•Seisiun Tune List - A printable list of tunes frequently played at the seisiuns.

Bands -

Before The Mast
(Sea Songs and Shanties)

Budd Bay Buccaneers
(Scallywags and Scoundrels)

Constellation's Crew
(Hank Cramer & Northwest musicians sing historical Shanties and Sea Songs)

Cricket On The Hearth
(Celtic/Irish)

Old Time Medicine Show

Snake Oil
(Old Time/Bluegrass)

  Welcome to the website of the Olympia Folklore Society. Established in 1968, the height of the "Great Folk Scare", the Olympia Folklore Society served as umbrella organization for the founding of numerous folk music events in the Olympia area, such as Hootenannies to benefit worthy causes, the Tumwater Bluegrass Festival, the Irish Cottage Fair, two coffeehouse concert series: Applejam and the Oldtime Medicine Show, and sponsors educational workshops and jam sessions such as: the Columbia Street Irish Seisiun.  OFS promotes the preservation of traditional music and folk arts and stands ready to assist in these areas with a pool of knowledgeable advisors, volunteers, and, sometimes, funding.   Call Burt Meyer for info: 866-4296

Olympia Folk Events and Seisiun Calendar 

May 5   Matlock Historical Fair, at the "logger town" near Shelton (at the 2nd Shelton exit, take a left).  Steam engines, logging demos, tractor parade, and entertainment.  Snake Oil (Burt & Di) will play on Saturday at 4:45. 

May 6   Budd Bay Shanty Sing,  open to all who love songs of the sea.  Come join in, lead a shanty, or just listen!   At Apollo Pizza & Pasta (2302 Harrison Ave NW) on Olympia's westside near the bowling alley.   Call 866-4296 for info

May 6   Medium Rare Session, for those pickers who can handle the tunes at a slow to moderate pace.  And an opportunity for more accomplished players to learn Irish and oldtime American tunes "on the fly".      1 - 4 Sunday afternoon is the time.  Call 866-4296 for the place.

May 12    Black Hills Pickin' Party,  a 2nd Saturday jam session for oldtimey/country/bluegrass music from 11am - 4pm at the Black Lake Grange has workshops, circle jams, and performance time, as well as a "finger food potluck".  Info: 352-1239 or 352-7310

May 26 - 28   Folklife Festival, the northwest's biggest folk music event in Seattle at Seattle Center.  Google Folklife for a schedule.

June 3   Budd Bay Shanty Sing,  open to all who love songs of the sea.  Come join in, lead a shanty, or just listen!   At Boston Harbor Marina from 7 - 9 pm on the dock, if the weather be good, or, if not, at Apollo Pizza & Pasta.   Call 866-4296 for info

June 9    Black Hills Pickin' Party,  a 2nd Saturday jam session for oldtimey/country/bluegrass music from 11am - 4pm at the Black Lake Grange has workshops, circle jams, and performance time, as well as a "finger food potluck".  Info: 352-1239 or 352-7310

June 10   Medium Rare Session, for those pickers who can handle the tunes at a slow to moderate pace.  And an opportunity for more accomplished players to learn Irish and oldtime American tunes "on the fly".      1 - 4 Sunday afternoon is the time.  Call 866-4296 for the place.