Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/633996
169 bit of everything to O'Neill's. "The Irish call their neighborhood pub the 'local' and we would like to be that for everyone," she says. Staying true to the bar's Irish roots is important as well, so three days a week tra- ditional Irish music is the focus. Friday and Sunday evenings, an Irish seisiún ("session" in Gaelic) is led by accomplished fiddler and multi- talented musician Larry Young and Dublin-born Irish and American folk artist Tom Courtney. Expect to hear more lively Irish music on Saturday nights with rotating acts. O'Neill's just added a monthly acoustic brunch on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. that featured singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker as the inaugural artist. Matthews says weekend brunch is a crowd favorite, serving up a tradi- tional Irish breakfast and make-your- own Bloody Mary bar. "Our motto is 'Wicked Good Craic,' which means fun," she says, a nod to both the North Shore and Irish communities. OPUS When Opus opened its doors in Salem a few years ago, the response was so overwhelming they created a space downstairs where guests waiting for a table could comfort- ably hang out on leather couches. It didn't take long for general manager Danny Giddings and his team to figure out they were on to something much more. Now, in its third year, Opus Underground is the restaurant's happening live-music den with a range of daily acts across every genre. Monday is punk and rockabilly, Tuesday is a time to test your own talent with karaoke, and Wednesday is reserved for hip-hop collective Wreck Shop Movement, a community-focused group of artists that promotes education and giving back. Opus Underground's first CONTACT The Grog 13 Middle St. Newburyport 978-465-8008 thegrog.com 7 Central 7 Central St. Manchester-by-the- Sea 978-526-7494 7central.net O'Neill's 120 Washington St. Salem 978-740-8811 oneillsofsalem.com Opus 87 Washington St. Salem 978-744-9600 salemopus.com The Port Tavern 84 State St. Newburyport 978-465-1006 portnewburyport. com photograph by Elise Sinagra (opposite), by Michael Sparks Keegan (left), by Kyle Bornstein (right) foray into live music was with reg- gae on Thursday. It's still one of the most successful nights of the week, and acts like Gloucester's Soul Rebel Project pack the house every time they're on stage. On weekends, any- thing goes: pop, rock, funk, alterna- tive, indie, or soul. The Van Buren's funk sound is popular. And watch for appearances by up-and-coming band Red Tail Hawk from Newbury- port. Live music runs from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m., and he and his team are always looking for new music. THE PORT TAVERN This month, Newburyport's Port Tavern celebrates its seven-year an- niversary, bringing Irish American comfort fare and a laid-back pub vibe to the local scene. Wednesdays are reserved for a traditional Irish seisiún, a relaxed gathering of Irish musicians who play off each other— one starts a tune and the others join in until they've completed a set of songs. Accompanying instruments can include tin whistles, fiddles, flutes, accordions, and guitars for the real sounds of Ireland. General manager Abbie Pierce says regu- lars make Wednesday part of their weekly routine, but the music also attracts surprised first-timers: "A lot of times I see [people] dining in the front bar and they don't realize the music they hear is being played live at the back of the restaurant; they think it's the radio!" Celebrated Irish musician Eamon Coyne plays the fiddle and mandolin, and is one of the recurring artists you can expect to hear. Sarah Blacker; Right, hip-hop collective Wreck Shop Movement at Opus