[Top]
3.3.2 - Session List - North America:
USA
ILLINOIS:
- The (Irish) Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, Chicago IL. Sessiuns
every Sunday night from 8pm on. Some of the best musicians in
Chicago play here regularly (Liz Carroll, Marty Fahy, Martin
Hayes--before he moved to Seattle). The noise is a little
more than desirable, though.
- Irish Times, 8869 Burlington, Brookfield (western suburb of Chicago).
Open sessions every Wednesday night. The
attitude here is a little less formal than at the Abbey.
Last I was there, there was one other fiddle player, a
bodhran/harmonica player, a guitarist, and a whistle player
who considered themselves regulars. The drummer and guitarist
also play in the local band "Donnybrook".
- Tommy Nevin's Pub, Evanston. 1450 Sherman Ave. (708)-869-0450.
Sessiuns every Sunday afternoon at around 2pm.
BOSTON:
- The Green Dragon, Downtown. Saturdays 4pm - 9pm+
- The Green Briar,Brighton. Mondays, 9pm on..
- Mr. Dooley's, Downtown. Wednesdays 9pm on.., Sundays 7pm on..
WISCONSIN
- Mickey's Tavern, 1524 Williamson St.,Madison. (608)251-9964 Wednesdays,
9:30-close. Small, redneck-looking bar, cheap (in both senses) beer.
Two extremes of setting: standing-only crowded, smoky, very noisy /
quiet, empty, laid-back. Musicians: several regulars of commendable
repertoire, plus 3-10 irregulars of various backgrounds. Very
friendly, low-pressure, but 95% Irish, 100% traditional.
Fiddle-heavy, wind-light, one banjo and one uillean piper always
there.
PENNSYLVANIA
- Murphy's Pour House, 215 East Main, Carnegie, Pittsburgh. 279-0770.
Every Thursday from 9 PM - midnight. About 5 - 10 players (mostly guitarists
and fiddle players and occasionally a dancer). Open to who wants to
participate. Friendly place with good atmosphere.
- Mullaney's Harp and Fiddle, 2329 Penn Ave, Strip District. Pittsburgh.
642-6622. The first and third Sundays of every month. Very friendly place.
[Every Tuesday there is Ce/ili/ dancing with instruction for beginners
and more advanced classes for those able to do them.]
CANADA:
VANCOUVER
- CB Vets Legion at Broadway and Cambie, Vancouver, BC.
Contact Kevin Dooley (604) 873-9948. Hall/family atmosphere,
purely acoustic sesiun, some dancing. May be suspended in
the summer months. Last Friday of the month.
- Koerner's Pub at the UBC grad centre, (604) 822-3203.
Format is celtic or celtic influenced headline act 6--8 p.m.,
followed by a session and an open mic, often followed by a
round table unplugged jam. Outdoors in summer.
- W.I.S.E. pub, Vancouver, BC. 254-5858,
Usually mix of celtic music, acoustic blues and folk.
Also informal sessions, Wed--Sat, often late.
here is one I forgot for Vancouver, Canada
- Comhaltas 251-4749 holds Irish music
and language classes every Tuesday night, with a bit of a session
at the end. Currently they meet in the green room behind the upstairs
stage of the W.I.S.E. Club (254-5858) and it is not open to an audience
so that beginners can feel welcome. Musicians often go downstairs for a
pint of the dark stuff and more music later.
ST. JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND
- Humphrey's Pub. St. John's Folk Arts Council folk night,
with some of the top Newfoundland musicians,
and usually an on stage session at the end, and sometimes
some unplugged stuff at a table as things wind down.
- The Captains Quarters, (pub in a good small motel),
hosted by Kelly Russell (or someone else if he is on tour).
Usually Kelly does some solo stuff on many instruments, then there
is a headline artist who does two sets, some open stage spots,
and then a killer round table session to end the night. Arrive
early to get a good table.