Open Sessions In Toronto
These are open to any Celtic musician to come and sit in and play. They tend to be only very loosely organized, so it is worth calling first to make sure they are on. Start times are approximate.
| Day | Time | Place | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 | Whelan's Gate, Bloor St at High Park | Irish song session. |
| 1st and 3rd Wednesday | 8:30 | Dora Keogh's, 141 Danforth east of Broadview | A new session for Cape Breton music, hosted by Dan MacDonald - danlaurie (at) moose-mail (dot) com. |
| 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, September to June |
8:30 PM | Tranzac Club 292 Brunswick south of Bloor |
This is the regular Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann session, so Irish music is de rigueur. Intermediate players, and more supportive of beginners than some other sessions. Pace is moderate |
| Thursday | Usually 8:30 PM but sometimes doesn't start until 10:00 | The Victory Cafe Markham south of Bloor (just Southwest of the Bathurst Subway station, south of Honest Ed's |
This session started 6 years ago at the Cafe Verite as a place where beginning players could play tunes together at a more relaxed pace. Since then it has moved, first to the Green Room and then to the Jack Russell,to the Black Rooster and now at the Victory. Its not quite a 'slow jam' anymore, but not breakneck speed either. Mostly Irish, but a leavening of Cape Breton, Old Time, French Canadian. |
| Thursday | 9:30 PM | Dora Keogh's 141 Danforth east of Broadview |
This is apparently the red hot Irish session to attend if you can keep up. Usually hosted by flute player Pat O'Gorman and fiddler Jim McGee. |
| Sunday | 4:00 PM | Dora Keogh's 141 Danforth east of Broadview |
A bit more eclectic than the other Dora sessions - sometimes Quebecois musicians, etc. |
Sessions Outside Toronto
These are by report, so check first.
| Day | Time | Place | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every other Sunday | 4 PM | Golden Kiwi Pub 55 Dickson St, Cambridge |
Songs and tunes. Contact Paul Gribbon for directions. Paul keeps an up-to-date list of southwest Ontario sessions at his site |
| Sunday | 7 PM | Duke of Wellington 33 Erb St. Waterloo Ont |
Intermediate to advanced players. Contact Paul Gribbon for directions. Paul keeps an up-to-date list of southwest Ontario sessions at his site |
| Monday | around 8:00 PM | RASPUTIN'S 696 BRONSON AV OTTAWA, ON (613) 230-5102 |
Rasputin's is the home of Ottawa's oldest session and is presently
hosted by Banjo Player/Fiddler Alf Warnock and Fiddler Elizabeth Scarlette.
Its a Coffee House with a really homey atmosphere. There are usually a
lot of fiddles and flutes and one hammered dulcimer. The tunes are mainly
Irish with a mix of Scottish and Quebecois and Ottawa Valley tunes thrown
in.
This is a non-smoking venue. Contact Allan Meltzer at Jigtime@sympatico.ca (613) 565 3635 |
