Rick West contributed (with slight edits by me, and I should edit this more soon since the O'Reilly's session is now a song session on Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. and there are new tune sessions at Nautical Nellie's and Shamrock City Pub on Saturdays): "The session at O'Reilly's (now Saturdays 7-10:30 pm) has a core group of people and invariably attracts 5-6 additional musicians. I'm not exactly a host but did establish O'Reilly's as a session location, originally on Sundays, with Mike Hanrahan, Graham Wells, Stan Pickett and Phil Babcock. The Saturday session, which began at The Ship Inn several years ago, was started by Rob Murphy, Jackie Ryan, Larry Foley and perhaps Dave Panting. Again, there isn't really a host, however, Rob Murphy (flute) does lead in to a good number of tunes. Rob, Jackie, John, Michelle Brophy, Rob Brown, Mike Hanrahan, Graham, Phil Babcock, Stan Pickett and I are regulars. We had small crowds at first but now are bringing in enough paying customers to cover the stout that we drink. Some fine players are dropping in on a regular basis so the quality of the sessions now is quite good. This, the location and the great food should have O'Reilly's packed during the tourist season. If anyone needs more information they can contact me at reely.west@thezone.net . " This session is sometimes slower in the summer IF it is a festival weekend and many of the regulars are off at a festival instead of at the pub. But last year even during the festival there was a small session, plus of course probably others in houses after the festival hours (or at Nautical Nellie's or The Duke of Duckworth or at the closing party at The Ship Pub).
Here is something written by Fergus O'Byrne on sj.general (slightly edited after a June 2003 e-mail from him, edited more by me to add the Nautical Nellie's session and the O'Reilly's song session):
"For those interested in traditional music, each weekend there are informal
sessions held in various locations.
These `trad. sessions' are informal gatherings of both musicians and
listeners who enjoy playing and listening to traditional music and song in a
relaxed atmosphere. There is no `performance' as such other than the
natural exuberance of the players themselves. The sessions provide an
outlet for seasoned players to let lose with the tunes they know and also
allow newer players a chance to play along and/or listen without any
pressure. The session also gives people of like mind a chance to socialize
and meet new people.
Times and locations:
Tuesday evenings at Georgetown Pub, Hayward Ave., beginners welcome
8 p.m. Fridays at Erin's Pub, Water Street
5 p.m. Saturdays at Nautical Nellie's, Water Street
7 to 9 pm every Sunday evening at O'Reilly's Irish Pub, George Street. This is a song session
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Sunday at Bridie Molloy's Pub, George Street
sometimes at Quidi Vidi Brewery on Sundays I think
12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays at Rocket Bakery on Water St, hosted by The Auntie Crae Band
The Crow's nest Ballad session and Crow's nest storytelling session
There is a youth open mic from 2 p.m. on Sundays at Shamrock City and another one at O'Reilly's from 3 p.m. on Sundays. Many of those who play the Neil Murray Stage at the folk festival are better at celtic music than the best adults in most other cities of similar size in North America. There is also an annual Young Folk at the Hall with workshops leading up to a Sunday concert. There may be more info on that on the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society web site.
All of the sessions Fergus (and I) listed are purely traditional round-table unamplified sessions. Also, I think there is room for a slow (beginner, all ages, including slow adults) session perhaps at The Peter Easton Pub or The Ship Pub or alternating between them each week, or at a non-alcoholic non-pub venue if all ages. (But young people under 19 are allowed in pubs that serve food, up to I think 8:30 p.m., if accompanied by an adult.) Also during the summer festival season sometimes musicians are at the festivals and thus round table unamplified sessions at pubs are much less full of musicians, but generally in the night after a festival's evening concert there are usually late night impromptu sessions somewhere.
O'Reilly's Irish Pub has a Tuesday night Open Mic Night from 10 to 12 with paid hosts playing before 10 and after 12 and this is often packed, especially during university year.
Furey's Saloon in Holyrood has an open mic on Saturday nights hosted by Gary Woodford I think. They are a half hour drive by highway from St. John's or 55 minutes by the coastal scenic route.
CBTGs has a jam night on Tuesday nights.
Scanlan's (formerly The Spur) may have open mic spots on Sunday nights with Danny Keating and Victor Lewis hosting.
Turner's Tavern I think has an open mic night and I will post the details here when I get them.
Distortion has an open mic but I forget the day.
Nautical Nellie's has an open mic at 10 p.m. Saturdays.
Wednesday night is Newfoundland and Labradors Folk Arts Society Folk Night at The Ship Inn and in between sets of the featured performer there is a chunk (about an hour) of time for four open mic spots each consisting of three songs or three sets of tunes. This gets going around 9 p.m., but to get a good seat show up by 8:45 p.m., and it ends around midnight
Hava Java coffee shop has an open mic on Sunday evenings, I think from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and it is an all ages one since it is not a bar. This is hosted by Natalie Noseworthy.
The Breezeway bar in the university centre at MUN has an open mic Wednesday nights hosted by Terry MacDonald during the university year.
The Georgetown Pub on Hayward Avenue has an open mic every Friday night I think starting at about 9 p.m., hosted by Blair Harvey.
MusicNL hosts an open mic at The Ship Pub Mondays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. I think.
I've seen a few more on posters and in The Telegram and in The Scope but haven't been making note of them but will start to I guess.