mej@ptsfa.UUCP (Mary Johnson) (01/02/86)
(For the benefit of people travelling to the Bay Area, this list is being
posted with an "na" distribution.)
Concert Locations for Folk Music in the San Francisco Bay Area
01-02-85
The Castle Folk Club
upstairs at
The Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary Street (2 blocks north of Van Ness)
San Francisco, CA 94109
MUNI Buses: 2, 3, 4 along Sutter / Post
38 along Geary / O'Farrell
47, 49 along Van Ness
Wheelchair access: no
Alan MacLeod of Scotland, and Dick Holdstock and Redmond O'Colonies
of England are the organizers and residents of this English-style club.
The people presented are mainly singers, and frequently on tour
from the British Isles.
The club meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 8 PM.
Tickets: door ($2. - 4.50) Payment: cash
Mailing list: bimonthly, free, write: Alan MacLeod
4438 Park Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: Castle bar, can order fish and chips
Sound: acoustic
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The Freight and Salvage
1827 San Pablo Avenue (2 blocks north of University)
Berkeley, CA 94702
(415) 548-1761
ACT Buses: 51 along University
51, 72 along San Pablo
Wheelchair access: concert space yes, rest rooms no
This is a coffeehouse presenting mainly well-known local people.
The Blue Flame String Band, Robin Flower, Oak Ash and Thorn, and
Holly Tannen are among the regulars.
Concerts are Wednesdays through Saturdays. Tuesdays are open mike,
and the last Thursday of each month is a singers' circle.
Tickets: door ($5. - 7.) Payment: cash, check
Mailing list: monthly, free
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: coffee, tea, wine, beer, soup, pastries
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
The Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell Street (2 blocks north of Van Ness)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 885-0750 Hours: M-F noon - 6, Sa. 2 - 6
MUNI Buses: 38 along Geary / O'Farrell
47, 49 along Van Ness
Wheelchair access: concert space - yes, rest rooms - no
This is the most eclectic place in the area, presenting jazz, blues,
folk music, women's music, comedy, and things that defy categorization.
The folk music leans heavily toward Celtic groups - De Dannen, Boys of
the Lough, Battlefield Band, Tannahill Weavers, and Kevin Burke +
Micheal O'Domhnaill.
Folk music concerts are generally mid-week, and start at 8PM.
Tickets: door, mail, BASS ($8. - 9.) Payment: cash, check
Mailing list: no Ads: weekly in pink section of the
Sunday S. F. Chronicle/Examiner
Smoking: first 4-5 rows of tables are non-smoking, must get there early
Food & Drink: bar, hamburgers, chips
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
The Julia Morgan Center for the Arts
2640 College Avenue (4 blocks north of Ashby)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(415) 548-7234 Box Office, 548-2687 Business Office
ACT Buses: 51 along College
37, 65 along Ashby
Wheelchair access: concert space - through side door, rest rooms - no
The Julia Morgan has a variety of music, dance, and theater groups
mainly from the Bay Area and the west coast. Their folk music offerings
are well-known people like Pierre Bensusan, Dick Gaughan, Dave Van Ronk,
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, and Queen Ida and the Bon Temp Zydaco Band.
Folk music concerts are usually mid-week, and start at 8PM.
Tickets: door, phone, BASS ($6. - 8.) Payment: cash, check
Mailing list: not now - they are Ads: Weekly in East Bay Express
looking for a volunteer (free paper distributed
with graphics background mainly in Berkeley)
to do it.
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: wine, coffee, tea, apple juice, cookies
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
Julie's Place
1606 Bonita Avenue at Cedar (1 block east of Martin Luther King)
Berkeley, CA 94707 (3 blocks west of Shattuck)
(415) 548-7597
ACT Buses: 7, 67 along Martin Luther King (old Grove Street)
33, F along Shattuck
Wheelchair access: no
Julie's Place presents both local people and people on tour from the U.S.
and Canada. There is a variety of music with a special focus on
singer-songwriters and people doing new things with traditional music.
They have also had storytelling, kids' concerts, and a magic show.
Concerts are on Saturdays at 8 PM, and are held in either a small
acoustic space or a larger hall with a sound system depending on
the expected size of the audience.
Tickets: door, mail/hold ($5. - 6.) Payment: cash, check (to performer)
Mailing list: 3 times a year, free Ads: KPFA Folio
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: coffee, tea, munchies brought by volunteers in exchange for
free admission
Sound: depends on space
* * * * * * * * *
La Pena
3105 Shattuck Avenue (3 blocks south of Ashby)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(415) 849-2568
ACT Buses: 43 along Shattuck
65 along Ashby
(Please note - In this area, women should be wary when they are
walking alone at night.)
Wheelchair access: concert space - yes, rest rooms - ?
La Pena is a multi-cultural center which provides space to community
groups for concerts, films, dances, and fundraising events. There
is a special focus on the music, culture, and politics of South
American peoples. They also present topical singer-songwriters.
La Pena started holding workshops on South American instruments and songs
on October 1st, and will continue for a year.
Tickets: door ($3. - 5.) Payment: cash
Mailing list: monthly, $1. per year
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: no, but dinners featuring South American dishes are
available in the adjacent restaurant before the programs
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
The Plough and the Stars
116 Clement Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 751-1122
MUNI Buses: 2 along Clement
1, 4 along California
38 along Geary
Wheelchair access: concert space - yes, rest rooms - no
This is a bar which has music every night - concerts Monday through
Saturday, and a session on Sunday.
Concerts are generally by local people doing Irish music, and run
9:30 PM to 1:30 AM.
Tickets: cover charge of $1.50 on Fridays and Saturdays
Mailing list: no
Smoking: yes
Food & Drink: bar
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
Plowshares
Fort Mason Center (on the Bay at the intersection of
Building C, Room 300 Laguna Street and Marina Blvd.)
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 441-8910
MUNI Buses: 28 along Laguna (closest)
22 along Fillmore
30 along Chesnut
42, 47, 49 along Van Ness
Wheelchair access: concert space - possible, rest rooms - no
(The building is accessible if the person arrives by
car. The 3rd floor can be reached by freight
elevator, which can be run before and after the
concert.)
Plowshares presents mainly people on tour from the U.S., Canada,
and Europe.
Concerts are held September to June on Fridays or Sundays.
Tickets: door, mail with SASE ($3.50 - 7.) Payment: cash, check
Volunteers who sign up in advance, &
arrive 1.5 hours early to help with
setup, get in free.
Mailing list: monthly, free
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: coffee, tea, wine, beer, pastries
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
The Ridgeway Cafe
at
Heidi Barton's
208 Ridgeway Avenue (3 blocks west of Piedmont)
Oakland, CA 94611 (3 blocks east of Broadway)
(415) 653-8867 Hours: not after 10 PM!
ACT Buses: 42, C along Piedmont
51 along Broadway
Wheelchair access: no
This is a houseconcert series presenting music by local people,
and by out-of-town people who are not yet well known in this area.
Concerts are on alternate Sunday afternoons, preceded by an informal
potluck and followed by singing by the performers and the audience.
Tickets: door ($3.75 - 4.) Payment: cash
Mailing list: being compiled - send Heidi a note if you would like to
receive it, and please include your phone number.
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: finger-food munchies brought by audience for potluck (optional)
Sound: acoustic
* * * * * * * * *
Zellerbach Hall
U. C. B. campus near the intersection of Telegraph and Bancroft
Berkeley, CA 94720
(415) 642-9988 Hours: M-F 10-5, Sa. 12-4
ACT Buses: 40 along Bancroft
51 along Bancroft / Durant
Wheelchair access: yes
Concerts are mainly classical music and a fantastic variety of
touring dance groups including professional folk dance groups from
around the world. They have a couple of folk music concerts each
year; this year it will be The Chieftains, Odetta, and The Clancy
Brothers with Tommy Makem.
Tickets: mail (address below), phone Payment: check, plastic
Mailing list: yearly, free from CAL Performances
101 Zellerbach Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
Smoking: no
Food & Drink: no
Sound: sound system
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * *
Please send me any additions, corrections, or suggestions you may have
for this list.
Mary Eileen Johnson
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or ihnp4!ptsfa!mej
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