I'll be in Philadelphia next week, and I'm wondering where to find some good tunes. I searched the "sessions" part of the website, but all the postings seem pretty old. Any suggestions?
As far as I know the main ones still going are Fergie's on Saturday, Plough and the Stars on Sunday, and Shanachie on Tuesday (search under "Ambler"--not too far outside of Philly). From what I recall each session offers something a bit different. Fergie's tends to be a smaller session, so a bit more personal, Plough tends to be a bit larger, and Shanachie I think tends to be somewhere in between.
These are sessions I've heard of within about an hour's drive from Philly (somewhat depends on where you're staying – some are very close). I’ve taken out ones that are only once or twice per month & won’t be next week when you’re here. Haven’t been to all, don’t know if some are still going, so you might want to contact them first.
If anyone knows for sure that one is certainly defunct, please chime in.
And Rudall, as far as I know, the Tir Na Nog Philly session is still happening, but it’s the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, which wouldn’t be next week, so I didn’t include it.
Sundays 12-3
River Blue Café, Frenchtown, NJ
Anchored by Patrick Clifford patrick(at)patrickclifford(dot)com
51 Bridge St, 08825 www.riverbluecafe.com
Sunday 12-4
Kildare’s Irish Pub, West Chester, PA
18-22 West Gay St, 19380 610-431-0770
westchester.kildaresirishpub.com
Sunday 3–7
Tir na Nog, Trenton, NJ
The session is hosted by Frank Thewes and Tom Glover. Come to sing a song or play a tune. Children to Adults. Tir na nOg was voted the top 50 Bar in America by Irish Voice and Men Journal. Contact: 609-392-2554. Hamilton Ave
Sunday 3–6
Molly Maguire's, Lansdale, PA
Molly Maguire's is proud to offer Sessions every sunday from 3-6p.m. Come for traditional Irish food, music and atmosphere. and $1 off Guinness! Slainte! Molly Maguire's Irish Restaurant and Pub
329 W. Main St. 19446. For more info visit www.mollymaguireslansdale.com.
Sunday, 3–7
Molly Maguire's, Phoenixville, PA
3 course meal $15.95. Family fun for all ages. Live music session. Dancers welcome.
197 Bridge St. www.mollymaguiresphoenixville.com
Sunday, 4–7
Dublin Square Pub, Bordentown, NJ
Traditional Irish Music Session, Dublin Square 167 Route 130, 08505. Phone 609-298-7100. For more info visit www.dublinsquarepubs.com.
Sunday, 5-9
The Plough & The Stars, Philadelphia, PA
Traditional Session, anchored by John McGillian.
2nd & Chestnut St., 19106
(215) 733-0300 ploughstars.com
Monday, 7-10
McMichael's Pub, Gloucester City, NJ
Fintan Malone leads a traditional Irish Music Session at the newest Irish establishment in Gloucester City, NJ. Pat Ward will also be joining Fintan every Monday. For info call- 856-482-4883. 157 S. Burlington Street 08030.
Monday, 8–11
Rocking Stone Bar and Grill, Paulsboro, NJ
Rocking Stone Bar and Grill 2001 South Delaware Avenue
Tuesday, 8–11
Shanachie Pub Session, Ambler, PA
111 East Butler Ave. 19002.
www.shanachiepub.com
Tuesday 8:30–11:30
The Blind Pig, Philadelphia, PA
Irish session open to all musicians. I will have members of my band there to keep the music going and to help anyone join in. Contact: John Byrne. The Blind Pig 702 N.2nd Street, 19123.
Tuesday, 9:00 PM
Fado Irish Pub, Philadelphia, PA
John and Pat from Patrick's Head will start off every week. Everyone is welcome to join in the craic, the more the merrier. Fado Irish Pub 1500 Locust St. 19102.
1st & 3rd Wednesdays, starting at 8:30
Mitchell’s Café, Lambertville, NJ
11½ Church St 609-397-9853
Thursdays from 8–10
The Treehouse, Audubon, NJ
South Jersey Irish Seisiun - The longest continually running session in the area has been transplanted from the 3 Beans coffeehouse in Haddonfield to this new location. The Treehouse 120 W. Merchant St. 08106. For more info visit www.treehousecoffee.net.
Thursday, 8–11
McKinley's Tavern, Elkins Park, PA
Irish Session, 881 Township Line Road 19027 Phone: (215) 576-9066.
Thursdays at 9:00
The Blarney South, Philadelphia, PA
328 South St 19147 (215) 413-8294
Friday 8-11
(Note: I've seen this listed as "most" Fridays, & I've seen it listed as only the first Friday of each month. Not sure what the story is. Never been.)
Philadelphia Irish Center, Philadelphia, PA
Slow Session followed by Regular Session
The Phila Ceili Group and the Irish Center sponsor a session at the Irish Center. The slow session is from 8 to 9 p.m. and the regular session runs from 9 to 11 p.m. The slow session is a traditional Irish session in all ways except one: the tempo. We will play common session tunes at a slower pace, for learning. The Irish Center 6815 Emlen Street 19119.
Saturday, 4:00
Fergie's Pub, Philadelphia, PA
Traditional Irish Music Session, www.fergies.com
1214 Sansom St. 19102 215.928.8118
Sad to say, the legendary long-running Billy Briggs session at the Tir na nOg in Trenton has been cancelled by the owner (Mrs. Briggs), allegedly because it interferes with the people watching football (soccer) on the TV.
The imported night-time live performers are still there.
Feel free to write Margaret O'Donnell-Briggs at
1324 HAMILTON AVENUE
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08629
Heading to Philadelphia...
Heading to Philadelphia...
I'll be in Philadelphia next week, and I'm wondering where to find some good tunes. I searched the "sessions" part of the website, but all the postings seem pretty old. Any suggestions?
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by jasonb
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
I thought this was another cheese thread at first.
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
As far as I know the main ones still going are Fergie's on Saturday, Plough and the Stars on Sunday, and Shanachie on Tuesday (search under "Ambler"--not too far outside of Philly). From what I recall each session offers something a bit different. Fergie's tends to be a smaller session, so a bit more personal, Plough tends to be a bit larger, and Shanachie I think tends to be somewhere in between.
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by Jason G
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
Is Tir na nOg still going? That was a nice session the time I went.
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by Rudall the time
Welcome to Philadelphia
These are sessions I've heard of within about an hour's drive from Philly (somewhat depends on where you're staying – some are very close). I’ve taken out ones that are only once or twice per month & won’t be next week when you’re here. Haven’t been to all, don’t know if some are still going, so you might want to contact them first.
If anyone knows for sure that one is certainly defunct, please chime in.
And Rudall, as far as I know, the Tir Na Nog Philly session is still happening, but it’s the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, which wouldn’t be next week, so I didn’t include it.
Sundays 12-3
River Blue Café, Frenchtown, NJ
Anchored by Patrick Clifford patrick(at)patrickclifford(dot)com
51 Bridge St, 08825 www.riverbluecafe.com
Sunday 12-4
Kildare’s Irish Pub, West Chester, PA
18-22 West Gay St, 19380 610-431-0770
westchester.kildaresirishpub.com
Sunday 3–7
Tir na Nog, Trenton, NJ
The session is hosted by Frank Thewes and Tom Glover. Come to sing a song or play a tune. Children to Adults. Tir na nOg was voted the top 50 Bar in America by Irish Voice and Men Journal. Contact: 609-392-2554. Hamilton Ave
Sunday 3–6
Molly Maguire's, Lansdale, PA
Molly Maguire's is proud to offer Sessions every sunday from 3-6p.m. Come for traditional Irish food, music and atmosphere. and $1 off Guinness! Slainte! Molly Maguire's Irish Restaurant and Pub
329 W. Main St. 19446. For more info visit www.mollymaguireslansdale.com.
Sunday, 3–7
Molly Maguire's, Phoenixville, PA
3 course meal $15.95. Family fun for all ages. Live music session. Dancers welcome.
197 Bridge St. www.mollymaguiresphoenixville.com
Sunday, 4–7
Dublin Square Pub, Bordentown, NJ
Traditional Irish Music Session, Dublin Square 167 Route 130, 08505. Phone 609-298-7100. For more info visit www.dublinsquarepubs.com.
Sunday, 5-9
The Plough & The Stars, Philadelphia, PA
Traditional Session, anchored by John McGillian.
2nd & Chestnut St., 19106
(215) 733-0300 ploughstars.com
Monday, 7-10
McMichael's Pub, Gloucester City, NJ
Fintan Malone leads a traditional Irish Music Session at the newest Irish establishment in Gloucester City, NJ. Pat Ward will also be joining Fintan every Monday. For info call- 856-482-4883. 157 S. Burlington Street 08030.
Monday, 8–11
Rocking Stone Bar and Grill, Paulsboro, NJ
Rocking Stone Bar and Grill 2001 South Delaware Avenue
Tuesday, 8–11
Shanachie Pub Session, Ambler, PA
111 East Butler Ave. 19002.
www.shanachiepub.com
Tuesday 8:30–11:30
The Blind Pig, Philadelphia, PA
Irish session open to all musicians. I will have members of my band there to keep the music going and to help anyone join in. Contact: John Byrne. The Blind Pig 702 N.2nd Street, 19123.
Tuesday, 9:00 PM
Fado Irish Pub, Philadelphia, PA
John and Pat from Patrick's Head will start off every week. Everyone is welcome to join in the craic, the more the merrier. Fado Irish Pub 1500 Locust St. 19102.
1st & 3rd Wednesdays, starting at 8:30
Mitchell’s Café, Lambertville, NJ
11½ Church St 609-397-9853
Thursday, 7:30–10:30
Ugly Oyster Draughthouse, Reading, PA
21 South 5th Street 19601. http://www.theuglyoyster.com/
Thursdays from 8–10
The Treehouse, Audubon, NJ
South Jersey Irish Seisiun - The longest continually running session in the area has been transplanted from the 3 Beans coffeehouse in Haddonfield to this new location. The Treehouse 120 W. Merchant St. 08106. For more info visit www.treehousecoffee.net.
Thursday, 8–11
McKinley's Tavern, Elkins Park, PA
Irish Session, 881 Township Line Road 19027 Phone: (215) 576-9066.
Thursdays at 9:00
The Blarney South, Philadelphia, PA
328 South St 19147 (215) 413-8294
Friday 8-11
(Note: I've seen this listed as "most" Fridays, & I've seen it listed as only the first Friday of each month. Not sure what the story is. Never been.)
Philadelphia Irish Center, Philadelphia, PA
Slow Session followed by Regular Session
The Phila Ceili Group and the Irish Center sponsor a session at the Irish Center. The slow session is from 8 to 9 p.m. and the regular session runs from 9 to 11 p.m. The slow session is a traditional Irish session in all ways except one: the tempo. We will play common session tunes at a slower pace, for learning. The Irish Center 6815 Emlen Street 19119.
Saturday, 4:00
Fergie's Pub, Philadelphia, PA
Traditional Irish Music Session, www.fergies.com
1214 Sansom St. 19102 215.928.8118
# Posted on November 10th 2011 by mulcreevy
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
This is great. Thank you!
# Posted on November 11th 2011 by jasonb
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
You're welcome. Enjoy!
Then we'll be expecting a full report.
# Posted on November 11th 2011 by mulcreevy
Re: Heading to Philadelphia...
Sad to say, the legendary long-running Billy Briggs session at the Tir na nOg in Trenton has been cancelled by the owner (Mrs. Briggs), allegedly because it interferes with the people watching football (soccer) on the TV.
The imported night-time live performers are still there.
Feel free to write Margaret O'Donnell-Briggs at
1324 HAMILTON AVENUE
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08629
or call (609) 392-2554.
# Posted on January 19th 2012 by Eliezer Pennywhistler