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.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
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!
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, December 06, 2006
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.
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.
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