festival

Oakhurst Community Center

https://www.yosemitecelticfestival.com/

Oct 22-25 2026

O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Midlothian, TX

http://www.oflahertyretreat.org

Oct 2026

Walker Creek Music Camp

https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/

Oct 2026

Fairfax Irish Festival

https://www.fairfaxirishfestival.com/

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

Nov 2026

Yachats Celtic Music Festival

Yachats, OR (southern Oregon coast)

https://yachatscelticmusicfestival.org/

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+)

Santa Rosa

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 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 = 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 Ceolt ir ireann, 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, 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