After the enthusiasm of last weeks bumper attendance at the Wednesday Irish session at the Anchor at Wingham, this week saw a reduced but quality attendance of 4. Not a reed nor a fipple in sight and everything had frets. Everything also had a metal hoop, skin head ... well it was a mini-banjo fest really with 3 tenors and a Mandolin Banjo. Next time this happens though it will be 'the 4 tenors' as John has joined the ranks with a shiny new archtop Grafton. We still managed to power our way through many a jig and reel in a very session like manner - taking turns around the group. How refreshing. It developed as it often does into a nostalgia trip - this time from cinema organs to cinemas to Saturday morning clubs at the Gaumont and ABC, to threepenny bits. On the way passing through busking cinema queues and earning more in a night than a worker's weekly wage. Ah, heady stuff.
Thursday at the Bear was jolly good with an absolute absence of any plinky, thumpy or twangy. The added presence of dear Ralph, sparing time from his many projects (Patterson, Jordan and Dipper, Housewife's Choice ...) to play in the session. Not a song all evening and many a fine tune played. Quite a few Scottish (well it was Burn's night and at least two of us had Haggis, neaps and tatties for tea). Ralph and I were much heartened by the news that Free Reed are going to release an old Roaring Jelly (B I G Valerie Wilkinson ...) LP on CD in February.
Sunday at the Anchor, Faversham for an Irish session for anyone up for it.
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