FolkWorks

Bluegrass & Klezmergrass with The Goldfinch Project and Odin Scott Coleman
2025-05-04 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | COLLAGE, 731 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA, 90731, United States
The Goldfinch Project is the duo of multi-instrumentalists Chloe Resler and Seamus Guy, who play Down Home Klezmer- a blend of old time American music with Eastern European Jewish music. The mix is eclectic, fun, upbeat, and true to both traditions. Opening for them is Odin Scott Coleman, the winner of the 2024 Topanga Banjo Competition, will play some of his original tunes alongside accordionist Troy Dillinger. The four musicians will play some tunes together to finish the show, and it is sure to be a lively musical afternoon.

Ken O'Malley solo show
2025-05-04 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-18 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Three Stags Irish Pub and Restaurant, 328 Orange Street, Redlands, 92374, United States
His passionate and compelling voice is what they notice first. As a solo artist, Ken O’Malley easily commands the room; with his band he also rocks the house. Quickly drawing the audience in, it is no wonder that the Irish News describes him “without question, as the single most enduring, influential and proficient of all Irish musicians in Southern California” and the University of St. Thomas at Houston acknowledges him to be “widely regarded as the finest Irish folk singer/songwriter in the United States today.”
Arriving in Los Angeles from Ireland over 30 years ago, Ken O’Malley was immediately offered a spot at Molly Malone’s, the legendary Irish venue in the city’s Fairfax district, and he hasn’t stopped playing since. Through the years, O’Malley has performed solo and as part of The Mulligans, Blended Spirits and, currently, The Twilight Lords. He’s shared bills with such artists as Mary Black, The Chieftains, The Saw Doctors, Michael Flatley and Pierce Brosnan and continues to be an ever-popular and near legendary constant on Southern California’s Celtic music circuit. In addition to his musical performances, he can also be found on stage and screen in productions ranging from Ray Bradbury’s “Falling Upward” to the Paramount Pictures feature “Patriot Games”.
Indeed, Ken O’Malley was born to perform. In Dublin at the age of 15, he opened for legendary balladeer Paddy Reilly at the equally legendary Old Sheiling Pub. By the time he turned 18, he was gathering professional credits, among them a stint with Trudy’s People, a group he formed that played Gaelic shows on RTÉ, Ireland’s national radio and television network. His fluency in the Gaelic language was earned from his education by the Christian Brothers and his summers in the West of Ireland.
A true ambassador of Irish culture, he infuses every performance with the rich history of his native land and audiences quickly become engaged with his compelling stories. One show producer put it this way: “He holds nothing back. Whether singing a passionate ballad, playing a solo on the mandolin, or explaining the gloriously sad history of Erin his homeland, Ken O’Malley is all-in, wide open to the world, and as true as an arrow’s flight.” Another simply stated that “Ken O’Malley connected with our audience in a way none of our other artists have.”
His first CD, “The White Seahorse,” stands as a masterful homage to traditional Irish music enhanced with solid rhythms, acoustic and electric instruments matched by the powerful vocal energy that is the hallmark of a Ken O’Malley performance. The follow up release, “Women of Ireland,” continues to showcase O’Malley’s irresistible blend of Celtic traditional, American roots rock and eclectic world beat, this time before an enthusiastic live audience at the Celtic Arts Center in Hollywood.
O’Malley’s most recent release, is appropriately titled ÓMáille, his name in Gaelic and demonstrates O’Malley’s considerable strength as a solo artist. These traditional arrangements, though spartan, brilliantly bring the music of his heritage to life. Dave Soyars of the Irish Herald writes: “His powerful and emotive voice shines through on everything he does, but here he’s the instrumental star as well, with precise but driven acoustic rhythm guitar and solid rhythm and tunes-playing on mandolin.”
“If I’ve made people happy with my performances,” says O’Malley, “that’s success to me.”

Music They Don't Want You to Hear
2025-05-04 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Ciudad_Juarez) | CA
A weekly 2 hour radio show of folk music with a focus on singer songwriters. We range from vintage to the latest releases giving preference to songs focused on social and political issues.

Ron Cooke (aka A Still Small Voice) shares Folk music with an emphasis on songs related to political and social issues.

A folkie from back when it was fashionable with an abiding interest in music of social and political significance. Co-founder and director of A Still Small Voice 4U a not for profit that presents folk concerts, sponsors artists, festivals and community groups and uses folk music to raise funds for charities. Member of Folk Alliance International and of the People’s Music Network. Avid cyclist, racer, blogger, sculptor and ne’er-do-well

Team Taiko
2025-05-05 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA, 90713, United States
We believe in creating unique opportunities for people to meet their neighbors and engage in their community in a new way. Come play with us!
Taiko is a Japanese drumming style that, over the last several decades, has become a global phenomenon. Since 2013, Grand Vision has partnered with leading taiko instructors to bring the art form to the South Bay.
Taiko Artist ManMan Mui guides participants toward a repertoire of drumming techniques and patterns. Sessions include developing rhythmic sensibility, body awareness, breath and strength training as students make music together as a team.
Team Taiko is open to all skill levels and abilities, from beginners to seasoned musicians, and fees are on a sliding scale. Recommended for ages 12 and up, children must participate with a guardian or have a signed participation waiver.
Classes are offered in person and streamed live via Zoom to allow for all to participate.

Orange County Celtic Jam
2025-05-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Wass Street, Tustin, 92780, United States
We meet every Monday evening to play Celtic music.
Venue: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1221 Wass St., Tustin, CA
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Music at 7:00 pm.
$3 donation for use of the room.
Tunes are chosen from the books in our Dropbox.
OCCJ – Dropbox

Tuesday night Online jam session and mini-concert with Pam Weeks and Bill Olson
2025-05-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | https://www.facebook.com/pamweeks.73
Pam Weeks and Bill Olson have been hosting an online jam session and mini-concert every Tuesday night for almost three years. This is a free, guided jam session for all instruments geared toward the intermediate player, from 7-8PM EST. Tempos will be moderate and chords will be called out the first time through. What makes this session unique is that tunes are almost always chosen by the “jammers” through the FB chat page. This often creates sort of a “stump the band” situation but Pam and Bill are rarely stumped. A lot of lively banter occurs on the chat page as well.. The session will be proceeded by a short mini-concert at 6:45. Come join the fun or check out past sessions which are all archived on Pam’s FB page. The jam will be streamed on Facebook Live, accessed through Pam’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pamweeks.73. For more info email Pam at fiddlerpam@gmail.com

The Wildwood Flower Radio Hour
2025-05-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
The Wildwood Flower Radio Hour plays music comprised of these basic ingredients: 3 chords and the truth. We program real American music, primarily bluegrass, country, and Americana. Most of what we broadcast is performed on acoustic instruments; guitar, violin, mandolin, banjo, dobro and standup bass.
The Wildwood Flower Radio Hour is the only radio show in Los Angeles that consistently programs artists who perform live in studio from the vibrant bluegrass/Americana/folk scene.
In keeping with Southern tradition, the Wildwood Flower Radio Hour features a weekly story telling segment called Talk Story. Some of these stories MIGHT involve a slight exaggeration of the truth.
Additionally, there is a weekly appearance by resident fiddler, “DJ Meeks” spotlighting new artists on scene, with “New Twang.” Social Media Maven, Jessica Babin Produces our “Local Twang” segment with upcoming must see live shows in the SoCal area.
Host Mike Bone, “Uncle Mike”, is a veteran of the record industry.
This is a live radio show.
Support live music and the gifted souls who bring this to us.
KXLU 88.9 FM KXLU.com Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm PST

Weekly Irish Ceili dance classes
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-15 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Winona Grange, 8340 SW Seneca St, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
Weekly drop-in classes Irish Ceili, folk dances of Ulster. Longest continuous ceili class in Oregon and second longest west of the Mississippi (Berkley has the #1 longest).
$10 at the door. No classes on Thanksgiving, Ice storms or if the temperature is 94+ at 5pm

Open Mic Night
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Grand Annex, 434 West 6th St., San Pedro, CA, 90731-2632, US
Musicians & Poets!

Come on down to the Grand Annex on the second Thursday of each month for Open Mic Night!

To perform:

Sign up at 6:30 PM. The first 12 sign-ups are guaranteed to perform, with additional artists as time allows.
Plan to do 2 songs/poems (limit stage time to under 8 minutes).
This is an all ages show, all ages and genres are welcome to perform.
To keep the space welcoming for all ages; please keep your act clean and appropriate for all ages. Avoid rants, blue comedy and punching down. Inappropriate acts will be removed from the stage and banned from future performances.
Microphones, D.I., music stand and keyboard available. You can use the aux cord to connect your smartphone if you will be performing with a backing track. The Aux cord is compatible with Apple devices that use a lighting connector.

Hosted by: Ken Creighton

All ages welcome

Tannahill Weavers - Winona Grange - Tualatin - 2nd Saturday Community Concert finale
2025-05-10 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Winona Grange, 8340 SW Seneca St, Tualatin, OR, 97062, United States
“The Tannahill Weavers are to Scotland as the Chieftains are to Ireland”
Doors 6:45, show 7:30
The Tannahill Weavers FROM SCOTLAND In the late 18th and early 19th century Scotland was in a turmoil of change. Highlanders were being driven from their lands and into the burgeoning Lowland factory systems. This brought two distinct cultures together, the mystic Celtic culture of the North and the old Anglo/Scots culture of the Lowlands. They were married by the double-barreled shotgun of necessity and the Industrial Revolution. But this forced union brought forth a cultural heritage which, thanks to people like Robert Burns and Robert Tannahill, outlasted the worst of the Industrial Revolution.
It married the mystic beauty of the Celtic music to the coarse, brawling, but vitally human music, poetry, and ballads of the Lowlands. It is precisely this strangely moving yet lustily stirring quality that the Tannahill Weavers have captured in their arrangements of Scotland’s traditional music and songs. Their material is traditional, but as good musicians should, they have transformed it and brought it into the modern world, vitally alive and kicking. A show not to miss!

Afro Fiesta
2025-05-10 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA, 90713, United States
Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo and Jason Tamba formed Afro Fiesta, and recently rounded out the band with Coco Buono and Jose Agote, two members of the Argentine rock band Los Pinguos.
With early musical influences such as Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman and Peter Tosh, the band plays a fusion of eclectic styles including Afro-beat, reggae and Latin rhythms. You may recognize them from playing with Twanguero in their other band, Los Silverbacks.

Afro Fiesta has been part of the movement Playing For Change (PFC) since its inception. PFC aims to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. Through PFC, Afro Fiesta has performed more than 400 concerts in over 25 countries, including headlining in Brazil for an audience of 35,000 and opening for Robert Plant in Australia. Earning a reputation as innovators, Afro Fiesta has performed at numerous music festivals, including SXSW and OBZ Festival in South Africa.

SoCal Uilleann Pipers Club Monthy Meeting
2025-05-11 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Private home in Orange Co., CA, United States
The Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club meets monthly to promote playing and enjoying Ireland’s national bagpipe. Contact larry@socalpipers.com for more information.

Sea Shanty Sing at Collage
2025-05-14 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | COLLAGE, 731 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA, 90731, United States
San Pedro used to have a popular shanty singing session, but this ended with the closure of the establishment where it took place. A port town deserves nautical music, and we’re bringing it back under the leadership of Steve Saunders. The harmonies that once rang out aboard tall ships will sound again in our little concert space on Pacific Avenue.

Ken O'Malley solo show
2025-05-15 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Auld Dubliner, 71 South Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA, 90802, United States

Irish Fiddle Legend Kevin Burke on May 17th
2025-05-17 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | California Institute of Technology – Beckman Institute Auditorium, 400 S. Wilson Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91106, US
Kevin Burke’s fiddle playing has been at the forefront of traditional music since the 1970’s. His far-reaching solo album, “If the Cap Fits”, and his work with such distinguished performers as Arlo Guthrie, Kate Bush, Christy Moore and the Bothy Band established him as a first class musician. Never one to be restricted by geography or genre, his decades long career has seen several innovative collaborations with notable musicians of differing styles – Classical, Old Time, Bluegrass, Pop and Rock as well as the Irish Traditional music for which he is so well known. He has worked with Grammy winner, singer and instrumentalist Tim O’Brien; Liam O Maonlai, lead singer of the Hothouse Flowers; classical violinists Gilles Apap and Greg Ewer; Old Time favourites The Foghorn String Band; and renowned Irish bands Dervish, Solas and Lunasa. His most recent recording is a collaboration with veteran Rock guitarist John Brennan (Poco, Chris Hillman Band and others).
His contribution to music has received formal acknowledgement on both sides of the Atlantic where he has been the recipient of several awards including Ireland’s “Gradam Ceoil” (Traditional Musician of the Year, 2016), and a National Heritage Fellowship, the USA’s highest honor for excellence in the folk and traditional arts. (Previous National Heritage Fellows include B.B. King, Doc Watson, and Bill Monroe.) Kevin has also been honoured by his adopted home state with his induction to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
Purchase Advance Tickets Online
The concert will be May 17th at 8 pm at the Beckman Institute Auditorium. Advance ticketing is now through Eventbrite. Tickets, including fees, are $33.85 for Adults and $12.51 for Caltech Students and Youth through High School. Click here to purchase tickets.
Ticket Sales At the Door
If any tickets remain after the presale period, they will be available at the door for $35 (cash or check), with no handling fee.
Parking
Free parking, including handicap parking, is available in the lot north of Beckman Auditorium, off Michigan Avenue just south of Del Mar Boulevard. This lot might fill up, especially if there are other events on campus that night. You can find additional parking for our shows in two parking structures on Wilson Avenue in the first block south of Del Mar. On weekends and after 6 p.m., parking is allowed even in spaces labeled with individual names. On this Caltech campus map, Beckman Auditorium is #91, Beckman Institute is #74 and the parking structures are #123 and #124. Also, street parking is available along Wilson Avenue and some other nearby streets.

Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival
2025-05-18 | CA
The **64th Annual Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival (TBFC)**, one of the oldest and most beloved music festivals in the USA, is set to take place on Sunday, May 18, 2024, at the stunning King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.
This year’s festival promises a day of foot-stomping, heartwarming music, family-friendly fun, and a celebration of bluegrass, old-time, folk, and Americana traditions.
Since its inception in 1961, the TBFCF has been a cornerstone of the American roots music scene. What began as a small gathering of banjo and fiddle enthusiasts in Topanga Canyon has grown into a world-renowned event, attracting thousands of attendees and showcasing some of the finest talent in traditional and contemporary folk music. Past festivals have hosted legendary performers such as David Lindley, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Chris Thile, and Steve Martin, cementing the event’s reputation as a must-attend for music lovers.
This year’s lineup is as exciting as ever, with a stellar roster of bands and performers:
Hogslop String Band: Tennessee’s high-energy old-time string band, blending wild rock-and-roll energy with traditional roots music.
Crying Uncle: A dynamic group blending traditional bluegrass with modern flair.
Two Runner: A rising star in the Americana scene, offering soulful harmonies and heartfelt storytelling.
MariaChingona: A unique ensemble fusing mariachi and bluegrass for a truly unforgettable sound.
Caltucky: Southern California’s own bluegrass rebels, bringing grit and groove to the stage.
Honey Buckets: A crowd favorite with their eclectic mix of folk, blues, and Americana, complete with a touch of tie-dye flair.
Abby Posner: Indie Folk artist and a local legend..
The festival will be emceed by **Kenny Feinstein**, a celebrated musician and storyteller, who will guide attendees through a day of unforgettable performances, contests, and community spirit. Also hosting are **The Doohickeys**, who recently they played the Grand Ole Opry and have enjoyed viral success for their comedic content.

Sunday Ukulele Jam with Taeri & Katie
2025-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | COLLAGE, 731 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA, 90731, United States
Join Taeri Schiffman and Katie Blanchard of Popoki House every Third Sunday of the month from 2 PM to 4 PM for our revamped Ukulele Jam. Sign up in advance to get a list of tunes to be played and the sheet music. There will be time for solo tunes if there is a favorite you would like to share. All skill levels welcome!
RSVP on our website to ensure you are updated if anything changes (doesn’t happen often, but better to be in the know!).
