I’m a long-time whistler who relocated to the San Francisco bay area about six years ago or so. Since I’ve been out here, I’ve not a drop of Irish music played with any other than myself.
I just can’t take it any longer. :>
I’ve been looking for a local session, but many of the ones I’ve come across seem to be run in a fairly cold, closed fashion. I’ve not actually been to any of them (It takes a significant amount of time to get into The City from where I am), but have read recriminations and stories of horrible breaches of etiquitte (Such as unwittingly playing a tune that was played by the session leader in June of 1997, when the moon was waxing full) that left the offender shunned by the entire area ITM community, as it were.
So I was just wondering, in my own fashion, if anyone knows of any ‘friendly’ sessions in the bay area? Most of the lists I’ve found seem to be out of date, and yet I’m keen on at least showing up somewhere to listen to a few sets to ‘test the waters’ before re-entering the fray.
When I lived in NorCal I would occasionally drive into SF for the piper’s club meetings. After the meetings some of the members would go to a session at a place called “The Bodhran.” Pretty much the first time I ever played with anyone else was there. I played one or two tunes and probably stunk up the place, but everyone seemed nice about it. No one asked me to leave anyway. I also remember the time I was there and a fellow dropped in from out of town and was welcomed with open arms. He stayed and played the whole session and everyone seemed to be getting along. The Bodhran is a really small place and the session is pretty small as well, but that’s probably a good thing. I think it’s on Haight street. Anyway, thats the only SF session I ever saw (okay, except for the slow session, but you are probably not interested in that). There are plenty of other SF’ers on the boards so I’m sure you will get plenty of other suggestions.
Good luck,
James
Those three, and also some place called “The Starry Plough” in Berkeley.
If you can go to only one place, Plough and Stars is the one. Wonderful. There is/used to be a crowd who went to the Bodhran first and then continued at the Plough.
In addition to the Sunday session at the Plough & Stars, there’s also one on Tuesdays, though it varies–there’s a slow session once a month, a song session now and then, but it’s usual to have a standard session at least twice a month. I especially enjoy the sessions at the Plough when Jack Gilder and Kevin Bernhagen (of Tipsy House) are there. http://pweb.jps.net/~jgilder/plough.html. http://www.tipsyhouse.com/
I highly recommend the session at An Bodhran–definitely authentic, led by several Irish ex-pats who are amazing players. The Bodhran is owned by a fellow from Co. Cork, and it draws quite the Irish crowd. http://www.anbodhran.com/
I’ve heard good things about the Sunday session at the Starry Plough in Berkeley as well–it’s led by Shay Black (of the Black Brothers).
I love how the people from other areas know all about the sessions here.
It’s all been said here, pretty much. Just to give a little more info, the Bodhran session is usually small, and the Starry Plough in Berkeley is usually really big. You can stay in the background at the Starry Plough if you want, while they will probably ask you to start a few tunes at the Bodhran.
The Plough & Stars varies a lot depending on who is there. It can be either big or small, but usually the musicians are pretty friendly. I haven’t been to Wilde Oscar’s, but I know a couple of the musicians who play there, and I’ve heard it’s very good.
I’d check them all out and see which one you like. Have fun!
