Traditional American and Celtic Jam Sessions in the S.F. Bay Area

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Some American & Celtic Public Jam Sessions
in the San Francisco Bay Area

One should always call to make sure the session is on, especially if it is one that you have not attended in a while or you are coming from a long distance. More lists of local sessions are posted at:
Slowplayers / Pete Showman's jam page / Mostly Celtic Website / SFFFF

This list is periodically updated.
If it contains any errors please inform us.

Day, Time (PM)	Session	Venue, City, Directions	Notes, Organizer
Every Monday 7-9:30pm	Almost Entirely Old Time	Fandango Pizza 3163 Middlefield Rd., (near Loma Verde) Palo Alto (650) 494-2929	All ages welcome. Plenty of parking out front. 1st & 3rd: Old Time 2nd & 4th: Bluegrass If 5th: Anything Goes.
Every Tuesday 6:30-10pm	Traditional Irish/Celtic Session (fast)	O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub 25 N. San Pedro St., San Jose (408) 947-8007	Over 21 only. Downtown San Jose. Contact Julia Horner (408) 422-1463 The parking garage across the street is now issuing a ticket upon entry and requiring $2 flat fee to exit. O'Flaherty's will furnish a validation ticket that lets you get out for free, but you have to remember to ask for it.
Every Tuesday 7:30-9:30pm	Traditional Irish/Celtic Slow Session	St. Stephen's Green 223 Castro St. Mountain View 650 964 9151	All ages welcome. Organized by San Francisco Pipers’ Club Email Bob Wilson at bob.wilson@acm.org for details
Every Tuesday 7:30-9:45pm	"Grand & Expert" Irish Session	The Mayflower Pub 1533 Fourth St., San Rafael (415) 497-8656	Call (415) 342-4052 or email info@marinirishmusic.com www.marinirishmusic.com
Every Tuesday 8-11pm	Mostly Celtic Session Musicians, singers, and dancers welcome.	C.B. Hannegan’s 208 Bachman Ave., Los Gatos (408) 395-1233	All ages welcome. Play on the large, covered and heated patio with fireplace. Host is proprietor John Hannegan. Organized by Tony Becker of Mostly Celtic Sessions (408) 223-6102
Every Wednesday 7-10pm	Open Session	Delta of Venus Cafe & Pub 122 B Street (between 1st and 2nd Streets), Davis	Email Bob Wren wren@dcn.org for details.
Every Wednesday 6:30-11pm	"Official Irish Music Session"	The Attic 931 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz	Contact Julia Horner if you are interested in playing. (408) 422-1463
Every Wednesday 7-10pm	Celtic Session	Coastline Restaurant & Brewery, 120 Union St., Santa Cruz	Contact Andrea at (831) 427-0624 or email andrea@baymoon.com
Every Wednesday 7pm	Simple Traditional Irish Tune-learning Ease into Irish tunes and style by ear without embarrassment.	St. Isabella's Parish Hall 1 Trinity Way, San Rafael (Terra Linda off Freitas Parkway) Note: this session moves to private homes in the summer.	Hosted by Marin Ceoiltais. (415) 342-4052 or email info@marinirishmusic.com for playlist and directions. Visit the web site www.marinirishmusic.com for more information (including directions).
Infrequent Wednesdays 8pm	Celtic Night open session/jam	The King’s Head Pub 201 Orchard City Dr., Campbell	Over 21 only. Check their calendar for session dates (if any) (408) 871-2499
1st Wednesday 7-9:30pm	French and European Session for acoustic instrumental music (no Celtic or American, please) French, Greek, Italian, Scandinavian, Balkan, etc.	The Black Rose Irish Pub 2074 Armory Dr., Santa Rosa	Over 21 only. Contact Mitch Gordon at mitchgord@aol.com.
1st and 3rd Wednesday 6:30-9pm	Open Session musicians & singers	Main Street Station 16280 Main St., Guerneville	All ages welcome. Musicians get one free drink and share free pizza and tips. Call (707) 869-0501 or email pizza@mainststation.com for details.
2nd Wednesday 7-9:30pm	Celtic Slow Session and Song Cycle.	The Black Rose Irish Pub 2074 Armory Dr., Santa Rosa	Over 21 only. Contact Mitch Gordon at mitchgord@aol.com.
3rd Wednesday 7-9:30pm	Traditional Celtic Session suitable for more advanced players.	The Black Rose Irish Pub 2074 Armory Dr., in Santa Rosa.	Over 21 only. Don Coffin at drcoffin@aol.com
4th Wednesday 7-9:30pm	Old Time and Bluegrass Session	The Black Rose Irish Pub 2074 Armory Dr., in Santa Rosa.	Over 21 only. Don Coffin at drcoffin@aol.com
2nd Saturday	Berkeley Area Slow Session	A private home in Pleasanton, CA.	Email Joyce Newport janjgn@yahoo.com for details.
2nd Saturday 11-12 am	Genuinely Slow Session	Unity Temple 407 Broadway Santa Cruz.	All levels are welcome, but we will really, really be playing slow so this is primarily for beginers. Love Offerings welcomed (everything collected goes to Unity Temple) and/or help clean the church after the session. Contact Ariel helloariel@hotmail.com for details.
4th Saturday	Sharon & Jaya's Irish Session	A private home in Dublin, CA.	Email Angelo Meola, meolahome@comcast.net for details.
Every Sunday 11:30am-3pm	Open Session Musicians, singers and fans are welcome.	La Di Da Cafe 500 Purissima St., at Kelly in Half Moon Bay.	All ages welcome. Email Raymond Tsang, mtn_kahuna@yahoo.com for details.
Every Sunday 8:15-11pm	Open Session musicians, singers, and dancers welcome.	The Starry Plough 3101 Shattuck, Berkeley, CA. Next to La Pena, and btw. Alcatraz and Ashby, 3 blocks south of Ashby and 2 blocks east of the Ashby BART station.	All ages welcome. (510) 841-2082 Shay Black hosts The Starry Session
Every Sunday 5-8pm	Traditional Irish/Celtic Session (fast)	O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub 25 N. San Pedro St., San Jose (408) 947-8007	Over 21 only. Downtown San Jose Parking is free in the ramp across the street. Organized by fellow band member Art Friedman
Every Sunday 5-9pm	Open Session Musicians, singers, and dancers welcome.	The Claddagh Irish Restaurant and Pub 1300 1st St., Gilroy	All ages welcome. Hosts are proprietors Michael and Lesley Benson. Atmosphere is very good, family friendly. Full menu and well stocked bar.
Every Sunday	Berkeley Area Slow Session (BASS)	Alameda, CA.	Musicians interested in joining should email Vic Entrikin, greyscott@comcast.net.
1st Sunday 2-8pm	Slow Session	A private home in San Leandro, CA.	Hosted by East Bay Slow Players Email Joyce Newport janjgn@yahoo.com for details.
1st Sunday 1-5pm (Slow Session at 2pm)	Open Session Along with Celtic music, many other musical styles are played there.	Hoover Middle School in Santa Clara	Hosted by Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association. Check their website for details.
1st Sunday 6-9pm	Irish & Scottish Session	Murphy's Pub 464 First St. on the plaza in Sonoma	Contact Fran Sweeney, fransweeney@sbcglobal.net for details.
2nd Sunday 7-9pm	The Santa Cruz Celtic Moderate / Intermediate Session	The Britania Arms 702 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz	Emial Tane' Tachyon for more information. Subscribe to the mailing list, for monthly session reminders. The Santa Cruz slow and moderate/intermediate sessions are sponsored by the Clifford-Hoban Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
3rd Sunday 2-4pm	The Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Session Along with Celtic music, many other musical styles are played there.	Recently changed location to "The Buttery" Bakery & Cafe 702 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz	Emial Tane' Tachyon for more information. Subscribe to the mailing list, for monthly session reminders.

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