21st December 2006

Two interesting sessions so far this week. On Monday, the Barfrestone refugees pitched up at the Plough and Harrow at Tilmanstone. The Pub looks very pleasant and the musicians were well received, but the acoustics are not brilliant. Having said that, it was a good evening and many a good tune was played. Being a mixed session, anything goes but it was predominantly French and Irish. I don't know if the third Monday session will continue at this venue but a hospitable Pub that's easy to get to counts for a lot.

Wednesday's Irish was very pleasant with just a small gathering of 'stalwarts'. That is Judy, Will, John, Twizz, Ian, Shelagh and myself. Because there was no formulaic set lists, nor any discernible egos, it felt more like a session than it has for a long time and some tunes were played that would never normally see the light of day. I must practice some more sets and get better at reels. New year's resolution.

Tonight is the last Bear session before Christmas, so the Carol sheets will come out in the second half. You've been warned. Traditionally itinerant musicians who once lived in Faversham and have moved away make the pilgrimage to return and pay homage at the Pub which has seen so much music and so many musicians that it actually feels like a home for music. Whether any will actually turn up or not I don't know - you never do at the Bear. No two weeks are ever the same. In a good way. Mostly. Pray to St Cecilia that no bang-crash-thump-twang-plink heads that way and we'll all be happy. Actually, if any do, and they can play in rhythm and for those that that have instruments that purport to be either diatonic or chromatic, in tune and in key and playing for the most part sensitive to the tunes, they will be very welcome. Well it is Christmas.

Saturday 16th December 2006

What's been happening in the last week or so? A quiet session on Thursday 7th in the Bear but then a great night at the Barn Dance on Friday which raised a lot of money for the Friends of Faversham Creek. The raffle offered donated prizes such as an excursion on the Waverly and a trip on a sailing barge. Lots of people turned out and everyone was up for the dances - not much encouraging needed! An anxious wait for the PA to turn up - stuck in traffic on the A2 but everything went well in the end. Thanks to Dave in the Bear for getting an extension and letting us go back there afterwards. Once the late night drinkers had gone we had a few more tunes and some great songs from Ellie and from Richard Vanstone. Rounded the evening off nicely.

Sunday saw an unexpected Irish session in the Anchor at Faversham which was quite well attended but the principal protagonists do tend to pack up and leave early. Nice to see Annie and Andy (Manion) again though.

The Wednesday Anchor is getting better but there seems to be an early shift, the main session which is relatively short and then a late shift. Good for beginners and those who just like to play.

Thursday also a good session with not a wayward bangy, thumpy, twangy or plinky thing in sight (Hoorah) . Next week is the Carol Sheets. You've been warned. Who can forget Mike's enthusiastic efforts to get the pub to sing 'While Shepherds watched their flocks' to 'Ilkley Moor bar t'hat' only to have it taken over by the pub singing the actual words to the tune instead of the Carol.

For all ex-Yew Tree session fans, there is a session on Monday 18th at the Plough and Harrow, Tilmanstone. Wednesday and Thursday sessions will continue as normal over Christmas and New Year.

In case you missed it before, I recommend everyone (well, in the UK anyway, with digital) to watch Howard Goodall's 'How Music Works' on More4. Simply Brilliant.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday 6th December 2006

Session tonight and I haven't written about last weeks yet! Well the Irish at Wingham is still going strong but no sign of Andy (we know), Rick or Jez for a long time. Jez works shifts so that's probably where he is but no news of Rick. No Slovakian fiddle player last week either - went to a concert instead. Anyway, it keeps trundling along with the stalwarts as they are known. Always entertaining - the discussions as well as the music but they only really manage enough steam for a couple of hours at most.

The weekly mixed lumpy though gets later and later. Sessions at the Bear in Faverham now run routinely from well before 9:00 to after 11:30, such is the atmosphere. No thumpy or twangy or plunky last week and the session thundered on - spurred by the need to rehearse for the Festival Band's outing. Where else could you get a barn dance with a 10 piece band and 3 callers for £5.00? Well, it is for charity. If they paid the going rate it would be outrageously expensive. Queen Elizabeth School Faversham Friday 8th December 19:30.

A jolly nice chap from PRS (Performing Right Society) popped in and stayed for the session. Noting down that everything was well out of copyright, being trad. I think the most recent tune we play is 19th Century and the earliest probably 16th century. Music Copyright is 70 years in the UK by the way.

Anchor at Wingham - Irish tonight. Mixed lumpy - Bear at Faversham tomorrow. Probably a big turn out by the Festival Band ahead of the gig on Friday. Nothing at the weekend as far as I know.

Friday, 24th November 2006

Another week. Another couple of sessions. The Wednesday Irish session at the Anchor in Wingham was nearly back to full strength but missing a few still. Another visit from Susannah, the Slovakian Irish fiddler with the hairy boots. She seemed to wonder why we always played just Irish Music in an Irish session! No real answer is there? We did point out that there were other mixed sessions and that Irish tended to be purer. Does anybody else's session tend towards a educational experience for esoteric facts? It seems that every week there is a fairly academic discussion about anything under the sun that isn't usually related to music. Is it a feature of Irish Sessions?

There will be a session (Irish) at the Anchor in Faversham on Sunday - the regular last-Sunday-of-the-month bash. Hopefully, Andybanjo will be back with us if he's well again.

Thursday's mixed lumpy was made all the more lumpy by the thumper and at one point I could have sworn that it was the Kilfenora Ceilidh Band (it's that piano) playing. That caused unbridled mirth in our corner. Gradually introducing more tunes such as Roxborough Castle and a few more Irish-y sets (not too many - just enough to make it mixed). The latest is one of those rare sets of tunes - all in the same key but with enough difference to make it interesting. The set in question is Tripping Upstairs / Father O'Flynn (or Top of the Cork Road) / Paddy Clancy's. Nice - all in D.

Thanks to John for doing a good QA job on my website (see Links), especially the tunes. Paul the banjo spotted a couple of dodgy tabs which were caused by a) the key being wrong (such as Apples in Winter in E Dorian instead of E Minor as it should be) and b) the m2g program doing something weird with E Dorian and sharpening all the G notes! Ho Hum. Must email him.

Friday 17th November 2006

The Wednesday session was sadly depleted because of a mass pilgrimage to Ennis, our spititual home (after Skibbereen of course). From an unpromising start of 2, we had a surprise visit from a very good fiddle player from Slovakia, name Susannah. Apparently Irish sessions are popular in Slovakia - just shows, you can find an Irish session anywhere in the world!

Dagnabit! I spoke too soon. Thursday saw the return of the dreaded thumper which combined with an out of tune instrument somewhere made it hard work. There is an art, is there not, to providing rhythms for tunes which are essentially for dances - reels, polkas, jigs, horpipes etc. Maybe it should be compulsory for all players to experience the dances or maybe I'm just a grumpy old session player. It wouldn't do any harm though.

Friday 10th November 2006

Three sessions this week. The Sunday Irish at the Anchor, Faversham was a little more subdued that previous Anchor Sessions, probably due to being out-of-sequence and therefore not having as big an audience as usual. Still very welcoming and a lovely place to play. Adrian the fiddle made an appearance but left early objecting to the loudness of the pipes. Considering that it's the stalwarts that keep the sessions alive so that occasionals have somewhere to drop in for a tune, I don't have a problem with them leaving early, even if they are good players. I also think session players don't much like having their dynamics changed out of all recognition by one player - it's not session etiquette. The good news is that Andy Banjo is on the mend thanks to some mysterious elixir of Rick's about which it's probably best not to enquire too closely. Good stuff though!

Wednesday at the other Anchor was quite normal with some of the troops getting all excited about going to Ennis so no doubt we'll hear all about that when they return and their playing will have been inspired.

Thursday at the Bear is different every single week. I have never been to two the same. This week, we saw the return of Lizzy the keyboards and we were joined by Chris Care and his box. and Bob Kenwood who regaled us with a few of his finest songs including one about Pantos. Excellent stuff! Management speak cropped up somewhere and Chris is busy working out how to play with blue sky synergy outside the box. On the other hand, he always plays outside the box 'cos that's where the buttons are. Excellent sets, crisp endings - we must be practising for something.

The evening degenerated into 'Whiter Shade of Pale' and Bach's Tocata and Fugue on the Roland pretending to be an Organ (and doing a good job) plus mouth organ, melodeon, mandolin and other assorted folk instruments. It didn't finish until gone 11:45 after Bob and I had swapped mandolins and we'd played a few Irish tunes - me on his Fylde and him on my Breedlove.

Still mercifully free of bangy-thumpy-twangy things, hoorah! Mustn't speak too soon - I know they're out there somewhere.............

Friday 3rd November 2006

Now I know some people actually read this stuff, I am spurred to continue! The Wednesday Irish was much improved by being back in the snug and it was a good night. Remember I talked about session dynamics ages ago? Well missing our lead banjo has definitely altered the whole atmosphere of the Irish session and it feels as though we're settling into a new groove after wandering for a bit. Some of the old craic was back and the banter was good.

The English (mixed-lumpy) at the Bear was as good as you could wish for and complemented this week by keyboard player Lizzy with her Roland (that's the instrument, not a partner). Mercifully free this week from bangy thumpy and twangy things executing random acts of avant garde music on the poor unsuspecting traditional tunes. It won't last.

There will be a session at the Anchor, Faversham this Sunday to compensate for being moved last week to the Three Tuns. Rose and Crown Stelling Minnis, still undecided. Yew Tree Barfrestone, still no news.

Monday 30th October 2006

What's been happening in the sessions recently? Well recently the sessions have been banished to alternative venues for a one-off. Neither were very conducive to nice tunes. For our regular Wednesday night session, it was the function room upstairs which is cold and gloomy - a world away from our beamy snug downstairs. Andy made a welcome return but only briefly. Still not well so we wish him all the best and hope to see him when he's fully recovered. There were only the banjo players left at the end (Paul, Jez, John and myself) so we played a selection of what we iked. Funnily enough, it was the other Irish session which got moved as well. This time from the Anchor Faversham to the Three Tuns Faversham. Once the darts match had finished and the juke box went off, we played some tunes and had a reasonably good time, but it was a poor substitute for the Anchor. Nice to see Adrian again.

The English (or mixed lumpy) session in the Bear though was fine. It escaped all the venue changing gloominess of the Irish sessions and a good time was had by all.

I've added a load more session tunes to my site now at http://www.banjolin.co.uk/tunes and written a 'tune finder'. You can search for tunes with certain snippets of text in the title, or restrict the list to types (Reels, Jigs etc), origins (England, Scotland etc) or which session they're played in - or any combination. It's really quite flexible and doing it made me realise how many tunes are up there now. It's heading for 300 and they're all available as abc format, NoteWorthy Composer or as combined score and tablature images in either gif or pdf. Some of the tunes still have no name (such as 'Prior to the fire' and 'The French Tune and The Swedish Tune') so if anyone knows a title I'd be grateful. I've used the fiddlers companion quite a bit to check origins - http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/FCfiles.html.

No news yet on the Yew Tree at Barfreston, and some talk about alternative Sunday sessions and a Friday night session. More news when it happens. Let's see what this week brings ...

Friday 13th October 2006

And what a treat Wednesday was. Tim Edey was back in town for a while and came out to the Irish session to play a few tunes with the regulars. He was accompanied by Lucy who is a stunningly good Bodhran player. When you are joined by such good players, it lifts everbody's playing to a different level. A good evening and much longer than usual. I understand that Tim has been playing with Seamus Begley and Steve Cooney most recently, and Lunasa before that. Accordianist is in Hungary and the other banjo player is still moby.

Thursday session was good. Mostly. Two problems really. Three guitars playing different rhythms and sometimes different chords and sometimes in different keys! Oh, and a recorder player and how they like to tootle along to tunes they don't know. Hope they learn. Apart from that, some good tunes and a full pub as usual.

Nothing on the next two Sundays as far as I know, but the Anchor at Faversham on the last Sunday. Off now to play with my Behringer AB switch. On the basis of this experience of buying from them, I can recommend Thomann in Germany if you want gear. Cheap and organised!

I hadn't realised that it had been so long since my last post. What's been happening? Well it's been fairly quiet on the normal session front. Illness and holidays have depleted the Irish session ranks for a few weeks but we've kept going. Acquired a new sessioneer as well (another banjo player - hoorah! Welcome Jez.). The English session has been the same as normal. Which means that it's different every week - you never know who will be turning up apart from the hard core Bear sessioneers. It looks like the Anchor at Faversham may become a two Sundays a month venue, as it it is such a good place to play and the staff like us and advertise to get punters in.

Just acquired a Mandola and for the record, it's a tenor mandola. That's right - not an octave mandola or an octave mandolin but a mandola tuned GDAE - which is tenor (the ordinary being alto). Yes I know it's confusing and tenor banjos don't help. Also ordered a handy programmable A-B switch from Thomann (Behringer AB200) so I can switch between banjo and mandola at gigs. Much handier than a mini-mixer but thanks to Mike for lending me a little Phonic mixer to try.

I've been putting a lot of tunes on my site at http://www.banjolin.co.uk/tunes/, now organised into the two main sessions as well (Bear and Anchor {Wingham}). Formats are .abc, .nwc, .pdf and .gif - the pdf and gif are tablature and score and all the tunes are 'bare bones' - provide your own decoration, ornaments, chords. Beginners find it a lot simpler to have a basic tune outline which they can flesh out later.

Well, it's Irish tonight - lets see what happens!

Monday 18th September 2006

Two very nice sessions at Deal over the weekend as part of the Deal Maritime Folk Festival. The Irish session on Friday night in the Ship on Middle Street was well received and quite well supported. Some lively characters helped the evening along.

The Sunday marathon mixed lumpy session also in the Ship was quiet but very enjoyable. Four hours, never repeated a tune and came away with many more left to play. I think everyone was feeling tired, so we had to have 'nod watch' and a stick to prod anybody dropping off. Ken (Kents mutimedia megastar poet and singer) held a spoons masterclass in the corner to provide some accompaniment. At one point, one of the audience thought we were playing a tribute to Ian Drury and the Blockheads (sex and drugs and rock and roll) when in fact it was the b-part to Old Joe Clark. Bless. Audiences in general, we observe, react more strongly to an ending than the content. So play anything and end well if you want applause.

Friday 15th September 2006

A quiet and fairly normal week so far. Just the regular Wednesday Irish session at the Anchor, Wingham with the regular players - Andybanjo, Ian the piper, Judy the whistle, Twizzle, Rick the flute and Pete the Accordian and yours truly. The Thursday session in the Bear still bothers me. Something somewhere is out of tune and it isn't me.

Anyway, this weekend is the Deal Maritime Folk Festival (aka Sea Shanty Festival) and for sessions, there is an Irish one tonight at the Ship in Middle Street from 8:00 and on Sunday, there is a choice. Both 12:00 to 3:00 - ish, there is another Irish at the Deal Hoy, always a welcoming venue but a bit crowded and then there is a 'playalong' with Mike Wheeler from The Watershed Barn Dance Band and friends back at the Ship in Middle Street.

It was at the Deal Festival where, famously and misguidedly, a French duo were invited into the small bar of the King's Head. They play full Highland Pipes and Bombard. It really did hurt your ears. I have never experienced anything so loud or so painful.

Friday 8th September 2006

Strange this week. Maybe it's post-festival depression or something but the Irish session at the Anchor at Wingham was very quiet. It did mean that we could play polkas, slides and jigs to our heart's content. Pete the Accordian admitted by text message that he'd fallen asleep. We've attracted another Bodhran 'player'.

Thursday English Mixed Lumpy at the Bear in Faversham also quiet, but Heather Grabham joined us as she sometimes does, so that was a bonus. Some nice tunes. I think we get more applause for a well executed tune done with measured pace and Mike thinks it's always better fast and loud. Everyone thought they were out of tune last night until we all realised it was a visiting fiddle. Isn't it odd how somebody else's instrument being out of tune makes you doubt your own?

Nothing this weekend, but Deal Maritime Folk Festival next weekend with sessions Friday night and Sunday lunchtime. Sunday is Irish 12:00 - 14:30 at the Deal Hoy and English 11:30 - 15:30 at the Ship in Middle Street.

Monday 4th September 2006

The Faversham Hops Festival came and went. I don't know if it was the weather or something else, but it didn't feel as lively as in previous years. The Real Festival Band played acoustically in West Street until rained off.

The evening Irish Session in the Bear had a difficult start - too many bodies in too small a pub. However, when it thinned a bit and we were joined by a stunning guitarist (who doubles as an Angel on a gyro bike) it really took off. Some girls did a fusion of traditional and disco dancing for us, and we had the obligatory drunk who took offence to non-Irish people playing Irish music. Oh well! It rolled on for 3 hours so it can't have been bad. Some of the others decamped to the Belgian session and there was no session at Stelling Minnis on the Sunday.

Friday 1st September 2006

Well, the Faversham International Hop Festival is nearly upon us. The Festival Band has become the West Street Irregulars and will play on Saturday 2nd September 2006 in West Street, Faversham from 10:00. Only acoustic this year, and no drum kit.

A treat recently was Ralph Jordan playing 'Jour d'ete' live on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Johnny Walker guesting for Wogan. A brilliant achievement. Way to go Ralphie!

We seem to have picked up a few newcomers on teh session scene, which is always nice. A Bodhran player and a banjo player.

The best session of the moment is undoubtedly the Irish Session at the Anchor at Faversham on the last Sunday of the month. A good gathering of musicians, and appreciative audience, and entusiastic landlord and a great environment - what more do you want?

There will be a special Irish session in the Bear at Faversham on Saturday 2nd September 2006 starting around 8:00 - part of the Hops Festival - if the musicians can get a seat!

Wednesday 23rd August 2006

Broadstairs Folk Week has come and gone again for another year. The Lunchtime session in the Nelson with Paul Lucas was enjoyable as usual and the guest on Monday was a fine Melodeon player of English tunes. Pity the Monday is an Irish session really.

Wednesday night was a 'pub gig' at the Rose with Pete May and Fergie. Surprisingly enjoyable.

The Thursday session was thin, and I think I frightened the horses with a later model Abbott No.2 Banjo. I had to take the resonator off because it was way too loud.

Never mind, I have my original Abbott banjo back now and tried it out at the Yew Tree at Barfrestone. Again a surprisingly enjoyable session and recommended to beginners / intermediate players.

Back to the Anchor at Wingham tonight, followed by the Bear at Faversham tomorrow and the Anchor at Faversham on Sunday.

Monday 14th August 2006

Broadstairs folk week started on Friday, and it's rained ever since! If you want a session, there are lunchtime sessions in the Nelson from about 12:00 with Paul Lucas and guest.

Last Thursday, we were treated to Mick Hale and Sylvia on Saxophone and Euphonium - in the bear - at close range. What they do to poor innocent traditional tunes would bring the Waffen EFDSS down on them for crimes against folk. Anyway, I'm sure it's entertaining in Germany.

Dearth of sessions this week because of Broadstairs. The Wednesday night may or may not happen in the Rose to support Pete May.

Tuesday 1st August 2006

The new session got off the ground this week and it was fabulous. Just what a session should be. There were enough musicians and appreciative audience to achieve lift-off. It was at the Anchor, Abbey Street, Faversham and hopefully will be repeated regularly on the last Sunday of the month. A very appreciative landlord supplied drinks for the players and the acoustics are great. Might have to organise the layout and find chairs without arms but overall very good. Some old friends turned out - nice to see Roger again and Heather Grabham sang a few of her songs.

The Wednesday session saw the welcome return of our piper, but unfortunately, he kidnapped my banjo (inadvertantly I hasten to add!). A word of warning - if you have a common banjo case - personalise it! Fortunately the mistake was realised and I had my banjo back the next day, but it was a worrying 18 hours wondering where it had gone! His was still in the pub, secreted in an alcove.

I have been trying out a Tubaphone Style M banjo recently while my Abbott banjo is in for some minor work. I know now why it was an expensive banjo in its time. It plays like a dream and is quite a bit louder than the Little Wonder but with a nice mellow tone and balance between bass and treble strings.

The Thursday session was another good one, with another welcome visit from Bob Kenward who was persuaded to sing a few songs. He managed to pull out the old Fred Wedlock number 'Robin Hood' which took us all back a few years.

Tuesday 25th July 2006

I think the Festival Band is now officially withdrawn from the Faversham International Hops Festival. I've heard a lot about this in recent weeks and it's still as confusing as it was at the start. Some say that there needs to be a change to the festival, to bring new acts in and make it less folky. Look at the programme though and you won't see that reflected. Morris displays? Yes. Same Kent-based groups doing R&B, Cajun etc? Yes. Not a great deal of change then. The two days will start with not the Festival Band, but Tanglefoot Appalacian Cloggers on Saturday and Dindon Sauvage - Cajun on Sunday. (Used to be Wild Turkey)

The sessions are still going though. It's the run up to the festival season - Broadstairs, Hops, Deal so there will be changes as there always is in August. Mutterings about new sessions at the Deal Hoy, probably on a Friday and also possibly the Anchor in Faversham possibly on a Sunday but nothing definite yet. I expect there to be an Irish Session one evening at the Hops festival - there usually is.

Sunday 15th July 2006

Interesting Times.

Have you ever found that politics and personalities get in the way of your music? Well it's happened to us. Every year, a bunch of well known and not-so-well-known musicians form into the Faversham Hops Festival Band to play for the enjoyment and celebration of the town. Giving their time largely for free, getting up early on both days of the weekend to start things off, they have become an established part of the proceedings. Well this year, for whatever reason, they are probably not playing. The reason? Well, several have been mooted, and it would not be right to repeat them here. Maybe the Hops committee just felt like a change in emphasis. Many of the musicians have their own bands like Ralph Jordan, some have their own Barn Dance Bands like Mike & Ruth Wheeler and Barbara Kelly, some are very well known on the folk scene like Bob Kenward and some are very well known session (that's serious professional session) musicians like Felix Krish. All-in-all an array of talent that would normally cost a fortune to get together for a gig. The rest of us? Itinerant session (that's playing in a pub for fun) musicians.

Anyway, Wednesday's Irish was one of the quietest for a long time with only 4 musicians - and that after the stunning fiddle-fest of the previous week. Thursday though brought out a wonderful gathering of the usual session, plus Bob Kenward, Keith Kendrick and Chris Cair so a good night was had by all. And not a thumper in sight.

Last night I joined Watershed, as I occassionally do, for a barn dance at Littlebourne Barn which is a fantastic venue if you need to hold an event. Everyone danced and it was a really good evening.

Tonight is Stelling Minnis (The Rose and Crown) - Irish session. Let's hope we get more than Wednesday.

Oh and just before I go, Adrian O' rang to let me know that the launch of his CD, 'The Weaving' is at the Alma in Deal on August 6th at 7:45.

Thursday 6th July 2006

I suppose I'd update this quicker if I thought anybody read it.
Now, the Reculver barbeque was almost a music free zone. There was almost a sunset. High spots I suppose were the Fire Brigade arriving only to find a barbeque and after I'd left, apparently the Police arrived probably expecting to find some New Age Travellers or some such.

The English session last week was more of a session - i.e. going round, giving turns rather than a frenetic band practice. The Irish sessions were boosted by fiddle power. Our resident fiddler, Adrian had relatives over. Now there are apparently 8, yes EIGHT fiddlers in the family, we only got three and very good value they were too. They made a huge difference to the Sunday and Wednesday session (Wednesday in particular was cracking) but sadly going away now for a while (back to Finland and Rome respectively). Also had an itinerant fiddle player and guitarist from Devon. She thought it strange that 'folkies' and musicians did different and separate things. We thought it strange that anybody might think they'd want to do anything together. Maybe they're different in Devon.

English, or mixed lumpy tonight. We say every week is different and it is.

It's been a while I'm afraid. Well the sessions have moved and morphed as they always do. Pete is back with us (no pun intended.... or did I) restored to health. Working with Pete is like having a twin brother who knows exactly what you're going to say. It's uncanny. A new fiddler - Larry joined us with his rather nice blonde fiddle. But no Andybanjo this week .

The mixed lumpy has been quite good, and this week someone did have words with the string bass player - he was just awful. Loud, with the wrong rhythm and hoplessly off key. None of us could play.

Reculver barbeque tonight and hoping to see the golden path up to the towers at sunset. The weather has been too poor for the past 3 or 4 years. Last year was abandoned when a thunderstorm came over. Lots of tunes I hope.

I think everyone who plays traditional music in Kent has now been through Pete Brown's studio in Folkestone to put something down for Adrian O's Weaving CD. It will be interesting to hear how all the contributions have been combined.

Last week was a very good week for music. The Thursday English session went extremely well as already reported. The Barn Dance at Painters Forstall was a roaring success. It was the kind of dance where the enthusiasm of the dancers lifts the band and the band, playing with the enthusiam inspired by the dancers, in turn lifts the dancers as well. The mutual boost takes the event to a whole new level and everybody had a good time.

On Sunday, there was a dilemma caused by a clash between the regular Irish Session and an annual visit of American students who love to round of their visit with a traditional session in a pub. The pub is always Simple Simon's in Canterbury, and they regard it as the highlight of their trip. Again, appreciative audience inspires the session. I think the decision to play for the Americans was the right one. It was acually very well balanced as an event, with 4 singers taking well controlled turns between the sets. The singers were Katie Bradley, Richard Mathewman, Bernard Quimby and Roly. Each one brought a different style which the audience loved. Even Mike's traditional drinking songs went well. Bernard sang comedty songs from Jake Thackwray and one I hadn't heard before - The Red-eyed Drinking Team. Katie sang Blues, Richard, traditional and Roly did his eclectic mix including the Beautiful Stranger which always goes down well.

It restores your faith in going out and playing when you have three events in a row which are as appreciated as these. Let's see what this week brings.

Friday 2nd June

It's been a funny old week in the sessions. Our piano accordianist is moby with a bad back and it makes such a difference to the sesion not to have him there. I've noticed in this and other sessions that for some reason, the audience seem to prefer not having reed instruments in the mix but then who do we play for - ourselves or an audience? We aren't getting paid in any way, so we'll do it the way we like it.

The mixed lumpy, or English session was excellent. Beautiful concertina playing by Chris, and some great songs by his daughter, Ellie. Usual suspects there also, but lacking Barbara the fiddle. On the other hand there was Martin the fiddle who plays at a frightening speed but has some fabulous sets and it's always a pleasure to see.

A blast from the past - we haven't been graced with thumpy-twangy for a few weeks now, but out of the blue another turned up. Nice chap but absolutely no sense of rhythm.

Tonight is a bit of recording for Adrian O'. He has a new CD project called 'Weaving' - about the weaving of lives. There should be more recording at the session next Wednesday for some ambient session noise with the tunes. Hoping to get the accordianist there for that one. Tomorrow is a gig at Painter's Forstall and then Sunday, which should be Stelling Minnis Irish Session, there is a session for some American guests at Simple Simon's in Canterbury. I think Stelling is postponed until the following Sunday.

Friday 25th May 2006

Hard to believe that it's a week already since the last post. Not The Last Post - bugles or never seeing the postman again, just the last post to this blog. Well we've had a few sessions since then, all very enjoyable. The Irish session keeps changing its dynamics and at the moment it's very enjoyable. I've started taking a louder banjo and I must say, being able to hear myself better has made a big difference.

Nice to see players like Chris the concertina at the mixed lumpy session and praise be, two weeks without bangs and twangs of any kind. It does make a difference. Our fearless leader had too much daddy juice on Wednesday and was still suffering last night so the tunes had a more relaxed feel. I disagree fundamentally with him that 'it doesn't matter what you play as long as it's loud and fast'. I know that listeners prefer tunes that still have a shape to them. It's the old one about pace and tempo. Correctly emphasising the beat and giving a 'pulse' to the music is much better than upping the tempo.

Next week will see one of the annual Barn Dances at Painters Forstall. Real barn, concrete floor. Must be hell on the dancers. Sunday will be a special session for some visiting Americans in Simple Simons in Canterbury.

Thursday 18th May 2006

The Irish session this week certainly had more of a buzz about it. The piper and the banjo player with all the tunes were both back but we'd lost the accordianist. It's hard to fathom what makes a session tick, but by recording it each week, it might help me to sort it out. Sometimes you can have the same players in the same venue (even in the same chairs) and it will sound different each time. It could be the weather of course, or the emotional state of the players or possibly the quality of the drinks. Our session has a predeliction for diet coke but the other favourite tipples are shandy, a pot of tea, cups of coffee, lime and water and bitter. Oh, and an occassional Guinness or Jameson's. Some very nice sets (well that makes a difference of course) but I'm thinking principally banjo players tunes, which is fine by me.

Well, the itinerant lumpy mixed players are back from Belgium so they'll be regaling us with stories tonight. More on that next time. I wonder if the thumpy-twangys will stay away tonight? I do hope so, I really do.

Friday 12th May 2006

The Wednesday Irish was still sparsley populated but enjoyable. Sometimes it's good to play the old standards and remember all those old sets.

The Thursday suffered the double whammy again, but it wasn't too troublesome. Nice to be joined by Katie Bradley who sang some fabulous songs for us. The Brussels trip is this weekend so there was a sense of practising what's going to be played in Ypres.

Bit of gossip - sounds as if Faversham Hops Festival want to favour 'local' music (who you can listen to any time if you live down hear) and think that Kadril are not the right sort of band to have... allegedly... so I have heard.

Sunday 7th May 2006

The Sunday Irish at Rosencrantz (The Rose and Crown) was very sparse. A few stalwarts put on a brave show to a small but appreciative audience who thought it fabulous that traditional music was being kept alive. An out of the ordinary repertoire meant that the full ensemble couldn't play on most of the tunes, but a great opportunity to learn. After a latecomer arrived with a new Saltarelle, the evening devolved to French tunes. And then there were two ...

Thursday 4th May 2006

The Thursday session had its good points and its bad points. On the plus side, Martin the fiddle joined us and we had some very good tunes. On the bad side there were not one but two out-of-tune and out-of-rhythm (not to mention out-of-key) 'basses' and the reappearance of the staccato machine-gun percussion section. A more relaxed session generally with more people getting a chance to play early on, but singing appeared too early and there was a definite hogger. Still, the audience liked it.

Wednesday Session 3rd May 2006

The Irish session had only a small but select contingent with two appreciative audience. I've said before how the people affect the dynamics and the session definitely had a different feel to normal. It achieved critical mass and some good tunes were played.

Sunday April 30th 2006

This weekend is Rochester Sweeps or 'Medway Sweeps' as the council would like it. Usually, there's a lively session in the Victoria and Bull, but there doen't seem much appetite for it this year. Anyway, as a result and because it's the 5th Sunday, there is no session tonight at the Rose and Crown. Wednesday's Irish and Thursday's mixed lumpy went well. Problem still not resolved with thumpy-shaky-bangy. Further thought needed.

Sunday, April 23rd 2006 St George's Day

I wonder why it is that we don't celebrate St George in England? Are we ashamed of the association of Englishness with something negative about England? I know quite a few musicians who would happily go and celebrate St George's Day by playing some traditional tunes but there isn't the audience enthusiasm as there is with St Patrick. May day will be celibrated by the Morris Men and then there will be the Folk Festival Season where folk music of all kinds will be played, but will there be an 'English Session'? I doubt it. There'll be an Irish one at every venue though.

The Irish session is exciting, pulsing, toe-tapping stuff so that's where it scores I suppose, but nothing is nicer than good lumpy English music played on a Summer afternoon or evening, in a garden....

Thursday Session 20th April 2006

The mixed lumpy session was its usual lively self. The fearless leaders have returned from darkest (and apparently coldest) France and had two weeks to make up. May have been a record number of tunes in a 2 hour session! Some guests. An extra table strategically placed by the landlord, possibly entirely coincidentally, meant that the string bass could not be used. Ah, what a pity. Still the percussion in use sounded like intermittent rounds being fired by the Gurkhas on the practice range. "20 rounds, intermittent drum beating, in your own time. Fire! How we stay on the tunes sometimes amazes me. Despite the acoustics, the heat, the confined space, (and the amusical contributions) the Bear is still a fabulous atmosphere with a very appreciative audience.

I would have thought that there would be a session of English Music for St Georges day on Sunday 23rd, but there doesn't seem to be anything happening. Curious isn't it - every pub has a band for Paddy's night, but not a sausage for good old St George. Not even a mummers play.

Wednesday Session 19th April 2006

The Irish session - back to full strength. The flautist returned from Syria enthusing about whirling dervishes that he saw there. No strangers, no iteinerants. Not that they are not welcome - just sometimes nice to be in the familar and cosy just as at othet times it's nice to have something different. Ah - one member missing - the pipes. There was some swapping of seating arrangements going on too. Maybe because it's spring. Good banter as always, and a question. Is there any other accordianist out there apart from ours who travels with a tea cosy in his case? We think he may be unique.

One of the hot topics at the moment and discussed in every (other) session is how to get rid of the session nuisance. The one with much more neck than talent and actively detracts from any gathering he attends. Yes we have one. There are a few out there and they come in all guises but generally what they have in common is to offend the musicians or cause them to play less well or struggle against what they are doing. Now music should be sympathetic. Adding to the mix if it enhances the overall. I know that's not always true. Sometimes you're learning a tune, sometimes you're just playing along because you know it, but it should be like the Hypocratic Oath -First Do No Harm! Anyway thing may come to a head tonight....

The Monday Session

Unexpectedly, I went along to the Monday Session. Normally I'm out dancing on a Monday night, and the session is only once a month - the third Monday. Sometimes holidays and things conspire to make me free when it's on. I've only been once before and the atmosphere was distinctly breton-esque but I was assured that it should be a mixed session. The venue is very conducive. Small but the acoustics are good and the staff and regulars are keen on the music. Way out in the back of beyond - it is just a pub and a church but what a pub and what a church! (The Yew Tree at Barfreston in Kent BTW). A good time was had by all and it was still going at 11:30 when I left. A fair mix of players but vey good if beginners want to go somewhere less threatening than one of the bigger sessions where there are 'pro-sessioneers'. Some of the tunes were way too fast (a sign of nerves?) and not many joined in on the standards (which was a bit strange). It was almost as if each had a repertoire and only played if their list coincided with yours. Still much to commend it, especially for beginners.

The Sunday Session

Another Irish session tonight. A friend likens the Irish session to the 'A' levels - English traditional music being the 'O' levels. Reels are tunes. Everything else is named, as in 'We'll play 3 tunes and a hornpipe'. The venue is middle-of-nowhere which seems to be normal for the Sunday session. At a pub of course - this one's the Rose and Crown at Stelling Minnis. Never quite know what the dynamic will be. It depends on the weather, the season, family, the school calendar and probably a mysterious quintessence as well.

The Thursday Session

The Thursday session was wonderful - mostly. Our fabulous Duette concertina player joined us and we played a whole bunch of tunes we normally don't play. And mostly good lumpy English tunes as well. Two singers though. What should one do with singers in a music session? One body of opinon says they've got open stage nights elsewhere and music sessions are not the right place for them. It certainly disrupts the flow and changes the mood you've created with the music. A fair few thumpers and graters and shakers at that session unfortunately. I reccommend a stanley knife as standard equipment to cut the string of the wretched tea chest bass and the skin of any of the various drums. Is it possible people, with instruments go to a session and have no idea about timing, rhythm, tuning or keys? Incredible but apparently true and I'm sure you've all experienced it. Promise of a recording anyway but we'll wait and see about that. Talked to my friend Richard at the bar. Apparently Diamond Geezer was filmed in Lincoln Prison in the Castle grounds (and also an old mental home in Leeds). We talked about Lincoln and how nice it is and the Christmas Market they hold eash year. 'Now why doesn't Faverham have one?' he asked. Anybody know? It'd be a great venue for one.

The Wednesday Session

Arrived back from the Midlands with enough time to get a meal and straight out to the session.
Now our session is a real mixture. There are experienced players with a lifetime of tunes, there are beginners who try and pick a tune out and all stages in between. There are also very good players who 'drop in' occassionally and completely change the dynamics. There's a very chatty girl who drops in and plays the goat (bodhran) when she's around but the hard core is still a handful of dedicated, moderately talented players. The good players, having had their fix, leave early and often a second, short impromptu session starts with different music and a different dynamic.

The beers expensive - £2.40 a pint now.

I'm going up to Nuneaton today to take a relative home. I hope to be back for the Irish session tonight but that depend on the vaguaries of the M25 and M1 neither of which are good at the moment. Normally six hours is enough there and back, but six hours in one direction has been known. Still on the way, I can play Bothy Band CDs and listen to Clare FM trad archive on my MP3 player.

OK. It's been a few days since the first post so it's time for a second. Session dynamics are fascinating. Different sessions have characteristics all their own, coloured by the environment (invariably a pub), the acoustics, the players, the mix of instruments .....

There's a critical mass that occurs when you get enough players (minimum 4, preferably 5). More is good but too many end up as porridge. A good balance of different instruments helps of course (not too many of the same) with some willing to do the rhythm while others do the melody. Good rhythm players are hard to find. I know of only a handfull out of all the dozens of sessioneers.

As far as dynamics go, it's amazing how a small change in the make-up of the session can change the entire feel. One more player (or one fewer) , a different venue or having an audience! Next session is Wednesday, so more to report then.

Well, this is the first post to the session diary.

It's a funny old world, playing in traditional music sessions. You meet all sorts. You know people for years, what they play, what they drink, but you only know their first names. The Irish session was once described to me as an exclusive club. You can go anywhere in the world and drop into a session and be accepted. Not the same with English ('lumpy') sessions or the 'mixed-lumpy' sessions (choose from a mixture of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Shetland, Belgian, French...........).

Then there's session etiquette - when you don't crash back in from the bar while a set is being played (or leave a set for that matter). I wish the etiquette would extend to bangers and graters so that they would only play when it was in time and in key. Ho hum. And session politics of course. Whose seat is it anyway?

Now there will be stories from the sessions in the weeks to come but just recently we've been celebrating a birth and lamenting a death, welcoming old friends and finding new and trying desperately to learn some new tunes!