The Irish-American Artists and Writers Association presents their west-coast October artist’s salon, hosted by Seán Lightholder. Come hear some of the west coast’s best Irish-American artists this coming Wednesday at Slaínte in Oakland:
Hailing from the train town of Niles, California, where Charlie Chaplin filmed "The Tramp" and the first set of railroad tracks entered the San Francisco Bay Area in 1869, Michael McNevin has shared stages with Johnny Cash & The Carter Family, Donovan, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Christine Lavin, Utah Phillips, Robert Earl Keen, Iris Dement, Rosanne Cash, Greg Brown, and many others. Quirky conversations, odd jobs, and narrow escapes, Michael McNevin's songs read like short stories—full of heart, humor, and a keen eye for detail. His skillful guitar work and nuanced vocals have graced the main stages at the Kerrville Folk Festival, Strawberry Folk Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Redwood Ramble, Philly Folk Festival, and SummerFolk in Canada. Don't miss his set this Wednesday at Slaínte!
Alameda-based singer-songwriter Deborah Crooks' grew up surrounded by nature, but close enough to San Francisco to be influenced by the city’s history of social, musical and political upheaval. Place-based and rooted in practice, she’s released several collections of original music solo and with the band Bay Station, which she co-founded with Kwame Copeland along with their “Love the Bay" Music & Sailing video series. Her most recent projects include the bird-themed folk opera “Flight Lessons” and a forthcoming release, I was Yours. During the past couple of years, she’s organized several 19 Voices in Solidarity benefit concerts for various causes, campaigns and organizations including the ACLU. Come see her celebrate her Irish roots this Wednesday at Slaínte in Oakland.
Megan McLaughlin is an innovative guitarist, singer, and songwriter who sounds like the love child of Joni Mitchell and David Crosby. Megan busked on the streets of Paris, studied guitar with Nina Gerber, and followed her heart when love brought her to California in the 90s. She is a powerful presence onstage with her band, The Musers, who boast four studio albums and whose heartfelt songs, harmonies, and dancey grooves can be heard at their shows all around the San Francisco bay area. Her set is bound to delight and entrance this Wednesday at Slaínte.
IAWA's guest host this Wednesday at Slaínte is Seán Lightholder, a fifth generation San Franciscan. He lived in Ireland for a time — the country his father grew up in — and there became deeply influenced by its humor, music, and social rhythms. Seán has bounced back and forth between the continents building community around music: through writing and playing on his own and with different bands, and creating essential community at open mics (Seán ran bayareaopenmics.com for over a decade) and songwriting events. Catch him locally singing his lungs out with local Irish rockers CaliCeltic (whose sixth studio album is coming in 2026), sitting in at Irish music sessions, or on his own as "Lightholder."
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