This session usually attracts fairly, some very high calibre players, but it can get quite rowdy in the pub and interfere with the music. I've been there a few times over the years and not enjoyed it as much as I should have because of the din created by the punters (God bless them -- every pub needs them). Still, it's always worth a visit. But get there earlyish if you want to get close to the centre of the action.
Thanks, i will. It's my only shot anyway. I thought San Francisco would be festering with sessions everywhere, but this one was the only one i was able to locate.
I believe there is another session in "The Starry Plough" (yes, apparently a different bar with confusingly similar name) in Oakland (?). Never been there myself, so can't supply any info. Your timing is unfortunate as the west coast Pipers Tionol is on in SF the weekend of 14-16th Feb -- it's usually good craic with musicianers drifting in from LA, Seattle, Portland and parts in between.
I made it to the Plough and Starts. It's a surprisingly small pub (i was expecting bigger, from their reputation). The pictures on the wall are a true "who's who" in Irish music: Paddy Keenan, Mary Shannon, Paul Brady, you pick anyone you know, he or she probably played there at least a couple of times.
Sessions are rumoured to be very good too, but it got there on an off day. Other than an excellent flute and bodhran player (the core group paid by the pub to get things going), nobody else showed up, until another flute and bodhran player showed up much later. So we ended up trading sets.
Still a nice place, in the middle of what's now a Vietnamese neighborhood, across the street, in fact, from a great little French Vietnamese restaurant called Le Soleil.
The Starry Plough... i asked. Apparently, the 2 pubs were started by the same people. That one is in Berkeley, and it has sessions and also dancing. I won't be able to go there this time, though.
Glad you made it, Glauber! Wish I could have been there...
There is also a regular Session at the Plough on Tuesday evenings, the one I prefer to attend if I am able. (San Francisco is a 2 hour drive from where I live.)
The Tuesday Session tends to be smaller, quieter and with less background noise. (Well, if you bring your minidisc, you'll still hear the pool table clacking away in the background) Always good craic!
In addition, the Plough features Irish dancing every Thursday: Ceili on the 1st Thurs of each month, Sets on the remaining Thursdays. The dance evenings feature live music, so it's a good evening to drop in and hear a few tunes played by San Francisco's finest Irish musicians. The dancers are top notch - visitors are welcome to join in, but you'd better know your sets!
I guess I might be qualified to update you on what to expect if you visit the Plough for a session. The hosts change every night (rotating sort of) and it won't be the same on any regular night except for the two special sessions. (See below) The sessions happen on Sundays and Tuesdays. The second to the last Tuesday is a "slow session" and the last one is a "song session."
The bar noise isn't as bad as it was in the past on account of a drop in punter population due to the economy being so bad right now. Of course it only takes one girl laughing real loud, or one guy who wants the whole bar to hear the details of how interesting he is, to wreck the atmosphere, but over all, the crowd isn't as intense these days. The crowd even seems to have gotten used to "shushing" for the odd song, and a lot of folks come in because they enjoy the music.
The sessions tend to have anywhere from 3 or 4, to maybe 12 people at the most. Most all the hosts are friendly and inviting, but there's a big hairy one that looks like some kind of beast who’s very dodgy. You can identify him by the beret he's always wearing. I think he's a Monet wannabe or something weird like that. Anyway... hope to see you there someday soon if you’re visiting the area.
I was at a session at the Plough on Saturday afternoon. It was small but fun... Some weirdos in "the audience," though, and basically the waitress told us it was time to stop by turning on the jukebox while we were playing. That bothered me.
BTW, Jack, d'you know a fluter named Suki? If so, PLEASE tell her I said hello, I met her at a session a year or so ago and quite enjoyed talking to her.
I was visiting the area and stopped by this session. Pat Egan and Tim Britton were there, as well as an old friend from college. The dynamics of the session were perfect... just the right amount of tunes, no one dominating, just enough talk. Thanks to everyone for your warm hospitality.
searching the site this seems to come up fairly often but wanted to verify a few things. I'll be in San Francisco week after next. It appears that the only session is at the Plough and Stars on Sunday nights. The entry here says it's on Tuesdays but after looking at the P&S website I think that is incorrect.
So, my questions. What time does the session start? Is it fairly casual? I probably won't bring my pipes along but will bring a whistle to be a bit more unobtrusive. Any other Irish music thingies going on in San Fran between Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd? Thanks!
A MIGHTY session last night, am a guitar player from Dublin, Ireland (that'll give me away immediately), found the session welcoming, lively, of exceptional standard and, best of all, the licensing laws are not so stringent in the US! Wish I could head next Sunday! On another note, I feel sorry for anyone who heads there and wants to do any work on Monday, especiallly players!
Nine to midnight
I hear a lot of good stuff about this session. I'm going to try my best to be there next Sunday, when i'm in town. See you there?
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by glauber
Rowdy!
This session usually attracts fairly, some very high calibre players, but it can get quite rowdy in the pub and interfere with the music. I've been there a few times over the years and not enjoyed it as much as I should have because of the din created by the punters (God bless them -- every pub needs them). Still, it's always worth a visit. But get there earlyish if you want to get close to the centre of the action.
# Posted on January 30th 2003 by LongNote
Thanks, i will. It's my only shot anyway. I thought San Francisco would be festering with sessions everywhere, but this one was the only one i was able to locate.
# Posted on February 2nd 2003 by glauber
Another session
I believe there is another session in "The Starry Plough" (yes, apparently a different bar with confusingly similar name) in Oakland (?). Never been there myself, so can't supply any info. Your timing is unfortunate as the west coast Pipers Tionol is on in SF the weekend of 14-16th Feb -- it's usually good craic with musicianers drifting in from LA, Seattle, Portland and parts in between.
# Posted on February 2nd 2003 by LongNote
Plough and Stars, Starry Plough
I made it to the Plough and Starts. It's a surprisingly small pub (i was expecting bigger, from their reputation). The pictures on the wall are a true "who's who" in Irish music: Paddy Keenan, Mary Shannon, Paul Brady, you pick anyone you know, he or she probably played there at least a couple of times.
Sessions are rumoured to be very good too, but it got there on an off day. Other than an excellent flute and bodhran player (the core group paid by the pub to get things going), nobody else showed up, until another flute and bodhran player showed up much later. So we ended up trading sets.
Still a nice place, in the middle of what's now a Vietnamese neighborhood, across the street, in fact, from a great little French Vietnamese restaurant called Le Soleil.
The Starry Plough... i asked. Apparently, the 2 pubs were started by the same people. That one is in Berkeley, and it has sessions and also dancing. I won't be able to go there this time, though.
g
# Posted on February 3rd 2003 by glauber
Plough and Stars Schedule - there's more!
Glad you made it, Glauber! Wish I could have been there...
There is also a regular Session at the Plough on Tuesday evenings, the one I prefer to attend if I am able. (San Francisco is a 2 hour drive from where I live.)
The Tuesday Session tends to be smaller, quieter and with less background noise. (Well, if you bring your minidisc, you'll still hear the pool table clacking away in the background) Always good craic!
In addition, the Plough features Irish dancing every Thursday: Ceili on the 1st Thurs of each month, Sets on the remaining Thursdays. The dance evenings feature live music, so it's a good evening to drop in and hear a few tunes played by San Francisco's finest Irish musicians. The dancers are top notch - visitors are welcome to join in, but you'd better know your sets!
Bob
# Posted on February 3rd 2003 by Laughtonb
Plough & Stars is my local
I guess I might be qualified to update you on what to expect if you visit the Plough for a session. The hosts change every night (rotating sort of) and it won't be the same on any regular night except for the two special sessions. (See below) The sessions happen on Sundays and Tuesdays. The second to the last Tuesday is a "slow session" and the last one is a "song session."
The bar noise isn't as bad as it was in the past on account of a drop in punter population due to the economy being so bad right now. Of course it only takes one girl laughing real loud, or one guy who wants the whole bar to hear the details of how interesting he is, to wreck the atmosphere, but over all, the crowd isn't as intense these days. The crowd even seems to have gotten used to "shushing" for the odd song, and a lot of folks come in because they enjoy the music.
The sessions tend to have anywhere from 3 or 4, to maybe 12 people at the most. Most all the hosts are friendly and inviting, but there's a big hairy one that looks like some kind of beast who’s very dodgy. You can identify him by the beret he's always wearing. I think he's a Monet wannabe or something weird like that. Anyway... hope to see you there someday soon if you’re visiting the area.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Phantom Button
Saturday session
I was at a session at the Plough on Saturday afternoon. It was small but fun... Some weirdos in "the audience," though, and basically the waitress told us it was time to stop by turning on the jukebox while we were playing. That bothered me.
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by wbajzek
BTW, Jack, d'you know a fluter named Suki? If so, PLEASE tell her I said hello, I met her at a session a year or so ago and quite enjoyed talking to her.
# Posted on March 19th 2004 by Zina Lee
What a great time!
I was visiting the area and stopped by this session. Pat Egan and Tim Britton were there, as well as an old friend from college. The dynamics of the session were perfect... just the right amount of tunes, no one dominating, just enough talk. Thanks to everyone for your warm hospitality.
# Posted on June 27th 2005 by fiddlerpianist
San Francisco Sessions
Hello all,
searching the site this seems to come up fairly often but wanted to verify a few things. I'll be in San Francisco week after next. It appears that the only session is at the Plough and Stars on Sunday nights. The entry here says it's on Tuesdays but after looking at the P&S website I think that is incorrect.
So, my questions. What time does the session start? Is it fairly casual? I probably won't bring my pipes along but will bring a whistle to be a bit more unobtrusive. Any other Irish music thingies going on in San Fran between Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd? Thanks!
# Posted on October 19th 2007 by misterpatrick
A MIGHTY session last night, am a guitar player from Dublin, Ireland (that'll give me away immediately), found the session welcoming, lively, of exceptional standard and, best of all, the licensing laws are not so stringent in the US! Wish I could head next Sunday! On another note, I feel sorry for anyone who heads there and wants to do any work on Monday, especiallly players!
# Posted on April 5th 2010 by Paudy