Note: This page,  www.songmakers.org will continue to be the primary means of communication to our members. The EChord is the only other “official” communication. Neither is private. The easiest way to control attendance to your event is to list it with the words “RSVP required to attend”. Alternatively, keep your event by your private invitation only. We do not now nor do we intend to attempt any kind of “members only” notifications.

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Calendar Updated 8:47 pm on 9/24/2023

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For a Calendar view, see: https://localendar.com/public/Songmakers but keep in mind that events listed may not be current.

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Weekly Repeating Event List

Times are Pacific Time Zone except LIVE times are local.

Every Sunday 1-3:30pm: LIVE Pitts Ranch Park Song Circle, SMPOC Steve Linsky invites Songmakers, Old Time Fiddlers & friends to come jam at Pitts Ranch Park, 1400 Flynn Rd., Camarillo, 93012 (Directions Here). Led by Steve Linsky or Jack Zigray. Free admission. Bathrooms, seating, and shade available. Come bring your instruments and your voices and let’s make some music! 

Every Sunday 7-10:15pm: Virtual Agoura Hills Song Circle – Steven Mark Berman <President@songmakers.org> is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom Song Circle: Join via: https://zoom.us/j/637717652?pwd=ZW92MDYwN3NYUGtyWHJtQW1BRXlQQT09 Meeting ID: 637 717 652 Password: 008615. 

Every Monday 12-4pm: Mudcat Worldwide Zoom Singaround, Email Joe Offer <joe@mudcat.org> to get the meeting number and password sent to you by email on Sundays (changes weekly). Joe is the Music Editor, The Mudcat Cafe Folk Music Discussion Forum.

Every Wednesday 1-2pm: Bill’s Uke Beginner Ukulele Class via Zoom, Email Bill Dempsey <billdempsey@cox.net> to get meeting number and password sent to you by email on Tuesday. For more info: www.billdempseymusic.net. New album, Oft I Sing, currently available only as a download. Here’s a link http://billdempsey.hearnow.com.

Every Wednesday Virtual Open Mic Guitar Merchant – FYI this is now dark indefinately.

Every Wednesday Noon-3pm: FOCSLE Music Zoom, from England. Sign up for e-mail alerts via paul@focsle.org. More info at www.focsle.org.  

Every Thursday 7-10pm: Virtual Chuck Behrman’s Thursday Evening Zoom <chuck@chbphoto.com>. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83549396377?pwd=NFVqTEZJVzFHU3U2Mm9iZFdlVVRSQT09 – Meeting ID: 835 4939 6377 Password: 262022

Every Friday morning from 9:30-11:30am: David Steinhart’s Virtual Song Circle. Start the Day With A Song! dstein1209@yahoo.com – Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89162569327 – Meeting ID: 891 6256 9327 – Passcode if needed: 839872

Every Saturday 9:30-10:30am: Bill’s Uke Beginner Ukulele Class via Zoom, Email Bill Dempsey <billdempsey@cox.net> to get meeting number and password sent to you by email. For more info: www.billdempseymusic.net. New album, Oft I Sing, currently available only as a download. Here’s a link http://billdempsey.hearnow.com.

Monthly Events – September

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Sep 24 – 4th Sunday LIVE WEST LA HOOT & Potluck –  4-8pm Potluck at 6pm Potluck – Please bring a contribution for the 6pm potluck. Contact info:  WestLaHoot@songmakers.org or mhaatma@earthlink.net.      * Attendance RSVP via Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/Songmakers/events), no exceptions. Attendance will be limited to 20 people, with a waitlist for any who register after that.

Sep 25 – 4th Monday 6-9pm: LIVE Woodland Hills Song Circle. Alan Stillson astillson13@gmail.com is inviting you to attend this in-person event. The address is 5515 Keokuk Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367. It’s close to the Ventura Freeway and Winnetka Ave. The landline telephone number is 818/884-4284. Co-leaders are Linnea Richards and Alan Stillson. All musical instruments are welcome. It will be held in compliance with the rules adopted by the Songmakers board of directors for in-person gatherings. Attendance requires a reservation via Meet-up or direct contact with host. Maximum number of attendees is 15 (couples = two attendees). The gathering is indoors. There is a full-size keyboard in the room. Bring light snacks to share. The host will provide non-alcoholic beverages.

Sep 26 – 2nd & 4th Tuesday 4-6:30pm: Virtual Port Hueneme Zoom Song Circle. A SCAN Health Plan sponsored Song Circle. Join via: https://scanhealthplan.zoom.us/j/6345438370?pwd=ZklITVVjYmRySUtKTjMvM0ZldTlIQT09 Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 – Passcode: ac9gM3 / One tap mobile +16699006833,,6345438370#,,,,,,0#,,728002# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 Passcode: 728002

Sep 28 – 4th Thursday LIVE Canyon Sages Song Circle.  12 noon – 3. Bring your talents, voice, instrument and willingness to see what wants to happen. Instruments are not required just a willingness to participate in any way the spirit moves you. We will have song books, chairs. Song books Rise up Singing and Rise Again are the books we have. They can be purchased on line, used or new easily. However, we do not limit our singing to these books. Bring your favorite songs to share. Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Blvd., Topanga CA.  Topanga Community Center asks us to become members for $25 annual fee per senior.  You will receive an Email of Topanga Activities at the Community house with your membership. Liability Waivers – Liability waiver link required for all guests entering TCC grounds below.  No paper waivers  https://www.waiverfile.com/b/TopangaCommunityCenter/Waiver.aspx

Sep 29 – New Open Mic hosted by CJ Chimenti at HISTORIAN CAFE’ and Bakery, 11 E Hillcrest Dr, Unit B, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.  Sign-ups from 6-7pm. Let’s kick off this first event with YOUR music. Great coffee, pastries and people.

Sep 30 – 5^th Saturday 1-5 pm: LIVE Mensa Folksong SIG (special interest group). Host Alan Stillson invites you to attend an IN-PERSON song circle event for up to 15 fully vaccinated participants (couples count as two attendees). Participation requires a reservation – please contact Alan Stillson directly via astillson13@gmail.com or 818-884-4284. The Folksong SIG is a long-running event for members of Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa and invited guests. It is not listed on Meetup. The address is 5515 Keokuk Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367. It’s close to the Ventura Freeway and Winnetka Ave. All musical instruments are welcome. The gathering is indoors. There is a full-size keyboard in the room. Host will provide light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Please bring a snack to share.

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Monthly Events – October

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Oct 1 – 2nd Annual LIVE ‘Old School’ Music at the Oak Glen Schoolhouse Museum and Park. Oak Glen Schoolhouse Museum and Park Assoc. is inviting anyone who plays Bluegrass, Folk, Classic Country, or Celtic music to come to the park on Sunday, October 1, 2023, to participate in a Folk Circle or Bluegrass Jam from 10 am to 3 pm. This is a free event, held outside in the park. Participants should bring their music and music stand, instrument and/or singing voice, lunch, and a sweater or jacket. For more information contact…. Brent Richardson: Event Promotor–brpcc@juno.com Oak Glen Schoolhouse  Museum—  oakglenschoolmuseum@gmail.com and Facebook page.
Oak Glen School Museum—- 909-797-1691 or 909-501-8281
11911 Oak Glen Rd. Yucaipa, CA 92399

Oct 2^nd – 1^st Monday from 7:00PM to approximately 8:00pm: Name That Tune – Songmakers Style on Zoom. Led by Alan Stillson astillson13@gmail.com. You are invited to play a non-competitive version of this fun musical game. I’ll play 50 song snippets on the keyboard. The song titles will be in alphabetical order. See how many you can name. All you need is a piece of paper numbered 1 through 50 and a pencil or pen. I’ll provide the answer after each song. We’ll play closed mike and compare notes at the end. Who knows? Maybe a song you haven’t heard in years will inspire you to perform it in the future. The winner gets a free word puzzle book – written and autographed by me. Join Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3370598819 Meeting ID: 337 059 8819. Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbphh0RD2V .

Oct 3 – 1st Tuesday 6-9pm: LIVE Thousand Oaks IHOP Song Circle. – telephone #(818) 916-4113 (text best). Details of the event, including location, can only be gotten through the host. Attendance is strictly up to the judgment of attendees. 

Oct 3 -1st Tuesday 1-3pm: SFFMC Zoom Sings will have a song swap in the lobby and breakout rooms will be available. If you have a suggestion for a workshop subject, please email it to info@sffmc.org or phone 510-473-6651. join via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84464929798?pwd=enI2dGREak9PcmVLTWNaTlFidzB2dz09 Meeting ID: 844 6492 9798Passcode: Sing // Meeting ID: 844 6492 9798Passcode: 491149 – Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kibhotSmb

Oct 5 – 8 – Kenney Grove Campout, Fillmore, CA LIVE:  Reservations are currently open and sites are available.  See our camping page for details https://songmakers.org/special-events

Oct 7 – 1st Saturday 7-9pm Santa Monica Folk Club Zoom musical get together. The way it works is you need to click on the zoom link below. You will be let into the meeting from the waiting room by the host – Please turn your video ON so that we can identify you as a real person and not a Zoom Bomber. Between songs we can all unmute and chat. We will all have an opportunity to see each other and share our music. Meeting ID: 825 8956 4896 – Passcode: 728632 – One tap mobile – +16699006833,,81687335715# US (San Jose) – +13462487799,,81687335715# US (Houston) Join via: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82589564896?pwd=YVFjL2lqNXkwaDk5Q0J6ZEZadG5FUT09 

Oct 10 – 2nd & 4th Tuesday 4-6:30pm: Virtual Port Hueneme Zoom Song Circle. A SCAN Health Plan sponsored Song Circle. Join via: https://scanhealthplan.zoom.us/j/6345438370?pwd=ZklITVVjYmRySUtKTjMvM0ZldTlIQT09 Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 – Passcode: ac9gM3 / One tap mobile +16699006833,,6345438370#,,,,,,0#,,728002# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 Passcode: 728002

Oct 13 – 2nd  Friday 7pm-after midnight: San Francisco Folk Music Club – For full details and to sign up, go to https://www.sffmc.org/.

Oct 15^th – 3rd Sunday, 2 – 5 pm, LIVE Culver City Song Circle.  The Co-Hosts, Alan Stillson and Sheila Korsi, invite you to attend the IN-PERSON Culver City Song Circle.  Participation requires a reservation and up to 15 Songmakers and invited guests may attend (couples count as two attendees). Please contact Alan Stillson directly via astillson13@gmail.com or 818-884-4284 to reserve a space and to request additional details. It is not listed on Meetup. The address is 5100 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230 and the Song Circle will take place in the community room of Rotary Plaza, a large condominium complex, or in the patio if the weather is nice.  The building is located at the corner of Overland Avenue and Virginia Street in Culver City. Suggested donation is $5. 

Oct 15 – 3rd Sunday 3 – 5:00 pm Seaview Ventura Song Circle- Songmakers are invited to join a new Ventura group. Meet at the Seaview Hills clubhouse poolside patio area,  819 Caliente, Ventura 93001.  From Main Street take Kalorama up the hillside. Turn left on Tioga and follow it to the top. The clubhouse is in the right of the cul de sac.  Hosted by Annie Reeves and Susan Vinson. Questions:  805-407-3402 

Camping in Landers at the Gelenscers

October 12-15 – Camping in Landers – The Gelencsers are inviting Songmakers to camp on their property in Landers for a weekend of making music and attending a star party held by the Riverside Astronomical Society. http://rivastro.org/index.php  Details: We have a cabin on 5 acres of land suitable for dry camping.  There is no electricity or water. We use solar panels for lights and charging our electronic devices and we bring water for cooking, washing, and flushing the toilet.   You may arrive anytime after noon on Thursday, October 12th, and stay through noon on Sunday, October 15th.  For more information contact Janice at 909-374-2630 or singfolk@yahoo.com.    

Oct 17 – 3rd Tuesday 6-10pm: LIVE Agoura Hills Potluck & Song Circle. An RSVP is required for all in-person attendees.  For full details, including the address, and to RSVP  see: https://www.meetup.com/Songmakers/events/278765396. Potluck at 6pm – bring a dish to share, Music from 7 to 10pm. Please bring seating (folding chairs with rubber feet preferred). Five armless chairs available. This event is Songmakers guidelines compliant.

Oct 17 – 3rd Tuesday 1-3pm: SFFMC Zoom Sings will have a song swap in the lobby and breakout rooms will be available. If you have a suggestion for a workshop subject, please email it to info@sffmc.org or phone 510-473-6651. join via  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84464929798?pwd=enI2dGREak9PcmVLTWNaTlFidzB2dz09 Meeting ID: 844 6492 9798Passcode: Sing. Meeting ID: 844 6492 9798Passcode: 491149

Oct 20 – 3rd Fridays 7-9pm: LIVE Rise Up Singing Santa Paula Song Circle uses the books Rise Up Singing and Rise Again, or any song to share. Covid safety to be per Songmakers policy including fully vaccinated to participate. All instruments are welcome and a piano is available. Held in the Parish Hall of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, 740 E Main St, Santa Paula. For more information email  msifantus@uuma.org or leave a message at 805-525-4620.

Oct 20 – 3rd Fridays 4pm (7pm ET): MCCRFolk Jam offers fun, themed Song Circles. Join us for a fun MCCR virtual open mic on ZOOM.  Please register in advance by clicking: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcemvqjoiGd1yKxpdAgJsqnT5DIh6TFa2 – After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  We continue to be an open and welcoming jam, so please feel free to invite your friends. There’s plenty of room in a virtual jam!  Email me directly at MCCRFolkJam@gmail.com and request to be included on the distribution list. The Virtual Jam Book https://acousticparlor.us20.list manage.com/track/click?u=d7e255a92d545eb230da89d42&id=9b225ad26d&e=2a5de13c44 is s the ‘Kitchen Sink’.  It includes songs suggested by our jammers. You will want to download this and have the songs you want to sing displayed on your computer or printed out. This list is not written in stone – themes can change, so if you have an idea for a theme, please send them to me at MCCRfolkjam@gmail.com

Oct 21 – 3rd Saturday 1-3pm San Mateo Virtual Folk Music Singing Meetup hosted by Lee Strieb. Full details and to RSVP: https://www.meetup.com/San-Mateo-Folk-Music-Meetup/events/274959830

Oct 21 – Saturday 9 am – 5:30 pm – Bill Dempsey will be MCing an online mountain dulcimer festival via Zoom.  This is a rare chance to see some of the finest mountain dulcimer players in the US.  $30 for the day.  Info/Registration/Payment:  www.scdh.org

Oct 22 – 4th Sunday LIVE WEST LA HOOT & Potluck –  4-8pm Potluck at 6pm Potluck – Please bring a contribution for the 6pm potluck. Contact info:  WestLaHoot@songmakers.org or mhaatma@earthlink.net.      * Attendance RSVP via Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/Songmakers/events), no exceptions. Attendance will be limited to 20 people, with a waitlist for any who register after that.

Oct 23 – 2nd & 4th Tuesday 4-6:30pm: Virtual Port Hueneme Zoom Song Circle. A SCAN Health Plan sponsored Song Circle. Join via: https://scanhealthplan.zoom.us/j/6345438370?pwd=ZklITVVjYmRySUtKTjMvM0ZldTlIQT09 Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 – Passcode: ac9gM3 / One tap mobile +16699006833,,6345438370#,,,,,,0#,,728002# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 634 543 8370 Passcode: 728002

Oct26 – 4th Thursday Canyon Sages Song Circle. Bring your talents, voice, instrument and willingness to see what wants to happen. Instruments are not required just a willingness to participate in any way the spirit moves you. We will have song books, chairs. Song books Rise up Singing and Rise Again are the books we have.They can be purchased on line, used or new easily. However, we do not limit our singing to these books. Bring your favorite songs to share. Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Blvd., Topanga CA.  Topanga Community Center asks us to become members for $25 per senior.  You will receive an Email of Topanga Activities at the Community house with your membership. Liability Waivers – Liability waiver link required for all guests entering TCC grounds below.  No paper waivers  https://www.waiverfile.com/b/TopangaCommunityCenter/Waiver.aspx

Oct 27 – 4th  Friday 7pm-after midnight: San Francisco Folk Music Club – For full details and to sign up, go to https://www.sffmc.org/.

Oct 28 – 4th Saturday 1-4pm: LIVE Stagecoach Inn Museum Song Circle in Newbury Park. Donations to support the museum music program are welcome. Please do not join the circle unless you are fully Covid vaccinated. RSVP via StagecoachSongCircle@songmakers.org. Waived museum admission fees on the 4th Saturday for Songmakers, however, the day use fee is expected to be paid if you are not a current paid up member of Songmakers or the CVHS. For parking, please use the lot on Susan Drive. Do bring your own chair. While masks are not required, participants will be in close proximity, so masks are strongly recommended. Dressing in a fashion that supports the era is desired.  StagecoachSongCircle@songmakers.org

Oct 28^th – 4th Saturday 5:30-9pm: LIVE Woodland Hills Potluck and Song Circle. Alan Stillson astillson13@gmail.com is inviting you to attend this in-person event. The address is 5515 Keokuk Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367. It’s close to the Ventura Freeway and Winnetka Ave. The landline telephone number is 818/884-4284. Co-leaders are Linnea Richards and Alan Stillson. All musical instruments are welcome. It will be held in compliance with the rules adopted by the Songmakers board of directors for in-person gatherings. Attendance requires a reservation via Meet-up or direct contact with host. The maximum number of attendees is 15 (couples = two attendees). The gathering is indoors. There is a full-size keyboard in the room. Bring a Potluck item to share. The host will provide non-alcoholic beverages. 

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• If you are aware of any LIVE or virtual song circle or performance that will welcome Songmaker participation (or want to host one), please provide the info to  <webmaster@songmakers.org> for inclusion to our members.
   
• Inputs for “Southland” also come from our members. Do you know of an upcoming musical event that may be of interest to our readers? Please provide a write-up with dates & website &/or other pertinent information, send to: <webmaster@songmakers.org>.
   
• Joining Songmakers is not accomplished via Meetup. The www.songmakers.org list of events will continue. Songmakers membership is only $10 per year per family / household – join via https://songmakers.org/member-registration
  EChord Note: No longer sending the EChord to non-members except for prospective members. 

• SPAM blockers often create a problem in that they reject / move to SPAM folders EChord emails. 

FYI – Too many events to track individually so all should be considered unverified.  Please do not attend any other than Songmakers approved face to face events.

A list of virtual Song Sessions: https://www.bostonsongsessions.org/virtual-sessions.

Open mics http://micnights.com/

Ventura Freeway Corridor Acoustic House Concert Locations: http//www.acousticmusic101.com

Paul Blakelock provides a list of upcoming music events for the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas. This one site shows the events ordered by date, with the closest ones at the top. It focuses on free events, and a few of the major paid events and festivals. http://conejo.rocks.

Old Time & Celtic Music Calendars. David Brown updated 19 Sep 2022: The latest revisions on the oldtimeSF & celticSF groups.io groups. To join these groups go to https://groups.io/g/oldtimesf & https://groups.io/g/celticsf. Also available via: https://www.berkeleyoldtimemusic.org/ – select “Monthly Calendar of Old Time Music” under the About menu AND here https://sites.google.com/site/davbrown2/celtic Join the CelticSF group via https://groups.io/g/celticSF

CA Dept of Health Guidelines: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx

CDC recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/