Traditional Celtic Music in San Francisco Website

What's New

I'm all too aware of the many gaps, missing info, and errors on this site! I spend usually 8 hours a week or more updating, correcting, and fixing bugs, but there is still a substantial backlog of work to do. The site is big enough that you may not notice where any progress is occurring! The pages most frequently updated are the events calendar and the new CDs pages. Also check out the What I'm Listening To page which also changes freequently

January 8
- I have finally created a page listing sessions in the area. Check it out.
November 27
- I have moved the page on music from Brittany, France and added a section on that page on music from Cornwall. Check it out.
- I have added a page of additional reviews of Scottish music CDs that didn't make it into my favorites, but may be of interest nonetheless.
October 26
- In addition to the incremental changes to the new CDs page and the calendar, I have:
- added a new page of Celtic Christmas Music since that season is coming up,
- completely updated the page on suggestions for gift CDs,
- been doing quite a bit of work on the Cape Breton music section, and I am in the process of re-designing and splitting up the section on Cape Breton fiddlers into three pages.
- been working on a new page describing the annual festivals in Northern California.
July 3
- There have been lots of new reviews of CDs and new events posted over the last several months.
April 21
- Since December, there have been many dozen changes to the new CDs page and the calendar. I have also updated and corrected minor stuff on many pages.
- I have broken up the UK music web page into separate pages for the quite different music of England, Wales, and Brittany, Galicia and Asturias
December 4
- Well, I have being doing updates, really! But I have also suffered through a conversion to the new version of my web software (HoTMetaL 6 now), and moved all the files to a new PC, so I have been busy.
- Most changes have been to the new CDs page and the events page where there are alot of new reviews, particularly of local bands and new gigs to look forward to in the new millenium.
October 24
- I'm back from the incredible Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton. I am in the midst of re-doing and expanding the Cape Breton Music page and adding a new introduction to Cape Breton music page for those not familiar with it.
- I have also added a bunch of reviews to the new CDs page.
September 19
- I added reviews of several new albums - Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin with Patrick Ourceau's -- TRACIN - Traditional Music from the West of Ireland, Natalie Macmaster's In My Hands, and Theresa Morrison's Laments and Merry Melodies from Cape Breton
September 18
- I added a link to the new Shetland Arts Trust.
- I added links to the record labels for most of the new CD albums that have just been released but I have not yet reviewed on the new CDs page.
- I added another web radio show Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm The Harp and the Bard on WMPG from the University of Maine. An Irish show featuring trad. & contemporary Irish music & news of Irish events in the Portland, Maine area, with Paul O'Neil.
August 7
- I added to the new CDs page reviews of three very good new albums: Kate Rusby's Sleepless, the McNamara Family's Leitrim's Hidden Treasure, and Howie MacDonald's Why 2 Keilidh.
July 31
- Updated the events schedule adding Donal Lunny and Coolfin among other acts.
July 15
- Cape Breton fiddle sensation, Natalie MacMaster, now with a Juno Award to her credit announces two shows in the area to promote her new album: October 7 in Carmel and October 31 in Berkeley. DO NOT MISS THESE!
July 10
- Note new time for Thistle & Shamrock on KALW in S.F. -- 2:00 pm on Saturday. For other celtic radio shows, check radio show page.
July 6
- I added some of my photos of pilot whales and a bald eagle to the Cape Breton page
July 4
- I added reviews on the New CDs page of:
  - Niamh Parson's album Blackbirds & Thrushes
  - Patrick Street's Live from Patrick Street
  - Kevin Burke's In Concert
- I fixed some broken links re: KALW radio station in S.F.
June 26
- Added date for Cape Breton fiddle wonder Natalie MacMaster in Carmel on October 7.
- I added reviews of :
  - BLASTA! - a wonderful 1997 compilation of Irish singing and playing.
  - The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Live at Carnegie Hall on the Scottish CDs page
  - The Orkney Sessions from the Ayres Hotel to the Shetland/Orkney page and updated the Fiddlers' Bid and Filska notes.
- I corrected the phone number for Charlie's Down Home Music in Cape Breton (I had to order some more.)
June 19
- I added a review of Gerry O'Connor's Myriad on the New CDs page.
June 14
- I added reviews of Filska's new album Time and Tide (Shetlands) and Hardie and Marwick's The Blue Lamp (Scottish) on the New CDs page.
June 13
- I added links to two new attractive venues -- Johnny Foley's pub in San Francisco and the Adelphian Center for the Arts in Alameda
- Very belatedly, I've added brief inadequate reviews of some the incredible concerts I've been at during an amazingly busy musical spring, including:
  - Jerry Holland - June 12 in Alameda at The Adelphian Center.
  - Tabache- May 9 in Berkeley at Sally Greenberg's House
  - Lúnasa- May 8 in S.F. at the Plough & Stars
  - Natalie MacMaster April 23 and 24 - in Saratoga and Sebastopol
  - Hazel and Jennifer Wrigley April 14 -in Berkeley at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
  - Great Big Sea - April 13 in San Francisco at Slims.
June 5
- I been working on adding graphics on Irish accordionists.
May 26
- I added new information about dance classes and Cape Breton step-dancing.
May 22
- Updated the What I'm Listening To page.
- I added information and links to several San Francisco Irish bands: Jody's Heaven, Crónán, and Tipsy House.
- I added reviews on the new CDs pageof the new Boys of the Lough CD, The West of Ireland, and John Whelan's Come to the Dance .
May 16
- New gigs listed Tony McManus, Brian McNeill, and Steve Tilston on the events page.
- I've started a new page on Irish accordionists.
May 15
- Reviews of Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus' Return to Kintail CD and Tabache's Waves of Rush -- two superb new albums from Scotland on the new CDs page.
- Events page update listing future gigs for Mary Black and Altan
- This page!

Please send me your comments or suggestions: jim@sfcelticmusic.com