Fans and players of Irish session tunes in the San Fernando Valley do not need to go to Orange County or Santa Monica for sessions. The Celtic Arts Center, 4843 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Studio City (www.celticartscenter.com) has a huge thriving Monday night session. Usually between 18 and 25 musicians show up at the 9:00 p.m. session and play into the night in the comfortable 50 seat theater. Usually 4 to 6 Irish dancers show up and kick up their heels whenever the mood hits them as well. On the first Monday of the month the session starts at 8:00 p.m. The musicians are all either accomplished professionals or highly skilled and talented amateurs, but newcomers are always welcome. Top that with a pub in the back, and it is GREAT FUN!
In Van Nuys, there is a new Irish pub called "The Mulligan" which also hosts a Thursday night session from 7:00 until 10:00. Though not as large as the CAC session, it is very good and all are welcome (they even allowed me to play my highland pipes)! The Mulligan is located one block west of Woodley on the north side of Victory in Van Nuys (one block east of the golf course).
The Celtic Arts Center also hosts a bi-monthly slow session as well where newbies and those who are skilled but not used to playing in a group session can get their feet wet and learn the tunes and prepare for the Monday night session with the "big dogs."
In Granada Hills on the corner of Chatsworth and Zelzah the Blue Ridge Picking Parlor (an instrument shop and teaching facility) holds a bluegrass session once a month as well. Although not the same as Irish music, some of the songs are the same or similar enough that some of the Irish music players can play along. One night I was there and it was amazing to hear those old time country tunes being played by traditional bluegrass instrumentalists, and then a whistle player and a harpist joined in and shifted the entire sound...and the bluegrass players DUG it! Once again, I was allowed to play the pipes there as well, and was not tossed out.
I found the Celtic Arts Centre Monday sessions open and friendly certainly, but rather chaotic and noisy and the standard of musicianship ranged from beginner to intermediate to a bit beyond. Hardly "big dogs" by any means, so don't be put off the Monday night sessions if you are a learner. You won't find it that much of a jolt. Unfortunately, most of the accomplished musicians I know from the LA area never go the Celtic Arts Centre sessions. And it's not from snobbery.
Sessions in the L.A. area...
Sessions in the L.A. area...
Fans and players of Irish session tunes in the San Fernando Valley do not need to go to Orange County or Santa Monica for sessions. The Celtic Arts Center, 4843 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Studio City (www.celticartscenter.com) has a huge thriving Monday night session. Usually between 18 and 25 musicians show up at the 9:00 p.m. session and play into the night in the comfortable 50 seat theater. Usually 4 to 6 Irish dancers show up and kick up their heels whenever the mood hits them as well. On the first Monday of the month the session starts at 8:00 p.m. The musicians are all either accomplished professionals or highly skilled and talented amateurs, but newcomers are always welcome. Top that with a pub in the back, and it is GREAT FUN!
In Van Nuys, there is a new Irish pub called "The Mulligan" which also hosts a Thursday night session from 7:00 until 10:00. Though not as large as the CAC session, it is very good and all are welcome (they even allowed me to play my highland pipes)! The Mulligan is located one block west of Woodley on the north side of Victory in Van Nuys (one block east of the golf course).
The Celtic Arts Center also hosts a bi-monthly slow session as well where newbies and those who are skilled but not used to playing in a group session can get their feet wet and learn the tunes and prepare for the Monday night session with the "big dogs."
In Granada Hills on the corner of Chatsworth and Zelzah the Blue Ridge Picking Parlor (an instrument shop and teaching facility) holds a bluegrass session once a month as well. Although not the same as Irish music, some of the songs are the same or similar enough that some of the Irish music players can play along. One night I was there and it was amazing to hear those old time country tunes being played by traditional bluegrass instrumentalists, and then a whistle player and a harpist joined in and shifted the entire sound...and the bluegrass players DUG it! Once again, I was allowed to play the pipes there as well, and was not tossed out.
# Posted on August 4th 2002 by father tulane blacktop
Re: Sessions in the L.A. area...
I found the Celtic Arts Centre Monday sessions open and friendly certainly, but rather chaotic and noisy and the standard of musicianship ranged from beginner to intermediate to a bit beyond. Hardly "big dogs" by any means, so don't be put off the Monday night sessions if you are a learner. You won't find it that much of a jolt. Unfortunately, most of the accomplished musicians I know from the LA area never go the Celtic Arts Centre sessions. And it's not from snobbery.
# Posted on August 9th 2002 by LongNote