Not sure of the exact address, but it is on Walnut Street somewhere between 19th or 20th and 21st Streets.
It runs from 5-9 pm. Lots of great players--very friendly people, but it usually does go at a very fast pace, although in the past they have been accomodating to me taking a few at a slower pace.
It's a beautiful bar/restaurant--you might want to have an early dinner their first!
Thought you'd want to know that the Bards session has been terminated, effective at the end of January. Truly a great loss. Kind of makes you wonder what Irish pub owners are really after. "To hell with Tradition, give us big TVs, compliant women and hot wings!"
In yet another ham-handed, bull-in-a-china-shop death blow to live music, The Bards has decided, effective immediately, to discontinue Irish music in their Irish pub. The walls, covered with pictures of Joyce, Yeats, Beckett, and Wilde will instead stare blankly into a pulsating digital jukebox with a sexy touch screen, gobbling up ill-spent dollar bills to play the same stuff everybody has on their iPod anyway. The lovely thatched roof and cottage window will gently sway to and fro to the sounds of apple-cheeked little boozers crooning along with Ashlee Simpson and Kid Rock. Evidently, the "Real" Taste of Ireland no longer includes the flavors of its heritage, its tradition, its very pulse. Hey, I like the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney and Radiohead as much as anyone esle, but does their music really need another opportunity to be paid for?
What we are seeing, dear friends, is further evidence of the exponentially shrinking value (or lack thereof) placed on live music in this society, and of the arts in general. While we spend billions sending 18-year-old men and women to get killed in Iraq for nothing, arts organizations trying to make a difference in this country through community outreach, free performances in the inner cities, and mentorship programs can't keep their doors open anymore. While restaurants claiming to have a connection to a particular culture-- one that in this case seems tenuous at best-- are installing state-of-the-art digital jukeboxes and mega-super-hyper-double secret surround theater boom-boom speakers, they gently push out the facet of that culture perhaps most readily identifiable with it. Friends, to paraphrase a favorite essay of mine, written in another context: They have, in this one move, sh!t all over the graves of all the musicians, past and present, who have spent their lives going out there and playing their music.
OK, so maybe I'm being a little melodramatic here.
Bottom line is, Live Irish Traditional Music can no longer be heard at the Bards. I'm not going to tell you where or where not to spend your money or your time. But now, my friends, would be a good time to consider making the effort to support live music in whatever way you can. See a concert. Sponsor a school music fundraiser. Or, come out to an Irish session, at an establishment that really, truly values its connection with the culture and spirit of the country it purports to represent. All of you know, I think, where these can be found. We will look forward to seeing you there, and sharing some tunes.
The Bards
Not sure of the exact address, but it is on Walnut Street somewhere between 19th or 20th and 21st Streets.
It runs from 5-9 pm. Lots of great players--very friendly people, but it usually does go at a very fast pace, although in the past they have been accomodating to me taking a few at a slower pace.
It's a beautiful bar/restaurant--you might want to have an early dinner their first!
# Posted on November 7th 2002 by Andee
Who runs that session? Is Brian Boyce still playing that one?
# Posted on November 12th 2002 by carafiddle
KILLED!
Hiya Cara and all,
Thought you'd want to know that the Bards session has been terminated, effective at the end of January. Truly a great loss. Kind of makes you wonder what Irish pub owners are really after. "To hell with Tradition, give us big TVs, compliant women and hot wings!"
See you soon, Darin
# Posted on February 18th 2003 by darinkelly
That truly sucks, Darin--good thing I didn't shlep down there the other day--harp and fiddle in tow.
# Posted on April 21st 2003 by Andee
It's back again: 7-10pm
Yes, the Bards session has returned with a new time; 7-10pm. (same day--Sunday).
It's now being run by Darin Kelly and Brendan Callahan.
# Posted on November 14th 2003 by Andee
Just went last night for the first time. Nice little place. Exact address and phone number is as follows:
2013 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-569-9585
# Posted on February 21st 2005 by Jason G
KILLED - AGAIN!!!
In yet another ham-handed, bull-in-a-china-shop death blow to live music, The Bards has decided, effective immediately, to discontinue Irish music in their Irish pub. The walls, covered with pictures of Joyce, Yeats, Beckett, and Wilde will instead stare blankly into a pulsating digital jukebox with a sexy touch screen, gobbling up ill-spent dollar bills to play the same stuff everybody has on their iPod anyway. The lovely thatched roof and cottage window will gently sway to and fro to the sounds of apple-cheeked little boozers crooning along with Ashlee Simpson and Kid Rock. Evidently, the "Real" Taste of Ireland no longer includes the flavors of its heritage, its tradition, its very pulse. Hey, I like the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney and Radiohead as much as anyone esle, but does their music really need another opportunity to be paid for?
What we are seeing, dear friends, is further evidence of the exponentially shrinking value (or lack thereof) placed on live music in this society, and of the arts in general. While we spend billions sending 18-year-old men and women to get killed in Iraq for nothing, arts organizations trying to make a difference in this country through community outreach, free performances in the inner cities, and mentorship programs can't keep their doors open anymore. While restaurants claiming to have a connection to a particular culture-- one that in this case seems tenuous at best-- are installing state-of-the-art digital jukeboxes and mega-super-hyper-double secret surround theater boom-boom speakers, they gently push out the facet of that culture perhaps most readily identifiable with it. Friends, to paraphrase a favorite essay of mine, written in another context: They have, in this one move, sh!t all over the graves of all the musicians, past and present, who have spent their lives going out there and playing their music.
OK, so maybe I'm being a little melodramatic here.
Bottom line is, Live Irish Traditional Music can no longer be heard at the Bards. I'm not going to tell you where or where not to spend your money or your time. But now, my friends, would be a good time to consider making the effort to support live music in whatever way you can. See a concert. Sponsor a school music fundraiser. Or, come out to an Irish session, at an establishment that really, truly values its connection with the culture and spirit of the country it purports to represent. All of you know, I think, where these can be found. We will look forward to seeing you there, and sharing some tunes.
Good health to all,
DK
# Posted on August 31st 2006 by darinkelly
Darin, this is so sad, I can hardly beleive it. I don't know what to say--the Bards was my favorite session, too.
# Posted on November 13th 2006 by Andee