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: 7/13/25

Please remember the Texas flood victims and their families in
your prayers this week. I've been to that part of Texas several times -
lovely scenery and great people. I can't imagine what they're
going through right now.

 

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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.

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NEWS, NOTES, & COMMENTS

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NEWS FROM THE VINEYARD
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Vineyard Trad sessions:
Mondays, 7pm
On the porch, or in the gallery (depending on weather).
117 Upper Main Street
Edgartown, Massachusett
 
PS
I forgot to say, while Monday nights will be a regular session, any time anybody happens to be on the Island, or any locals who simply want to stop by for a tune, give a holler (I have a house full of instruments if you don’t happen to be traveling with yours). Hope to see you.

- Sara Piazza

617-872-6110

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FIDDLE - PIANO DUET in CHATHAM
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Rose Clancy advises that the quasi-legendary duet of Brian Conway (flddie) and Brendan Dolan (keyboards) will be appearing at the First Congregational Church in Chatham on Sunday July 20th, 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25.00 and a flyer is attached with all the details.

Thanks to Rose for inviting these two fine musicians (and personal friends of yours truly) to bring their music to the Cape!

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OUR NEW FRIEND AT THE TRIANGLE
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About a month ago I came across a reference to a little girl named Adelia Summers, whose mom plays bassoon with the Cape Cod Symphony.

Adelia bravely fought a rare brain cancer called DMG for fifteen months until she finally passed away. She was eight years old.

There are good people at a couple of the Boston hospitals (as elsewhere, I'm sure) who are working on figuring out how to beat DMG, which is nearly 100% fatal even with surgery, radiation, and all the other interventions presently available.

I did not know the little girl or her family, but the story of her bravery and of the world's loss of all that was good about her touched me deeply.

Our session fundraising efforts during the Summer will be directed not only at raising funds for the research, but also in letting our patrons know about DMG and asking for their prayers that those working so diligently in the field can finally succeed in making sure that we don't have any more "Wonder Kids" like Adelia.

Cat's Melodeon is doing what we can to help. There's a website for the effort in case you want to know more about all this.

I composed a hornpipe in Adelia's memory called "The Wonder Girl".  Click here if you'd like to give it a listen.

And thanks for helping.

NOTE: I posted a true story about "The Kindness of Strangers" here. You might enjoy it!

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SOUTH COAST ACTIVITIES
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 From Colin Everett:

Here are a few updates.

The Seahorse session resumes for its 6th summer. Monday night with a 6:30 start (8:00 start in August) until Labor Day. If the weather is nice, it is running. 

On July 19th the Roots and Branches Festival returns for a 3rd year in Downtown New Bedford. The Irish session is at 12:00 in the CoCreative building (same as last year). All are welcome! 

The Mattapoisett library session will resume in October. 

Davoll’s is on Sundays 2:30-4:30 (see dates, generally the 3rd Sunday, but not always). 

Troy City Brewery is the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Fall River. 7:00-9:00 

Bill Black’s Hyannis weekly Saturday session, on Main street, at the Auld Triangle from 3:00-5:00. More on Cape Cod Sessions. 

Here are the Davoll’s dates that we have so far. 

July 20

August 24 

September 28 

October 19

November 16

December 14 

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TUESDAY NIGHT CONCERTS
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From Rose Clancy:

June 24th through September 2nd (NO CONCERT AUGUST 19th)

7:30PM (Doors at 7PM)

The Chatham Drama Guild

134 Crowell Rd., Chatham, MA

CASH BAR

INFO 508-348-1885

Adult $20/Kids $10

BUY TICKETS HERE or at the door

Join us for a unique evening of songs and tunes from the Celtic World and beyond.  I am joined by talented musicians Max Cohen and John Alden. Gene and Cecilia will be there bringing the old style Irish charm and we will have our traditional post show gathering with Cecilia's Irish Tea and Gene's Brown Bread.

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SESSIONS AROUND AND ABOUT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 - 7:30 pm The Squire 487 Main Street 508.945.0945 Rose Clancy & friends

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 Tuesdays - Wellfleet - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Mean Burgers, at 842 Route 6, in Wellfleet,  weekly Irish and old time instrumental and vocal sessions Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 . Please email if you want to join the musicians, as we have a 10 person limit: denya1@verizon.net" Tuesdays - North Providence RI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tumblesalts  2207 Mineral Spring Ave. more info here

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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5:30 - 7:30 pm Red Nun 673 Main Street, D'port 508.394.2869 Rose Clancy & friends

Martha's Vineyard ----------------------------- Monday nights for the summer: 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 Saturday - Hyannis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Click here for info on the Auld Triangle session

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IRISH CULTURAL CENTER
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The ICC in Canton is offering some very nice traditional programs - if you're interested you might want to check their website.

They also have the Friday evening session that's been running for a good number of years (I ran it for a few years quite a while back). It's an open session and John, Eamonn, and co. are very welcoming, so check it out if you need some tunes on a Friday.

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GOLDEN LANE
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Sunday Sept. 21, 1:30 pm  - we "go to sea once more" on the good mv MOHEGAN for our fifth annual Cape Cod Canal cruise - thanks to the nice folks at Hy Line for inviting us back!

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GREATER WASHINGTON CEILI CLUB
Oct. 31 - November 2
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These nice folks were always represented at our never-to-be-forgotten Cape Cod Ceili Weekends, so I'm happy to return the favor!

Click here for a flyer outlining their Fall activities. Sounds like it will be a great time!

(Personal note: Pat and I did the Amtrak from Boston to DC a couple years back - it was
a great trip, at least 1000% better than flying or driving.)

 

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THANKS AND THANKS AGAIN
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. . . to our Cat's Melodeon musicians, through whose efforts at the Auld Triangle session we raised:

% $3000 for the Cape Cod Veterans
% $1700 for Mass. Special Olympics
% $500 for Project Bread 2024
% $2120 for Toys for Tots
% $400 for Kind Hearts for Kids
% $2900 for Project Bread 2025

That's nearly $11,000 for good causes. As I said in an email to the gang "Feel good about yourselves!"

Thanks also to Des & Terry and their staff at the pub, and of course to all the great patrons who made this achievement possible!

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CHATHAM FIDDLE ACTIVITIES

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Ongoing Sessions:

The Red Nun, Dennisport, Saturdays 5:30 - 7:30

The Chatham Squire, Sundays 5 - 7:30PM

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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

My sincerest thanks to "the regulars" (you know who you are!) and guests who make my job as "session alpha" so much more enjoyable.





The Cats at work (?) at the "inaugural session". Thanks to Mrs. Black for the photo!

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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.

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WELLFLEET SESSION
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Following received from Denya LeVine:

Hi folks, Hog Island Surf Lodge, at 842 Route 6, in Wellfleet, is the new site of weekly indoor sessions every Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 beginning May 21.

Please please spread the word! If I left off anyone do forward to those who will be interested.

Musicians: just for the first session, let me know if you'll be there so I can arrange enough chairs.

Currently only open for breakfast and lunch, beginning 5/20 Hog Island Wellfleet will be open 7 days a week for breakfast through 9PM.

I understand the website is not always updated in a timely manner. [hogislandbeerco.com/wellfeet]

I'm happy to field any questions. I beg you not to Reply All.

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Denya 508-255-5090

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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!

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"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!

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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?

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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.

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