Welcome

Program Updates:
The 2025 Spring Concert Season is in progress!
Seattle Folklore Society is very excited for the return of live music to the PNA Community Hall! Join us Saturdays and an occasional Sunday for a wide-ranging array of world-class acoustic music.  We may also offer occasional online or hybrid concerts as our resources allow. Check our website for the latest updates. 
Watch our webite for updates to the calendar and attendance policies. Tickets go on sale online 60 days before each concert; and may sometimes be purchased sooner in person at prior concerts by cash or check.  Konnectclub is our partner for ticket sales as well as as our online platform. In the case of reduced hall capacity or changes in situation, refunds will be available (Places will be reserved in the order purchased if oversold due to changes in hall capacity.) 

Seattle Song Circle is flourishing during COVID-19.  We started video conferencing in February 2020, and moved from a dozen people singing together in person to 3 times that from all over.  By the end of July, participants came in from Alaska to Maryland, from Australia to UK and Denmark.  And the weekly sing extended past 11 PDT.  The Seattle Song Circle continues to meet at 7PM most Sundays via Zoom Conferencing, at this link: https://zoom.us/j/358495231 . Second Sundays are in person at the Greenwood Senior Center 525 N 85th (hybrid), and in person in a private home on the 4th Sundays. 
SFS new page of virtual sings with events most every day of the week.   

The Emerald City Contra Dance resumed dances for the first time since early 2020, on Friday September 9th, 2022. The dance no longer requires, but encourages a well fitting mask to be worn. Sign a registration form (for contact tracing) and waiver upon entry. See  Seattledance.org for more info about COVID precautions and schedule.
(Though not an SFS sponsored activity, we want to let you know that Thursday night contra dance is also presenting in-person dances, with masks optional – one line with masks required. This dance continues to recommend full vacination with the current booster; but is no longer checking for proof of vaccination. (Masks are provided for those who don’t have one). See the Lake City Dance  webpage for more info)

NEW IN  2023, The 3rd Annual Old Growth Oldtime Seattle Gathering plans to return October 10 – 12, 2025 –  proudly sponsored by SFS!  Get a preview at the Spring Fundraiser Saturday, April 26, at Bizarre Brewing  6-9pm






Upcoming Seattle Folklore Society Events

Kevin Burke
May 03, 2025 (Sat), 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Buy tickets online: https://knqt.link/LHNjSoE
Venue: Phinney Center Concert Hall, Brick Building, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle

Irish Fiddler Kevin Burke has been at the forefront of traditional music since the  1970’s. A founding member of several renowned and influential groups (Open House, Patrick Street, The Celtic Fiddle Festival) Kevin has nonetheless retained his love for solo fiddle music – the “naked fiddle” as he himself sometimes puts it. SFS is thrilled to welcome this engaging performer back to our stage for a night of sublime solo Irish fiddle!

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Scotland's Tannahill Weavers
May 11, 2025 (Sun), 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Buy tickets online: https://knqt.link/uyfwRzs
Venue: Phinney Center Concert Hall, Brick Building, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle

The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands, and considered a national treasure.

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Ireland's Byrne Bros in Seattle
May 17, 2025 (Sat), 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Buy tickets online: https://knqt.link/eRUti3k
Venue: Phinney Center Concert Hall, Brick Building, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle

Ireland's Byrne Bros in their first Seattle SFS appearance! From Donegal, Ireland - a multi award winning family band: County champion musicians and Ulster champion Irish dancers Luca on accordion, Finn on banjo, mandolin, and guitar, Dempsey on bodhran and whistle, and their father Tommy on uilleann pipes, fiddle, and guitar.

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Celtic Guitar Master Tony McManus at Royal Room
May 18, 2025 (Sun), 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Buy tickets online: https://www.strangertickets.com/events/164938926/tony-mcmanus
Venue: The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle

Hailed by John Renbourn as 'the best Celtic guitarist in the world,’ Tony McManus has also been listed as one of the 50 transcendent guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Tony has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic world, along with further ranging flavours [...]

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Full list of our events

Latest News

  • Some April Events that missed the Flyer (4/12/2025) - A few upcoming events that missed inclusion in the last Flyer. (Organizers, please send your calendar event by the 15th of the previous month to make sure it is listed. Email to flyer@seafolklore.org, or use this form: https://forms.gle/mKhegBnM1qRP9wJt6 The Royal Room presents a family friendly (mostly Friday) Happy Hour with live music from seasoned professionals … Continue reading Some April Events that missed the Flyer
  • Events that missed the Flyer (2/15/2025) - (We will add events as we are able – Updated 2/15/25) February 19 – Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light: Sumner’s lyric-forward writing and penchant for snaking chord progressions demand something far beyond folk conventions, highlighting the acrobatic range of her brilliant bandmates Kat Wallace (fiddle) and Mike Siegel (upright bass).Sumner’s songs have been critically acclaimed: … Continue reading Events that missed the Flyer