Mostly Celtic Music
Raymond, Helen, Tony and Celia
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Mostly Celtic Band

The Mostly Celtic Band, performs at festivals, clubs, parties, hospices, benefits, and the like.

While our emphasis is on Celtic tunes of the Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian traditions, we also play and sing other traditional music, such as Folk, Old-time, Americana, Country and Western.

Above, Raymond, Helen Tony and Celia perform a program of Celtic tunes and songs, at the Ye Olde Royal Oak Pub Thursday, September 11th, 2008.

Mostly Celtic Open Sessions

Mostly Celtic organizes a live, open sessions. We encourage anyone, fans, musicians, and singers alike, to come and participate. These sessions are open to interested learners; bring your instrument and sit in! The only requirement is a genuine interest in traditional music in the broadest sense.

Caffe Trieste Logo

Sessions at Caffe Trieste San Jose

North Beach’s Original Espresso House, Caffe Trieste, has now come to Downtown San Jose! Caffe Trieste San Jose is located strategically at 315 South 1st St., between original Joe's and the California Theater, in the heart of San Jose`s South First Street district, home to the San Jose Opera, Symphony and numerous Art Galleries. Park in the ramp one block east on Santa Clara at 2nd Street.

Music starts the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM and ends at closing. Musicians, singers, and fans of all ages are welcome. To be notified, use the Contact button at the left and subscribe to our email newsletter.

Caffe Trieste serves Coffee, Italian Pastries, Panini, Beer and Wine, along with a selection of local, national and international bottled beer and soft drinks.

Please have a latte or beer, and thank our host, Roger Springall.

Open Session at the La Di Da Cafe every Sunday

The La Di Da Cafe, located at 500 Purissima Street at Kelly in Half Moon Bay, hosts a Mostly Celtic session Sundays from 11:30 through 3:00 PM. Musicians, singers and fans of all ages are welcome.

The La Di Da Cafe is a coffee shop with about a dozen tables, and offers barista style coffee, sandwiches and other light fare. Email Raymond Tsang, mtn_kahuna(at)yahoo.com, for details, or call the La Di Da at (650) 712-8808.

South and East Bay Open Sessions

The Starry Session

Over the past ten years, Shay Black's Irish session at The Starry Plough pub in Berkeley every Sunday has become a staple in the East Bay. Folks from as far as Sacramento tote in their fiddles, whistles, bodhrans and even washtub basses, and throughout the night as Shay calls on people to sing songs between music sets. The session morphs easily into Monday night's Irish ceili, or dance class, which boasts many of the Sunday session musicians.

The Starry Plough is located at 3101 Shattuck, next to La Pena, and between Alcatraz and Ashby, 3 blocks south of Ashby and 2 blocks east of the Ashby BART station. All ages and all musicians are welcome; The Starry Session runs 8:15 PM through 11 or even later.

O'Flaherty's Irish Pub

Also on Sundays, there is a fast Irish music seisiun at O'Flaherty's Irish Pub, 25 San Pedro Square in Downtown San Jose from 5 to 8 PM Parking is free in the ramp across the street. Send an email to Art Friedman at friedman_art(at)yahoo.com to get the full details. 21 and over only.

Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association Jam

We also recommend the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association monthly jam, on the first Sunday of the month from 1 PM to 5 PM at Hoover Middle School. Along with Celtic music, many other musical styles are played there, and they are all great folks in a family friendly environment. They also offer a slow-play session starting around 2 PM open to all beginners. Check their website for details.

North Bay Open Sessions

Murphy's Pub

For the last 10 years, Murphy's Pub, located at 464 First Street on the plaza in Sonoma, has hosted a Irish & Scottish session on the first Sunday of every month from 6 - 9 PM. Contact Fran Sweeney, fransweeney@sbcglobal.net for details.

The Mayflower Pub

Every Tuesday The Mayflower Pub, located at 1533 Fourth Street, San Rafael, hosts an open session that has grown to a really grand and expert Irish session. Call (415) 497-8656 or email MarinIrishCeili@lucasvalley.net for an advisory.

Main Street Station

Located at 16280 Main Street, in Guerneville, Main Street Station hosts an open session for both musicians and singers on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Musicians get one free drink and share free pizza and tips. Call (707) 869-0501 or email pizza(at)mainststation.com for details.

Black Rose Irish Pub

There some great sessions every Wednesday from 8:00 to 10:00 PM at The Black Rose Irish Pub located at 2074 Armory Drive, in Santa Rosa. For information on the International and Slow Celtic sessions, contact Mitch Gordon at mitchgord(at)aol.com.
For information on the Traditional Celtic and Old Time sessions, contact Don Coffin at drcoffin(at)aol.com. Or call the pub at (707) 546-7673 for details.

Delta of Venus Cafe & Pub

There is a fast session every Wednesday at Delta of Venus Cafe & Pub, 122 B Street (between 1st and 2nd Streets), in Davis from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. Email Mary Logan marymlogan(at)yahoo.com for details.

Slow Sessions

Several groups meet regularly to play Celtic tunes at about half their normal speed in order to allow new players to ease into playing Irish tunes gradually.

West Marin School

Every Monday, in Point Reyes Station at West Marin School, at north edge of town, off Hwy 1 starting at 7:00 pm. Experienced local players invite all to learn traditional Irish tunes in a ceoiltais-type gathering, plus their good quality Irish session. Call (707) 523-4373 for info.

Fandango Pizza

The San Francisco Pipers Club has a Slow Session hosted by Fandango Pizza in Palo Alto from 8 - 9:30 PM every Tuesday. Email Bob Wilson at bob.wilson(at)acm.org for details.

St Isabella's Church

Every Wednesday (except July 1 - Sept 13), Marin Ceoiltais (simple traditional Irish tune-learning format) hosts a slow session at St. Isabella's Parish Hall, 1 Trinity Way, San Rafael (Terra Linda off Freitas Parkway) starting at 7:00pm. Call (415) 497-8656 or email MarinIrishCeili(at)lucasvalley.net for for playlist and directions.

East Bay Slow Sessions

Slow Sessions are held in the East Bay the first Sunday of the month from 3 - 8 PM in a private home in San Leandro. Email Joyce Newport janjgn(at)yahoo.com for details.

Tony's Solo Show

Tony performs a solo show at various local venues. Click this button to go to Tony's music website.

Free Stuff

Weekly Email Newsletter

Click on this link to subscribe to our Email Newsletter , sent every Friday, and get up-to-date information on our sessions, band performances and other events.

Downloads

Click on the links below to download free music.

Musicbooks

The Mostly Celtic Tunebook. Here are music scores and chords for 150 Celtic, Old Time, and other Traditional tunes in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Thank Dave Barton for creating it via email at fiddlerdave(at)BartonReading.com.

The Mostly Celtic Songbook. Here are lyrics and chords in Nashville notation for 150 songs in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Thank Jim Raymond for creating it via email at jraymond(at)raysoft.com.

The Kings Head Tunebook. Music scores and chords for 101 Traditional Celtic tunes in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Thank Paul Magnussen for making it available via email at majjick(at)aol.com.

If your printer can do it, these books are designed to be printed double-sided, if not, you will just get twice as many pages. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the document. If you don't already have it, you can download it free from the Acrobat Reader link on the Adobe Website.

Free Mostly Celtic MP3 Music files

Arran Boat Song / Star of the County Down Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Ashokan Farewell Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Fanny Power Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Fields of Athenry Bob, Dave, Steve, Tony

Flowers of Edinburgh Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Josephine Dave, Tony

Saint Annes Reel Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Sheebeg An Sheemor Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

Staten Island Hornpipe Bob, Dave, Tony, Steve

The Celtic Knotwork on this page was created with the Celtic Knot Font, copyright Daniel L. Isdell 2001 - 2006.
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