The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay welcomes Jim and Susie Malcolm fresh from Scotland in intimate house concert in Soquel.

Suggested Donation: $25
celticsociety.org

Address provided upon ticket purchase.

For the past 30 years and more Jim Malcolm has been the ultimate Scots troubadour, taking the traditional songs of Scotland and his own prize winning compositions to all corners of the UK and around almost every state in the USA. His voice is one of the finest in Scotland, and his mellifluous guitar playing is the perfect accompaniment. Jim was voted Songwriter of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards, and was nominated three times for Scots Singer of the Year. He has 15 solo CDs to his credit, and has appeared on countless others, including three albums with the world-renowned Old Blind Dogs, from his eight years as their frontman.

This year Jim has another trick up his sleeve as his wife Susie joins him on stage. You may have heard her voice singing harmonies on Jim’s CDs, but with their children off to pastures new Susie is now entering stage left. An award-winning traditional singer herself, Susie sings songs from the North East of Scotland and has a penchant for ballads. Their 2017 debut album as a duo, Spring Will Follow On has been widely played across two continents and its successor, The Berries, has been called “a masterclass in Scottish traditional song.” Their third duo CD, Auld Toon Shuffle, was released in the spring of 2022.Together they offer harmonies and humour…tales from the road, the riverside, and from the home front, and are not to be missed.

Artist sights and sounds and tickets: celticsociety.org

Weeds’ Winter Jam Camp is a fiddle camp for intermediate and advanced players. It will include a combination of jamming, learning tunes by ear, applying stylistic enhancements… and more jamming! What is different about this camp is that the primary focus is not solely on learning repertoire, but on delving deeper into the world of jamming and ensemble playing. We’re going to focus on a combination of traditional music styles — Celtic, Old-Time/Appalachian, Canadian, and Nordic. The camp will be led by instructors John Weed, fiddle; Bill Coulter, guitar and flute; Emma May, fiddle; and Tyler Weed, guitar/tenor banjo/mandolin. While the teachings will focus on fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, and mandolin, people who play other  instruments (woodwinds, flute, harp, bodhran, bouzouki) compatible with these styles are welcome! Address provided upon ticket purchase.

In 2024, the camp will again be held at UC Berkeley’s ~2,500 acre Hastings Natural History Reservation, which is part of the University of California’s Natural Reserve System. The site offers beautiful views and ample hiking for those wanting to get out and move around. The reserve address is 38601 E. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Hastings has been a long-term study site for research on behavioral ecology under the auspices of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley.

Contact Janis Dickinson for a registration packet to Weed's Winter Jam Camp: jld84@cornell.edu

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay welcomes a rare Santa Cruz area performance from County Donegal Irish music royalty, Altan on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: celticscociety.org
Advance $35 | Door $40
Member discount $3

Altan is regarded by many as the world's finest traditional Irish band, renowned for their heartwarming and dynamic live performances that range from touching ballads to hard-hitting reels and jigs. Throughout their career Altan has shown an unwavering commitment to the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers.

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay welcomes the "Irish dream team" Lúnasa, celebrating a much-anticipated long awaited return to Santa Cruz on Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: celticscociety.org
Advance $28 | Door $30
Member discount $3

Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, patron of the arts, Lúnasa is indeed a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. Its members have helped form the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade. Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys, and later he, with guitarist Donogh Hennessy, would form the dynamic rhythm section of The Sharon Shannon Band. Ed Boyd (Flook, Michael McGoldrick Band) has recently replaced Hennessy. Fiddler Sean Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who has played with Donal Lunny's Coolfin. Kevin Crawford, considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland, played with the acclaimed traditional group Moving Cloud. Piper Cillian Vallely of the famous Vallely artistic clan has performed with Riverdance and recently recorded with Bruce Springsteen.

Don't miss this show! 

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay welcomes Breabac live in concert at Kuumbwa Jazz in downtown Santa Cruz on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: celticscociety.org

Voted Folk Band of The Year and winners of BBC ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2022! Breabac is ranked among Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts. With deep roots in Highland and Island tradition, they released their latest studio album ‘Fàs’ in 2022. To date they have released seven increasingly acclaimed albums, whilst fueling their creative appetites in collaborations with BAFTA award winning animator Cat Bruce on short film Dùsgadh, indigenous Australasian artists Moana & The Tribe, Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord, video game composer Big Giant Circles, and as artists-in-residence at 2019’s Celtic Colours festival with Cape Bretoners, Beòlach. ​

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay proudly presents Old Blind Dogs at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: celticsociety.org
Advance $28 | Door $30
Member discount $3
Prices include 5% City Of Santa Cruz Admissions Tax

The musical evolution of Old Blind Dogs began in Aberdeen in 1992 with roots that grew from the eclectic music scene that flourished in the Granite City during the early 90s. Four musicians from very different musical backgrounds came together to create a full-time professional touring band with the aim of showcasing the rich tradition of songs and tunes of the North East of Scotland on an international stage.

Featuring four of Scotland's finest traditional musicians at the top of their game. Original member Jonny Hardie (fiddle/vocals) is joined by Aaron Jones (cittern/guitar/vocals), Ali Hutton (pipes/whistles) and Donald Hay (percussion/vocals) and collectively they comprise one of the hottest live tickets on the traditional Scottish music scene today.

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to upholding Celtic traditions in our community. The Society depends on your membership to be able to attract world class musicianship. Here's how you can join the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay: Individual memberships are $20 per year. Two-year individual: $36 | One-year family: $30 | Two-year family: $50 

Join the Society online at celticsociety.org or print the form and mail it to us with your check. Thank you for your support.

CELTIC MUSIC ON THE RADIO

KBCZ 89.3 FM | kbcz.org

The Mountain Road w/ Julie Horner

Mondays from 8:00 to 10:00 pm.

Accepting new music: 

KBCZ 89.3 FM c/o Julia Dream

13200 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek, CA. 95006

Digital: leap2three@gmail.com

KOWS 92.5 FM | kows92-5.org
Celtic Contrasts w/ Ann Chambers Mondays at 9:00 am.

KSQD 90.7 FM | ksqd.org
Celtic Cauldron w/ Cindy Odom Fridays at 11:00 am.