Sunday 21st January 2007

Things are picking up after the Christmas slump. Fortunately the stalwarts kept the sessions going so that the occassionals have somewhere to come back to.

The good news is that we saw the return of two players who have been missed - Andy banjo and Ralphie (different session of course). It is amazing the difference to a session's dynamics that one person can make. It's equally of course amazing that some seem to drift in and out without making a ripple. Anyway, Andy was on form and we played many of the old, driving banjo oriented sets from yore and everybody (I think) was happy. It's really good to see Andy back on the circuit again although he did mention defecting to an Old-time session at Rainham!
Nice to see Susannah and George again and all the regulars of course. Pete brought his electric keyboard instead of his accordian (which he was told was a write-off) but it didn't fall into the category of dreaded plinky things. We did ask for some Kilfenora type accompaniment but he wouldn't do it for some reason.

Ralphie's duett concertina is always a delight - even when he bends the accompaniment to the extreme! There was no plinky or out of place twangy on Thursday, but that was very much countered by the return of the much feared one-string bass. Any one got a Stanley knife?
It's a real pity that it isn't a session as such. It tends to be about an hour of Watershed practice followed by an hour or more of any guest who drops in. That's OK when it's players like Ralph or Martin the fiddle, but it attracts singers too. Call me old fashioned, but players don't invade the folk clubs and open mike events where the singers go, so why do singers invade music sessions? There used to be some session rules in the old days - Singing only after 11:00. Some of the other rules were useful too - Only 1 bodhran at a time and only 1 item of cutlery to be played at a time (there were a lot of spoons players). I think the restriction even extended to guitars if more than one turned up - saved the embarrasment of multiple keys and rhythms distracting the melody instruments.

All in all though, two good sessions.

Monday was the occasional (third Monday) session at the Plough and Harrow which tends towards an Irish / French mix with some strange versions of tunes being played sometimes. Phil on Hurdy Gurdy and pipes and Geoff on hooty things can always be relied on. Still a good session for beginners and intermediates as there isn't really an ego / alpha male problem and Martin runs it quite democratically. Interesting to hear other tunes played that you might not hear elsewhere.

Nothing tonight or Monday (as far as I know). Normal Wednesday (Anchor Wingham) and Thursday (Bear Faversham) and then Sunday Irish at the Anchor at Faversham for an end of the month treat.

If you didn't see Folk Hibernia on BBC4 on Friday night - wait for it to come round again - excellent programme on the renaissance and rise of Irish music with some history thrown in. Some great clips and all the names you know from sessions because you play their tunes!