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BILL BLACK'S "CAPEIRISH"
NEWS/INFO PAGE

A LISTING OF EVENTS AND RESOURCES RELATING TO IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC
IN THE CAPE COD AND NEARBY S.E. NEW ENGLAND AREA

email:bill@capeirish.com


updated: 3/17/24

Lá Fhéile Phádraig doibh!
(Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you all!)





I'll be happy to include your SE New England traditional event if you send me an email with the details - try to include as much information as possible, including ticket prices, relevant websites, etc.


NEWS, NOTES, & COMMENTS



THAT TIME OF YEAR (almost)
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Woods Hole Traditional Stroll, Saturday May 4th (I'll add a link to the website when it's ready)

Cats will play as usual (always?) on the Coffee O porch but starting time will
be noon instead of 3 pm (so we can get out to Hyannis for the Triangle session).

Parking in lot next to Coffee O.



SOUTH COAST MUSIC UPDATE
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
From Colin Everett:

Greetings Fellow Musicians,

Mark Roberts and Benedict Gagliardi will be at the Mattapoisett Museum on Saturday March 16th for a 4:00-5:30 show followed by an open session.

In other news, the Wednesday night session at St. James in Fall River is, I believe, still on hold for the time being. Bill Black has a new weekly session in Hyannis, on Main street, at the Auld Triangle with a new time from 3:00-5:00. March 16th will be a 5:30 start.

The Mattapoisett library sessions will be held on first Sunday of the month between 2:00-4:00 on the following dates: April 7 and May 5.

Davolls Dates March 24th, April 21st and May 19th.




NEW CAPE COD IRISH SESSION

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Saturdays 3 - 5 pm
featuring Bill Black and musicians of "Cat's Melodeon"
Auld Triangle Pub,  412 Main St., Hyannis
(formerly British Beer Company)
phone 508.771.1776
email info@theauldtriangle.com
JRHSP* for further orders, songs too

* jigs reels hornpipes slides & polkas

Music and attendance continue strong - thanks to all! Funds raised for the Cape Cod Veterans over $1100 so far - "bravo zulu" (= "great job!")

NOTE:
The Cats will be playing at the Auld Triangle twice on Saint Patrick's Day weekend, Saturday 3/16 (5:30 start) and Sunday 3/17 (4:00). Owner Des assures me no plastic leprechauns or green beer (or green leprechauns and plastic beer).

hyannis2_2-3-24.jpg

The Cats at work (?) on Feb. 3rd. Thanks to Mrs. Black for the photo!



GOLDEN LANE
= = = = = = = = =

= Crane Library videographer Mark Crosby did me a big favor and edited down our
81-minute show on Feb. 4th to something more manageable. Thanks, Mark!

= Wonderful show to a capacity crowd at Highfield Hall on March 10th. Great tunes from Colin, Mark, and John and great step dancing from the Maureen Haley gang. And yours truly managed not to talk as much. Big win all around!

Upcoming:

- Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Sunday April 28, 3 pm (with Maureen Haley dancers)

- Museums on the Green, Falmouth, Mon. June 17, 5 pm

- Cape Cod Canal Cruise, Sunday, Sep. 22, 1 pm

- Plymouth Library, Wednesday October 9 (with Maureen Haley dancers)



CAPE COD SESSION UPDATES
from Michael Pavan
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Cape Cod Scottish Session
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Scottish and Cape Breton tune from sheet music.
1st Mondays 7-9 pm East Falmouth
(other dates and locations at times)
Info: https://CCSS.groups.io

Tuesdays - West Dennis
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 to 7:30 pm
Olde Inne "Back of the House" slow session
host: Pam Paine
was Wednesdays; new day effective Jan. 1
Info: https://BotHSS.groups.io

Thursdays - Hyannis (Cape Cod)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5pm to 7pm
Bogey's Pub
(off the main lobby of the Emerald Resort / Irish Village (the old  Resort and Conference Center across from the Melody Tent)
35 Scudder Ave., Hyannis.

A mix of genres, not exclusively Irish. Nice folks in charge.

host: Reese Brewer
Info: https://BotHSS.groups.io






IRISH TRADITIONAL TUNE LIBRARY
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I'm pleased to announce that the "ITTL" - my digitized repository of over 9500 trad tunes - is finally finished and available to any musician willing to try it.  I have tried to make the site as user-friendly as possible. All the details are on the home page:

www.capeirish.com/ittl/index.html

Have a look when you can. Comments, criticisms, suggestions, etc. are welcome.




WELLFLEET SESSION
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Following received from Denya LeVine:

i'm leading/co-hosting a session in Wellfleet that seems to have settled on a day and time:

Fox and Crow, 70 Main St., Wellfleet [formerly Duck Creeke Tavern then The Well]
Sunday, 6-8:00

Open session but limited to 8 so I request people email me if they want to attend. denya1@verizon.net






IRISH MUSIC INSTITUTE
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Earlier this year I received an announcement from piper Seán Gavin about the formation of a new entity called the "Irish Music Institute", which has been created to provide online traditional music training. Quoting from the announcement:

"It is my great pleasure to announce the launch of a new non-profit organization, the Irish Music Institute. Its purpose is to encourage people of all ages to explore the traditional music and song of Ireland. Based in Southeast Michigan, IMI connects a broad network of players, learners, and enthusiasts worldwide. We offer private, online lessons from a top notch faculty with instructors throughout North America and Ireland."

A complete copy of Seán's announcement is here. This sounds like a most worthy endeavor and I wish them the best of luck going forward!




"SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS" Dept.
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Elizabeth Sylvia, wife of our good friend and bandmate Colin Everett,
has published a book of poetry inspired by women in the works of
William Shakespeare (you may have heard of him). If you're interested,
the website is:

https://www.elizabethsylviapoet.net

As an aspiring (expiring?) writer myself, I wish her the best of luck.

A very wise man named Don Marquis once described the process of
bringing out a volume of poetry as akin to dropping a rose petal into
the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo. Let's hope that Elizabeth
has more success than he did!



CHATHAM FIDDLE ACTIVITIES
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Ongoing Sessions

The Red Nun, Dennisport, Saturdays 6-8PM
The Chatham Squire, Sundays 4-6:30PM







Please take advantage of our links to other websites to keep current on what these and other local musicians are doing these days!

Check out my Goods and Services area - let me know if you want me to list something for you. My commissions are negotiable - or should I say negligible?



GOODS AND SERVICES DEPT.
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Various friends have asked me over the years to post information about goods and services they have to offer, which I am happy to do free of charge for anyone who provides me a short description of what's involved and a website or email contact where potential clients can find out more.

Disclaimers:
(1) I reserve the right to decide what goes on this website
(2) I'd like to think these folks know what they're doing, but no guarantees of any kind are implied.



"No Ugly Boat"
----------------------
Since moving to the banks of the Cape Cod Canal in June of 2014, I have assembled a collection of pictures of the various watercraft of all sizes and types that use the Canal. I have put these photos onto a website called "No Ugly Boat"(which name expresses our belief that there are in fact no ugly boats - they're all beautiful, in varying degrees). There are galleries in which photos of vessels of the same type are included. Posters are also available. Click here to go to the homepage!



Artistic services
-----------------------
Andrea Pluhar, local artist, designer and musician, does graphic design for CD’s and can help you set up a website for your self or your band on Squarespace or Weebly. Andrea has decades of experience in design, is technically skilled, is quick, responsive, loves Irish and traditional music of all kinds, and offers reasonable rates. http://www.pluharcreative.com

Duet for weddings, etc.
---------------------------------
Olde Inne session regular Heather Swanson and her daughter Krista Lucich have a violin/cello duet that would be available for gatherings of any kind. Click www.capeviolincello.com for all the details!


Math tutoring
--------------------
Certified math teacher; six years experience teaching on Cape Cod. Available after school, evenings and weekends; MCAS review and preparation. Call Sean Murphy 508.790.0438 for details.



Smile - Say Cheese! Dept.
-------------------------------------
Fiddler Casey Atkins is also a photographer who does photojournalism, portraiture, events, etc. You can find examples of her work on her website.

Casey Atkins Photography
www.caseyatkins.com
617.955.5063


"He's Got the Power" Dept.
--------------------------------------
Philip C. Waters
Master Electrician
Residential and Commercial Wiring
Service work,  remodeling,  fuses to circuit breakers, lighting, heating, phone, cable and data wiring, extra sockets added.
Smoke detectors, ceiling fans and generator installation. Rewiring and general repairs. Small jobs welcome.
Licensed and Fully insured. Lic # A19901
Call Phil @ 508-564-6188  website: philwaterselectrician.com



"Sweet Tooth" Dept.
---------------------------
Our great daughter-in-law Kristen has started a home baking business called "Cape Cakes by Kristen". She'll produce any kind of cake you want for any occasion (think "Cake Boss" on TLC), while at the same time acting as parent for some of the most exquisite, delightful, intelligent children in Barnstable County. If you have a cake requirement (and who doesn't?), contact her.

Phone is 774.392.3469, email capecakesbykristen@yahoo.com.





Expanding Your Repertoire Dept.
-----------------------------------------------
***** Our "Music from the Works of James Joyce" webmaster Frank Weaver has put both recordings on CD Baby so you can purchase individual tracks. (To refresh your memory: these are two great CDs featuring songs mentioned in various works of JJ, performed lovingly by tenor Kevin McDermott and pianist Ralph Richey.)

***** James Kelly's original tune collection, www.jameskellymusic.com. James is a great fiddler originally from Dublin now living in Florida. He made several classic LPs with box player Paddy O'Brien that are "must have" items in any collection of recorded Irish trad.

Update: I have been in contact with James (after many years) and have received a copy of the book and his permission to process it for inclusion into my webABC site. I'll get started on it shortly.

 


Violin repairs/rentals/sales
  --------------------------------------
 
Dave Swanson, www.swansonviolins.com
Fritz Sonnichsen, Falmouth, 508.274.2632
Rose Clancy, Chatham, 917.416.0139 - roseclancyfiddler@gmail.com
 
 
Bodhrán maker/repairs/lessons
------------------------------------------
Mance Grady, www.mance.com
 
 
Traditional CDs, books, instruments
------------------------------------------------
The Celtic Fiddler (John Kearney)
Ossian USA (Mary Lou Philbin)


 


##### REGULARLY SCHEDULED AREA EVENTS #####




 The following session list still needs updating. If you can help, please email me with details.

The personal link is for email; the venue link will take you to a website or some other source of phone numbers, directions, etc.

All sessions listed are "open" but may not necessarily be "beginner friendly". Check if you have questions.

Please email any corrections, additions etc to me at bill@capeirish.com.




Sunday - West Dennis
-------------------------------
4:30 pm
O'Shea's Olde Inne, Route 28
hosts: Sean Murphy and friends
phone: 508.398.8887

Sunday - Chatham
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5:00 - 8:00 pm
The Squire

487 Main Street
508.945.0945
Rose Clancy & friends


Sunday - Wellfleet
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - 8 pm
Fox & Crow Cafe, 70 Main Street
Denya LeVine
limited seating - email Denya if you expect to attend


Monday - Hingham
-----------------------------
5:30 pm (note early start hour)
The Snug, 116 North St., Hingham
host:
Skip Toomey


Monday - Cape Cod Scottish Session
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - -
Scottish and Cape Breton tune from sheet music.
1st Mondays 7-9 pm East Falmouth
(other dates and locations at times)
Info: https://CCSS.groups.io


Tuesdays - West Dennis
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 to 7:30 pm
Olde Inne "Back of the House" slow session
host: Pam Paine
was Wednesdays; new day effective Jan. 1
Info: https://BotHSS.groups.io



Wednesday - Fall River
----------------------------------

8:00 pm
Saint James Irish Pub
Purchase St.
Sam Ruess, Rich Danforth & friends
phone: 508.672.6951
NOTE: as of 2/1/24 this session is "on hold"

Thursdays - Hyannis (Cape Cod)
-----------------------------------------------

5pm to 7pm
Bogey's Pub
(off the main lobby of the Emerald Resort / Irish Village (the old  Resort and Conference Center across from the Melody Tent)
35 Scudder Ave., Hyannis.

Phone: 508.771.0100

A mix of genres, not exclusively Irish. Nice folks in charge.



Thursdays - Providence
-----------------------------------
8:00 pm
Patrick's Pub
Smith St. (Federal Hill)
hosts: Bob Drouin & friends
phone: 401.751.1553


Friday - Canton
-----------------------
6:00 pm
Irish Cultural Center
200 New Boston Rd. (off Rte.138)
hosts: John Kearney & Eamonn McGrath
info: Mark Lespasio


Saturday - Dennisport
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Red Nun
673 Main Street, D'port
508.394.2869
Rose Clancy & friends


Martha's Vineyard
-----------------------------
No regularly scheduled sessions on the island but a call or email to
Sara Piazza before you go is always a good idea:

617-872-6110
email sarapiazza@sarapiazza.com
The Alison Boylston Piazza House
117 Upper Main Street
Edgartown
Martha's Vineyard
Massachusetts


Saturday - Plymouth
-----------------------------
6 to 9 pm
CJ's Pub in the John Carver Inn
25 Summer St.
508.746.7100
contact: Tom Gosselin, phone 617.721.4011
Lots of singing, pleasant but not necessarily for tune hounds

sandwich-session




##### LINKS TO RELATED WEBSITES #####


The world of acoustic folk music is sometimes a very fragile one - your ci_support for our activities and those of our friends is most appreciated! Following are some links you might want to check:

 
BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATER (community theater concerts - Providence area)

BRIAN BORU PIPE BAND

CAPE COD FIDDLERS

CAPE IRISH PRODUCTIONS

CARMEL GUNNING - great whistle/flute player/trad music teacher from Ireland's Co. Sligo

CASEY ATKINS PHOTOGRAPHY

CAT'S MELODEON session group

CEOL agus RINCE EASTERN US (CALENDAR)

COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRI EIREANN - Hanafin Cooley Branch (Boston)

DENYA LeVINE
(Celtic, American, Jewish fiddling & songs - Cape Cod based)

FALMOUTH FIDDLERS (regularly-scheduled American trad activities in Upper Cape area)

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND (many activities; sponsor of the yearly Irish Festival)

LINDSAYS (Susan [Gedutis] and Steve Lindsay) (Irish trad and contemporary)

MOSTLY GEMS (BB original tunes - learn a few hundred and impress your friends!)

MUSIC BY THE BAY (house concert series in Fall River area)

NOIR (Norwegian-Irish fusion band)

NORTHEAST CEILI BAND  (if there's a** to be kicked, then these are the folks who'll do it!)

RARE OUL' TIMES (Falmouth-based Irish band)

RHODE ISLAND CEILIDHE CLUB
(dancing, bi-weekly session, concerts, etc. - located in Cranston)

RHODE ISLAND IRISH CONNECTION (Karon McAllen's new resource for Rhode Island and nearby)

STANLEY & GRIMM (Nik Engstrom and Seán Brennan - terrific fiddle/guitar duet)

SWANSON VIOLINS (instrument building and repairs in Falmouth area)

WEBABC - BB's collection of ~10000 dance tunes from various sources; in ABC format

WEBSONGS - BB's collection of lyrics (no music) for loads of songs - great memory refresher

WEST BEND MUSIC STUDIOS - Clayton March, the Becrelis brothers, Monica Rizzio, Catie Flynn - a fine local resource for teaching various instruments




LINKS TO SPONSORS / VENUES / BANDS
------------------------------------------------------------


BRICK HILL HOUSE CONCERTS (Orleans)
508-255-3864 or email dinah164@capecod.net

CULTURAL CENTER of CAPE COD
307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth MA 02664
phone 508.394.7100

CAPE COD IRISH VILLAGE

ARTS FOUNDATION OF CAPE COD

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER

GRAY GABLES MARKET
185 Shore Road
Bourne MA 02532
phone 508.743.5587
Facebook

COTUIT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The OLDE INNE
348 Main Street, W. Dennis 02670
phone 508.398.8887
osheasoldeinne.com


The CHATHAM FIDDLE COMPANY
875 Main St., Chatham - cell 917.416.0139
roseclancyfiddler@gmail.com