Hi y’all,
I’m going to be in Portland from Aug 2-12 for the Noel Hill concertina school.
Last time I was in Portland two years ago I visited some great sessions, wondering how the scene is there these days.
Cheers,
Michael
If you’re looking for a session try Alberta St Pub on Friday night after 9 PM. I think Kells and Biddy McGrawshas a Sunday evening session.
Good luck and have fun.
Alberta St is a good sesh, and Kells does have a Sunday session at 6. Alberta st is IMO the best one musically and Kells is a nice atmosphere, but I don’t think I will be going again anytime soon last week they kicked me out of the pub for being under 21, it was some bull shizz I was just there to play some tunes. I am pretty sure Biddy’s is still going on at 7 on sundays.
What about out near Bend, Oregon – is there any music there? I’ll be in Sunriver, near Bend, all next week…I wasn’t planning to bring my flute but will have a whistle or two with me.
I too am visiting Portland (August 2009) and looking for sessions. I’m glad to have stumbled on this post!
Just one question for y’all: Are the Alberta Street and Kells sessions open (say, to an out-of-state hammered dulcimer player with intermediate skill and repertoire) or are they kinda invitation-only?
Kells is open and should be fine for you… It’s a bit too big for my taste, generally.
Alberta St. is an open session and generally very welcoming, if a bit unpredictable. You might get a crew of hot-sh•t players one week that want to play obscure Ed Reavy tunes all night (the owner himself is a fine button box player), and two piano accordions and three guitars the next week plodding through bog standards. If it’s the former, you might get a leery look or two; if it’s the latter, you might be a bit bored. Usually, it’s somewhere between the two extremes, though.
Thanks, Mr. Pitchfork! That was precisely the kind of info I was looking for.
Anybody know the latest state of things regarding Portland, OR sessions - say this coming weekend?
Thanking you,
Mark