Traditional Celtic Music Roundup: St. Patrick’s Day 2025

Luck o’ the Irish to ye! Looking for lively traditional music and dance for your St. Patrick’s Day? Look no further than the Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay! We’ve asked them to share their insider tips for finding the real deal Irish music to help you celebrate whilst you sip your green beer or Guinness! Whether you’re looking for Scottish bagpipes, Celtic rock, or straight-ahead pure drop melody and song in the spirit of the Irish tradition, there’s something for everyone!

Téada

Music and step dance direct from Sligo, Ireland, Téada performs two shows in the Santa Cruz area:

Sunday, March 3 | 3:00
St. Mary’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th Street, Pacific Grove
Tix: celticsociety.org

Tue, Mar 4 | 7:30
Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz
Tix: celticsociety.org

The Irish Lads

Trio from Ireland with award winning solo Irish step dancing.

Tuesday, March 11 | 7:00
The 418 Project, 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz
Tix: the418project.org

Tempest

Legendary Bay Area Celtic Rock band reunites with original members.

Friday, March 14 | 7:00 – 10:00
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz
Tix: mountainmusicproductions.com

Goitse

Award-winning Irish band from Limerick, Ireland.

Friday, March 14 | 7:30
Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga
Tix: montalvoarts.org

Wake the Dead

Legendary Bay Area band, Celtic meets the Grateful Dead.

Saturday, March 15 | 8:00
Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton
Tix: feltonmusichall.com

The Kerry Sheepdogs

The Kerry Sheepdogs local Celtic music at Britannia Arms on Monday, March 17 @ 5:00 PM
110 Monterey Ave., Capitola

Lúnasa

Dubbed the Irish music “dream team” directly from Ireland.

Sunday, March 30 | 7:30
Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz
Tix: celticsociety.org

Traditional Irish Pub Sessions

You can enjoy lively Irish music in the Santa Cruz area all year round by checking out these monthly offerings around the county.

Celtic Circle Scottish Session
First & Third Mondays | 6:30 – 8:00
Steel Bonnet Brewing, 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley
No cover, 21+ | steelbon.net

O’Flaherty’s Traditional Irish Session
Tuesdays | 7:00 – 10:30
O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, 25 N. San Pedro Square, San Jose
No cover, 21+ | On social: @OFlahertysIrishSeisiun

Santa Cruz Traditional Irish Session
First & Third Thursdays | 7:00 – 10:00
Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 1220 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
No cover, all ages. On social: @SantaCruzTradIrishSeisiun

Celtic on the Radio

Tune into local radio stations for special Celtic programming any time of year.

KBCZ 89.3 FM
The Mountain Road | Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 pm
Streaming: kbcz.org

KSQD 90.7 FM
The Celtic Cauldron | Fridays 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Streaming: ksqd.org

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay

The concept for the Celtic Society was formed at the White Cockade Scottish Pub in 1989 in a series of meetups by Santa Cruz area folks who loved Celtic music and wanted to support the music and culture in the Monterey Bay region. By the 1990s, the CSMB incorporated in California as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Read more, sign up for the monthly newsletter, list your Celtic themed event, and keep an eye on the music calendar: celticsociety.org

Read more about The White Cockade in the San Lorenzo Valley Post: slvpost.com/white-cockade-pub-boulder-creek

Featured photo of Téada by Damien Stenson

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