Boston Area Song sessions

Here I’ll be keeping a list of active sessions that are either song-centered, like a cappella pub sings, or song-friendly Celtic sessions where guests are often featured. Feel free to reach out to me with questions about them.

Cambridge: Sea Hag, Sundays 12-3pm

Salem: O'Neill's, Fridays 6-9 and Sundays 4-7

Salem: East Regiment Beer Company, alternating Wednesdays and monthly Sundays

Providence: Flatbread Pizza, every second Monday

Newburyport: Port Tavern, every other Wednesday at 7:30

Gloucester: Jalapeno's, every other Monday

Singing Festivals

Portsouth Maritime Folk Festival, September 28-29, 2024

Further Trad Song Learning

Plymouth: Pinewoods Camp, TradMaD and other camps every summer

Colebrook, CT: Youth Trad Song Weekend, March 28-30, 2025 (all ages welcome!)

Online: Niamh Parsons’ Masterclass in Traditional Song

Listening

Fire Draw Near, hosted by Ian Lynch (podcast)

Thistle & Shamrock, hosted by Fiona Ritchie (radio show)

Celtic Sojourn, hosted by Brian O’Donovan (radio show - legacy episodes and playlists)

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Learning Materials and Tools for Guitarists

Learning Materials:

Leo Brouwer Etudes Simples for Guitar (Free PDF)

John Renbourn Fingerstyle Guitar (Mel Bay)

Celtic Backup For All Instrumentalists (Mel Bay)

Tools:

Mont Bleu Czech Tempered Glass Nail Files

These are essential for shaping those picking nails! I’m trying to avoid promoting Amazon links, but it may be the only way to get these if you’re in the US.