The 8th annual Mississippi River Celtic Music Festival will be held in Saint Louis April 8, 9, and 10th. John Skelton and Brian McCoy will be leading flute and whistle classes respectively. For details on all the classes available - and there are some new ones - or to register - visit www.tionol.org or contact mmullins@tionol.org.
These things are wonderful.
Great workshops, nice people,
instruments being sold,
great concert…
I’m actually planning on going if I get off my duff and register. I’ve heard great things about it.
What’s happening on Friday and Sunday? I can’t seem to find that on the site.
Oh, Eddie, you should! It’s fun, low-key and practically painless since it’s only the weekend. I haven’t looked on the site, but I got something in the mail last week – I think they’re having the usual Friday night ceili, followed by, of course, SESSIONSSESSIONSSESSIONS. Saturday night I think we’re on for the usual concert, followed by, of course, SESSIONSSESSIONSSESSIONS. And then Sunday it’ll be brunch and PUBFULLOFSESSIONS!
Anyway, I’ve enjoyed it the two years I’ve gone. You might just want to email Mike Mullins directly (just do the contact thing at tionol.org or whatever it is); I’m sure he’ll get a flyer out to you posthaste. Finally, you can just register when you get there; no big deal although it does make it easier for them to plan if you send in your stuff in advance.
BTW, welcome back!
Thanks Cathy, I talked to some folks this summer in Augusta (who I had met in Skip Healy’s, small world) who nothing but good things to say about the St. Louis weekend. I’ll probably sign up tomorrow.
(BTW, I’ll put up India pics soon!)
Anybody have a suggestion for a place to stay nearby?
Yes, suggestions for a place to stay close to where they have the workshops would be welcome! I ended up staying across the river in Illinois last year, which was a pain.
Are there Friday night sessions at the St. Louis Brewery place again this year?
-Brett
The flyer lists sessions at both the Tap Room and McGurk’s on Friday night. I don’t recall whether McGurk’s had a Friday night session last year.
We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on Market St. last year and have booked a room there this year. It’s not far from the Tap Room and easy driving to the workshops.
Thanks Bill, I’ve stayed at Courtyard’s before and enjoyed it. I’m gonna take an afternoon this week to make arrangements.
Here’s some info that I grabbed from hotels.com and maps.google.com. Rates are for singles (not specifically that weekend). Please don’t assume I recommend any of these.
Millennium Hotel St. Louis
200 South 4th Street St Louis MO 63102
$ 78.20 per night
Taproom: 1.8 mi
McGurks: 1.8 mi
High School: 10 mi
Shelcon Concert Hall: 3.2 mi
Radisson Hotel Clayton
7750 Carondelet Avenue Clayton MO 63105
$ 89.10 per night
Taproom: 8.6
McGurks: 9.8 mi
High School: 4.5
Shelcon Concert Hall: 7.5 mi
The Mayfair, A Wyndham Hotel
806 St. Charles Street St Louis MO 63101
$ 71.00 per night
Taproom: 1.3 mi
McGurks: 2.2 mi
High School: 10 mi
Shelcon Concert Hall: 3.4 mi
Radisson Downtown St Louis
200 North 4th Street St Louis MO 63102
$ 93.50 per night
Taproom: 1.9 mi
McGurks: 2.1 mi
High School: 10 mi
Shelcon Concert Hall: 3.2 mi
Casino Queen Hotel
200 South Front Street East St Louis IL 62201
$ 119.00 per night
Taproom: 2.9 mi
McGurks: 3.6 mi
High School: 13 mi
Shelcon Concert Hall: 6.3 mi
Courtyard St Louis Downtown
2340 Market St St Louis MO 63103
$ 139.00 per night
Taproom: 0.4 mi
McGurks: 2.2 mi
High School: 9 mi
Shelcon Concert Hall: 1.7 mi
Hey folks
For those of you that have been to the St. Louis tionol before, could you tell me if I would be correct in assuming that I can only sign up for one workshop? I’m having trouble deciding between the flute and the reedmaking workshops. See you there.
Jonathan,
I have been three times in the past. Always proves to be an incredible weekend. The workshops are divided into an AM & a PM session, but the PM is always a continuation of the AM session, not a separate workshop. I always have a hard time choosing myself. I have takin John Skelton’s workshop before for flute and I highly recommend it. I’m not a piper so I can’t speak to the reed making class.
I can speak to hotels around the area. I recommend all of the ones on Beowolf’s list except the Casio Queen. Not a place I would recommend going after dark…well actually…not in the daytime either. IMHO
Hope to see you all there.
Last year I hopped back and forth between a.m. and p.m. classes (after checking with the teachers), and it was fine.
I think it was a Best Western near the Botanical Gardens where we stayed last year, and it was both reasonably-priced and -located. It also had a great little Greek restaurant off the lobby … go figure, but it was terrific!
I don’t remember a Friday nite at McGuirk’s, either, Bill. That’d be cool if they did have one; it’s a nice venue for a more intimate gathering, although I’m eternally amazed at the plethora of gathering spaces in the Brewery …
Wow. I’ve been two years now and it’s amazing how it all runs together … too much fun? 
This is kinda OT but I just had to laugh - my bachelor’s party was at McGurk’s. I dont remember much of the evening if anything.
But it’s a great place to hang in STL.
Quick question: Are the workshops in one part of town, and the sessions in another? It sounds like the sessions are downtown?
Is the high school where the Saturday workshops meet in a suburb of St. Louis? Just wondering…
Jeanie
Hey, Jeanie!
Yes, you should come! The high school is in a sort-of suburb, and the sessions are downtown/on the downtown fringe – the Taproom in particular is pretty close to a lot of downtown lodging, etc. McGuirk’s is a little farther out of town, but not bad. Everything’s within 15 minutes’ drive of the other, I’d say.
Thanks for the info, Cathy! I’m seriously considering coming. It sounds great! It even occurs when my school is on spring break.
Thanks, Jeanie
Anybody know how good the public transportation is? Sounds like I only need a car to get to the workshops, I hate to rent a car just for that.
I’m not really sure, Eddie – I don’t recall seeing a ton of buses or the like. However, it’s a pretty congenial bunch. If you’re staying downtown you can take a cab between the Taproom and your hotel no problem (I did that once when 
I wanted to go to bed before 4 a.m.); and, if you manage to hook up with some really nice people like yrs truly and her skinny fiddler fella you might even be able to cadge rides to & fro, at least part of the time …
One pretty safe bet is to just look for the people milling about your hotel lobby with instrument cases and glazed looks – approach them looking pitiful, and then Bob’s your uncle.
I like our public transportation (the train) for going downtown, but I’m not sure how it is out where the workshops are.
I’d hate to see anyone have to rent a car just to get to the workshops. My husband and I will be going to the workshops and could bring up to two people with us in our vehicle if you need it. Just let me know.
Tina