BS: Philly

Subject: BS: Philly
From: GUEST,South Side
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 05:15 PM

Just moved to Philly and I'm trying to find the small venues and good people. Any info about record stores with good selections and places to play and meet musicians would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 08:46 PM

Hello, South Side, and welcome to Philadelphia PA, land of hoagies, cheesesteaks and soft pretzels!

Can't help you too much with South Philly or Center-City venues, being from the suburbs and all, but if you can make your way north to Germantown Avenue, I'll tell you THE place to go to meet musicians who can tell you about all the other great city venues: The Mermaid Inn. Check out their website at http://www.themermaidinn.net

Do be sure to check out the map before you go, because the street address is deceiving (Winston Road cuts a diagonal above the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane). Basically, get to Germantown and Mermaid, go up the hill on Mermaid for a couple of yards to the next intersection, and the bar is on the far right corner.

You may also want to consider joining the Philadelphia Folksong Society -- website is at http://www.pfs.org They have lots of house concerts, get-togethers at people's homes for singing, a monthly concert in a college auditorium in Fort Washington PA, and of course the annual Folk Festival in Schwenksville PA (which is coming up later this month! August 22, 23 and 24, to be exact!).

A smaller, friendly group meets in Bucks County PA if you care to venture that far out of town: The Bucks County Folk Song Society -- website is at http://www.bucksfolk.org

Then there's the Philadelphia Songwriters Alliance (no website yet but they tell me it's coming within the year) -- if interested, I'll find the group's email but I don't have it at hand right now. Also there's the Philly chapter of JustPlainFolks -- chat-board for that chapter is at http://www.justplainfolks.org/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Philadelphia+Chapter+Message+Board&number=20

So there ya go; there are some leads to help you hook up with some folks with whom to make music; they (make that "we"!) in turn can help you locate specific venues, record stores, folk-instrument shops, etc.

Have fun, and hope to see you in one or more of these soon!

SharonA

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: Bert
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:10 PM

Hi, welcome to Philly where the pretzels think that they're bagels.

Sharon covered all the good stuff but there's also Steel City Coffee shop in Phoenixville. They have a jam session Tuesdays, a song circle Wednesdays and an open mike on Thursdays.

And Oliver McElhone plays at Brittingham's on Thursdays and Sundays.

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:42 PM

Philly rules! Hey Bert..long time no see.

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: South Side
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 10:05 AM

Thank you much!

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: Bert
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 10:53 AM

Hey where ya bin Matt_R, and how are you doing these days?

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: alanabit
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 05:14 PM

Musicmic's a good guy and I believe he lives in your new home city. Maybe he'll see this thread and point you in the right direction.

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 06:09 PM

Hi!

    Check out the website: www.heydave.net

    I know Dave from another online board and have met him in person...have a few of his CD's too....very neat fella! He runs a handmade acoustic shop in downtown Philly. He also gives lessons and such. Check out his site and drop him a line...I'm more than sure he could show you around or at least point you in the direction you are searching for! :)

Lily =^..^=

PS   Tell Dave Pete's wife from BlackLabFlies sent ya!

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: musicmick
Date: 06 Aug 03 - 05:34 PM

I will be glad to suggest sessions, venues, hangouts and whatever else is appropriate in the tri-state area around Philly. This is the best place for folksinging venues I have found in a lifetime of wandering. I have been making a living as a full time folksinger for years, and I'm not the only one. There are societies, schools, festivals, camps and much more. Welcome to town.
You can reach me through the PFS or directly at   [e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 07 Aug 03 - 12:52 AM

Well, I was hoping to catch up with Max and Bert while I was there, but I had too much fun doing stuff with my daughter...like going to the 27th-from-the-last game at Veteran's Stadium. (I saw that they're selling seats from the Vet...who would EVER want a seat from that boring place? Now, a seat from Connie Mack stadium, that's another matter entirely.) I also got to see my old schools (Rhawnhurst Elementary, Wilson Jr. High, and Central H.S.), the hospital I was born in (Einstein Northern), and the house I grew up in, near Cottman and the Boulevard. Maybe next summer...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Philly
From: Dani
Date: 07 Aug 03 - 06:37 PM

Are you kidding!? I grew up going to Phillies games with my dad at Vet's stadium. I'd LOVE to have a seat from there!! Are they cheap plastic, slightly nubbly and smelling of beer like I remember?

Dani (who misses those pretzels BADLY)