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• Cecilia L. Fábos-Becker offers another Samhain Scary Story for your seasonal scrutiny, Playing for the Ghosts at the Washoe Club. (See Below)
• On Friday October 22nd, Saturday October 23rd & Sunday October 24th, the 10th Annual Fairfax Irish Festival Of Music & Dance overruns the small town of Fairfax, CA, which, for the weekend, resembles a town in Ireland full of songs, tunes and dance. (See Below)
• On Friday, October 22nd, Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday October 24th, each day at 5:00 PM PDT (7:00 PM CDT), the annual Instructor Concerts, will live stream to your device from the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Midlothian, TX (the Irish Music Camp Like No Other) These performers come all our local regions, and this is the best opportunity to see and hear them play together. (See Below)
• On Friday, October 22nd - Sunday, October 24th, is the final weekend for the West Coast's Largest Irish Music Festival, the 18th Annual Galway Bay Celtic Music Feis, in Ocean Shores, WA. (See Below)
• On Friday, October 22nd at 7:30 PM, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas continue their 8 city tour of the West Coast with a concert in Eugene, OR. (See Below)
• On Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, the 12th Annual El Cerrito Free Folk Festival, happens at online via Zoom, from El Cerrito, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, October 23rd, from 3:00 - 8:00 PM at the United Irish Cultural Center, Wawona Gates is serving hot food and a full bar, outdoors under their 1800 sq.ft. 'Big Top', and from 4:00 - 6:00 PM, LIVE music as Sean Daly and the Shams take the Wawona Gates stage, all at their spacious facility in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, October 23rd, at 8:00 PM indefatigable Celtic Rockers Tempest West Coast Fall Tour continues in Blue Lake with one more stops in Fresno. (See Below)
• On Friday, October 29th at 4:30 PM PDT, Amelia Hogan will perform an online a capella concert via Facebook Live, from her living room in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, October 30th at 8:00 PM PDT, Celtic All-Star Grateful Dead Jam Band Wake the Dead, begins their Fall tour at with their 21st annual Day of the Dead party, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA, and on Friday, November 25th, 8:00 PM PST, performs at B Street At The Sofia in Sacramento, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, October 30th, Noon-10:30 PM & Sunday, October 31st, 11 AM - 6 PM comes the 13th Annual Sonora All Hallows Faire, a Celtic Tradition in the Mother Lode of California. (See Below)
• On Tuesday evenings, from 7:00-8:30 PM Pacific Time, its the Andronicos San Francisco Jam, hosted by Dinah and Noah Stroe on Zoom from San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Thursdays, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Pacific Time, multi-instrumentalist Michael Eskin hosts The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Session, the best and most popular participatory online Irish traditional music event. (See Below)
• On Thursdays, at 6:00 PM Pacific Time, One Eyed Reilly plays at The Delta King Bar & Grill in Sacramento, CA, and can be heard at several other venues in the Sacramento Valley. (See Below)
• On Thursdays, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM Pacific Time, Stout Rebellion leads their community fun time at Jackrabbit Brewing Company in West Sacramento, CA. (See Below)
• The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, the local Irish Pub bringing the culture of Ireland to downtown San Francisco at 5th and Howard. (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)
• 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.
Hallowe'en: Samhain/Samhuinn/Samhainn
History and Celebrations:
— Saturday October 23rd, 7:00 PM, *Samhain Singalong
— Saturday, October 30th, 1:00 PM, *Spiral Dance Ritual
— Online On Demand, Spiorad na Samhna / Spirit of Samhain film
*Online via Zoom
Did you know that the Celts, and in particular the Gaels, created Hallowe'en?
Know historically as Samhain (Irish Gaelic) / Samhuinn/Samhainn (Scottish Gaelic) / Sauin (Manx language), Celts marked the New Year by the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year, and occurs halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. According to the Celtic day, the festival is celebrated from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st.
In modern times, Irish people, Scottish people, Manx people, Celtic neopagans and druids, and Wiccans all celebrate this festival in the traditional way with bonfires, divination, guising/mumming, feasting and other traditional rituals.
Click for More on Samhain History and Rituals Past and Present
On Saturday October 23rd at 7:00 PM, Sing a Song of UU Paganism making Zoom magic with PICT! One of the stated purposes of CUUPS, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, is to learn about Paganism, and to promote Unitarian Universalism/interfaith dialogue. As a local Chapter of CUUPS, The Pagan Interest Circle (PICT) will draw this Wiccan year to a close with a chance to experience UU Paganism--through song!
The Gray UU hymnal and the Turquoise UU hymnal each have several hymns and chants that clearly reflect a Pagan sensibility and the Goddess: such as 'Lady of the Seasons' Laughter'. There are lots more that are nature-centered, and so relate to what we hold sacred. For this celebration we will sing our way into better understanding, deeper community, and joyous ritual online via Zoom. We'll all blend, so don't be shy!
If you would like to attend this ritual, contact Drew Wilson at drewwwilson47@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link. To learn more, contact Betsy Darr at betdarr@gmail.com.
Co-priest/esses Betsy Darr, Shauna Pickett-Gordon and Drew Wilson will lead the singing with on-screen words and music for all to join in.
Shauna is a UU music director and experienced virtual-group singing leader and lifetime UU.
Drew, also experienced with virtual-group singing, is PICT's Zoom Wizard.
On Saturday, October 30th, at 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM PST, PICT, will be joining the 42nd Annual Reclaiming Collective Spiral Dance Ritual. For the safety of our community and given the increased spread of the Delta strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Spiral Dance Ritual will again be a virtual event. For more information and to get a ticket to access the ritual, go to the Reclaiming website at reclaimingspiraldance.org.
Questions? nancybuffum@gmail.com
Spiorad na Samhna, (Spirit of Samhain), is a bi-lingual film about the Celtic origins of Halloween that won the Best Short Documentary Award at the 2015 Underground Film Festival in Cork, Ireland. The film traces origins of Halloween itself to the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain. It also traces the origins of Ireland's biggest Halloween Carnival in Derry back to the troubled years of the 1980s.
CLICK HERE to view the film, Spiorad na Samhna.
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Playing for the Ghosts at the Washoe Club
Another Tale for Samhain
By Cecilia Fábos-Becker 2021-10-21
At this time of year I sometimes think about an odd experience I had the last time I was in Virginia City, Nevada.
My family had visited the old town since the 1960's when I was a teen and we occasionally went rock-hunting in nearby areas. In the early visits, the town was not the tourist mecca it has become today. There were much fewer shops and most people came to see the one or two mine museums, the Mackay House and the 'Territorial Enterprise/Mark Twain Museum,' if they had any interest in old west literature and history. I loved Mark Twain's Roughing It from the first time I read it and laughed so hard at the story of the 'genuine Mexican plug' that my sides hurt. I had a certain memory of a palomino a friend of mine once had named 'Bourbon' and a wild ride (the horse's idea, not mine and my sister's) though a Boy Scout Jamboree. Since we'd flattened a few tents I could well imagine what happened to the young Sam Clemens and how irate the citizenry of really early Virginia City had been afterwards. Over time I would come to be acquainted with the actual mines related to all the stocks he so foolishly bought and sold as if they were a boy's baseball trading cards today. He could have been very rich if he had known more about mining and geology and what to really buy and hold.
It was during his time in Virginia City that the young Sam Clemens really began writing and adopted the pen name Mark Twain. Being a reader of several mid-19th century authors, an occasional short story writer myself, with one of my college degrees in history, I am a regular visitor to the California Gold Rush country, and Virginia City as a favorite day trip.
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#IrelandinSF Virtual Speaker Series
Samhain: The Winter Festival & Irish Death Traditions
Friday, October 22nd, 9:00 AM PDT
Online via Zoom
Catherine Flynn
The Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco is delighted to present Clodagh Doyle from the National Museum of Ireland and Dr. Catherine Flynn from UC Berkeley, who will be discussing the Celtic roots of Hallowe'en, Samhain the Winter Festival, Irish death traditions, and much more!
Get into the spirit of Hallowe'en and join us for our Samhain Speaker Series — Sign up for the event here, and if you have any questions for Catherine & Clodagh please send them to our email: irelandinsf@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there- Oíche Shamhna Shona Duit!
Clodagh Doyle is a Keeper of the Irish Folklife Division and our trusted Samhain expert, curated many of the permanent gallery displays at the National Museum of Ireland- Country Life. We are so excited that Clodagh will be joining us again this year after an incredibly successful Samhain event in 2020.
Noted scholar, Director of Irish Studies at UC Berkeley, and author of James Joyce and the Matter of Paris, Catherine Flynn brings her impressive Irish expertise and will be guiding our discussion with Clodagh. Catherine also co-hosts the podcast U22 The Centenary Ulysses (available on iTunes and Spotify).
Consulate General of Ireland San Francisco
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10th Annual Fairfax Irish Festival
Friday, October 22nd
Saturday, October 23rd
Sunday, October 24th
just 22 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge — ALL FREE
The Pure Drops
Erica & Friends
Vince Keehan
Kenny Somerville
Comhaltas Irish Set Dancers
David Winter & The SF Pipers Band
The Turf Cutters
Riggy Rackin
Catherine John
Rebecca Richman
Rory McNamara
Jason Pollock & Valerie Rose
Darcy Noonan & Hector Bragado
Tedd Colt
Eamonn Flynn
Felim Egan
Todd Silverstein & Rodney Miller
Elizabeth Roddy
Dana Trillo
Daniel Schoenfeld
Anne Goess
Suzuki Cady & Liam Kaplan
Neil O'Neill & Stacy Samuels
Robert Shaw
Brosnan Irish Dancers
Savage Craic
For more info, check Fairfax Fleadh Website, or The Fairfax Fleadh Facebook Page, or email fairfaxirishfestival@gmail.com or call Cormac Gannon at 415-902-2947.
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O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
An Irish Music Camp Like No Other!
NEW! Online Live Streaming Instructor Concerts
5:00 PM PDT Friday, October, 22nd - Sunday October 24th
Hoblitzelle Camp & Conference Center, 8060 Singleton Rd, Midlothian, TX
Friday, Oct. 22nd
• 1 – Dave Curley, Shane Farrell and Maggie Graham
• 2 – Randal Bays, Florence Fahy and Evan Powell (guest pianist)
Saturday, Oct. 23rd
• 1 – Caitlin Warbelow, Seán Gavin, Jacob McCauley and Chris Ranney (guest pianist)
• 2 – Michael Black and Marla Fibish
• 3 – Laura Feddersen and John Whelan
Sunday, Oct. 24th
• 1 – Kara Doyle and Alex Boatright
• 2 – Seán Cleland, Eamon O'Leary and Cillian Vallely
• 3 – All instructors perform together. We'll end with our tradition of singing of 'Safe Home' led by Tommy and Saundra O'Sullivan via video.
The 18th annual O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat will be this year's premiere gathering of Irish music lovers nurturing the tradition that we hold close to our hearts.
This unique event immerses you in a complete traditional Irish music community for four days of classes, sessions, concerts, dances, camaraderie and learning in depth on dozens of aspects of Irish culture, including Enrichment classes, Informances, and dozens of Workshops.
Each year we invite internationally respected musicians from within the Irish music tradition to perform and teach our classes. Organized by the Traditional Irish Music Education Society (TIMES), we also engage a core group of local and area-wide volunteers and staff who are dedicated to making the retreat a memorable experience for each participant.
This year, we gather on Thursday, October, 21st at 7:00 PM CDT for a BBQ dinner followed by a concert and the airing of a documentary video that was made about last year's virtual event. Classes and other activities begin Friday morning.
Check out our YouTube Channel for videos of everything you can expect at O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat.
Named in honor of Jim O'Flaherty, a musician who immigrated from Ireland to North Texas spreading the Irish music tradition through his family, friends and community, the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat continues with Jim's commitment to help others learn, enjoy, and grow in these rich traditions. Read More about our history…
For details, tickets, lodging, etc., please go to our website! www.oflahertyretreat.org
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18th Annual Galway Bay Celtic Music Feis!
West Coast's Largest Irish Music Festival
Ocean Shores, WA
We have reached a milestone with this being our 18th Anniversary and are excited to make this the best Feis ever, celebrating Irish songs, ballads, players and bands that will be flooding Ocean Shores, WA with music and fun for six days this October. Come tip a pint and kick up your heels.
The festival will bagin on Monday, October 18, 2021 at the 8th Street Ale House in Hoquiam, with a limited seating event. Tuesday, October 19 through October 24 stages will be in Ocean Shores beginning at Galway and expanding to the Ocean Shores Convention Center.
An eclectic mix of Irish bands, choirs and dancers hailing from throughout the United States, Canada and, of course, Ireland will be rounding out this year's entertainment. Highlights at this year’s event will include Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, Celtica Pipes Rock, and Hank Cramer. Bill Mullen, Coming Up Threes, Cul an Ti, Heavy Hammer, Kim Cooney, Ockham’s Razor, Oliver Mulholland, Paddy Homan, Peter Daldry, SeaStar, Seattle Irish Dancers, Stark Raving Plaid, Stout Pounders, That Irish Guy, The Whiskeydicks and more will be gracing our 9 stages.
All the stages will be indoors or covered, providing the festival attendees with a unique opportunity to enjoy some great musicians in weatherproof surroundings. This promises to be a great event for adults and 8th Street and Galway, and families at the Convention Center.
The Convention Center will host a Vendor Village for your shopping experience, and we welcome you to visit the Gift Shop at Galway Bay. Musicians will be selling their merchandise and CDs after their performances.
For Online Tickets, Click Here: https://irishmusicfestival.yapsody.com/event/index/375671
For more information and a schedule of the bands and events, Click Here: https://celticmusicfeis.com. You can email us at galwaybay@coastaccess.com or call us at 360-289-2300.
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Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Fall 2021 West Coast Tour Dates
- Saturday, October 16th, Nevada Theater, Nevada City, CA
- Wednesday, October 20th & 21st, Grizzly Peak Winery, Ashland, OR
- Friday, October 22nd, The Shedd, Eugene, OR
- Saturday, October 23rd Alberta Rose Theatre , Portland, OR
- Monday, October 25th Tower Theater, Bend, OR
- Thursday, October 28th Littlefield Celtic Center, Mount Vernon, WA
- Friday, October 29th Littlefield Celtic Center, Mount Vernon, WA
- Saturday, October 30th Phinney Neighborhood Center, Seattle, WA
The musical partnership between Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as Scotland's premier fiddle ambassador, and the sizzlingly-talented Californian cellist Natalie Haas may not seem an obvious one, but the duo's dazzling teamwork, driving rhythms, and their shared passion for improvising on the melody and the groove of Scottish tunes has helped reconstruct and revive the Scottish tradition of playing dance music on violin and cello.
Over the last 16 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding, and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.
For a sample of what to expect at the concert, check out this video: https://youtu.be/08zd3hI87bc
For more, check alasdairandnatalie.com.
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12th Annual El Cerrito Free Folk Festival
Music, dance, and jams!
Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Online via Zoom
The El Cerrito Free Folk Festival is a an music festival that is free of charge and open to the public. The generosity and sponsorship of the San Francisco Folk Music Club and the City of El Cerrito Arts and Culture Commission have made the annual El Cerrito Free Folk Festival possible.
Use this link to Propose Addtions to the Program.
Learn more about the Program on our Facebook Page.
You can register now or day of the Festival. Click for full details on the website: https://www.elcerritofreefolkfestival.org
Click on the link, fill out the form (just your name and email), and the Zoom link will be sent to your email in a few seconds.
Enjoy! - Hali Hammer halih@yahoo.com
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Shams at the Irish Center SF Rebel & Folk Band West coast of USA
https://www.facebook.com/theshamsmusic
theshamsmusic@gmail.com
https://soundcloud.com/the-shams-eire
United Irish Cultural Center
Saturday, October 23rd
— Outdoors with Full Bar
• 4:00 PM 'Sean Daly and the Shams'
More Details
United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Outdoors - masking when not eating and drinking.
Check San Francisco County's COVID-19 related Public Health Orders
On Saturday, October 23rd, at 3:00 PM, it's LIVE music from Sean Daly and the Shams, on the #WawonaGates stage under the lights/tent at the Irish Center.
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, the UICC is also offering Private Events in their spacious Saint Patrick's Room!
UICC website
UICC Facebook Page
Celtic Rock with Tempest
October 2020 West Coast Tour
Saturday, October 9th, Afternoon Show, times TBA, Apple Harvest Festival, Main Street McCloud, McCloud, CA, at the foot of Mount Shasta, (530) 964-3113
Saturday, October 16th, 8:00 PM, Father Paddy's Irish Public House, 435 Main St., Woodland, CA, (530) 867-2939
Saturday, October 23rd, 8:00 PM, Blue Lake Casino, 777 Casino Way, Blue Lake, CA, (707) 668-9770
Saturday, October 30th, 7:30 PM, Full Circle Brewing Co., Special Halloween Show -- Come in costume and celebrate with us!, 712 Fulton St., Fresno, CA, (559) 319-8195, Tempest returns to Fresno by popular demand. Full Circle Brewing Co. has moved to a fab new location, and we're excited to be back!
Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 30 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release seventeen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,500 gigs. It's also enjoyed an evolving line-up that's enabled musicianship and creativity to rise with each new member.
Signed to Magna Carta Records, Tempest's releases are acclaimed worldwide.
Last year, during the height of confinement, Tempest produced two great CDs; 'Live At SoundTek Studios' The Lockdown Sessions, and 'Live On The Air' The Radio Sessions 1992 – 2018. Both CDs have received tremendous response, and totally energized our mail order business! But you should know, these albums are limited edition, collectors items, and autographed copies are only available from the Tempest Web Site http://www.tempestmusic.com/html/cdorder.html while supplies last.
Mail order CDs directly from Tempest: tempestmusic.com/html/cdorder.html
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TempestCelticRock
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/Sorbye
Artist sites and sounds: www.tempestmusic.com.
Amelia Hogan
Amelia Hogan LIVE ONLINE
streaming from San Francisco
Friday, October 29th, 4:30 PM PDT
Online via Facebook
Amelia Hogan sings traditional Irish, Scottish, English and American folk songs from across both sides of various ponds.
As those of you who followed her 2020 quarantine concert series know, these concerts create an intimate, thoughtful atmosphere. Come join in this Friday at 4:30 PM PDT for live singing on her Facebook Page!
Amelia's music will take you on a journey, from light and fun songs, through soulful and meaningful works addressing the challenges in life, to uplifting sing-alongs that leave you ready to conquer the world, or at least the laundry pile!
Amelia will sing one 30 minute set, and if you like what you hear, please consider leaving a tip in her virtual tip jar https://www.paypal.me/ameliahogan.
Amelia's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ameliahogansings
Amelia's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/user/ameliaisaverb
Wake the Dead is (left to right) Sylvia Herold (vocals, guitar), Danny Carnahan (vocals, fiddle, octave mandolin), Cindy Browne (bass), Kevin Carr (uilleann pipes, fiddle), Paul Kotapish (vocals, mandolin), and Brian Rice (exotic percussion).
Wake the Dead Fall Tour
World's Only Celtic All-Star Grateful Dead Jam Band
Saturday, October 30th, 8:00 PM PDT
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA
Tix: $13 - $30 | In Person and Live Stream!!!
Friday, November 25th, 8:00 PM PST
B Street At The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA
Tix: $35
Full Details, updates and ticket links check www.wakethedead.org/gigs
Wake The Dead, the World's Only Celtic All-Star Party Band, is a hot sextet combining Irish jigs and reels with the songs of the Grateful Dead and other '60s iconic bands, delivering them with unique power and joy. Soaring vocal harmonies and daring instrumentals fuel Wake the Dead's singular groove engine, delighting Celtoids and Deadheads alike.
After 21 years of touring, Wake The Dead has grown to embrace the entire Summer of Love—the Airplane, the Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield, and even the Beatles now joyful parts of the mix. Local fans are guaranteed many brand-new surprises. Their sound is unique, their energy extraordinary — a rare collision of worlds that leaves everybody dancing & grinning.
Wake The Dead, was first known for weaving jigs and reels into the songs of the Grateful Dead, and so impressed the Dead themselves enough for them to release the début Wake the Dead CD on Grateful Dead/Arista Records. This hot Bay Area acoustic sextet now Celtifies the entire Summer of Love including the Airplane, Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield and even the Beatles, and after twenty years of rocking acoustic joy and is still going strong.
Click Here for the Studio-Produced Videos of Wake the Dead!
Check out their Website and Facebook Page.
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13th Annual All Hallows Faire
Saturday, October 30th, Noon-10:30 pm & Sunday, October 31st, 11am-6pm
Calaveras Fairgrounds, 2465 Gunclub Rd, Angels Camp, CA
The Original 13th Annual All Hallows Faire returns to the Calaveras Fairgrounds in Angels Camp, California on October 30 & 31. It's our Modern Themed Costume Play Fantasy Festival and we are going to create an exciting world of fun never seen before! This original event creation will bring historical Celtic cultures alive with costume characters and non-stop entertainment. The festival will also have the ever-popular Burning of the Harvestman, and a Fire Extravaganza not to be missed- so come early and celebrate the Celtic New Year in style…
KIDS ARE 100% FREE- BOTH DAYS (AGES 0-12)
Save money by buying tickets on-line: www.allhallowsfaire.com
Click for the Full Schedule.
The Fantasy Faire is a two-day all inclusive costume play event! Patrons are encouraged to wear their favorite costumes and immerse themselves into our themed encampment realms. The encampments will be filled with Celts, Vikings, Ancient Warriors, Pirates, Mythical Creatures, Gypsies, Witches, and a Fire Breathing Dragon. Kids can trick or treat through the entire realm, with free candy at every corner and a costume contest. On Sunday, the faire offers three new venues just for kids: a pumpkin carving area, a super fun pumpkin rolling competition, and the new exciting midway game arcade!
Music is always one of the crowd favorites at the faire, and this year we have two full stages of music. Headlining we have Legendary Celtic Rock band - Culann's Hounds and joining them on stage will be Celtica, The Black Irish Band and Skull Country. Also appearing on stage will be the Black Irish Band, and the Ghostly Scottish Bagpipers of the Lost Division.
On Sunday, We will also be celebrating 'Día De Muertos' with hundreds of visiting La Calavera Catrina The Elegant Skull players!
It's all about coming dressed up for fun! A costume contest for adults and children of all ages with prizes will be offered all weekend long. And then on Saturday Night- the Big Fire Extravaganza, the worlds most amazing fire show by nationally known fire-juggler and fire walker instructor, Kevin Axtell & Friends. All will want to also witness the ever-popular Burning of the Harvestman - an old Celtic Tradition that opens the door to our loved ones on the other side.
Full details and Tickets at www.allhallowsfaire.com
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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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One Eyed Reilly
One Eyed Reilly
Celtic/Americana Band
Every Thursday, at 6:00 PM with few exceptions
Ollies in Lodi, CA
Friday, November 5th, 8:30 PM
Friday, November 20th, 8:30 PM
Father Paddy’s in Woodland, CA
Sunday, October 30th, 8:00 PM for his Halloween show
Friday, November 12th, 8:00 PM
Friday, December 10th, 8:00 PM
All 3rd Saturdays in 2022 with few exceptions
One Eyed Reilly is a genre-bending Celtic/Americana rock band from Sacramento that blends dynamic originals with Celtic rock, Americana, and energetic, innovative versions of Irish and Scottish trad. One Eyed Reilly's original songs draw on musical influences from Irish folk to Celtic punk with occasional unexpected nuggets ranging from the likes of Bob Dylan, John Prine, Tom Waits, Wilco or the Old Crow Medicine Show. This musical mash-up forms the perfect beer-and-whiskey drenched milieu for a good time night out at the Pub.
For a One Eyed Reilly sample video, Tipperary Blood, Click Here.
More on One Eyed Reilly on their website.
One Eyed Reilly is:
• Rick Meagher, lead vocals/acoustic guitar
• Geith St John Fraser, fiddle; harmony vocals
• Aaron Hendel, bass & electric guitars
• Tim Kurteff-Schatz, drums/percussion
Andronicos San Francisco Jam
Andronicos San Francisco Jam
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:30 PDT
Online via Zoom
This gathering on Zoom is hosted every Tuesday from 7:00-8:30 PM Pacific Time, by Dinah and Noah Stroe. It's organized as a friendly, eclectic round robin mix of old time music, some Irish, some Québécois and more.
Dinah says:
In addition to the great tunes, there are always a few 'sketchers' creating drawings of the participants (with permission)
It's sprinkled with jokes, books and TV recommendations and we conclude with our sketchers showing their pictures in the big reveal.
Join the fun!
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86287058150?pwd=aVpnREQ2THVoS24xcEhZYUp1OUs5dz09
Meeting ID: 862 8705 8150
Passcode: 312389
More info here: Old Time Open Jams Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/390588871395459
Contact Dinah Stroe dinahbeatrice@gmail.com
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The Ould Sod Virtual Irish Traditional Session on Zoom
The Ould Sod
Virtual Irish Traditional Session
every Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Pacific
Online via Zoom
Virtual Irish Traditional Session
6:00 - 8:00 PM Pacific
(9:00 - 11:00 PM Eastern)
Password: session
When COVID restrictions began in March, 2020, many weekly gatherings shifted to meeting online via the Zoom platform. With restrictions in California easing a bit, some are reducing or ending their Zoom musical meetings, but Michael Eskin says his, and since he has hosted over 70 of these accessible performances so far, I believe him!
Michael Eskin says:
With other Zoom sessions either closing down or changing to once-a-month format, and a few in person sessions restarting, I wanted to remind everyone that I'll continue to host The Ould Sod Virtual Session on Zoom every Thursday evening for as long as there are enough players each time, and we've generally been between 20 and 30 players on the past few Thursdays.
Players: Please join us and let other players know about our weekly Zoom event!
Punters: You are welcome to attend and listen, but please also and let others know about our weekly event!
More information at: http://michaeleskin.com/session
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Stout Rebellion Returns
Thursdays, beginning October 14th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM PDT
Jackrabbit Brewing Company, 1323 Terminal St, West Sacramento, CA
Stout Rebellion is back! After a seven-year sabbatical, Stout Rebellion is ready to do what it does best--building a community of fun around the love of Irish music with a weekly Thursday evening gig--this time at Jackrabbit Brewing in West Sacramento.
Come be part of the debut performance with original members Bobby Waller (lead vocals), Linda Easton (percussion), and James Wilson (mandolin), as well as new members (but old friends) Adrian Baxmeyer (bass) and Trevor Miller (whistle).
Or join us any Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00. We'll be there with green beads, clappers, and, of course, our patented Sing-O-Vision!
Find more details:
Stout Rebellion Facebook Page
Facebook Event
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
Open 7 days a week
Monday — Thursday 3:00 PM til close
Friday — Sunday 12:00 PM til close
The Chieftain, 198 5th St, San Francisco, CA
& Practice Social Distancing
Except when Eating or Drinking
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 and 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
The Chieftain hosts live performers every Friday and Saturday, often featuring new musical talents.
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
Required Indoors
Sean Heaney says:
Music at the Plough is back. We aren 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.
Sláinte Pub, Open Outside
Tuesday — Sunday, 12-8 PM PDT
Sláinte Pub, 131 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Except when eating or drinking
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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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
Friday, December 17th, 7:30 PM PDT
Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Read the Rio Theater Covid-19 Policy
The venerable Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay has a 33 year record of bringing world class Celtic musicians to the Monterey Bay Area and is a key sponsor of AmeriCeltic.
Pete Haworth says:
I'm sure, like me, you have missed live music a lot over the last many months so I'm happy to let you know that we have finally started booking concerts again! Newly added on our website is Tomaseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas at The Rio Theater on Friday, December 17th - Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/tomaseen-foleys-a-celtic-christmas-tickets-179508152717.
In the queue: Concerts by Jim and Susie Malcolm (February 1st 2022, house concert), Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas (February 11th 2022, Kuumbwa), and Lunasa (March 4th 2022, Kuumbwa). We may also hope to have the Irish Christmas In America show but it's still not certain if the performers will get their visas in time.
Please be sure to check each venue's website for their COVID policies before purchasing tickets. Some require that everyone, performers included, must show proof of vaccination, others require proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. There will be more information about that on our website for each concert.
Click here for full details of All Celtic Society of Monterey Bay Concerts on the CSoMB website!
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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.
LIMITED UPDATES 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.
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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