Emerald Forest Filk Society: Quarong's Celtic Directory -- Part 2

From: Mistress of the Blue Shift <quarong at eskimo.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 20:25:30 -0700 (PDT)

QUARONG'S CELTIC DIRECTORY **

I wrote the following document to try to answer in one place a lot of the requests for information I get regarding Celtic music: "What was that band you mentioned?" "Where can I find their album?" "How can I learn to dance like that?" "Are there any kind of song gatherings held between events?" Etc. This is by no means an all-encompassing list, but it definitely should be enough to get you started; especially since once you find one store or pub in your neighborhood, you can generally find out how to make contact with the rest of them.

This list is strongly biased towards the Greater Seattle area, since that's where I live and thus what I know the most about. However, there are periodic entries for other locations, (see *); and most of the artists tour throughout the country at least once a year. Obviously the mail order houses can send stuff to you regardless of where you live as well. (Although Proxima Three may still be a bit outside their range. :)

If you have comments, additions, or corrections to this list, please let me know! I'll update and repost it every couple of months, or you can always request another copy from me since I do keep it on file.

			Keep those toes tapping,
					Quarong
					<quarong at eskimo.com>

*********************************************************

TABLE OF CONTENTS: File #1:

(1) Song Circles
(2) Establishments with Regular Concerts,  Seisiuns, & Open Mikes
(3) Newsletters, Radio Stations, & Websites
(4) Stores  
(5) Mail Order Distribution Houses

File #2:

(6) Dance Classes
(7) Language & Instrument Lessons
(8) My Favorite Performers & How to Find Them

*********************************************************

PART 1 = SONG CIRCLES

DIGITAL TRADITION = <http://pubweb.parc.xerox.com/docs/DigiTrad/ AboutDigiTrad.html> Searchable database containing the words and music for thousands of folksongs. Just the thing for that song circle.
NORTHERN TIER FILKING (SF/F Cons) = "Filk" is a genre of folk music based upon science fiction and fantasy books, movies, gaming characters, or whatever. In some cases, filkers will write new SF related lyrics to existing tunes; but they also produce a tremendous amount of original music as well, and incorporate more traditional folksongs into their gatherings. This genre of music is primarily found at science fiction conventions, and occasional private song circles. The medieval re-creation group, the SCA, has it's own variant, including both traditional period tunes, and modern pieces in that style or memorializing recent SCA events. (There's a bit more emphasis on skilled performance in the SCA, but as long as there are no blatantly non-period references, you can get away with pretty much anything.) Tapes, CD's and songbooks of this music are available from merchants at these events, and from various mail order houses. (See the "Distributors" section.)
-- There is a low-volume email list based in Seattle, but there is
participation from Vancouver BC down through California and out to Texas. The list includes discussions, song lyrics, upcoming concerts, and news on any song circles that are being organized. Email <jtraub at dragoncat.net> to find out more. Circles in the Seattle area are just getting going again, but there is a consistent monthly one in Eugene, OR. (Info via douglas at camax.com.)
-- There is a Usenet group for filk at <alt.music.filk>. If you want to
find out more about the conventions we may be meeting at, check out <http://www.webwitch.com/top/sf/> for names and dates, and links for more information.

PORTLAND FOLKLORE SOCIETY = Michael Bissell's Portland Folk pages <http://www.teleport.com/~lamppost/folknews.html> gives Jack Bohl as the e-mail contact for PFS; the address is <jbohl at smtpgate.ssmc.noaa.gov>. No locations for the first Saturday circles, though.

SEATTLE FOLKLORE SOCIETY = Their song circles meet every Sunday from about 7:30pm onward. Locations vary, but call (206) 747- 7655, (206) 783-6824, or (360) 659-0532 for current information. (See further notes under the "Newsletter" section below.)

SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM (SCA) = 3rd Friday evening of the month. Locations vary between north and south Seattle.
-- Call David & Corrine Kohrn for more information (206) 241-6298.
- More information about the SCA in general, (including events which have Bardic activities) can be found at <http://www.antir.sca.org/> for the Kingdom of An Tir (i.e. WA, OR, and the west half of Canada); or at <http://www.sca.org/> for the society as a whole, with links to your area. (The main Usenet Group is rec.org.sca).

PART 2 = ESTABLISHMENTS WITH REGULAR CONCERTS, SEISIUNS, & OPEN MIKES First some definitions:
-- Concert = A performance by at least reasonably skilled musicians for
an audience that may be seated or dancing.
-- Seisiun = A fancy spelling of "session", this is a gathering of
musicians, often of various skill levels, to play with one another and trade songs. Most of the folks present will be playing, but some come only to listen; and you may occasionally see a dancer working out steps in the corner.
-- Open Mikes = Events organized by an establishment where musicians
and singers, some of whom are still getting their footing playing in public, can sign up to perform one or two songs each before an audience interested in new material.

Second, nearly all of the establishments below will have their events printed in the weekly Entertainment section of your Seattle newspaper, or their monthly listings printed in the newsletters mentioned in the next section of this document; some of them also leave the information on their voicemail messages.

ANTIQUE SANDWICH COMPANY
-- 5102 Pearl Street, Tacoma. (253) 752-4069
- Open mikes on Tuesday 7-10pm sponsored by the Victory Review. Plus other events.

BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC
-- 17501 Southcenter Parkway; Tukwila. (206) 575-4506.

Concerts in their coffeehouse area. They also carry a lot folk and Celtic music, (both here and at their other stores).

CONOR BYRNE'S
-- 5140 Ballard Avenue NW; Seattle. (206) 784-3640.

Seisiuns on Sundays, plus concerts in a cozy atmosphere. NW Irish Dancers periodically do shows here, and set dancing is taught on Tuesday nights at 8:30 with live music by the Simpletones.

CROSSROADS MALL
-- NE 8th & 156th NE; Bellevue. (425) 644-1111.

They have regular folk concerts in their food court area, plus open mike opportunities.

DUBLINER PUB = 3405 Fremont Ave N; Seattle. (206) 548-1508. Open mike on Tuesday, and Seisuns on Wednesday.

FIDDLER'S INN
-- 9219 35th Avenue NE, Seattle (Wedgewood). (206) 525-0752.

Concerts and informal seisiuns. This is a reported hangout of some of the sea shanty crowd.

HARVEY (206) 329-2559 = Organizes a jam session the first Sunday of the month from 4-6pm. Predominantly fiddlers, but other instruments and dancers are welcome.

HOPSCOTCH
-- 332 15th Avenue East, Seattle. (206) 322-4191.

This is a Capitol Hill restaurant with live music on weekends; and Scottish smallpipes every Tuesday night played by Tyrone Heade.

KELL'S PUB = 1916 Post Alley, Seattle. (Towards Pike Place Market) (206) 728-1916. Live music on weekends.

LATONA = 6423 Latona Avenue NE, Seattle. (206) 525-2238. No smoking. Fiddle night on Sundays.

MADISON'S CAFE & MUSIC HOUSE = (206) 935-2412
-- 3803 Delridge Avenue SW, Seattle. (West Seattle) No smoking, all
ages venue.
-- They hold a weekly folk concert, about 2:30 every Sunday.

OLD PEQULIAR
-- 1722 NE Market Street, Seattle. (Ballard) (206) 782-8886.

Regular weekend music, and seisiuns on Sunday. Irish sing-along on Thursday nights.

OLD TOWN ALEHOUSE
-- 5233 Ballard Avenue NW; Seattle. (206) 782-8323. (A couple of
doors N of the Tractor Tavern.)
-- No smoking pub with regular concerts.

OWL 'N THISTLE
-- 808 Post Avenue, Seattle. (Near the Ferry Terminal)
(206) 621-7777.
-- Dale Russ conducts a seisiun every Sunday 2-5pm for Celtic
musicians.

PHINNEY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
-- 6532 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle. (206) 783-2244.

They hold lots of dance classes here.

ROADRUNNER COFFEE HOUSE
-- 2123 N 40th Street; Seattle. (Wallingford) (206) 547-3559.

No smoking, all ages venue. Prime spot for a lot of the Seattle Folklore Society's concerts.

TRACTOR TAVERN
-- 5213 Ballard Ave NW; Seattle. (206) 789-3599

This is the main center of Celtic concerts in Seattle now that the Backstage is closed. They have a variety of performers almost every day of the week, including Celtic, folk, blues, jazz, and a Monday night Contra dance. You can pick up a monthly schedule outside their door, or check the newsletters mentioned above.

TS MCHUGH'S
-- 21 Mercer Street, Seattle. (Lower Queen Anne Hill.)
(206) 282-1910.
-- They have a slow jam session for beginning to intermediate Celtic
musicians who want to play with others. There is an emphasis on dance music, but everyone has a chance to request tunes to work on. Every Tuesday at 8pm. Call Rich Rose at (206) 885-3120 for more information.

WAWONA, NW SEAPORT
-- 1002 Valley Street; Seattle. (206) 447-9800.

This is 19th century fishing and lumber ship that is being rebuilt at the south end of Lake Union. (Right next to the Center for Wooden Boats, another great place to visit.) They hold a number of Celtic and Maritime concerts on-board, in part to raise money for her restoration.
- OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE:
Anacortes, WA = The Depot. Seisiuns the first Friday of the month.
Olympia, WA = Clancy's Columbia Street Pub. Seisun on Wednesday. Java Flow has open mike on Tuesday. Evergreen State College has an Irish American Student Organization that coordinates discussions and dance classes, call (360) 866-6000, ext. 6749 for more information.
Suquamish, WA = Bruce's Cantina. Seisiuns every Friday.
Tacoma, WA = Grounds for Coffee. Seisiuns on the third Sunday.
Vancouver, WA = RP McMurphy's has fairly regular concerts.
Vancouver, BC = Scottish Cultural Center. 8886 Hudson Street (and 73rd Ave). (604) 263-9911.
- PORTLAND, OR
The Dublin Pub south of the city has lots of concerts.
Wednesdays at Galways Pub is a beginners' session for Irish musicians, starting at 9:00 PM.
Wednesdays at Produce Row Cafe is a session starting at 9:00 PM.
Sundays at Biddy McGraw's is a session starting at 6:30ish.
There is also a new session at the Living Dance Center on Sundays starting at 7 PM.
County Cork has a jam session on Sundays. (503) 239-4799
East Avenue Tavern hosts a number of open mike and jam sessions. (503) 236-6900 * Check out <http://www.teleport.com/~sm/dance.html> for more even more listings.

PART 3 = NEWSLETTERS, RADIO STATIONS, & WEBSITES

[Note: There are more website listings under other headings, particularly for the distribution houses and performers. Only the ones that didn't fit anywhere else are listed here.]

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers)
-- One Lincoln Plaza; New York, NY 10023.

The source for all you never wanted to know about legalities.

BLUEGRASS WEBSITE = <http://www.sff.net/people/TBisson/bluegrass.html>

BODHRAN WEBSITE = <http://anansi.panix.com/~mittle/bodhran> This is the Celtic frame drum played with a double-ended beater. It's pronounced "bow-rahn", as in a dog barking "bow-wow".

CELTIC ON-LINE CONNECTION = <http://www.nwebdesign.com/celtic.html> or <mfinan at nwebdesign.com.>

CELTIC MUSIC PAGE = <http://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/~darsie/celtic.html>. Includes gif files of music scores.

CELTIC SPIRITUALITY MEETINGS
-- There are a couple of groups who gather regularly to study, talk, and
worship in the Celtic Christian spiritual tradition. Newcomers are always welcome.
-- Seattle = Second Saturday of the month, 10am at St. Paul Episcopal
Church (15 Roy Street, lower Queen Anne). Also, a potluck and discussion group on the 3rd Wed at 7:30 at 200 Broadway (and Boren). For information call Tom Cashman (253) 941-5268 or Sean O'Reilly (206) 748-0761.
* Tacoma = Dominican Center (925 Fawcett Avenue South). Call Beth & Art Maslow (253) 582-4463 for times.

CEOLAS CELTIC ARCHIVE = <http://celtic.stanford.edu/ceolas.html> Good starting site for all kinds of information.

COMMUNITY ARTS HERITAGE GUIDE
-- Tacoma Arts Commission, 747 Market #836; Tacoma WA 98402.

Free 32 page guide on ethnic, heritage, and cultural events; plus museums, galleries, and theaters who show similar activities. Contact information and brief descriptions. They're still building their list of entries, but it's off to a good start.

DIRTY LINEN MAGAZINE
-- PO Box 66600; Baltimore, MD 21239. or
<http://www.dirtynelson.com/linen/>.
-- This is a nationwide magazine well known in folk music circles with
lots of album and performer reviews.

EILEEN'S CELTIC CALENDAR
-- PO Box 70362; Seattle, WA 98107. $15 per year.

Call Eileen at Galway Traders for more info. (206) 784-7343.
This is an 8 page monthly newsletter with concert and pub listings; and updates on seisiuns, language instruction, and dance classes. It also usually includes a short story, and some notes of current or historical interest. If you're interested in something short, cheap, and focused on Celtic music; and don't mind it not showing up until about the 5th of the month; this is your best bet.

FISHNET MUSIC (reviews of Celtic & British music) = http://members.aol.com/CoNAPres/TheCoNA.html

FOLKLIFE (Seattle's big festival, and year around activities) = <http://www.nwfolklife.org/folklife>. 305 Harrison Street; Seattle, WA 98109-4695. (206) 684-7300. <Folklife at nwfolklife.org>

JOKES on instruments & musicians =
http://www.mit.edu/people/jcb/jokes/

KBCS BELLEVUE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RADIO = KCBS 91.3 FM (Bellevue / Seattle)
-- 3000 Landerholm Circle SE; Bellevue, WA 98007-6484

<http://exp.ctc.edu/kbcs/> Studio (206) 641-2424. Office (206) 641-2427.
Run by volunteers and supported by the listeners, they focus on jazz, folk, blues, and ethnic music. They have a newsletter available listing their programming schedule. "Sunday's Hornpipe" Celtic music Sundays 4-8pm.

KUOW (Seattle's NPR station) = 94.7 FM
-- "Thistle and Shamrock" the national Celtic radio hour airs Sat 2-3pm.
Assorted other ethnic music is played on the weekends; and they also have the world class news and national discussions one expects of NPR.

MORE RADIO STATIONS
* KAOS = 89.3 FM Olympia. "Wheels of the World" Celtic music

Wed 3-5pm.
* KMUN = 91.9 FM Astoria, OR. Celtic Aire 3-6pm on Saturdays.
-- KSER = 90.7 FM Everett. Call (425) 742-4541 for a program

guide. "Celtic Harvest" Tue 8-10pm.
* KUGS = 89.3 FM Bellingham. Celtic music Sundays 10am - 4pm.
-- KVTI = 90.9 FM Tacoma. Victory Review's open mike live from

the Antique Sandwich, Tues. 7-10pm.

ROOTS WORLD = <http://www.rootsworld.com/rw/>. On-line magazine of world music.

SEATTLE FOLKLORE SOCIETY
-- They bring in artists from around the world of interest to the Celtic
and folk community. (Common concert venues are the Museum of History & Industry, the Roadrunner Cafe, and the Tractor Tavern.) They are also heavily involved with listener supported radio in the area, and regular song circles.
-- Members receive a discount on events, and the monthly 16 page
newsletter with extensive concert listings for the next month; articles on performers, festivals, and dance; lists of classes and establishments with activities; and want ads. Dues are $15 a year for individuals, $20 for households, and $10 for seniors and students.
-- PO Box 30141; Seattle, WA 98103. "Flyer" deadline by 15th of the
month. Main Line (206) 528-8546. You can also find out more at <http://www.seafolklore.org> or <inbox@seafolklore.org>.
-- Concert Line (206) 528-8523 or make a request to
<concerts at seafolklore.org>.
-- Song Circles = Meet every Sunday from about 7:30pm onward.
Locations vary, but call (206) 747-7655, (206) 783-6824, or (360) 659-0532 for current information.

USENET GROUPS
-- Start with <rec.music> then add <.folk>, <.celtic>, or <.early>.

Also <rec.folk-dancing>
For information on science fiction and SCA related music, look at <alt.music.filk>.
<rec.org.sca> can put you in touch with SCA Bardic activities, and generally then with people who know about other folk and Celtic activities in your neighborhood.

VICTORY REVIEW
-- PO Box 7515; Bonny Lake, WA 98390. By 15th of month.

Call Eileen at Galway Traders for more info. (206) 784-7343.
About a 30 page monthly magazine with performer and album reviews; listings for concerts, seisiuns, open mikes, and festivals; dance, class, and radio station information; and articles on improving one's skill and marketability as a folk performer. Heavily biased towards the Puget Sound area, they do include listings from Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC as they have them available.

PART 4 = STORES DUSTY STRINGS = (206) 634-1656
reply-- 3406 Fremont Avenue North; Seattle, WA 98103. [This is right on
the north side of the Fremont Bridge, across from the Dubliner Pub.]
reply-- This is *the* spot to find out about Folk Music in Seattle. They have
a large collection of tapes/CDs, some sheet music and videos, drums, whistles, harps, lutes, harpsichords, guitars, etc. They build many of the instruments they sell, can do repairs, teach classes, and maintain a list of musicians for hire. They also sell advance tickets for many shows. They are in the process of moving their instrument workshop to another building so both it and the retail area can expand.

GALWAY TRADERS = (206) 784-7343
-- 7518 15th Avenue NW; Seattle, WA (This is the Ballard/Crown
Hill neighborhood.)
-- Music, crafts, jewelry, books, clothing, and food from Ireland and
Scotland; and a bit from the SW portion of the US. They also have a handful of videos on Ireland and Scotland you can rent. Eileen knows most of what's going on in the way of concerts as well, and often has advance tickets available.

ODYSSEY BOOKS
-- 321 Main Street; Edmonds. (Downtown, just up from ferry terminal.) (425)

Esoteric book and jewelry shop that also carries a good selection of Celtic, instrumental, and Native American music. The shop also hosts a number of lectures.

PENDRAGONS
-- 310 Wells Avenue South; Renton. (425) 271-9909.

They carry a variety of esoteric and Celtic items, and host some small events.
- SCOTTISH COUNTRY SHOP
3568 SE Powell Blvd.; Portland, OR 97202. (503) 238-2528 or (800) 550-3568.
Books, music, clothing, food, jewelry, accouterments for regalia, and supplies and repair facilities for bagpipes.

PART 5 = MAIL ORDER DISTRIBUTION HOUSES

CULBURNIE RECORDS = (800) 830-6296
-- PO Box 219; Nevada City, CA 95959. <culburni at oro.net> or
<http://www.culburnie.com>
-- Distributor for Alasdair Fraser and Skyedance.

DANDELION DIGITAL = (408) 238-1318
-- 3078 Sulphur Spring Court; San Jose, CA 95148.
<lnz@dandelion.com> or <http://www.dandelion.com>
-- Producer and distributor for a number of SW filk musicians, including
the Duras Sisters, Larry Warner, and Kathy Mar. He was the first person to push for filk to move to CD, and found a way to make it affordable for small musicians.

DODEKA RECORDS, LTD.
-- a.k.a. Secret Empire. 848 Dodge Avenue, #220; Evanston, IL
60202.
-- The primary distributor of filk music in the Midwest, they trade
product with Firebird to reach the west coast market. The owner of the company, Bill Roper, is himself a filker.

FIREBIRD ARTS & MUSIC = (800) 255-5751
-- PO Box 30268; Portland, OR 97294-3268. <firebird at usa.net> or
<http://www.usa.net/firebird/>.
-- 60 page black and white catalog produced 2-3 times a year. Free
with order or $3 by mail.
-- Your best source for Mercedes Lackey paraphernalia: books, tapes,
Herald's uniforms, pins, artwork, etc. They also carry music by David Arkenstone, Tempest, Babylon 5, Stan Rogers, Loreena McKennitt, and a variety of filkers; plus other Native American and Celtic selections. In addition they have books by Charles DeLint and a variety of other SF/F writers; plus Darwin fish, Darwin and Celtic T-shirts, and Celtic jewelry.
-- They sell at science fiction conventions via Portland based "Friends of
Filk", an informal association of filkers who seek to promote the artform, and to raise money to bring musicians from other parts of the country to NW conventions (specifically Orycon in November at this point in time). Filker Cecilia Eng coordinates these efforts.

FLYING FISH = (800) 394-3474
-- 1304 West Schubert; Chicago, IL 60614.

Producers and distributors for a number of small, independent artists; they run the gamut from Celtic and Bluegrass to Contemporary Instrumental to Southern soul/blues to Caribbean music. Their 12 page black and white catalog only lists the performer, album, and order number; and only a few items are featured in pictures; but they're still a good resource.

GREEN LINNET RECORDS = (800) 468-6644
-- 43 Beaver Brook Road; Danbury, CT 06810. <grnlinnet at aol.com>
or <http://www.greenlinnet.com>
-- This is your best source for Celtic music! Full color catalog (around
70 pages, with index) with good descriptions and complete song listings. Many of the items they carry are from independent producers, and they work hard to promote and support the artists they showcase. They also carry some recordings from other parts of the world. CD's run about $15 and tapes $8.50, and they often have a "buy 3 get one free" deal running. S&H is reasonable, especially if you're ordering more than one item.

HOMESPUN TAPES
-- PO Box 325; Woodstock, NY 12498.

Free 64 page color catalog covering a wealth of instructional videos, tapes, and books; plus instruments for sale. Clear descriptions and prices included.

MULTICULTURAL MEDIA
-- RR3, Box 6655, Granger Road; Barre, VT 05641.

96 page catalog with video, audio, and CD ROM recordings, and books covering the music and dance of many cultures. They deal both wholesale and retail.

NAIRD NOTES
-- PO Box 988; Whitesburg, KY 41858.

36 page monthly magazine of new releases from independent record manufacturers and distributors: country, bluegrass, singer-songwriter, blues, classical, acoustic, etc.

QUICKSILVER FANTASIES
-- PO Box 1660; Post Falls, ID 83854. (203) 773-7731.
<quicksilver@nidlink.com> or <http://www.nidlink.com/~quicksilver>
-- Free black and white 20 page catalog covering filk, folk, soundtrack,
acoustic, and world music recordings. Also books, computer pictures, coloring books, artwork by Betsy Mott, jewelry, and Celtic giftwrap.
-- They frequently sell at NW science fiction conventions.

SING OUT = (215) 865-5366
-- PO Box 5253; Bethlehem, PA 18015.

They produce the famous "Sing Out" songbooks which have become *the* source for fans of folk music, American and international. They also produce a 212 page quarterly magazine for $18/yr. with articles on performers, the history of various songs, and being in the music business; plus artwork, reviews, and new songs complete with scores.

SOUNDINGS OF THE PLANET = (800) 937-3223
-- PO Box 43512; Tucson, AZ 85733

Nature based acoustical music put out by a company which strongly believes in grass-roots environmental and social peace efforts.

STONY PLAIN RECORDS = (403) 468-6423
-- PO Box 861; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 2L8.
<sprecord at eon.net>
-- Distributor for the Paperboys.

XENOFILKIA = Bimonthly newsletter of filksongs, with lyrics and music. Index and back issues are available. Contact Lee Gold at <barry at platsol.com> or (310) 306-7456 for more information.

Stay tuned for Part 2, including listings on Dance Classes; Language, and Instrument Lessons; and My Favorite Performers and How to Find Them.

Quarong Received on 10/12/97