Lots of music this week, including an excellent opportunity to hear it in person. 

In these tough times, it’s critical that we do what we can to support musicians and keep the tunes alive. 

Here’s the deal:

Friday, January 29

Raymond Coleman is back with a live show at New Deck Tavern, 3408 Sansom Street in Philly’s University City neighborhood, starting at 6 p.m. The tavern promises heaters, blankies and hot spiked drinks under a tent to keep you toasty. Of course, there’s also Ray’s warm personality, too.

If you’re online, Cork ballad singer Elle Marie O’Dwyer hosts a show, live on the Irish Singing Sessions Facebook page, starting at 8 p.m.

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A nice, crowded calendar for you this week, including a few live acts. Live, in these times, is nothing short of great. Pandemic restrictions apply, of course, but we’ll take what we can get.

Without further ado:

Friday, January 22

Kevin O’Shea performs for you at the New Deck Tavern, 3408 Sansom Street in University City, starting at 5 p.m. The New Deck is a real landmark. If you haven’t been, go.

Seamus McGroary plays the Henry James Saloon, 577 Jamestown Avenue in Philadelphia, starting at 6 p.m. The folks at Henry James promise the Guinness will be flowing. Always a good thing. And you get to listen to Seamus, too. Even better.

Catch the Jamison Duo—that’s Jamison Celtic Rock front man Frank Daly and fiddler Alice Marie—at Tom N Jerry’s, 1006 MacDade Boulevard in Folsom. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Social distancing and reduced occupancy rules apply. It’s a last-minute gig, Frank says, so please do spread the word.

Irish songbird Mary Courtney is back with her Friday night Facebook concert, starting at 6 p.m. Catch her show here. Tips gratefully accepted.

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A relatively slow week is on tap, but … at a time like this, we’ll take anything we can get, right?

So here’s what’s going on:

Friday, January 15

Difficult choice tonight:

The effervescent Raymond Coleman will be playing at the Henry James Saloon, 577 Jamestown Avenue in Philadelphia, from 6 to 9 p.m. He’s always a guaranteed good time. Masks required, of course.

Jamison Celtic Rock front man Frank Daly is slated to appear at Gaul & Co. Malt House, 704 Huntingdon Pike in Rockledge, from 7 to 11 p.m. Also one of our very best performers. 

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We’re baaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaack.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas and New Year. (And here’s hoping and praying for a better new year, while we’re at it, though we’re clearly off to an incredibly rough start.)

We have a bunch of Irish-ness lined up for you.

So here’s what’s on tap:

Saturday, January 9

Frank Daly, front man for Jamison Celtic Rock, and fiddler Alice Marie, take the stage at Haggerty’s Cafe, 2373 MacDade Boulevard in Holmes, starting at 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 10

And … catch them again at Mifflin Tavern, 1843 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, beginning at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, January 12

The Irish Diaspora Center hosts its genealogy group (virtually), starting at 11 a.m. This session’s guest is Emily Schmidt, author of “The Galvin Girls.” (Story about that here.) You can register for the presentation right here.

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