Greetings Sessioneers
We are considering an extended stay in Oregon and are hoping to discover the ITM scene between Portland and Eugene. We would be very grateful for your advice and suggestions.
Naturally we have reviewed the posted sessions and will hope to visit a couple this spring. Hope to see you there and share a few tunes.
All the best
For the Portland scene, the list here on the session seems accurate as far as I know. While I don’t frequent any sessions right now, I’ve been to O’Neill’s Sundays, Tigardville Tuesdays, and Maher’s Thursdays. I’ve also read that Kells Sundays is still going, and I know that Caldera Tuesdays is also active. If you want to know any more details on the 3 sessions I’ve been to, feel free to send me a PM. Portland has had a pretty consistently active session scene. I’ve never played tunes in Eugene, and I don’t know about the scene there.
County Cork Pub on Sunday afternoons (2:00?) has great musicians like Mikey Beglan, but might not be the most open. Also might not be weekly anymore - call ahead.
Should mention the two outliers on Sundays - Tualatin and Vancouver, both monthly on 2nd Sundays. Both are beginner friendly and/or mixed levels. PM me if you want to know more about the Vancouver one.
If you venture over the mountains into Central Oregon, pm me. In addition to the Dudley’s session, there are some fairly regular house sessions.
I play most Thursdays at Maher’s. If your user name means you play guitar please actually learn something about it before dropping in, we’ve been plagued with a barrage of strummers who just don’t know what the hell they’re doing.
We have a pretty good turnout, and the gal who runs things is very adamant about it being open to all. So…I just persist with the usual Irish session tactic of passively aggressively letting people know they suck, I guess…
The gal who runs the Co. Cork session will let you know in no uncertain terms that you’re not welcome, because you suck. Tell her Kevin says hi! ;) Caldera has the problem that they can only fit in about 8 people. There are some great players at these sessions, though. Tigardville can cram in tons of musos, they’re still playing the Titanic soundtrack though, if you know what I mean - Blarney Pilgrim, Sean Reid’s Polka, all that rot. Goofy stuff, they’re very nice folks though. The Maher’s session tries to be a titch more authentic. We’re a lot more friendlier than this post suggests!
McMenamin’s Rock Creek Pub every Sunday eve at 6pm Hillsboro, Oregon
In the summer July, McMenamin’s Edgefield in Troutdale; Tues. eves outside, very enjoyable
Thanks all for the very kind responses. We’ll be out 2nd week in April and I will PM a few of you who have been kind enough to offer.
-Mike