Invitation-Only Song Circle Hosted Monthly at the Ould Sod

Barry Hill & Bonnie Nicholls.

Eight singer-songwriters are invited each month to share their music at a song circle hosted by Barry Hill and Bonnie Nicholls at the Ould Sod in Normal Heights.

In the back room of the pub, participants in the San Diego Songwriters Circle present their songs in a round-robin format. There are three rounds, and sound is provided.

A sample of previous performers includes Lindsay White, Julia Sage, Cathryn Beeks, Kaylee Daugherty, Joe Summers, Evan Diamond, and Gayle Skidmore, to name a few.

“I like song circles, because I play the piano,” Nicholls said. “If I’m going to bring all my gear, I want a guarantee that I’ll get to play. That’s not always the case with open mics. But it is with song circles, like the ones hosted by Cathryn Beeks in North County.”

Inspired by Beeks, Nicholls started a song circle as part of the Mid-City Community Music jams in February 2024, where anyone could show up and play. But after the organization lost its space at a North Park church, she and Hill opted to move the event to The Ould Sod in August 2024.

However, unlike many open mics, the San Diego Songwriters Circle is curated. Hill and Nicholls reach out to experienced singer-songwriters they know as well as newer talent to balance out the group.

“Our goals are simple,” Hill said. “To give singer-songwriters a welcoming place to share their music. And, of course, to have fun.”

Anyone can come and listen to the music. The song circle is usually the second Wednesday of the month, 6-9 p.m. at the Ould Sod, 3373 Adams Ave., Normal Heights.

To express interest in joining the song circle, musicians can contact the co-hosts via the San Diego Songwriters Circle on Facebook or Instagram. You can also fill out a form indicate your interest: https://forms.gle/stqLUXjEhQLSDQZZ6.