Friday 24th July 2009

The Festival Season is upon us and soon it will be Broadstairs. You can tell by all the rain although, this year, they do forecast a heatwave for the second week in August. So better get the wellies out then.

"What of the sessions?" I hear you cry.

I would like to make clear at this point that these entries are the fevered ramblings of a sessioneer and not a report from the Independent's Session Critic. Scoff and chortle into your ale if you will, but these are personal observations, based on my own predilections which are well known.

In an ideal world, I would like music sessions to be music sessions. Musicians who sing can do so whenever the muse is upon them but I would like singers who don't musicsh to go to folk clubs. Story tellers such as Adrian O' are welcome anywhere anytime. I'm not sure about poets. That's it in a nutshell.

Having said that, and contrary to popular belief, If I run a session, I would not turn away singers, poets or anyone else who comes to play/sing/juggle tripe/crochet chain link fences/gargle the Marseillaise/fart Rule Brittania or bend horseshoes by hand into interesting artistic objets d'art. I always leave it very much to them to work out whether they feel they are in the right place.

Well, the Irish session is still stuggling along and is very variable. Apparently, last week was a stonker (I had to miss it. Rats!) but this week was less stonking with a turn out of only 4 stalwarts. Nevertheless, a good time was had and some good tunes played. Beau of KentFolk came to support us and a good discussion was had as well meandering as it does around many topics.

As for Thursday in the Bear, It fares a lot better than the Irish Session and has a good following of musicians and singers.

Mike and Ruth always lay on a good evening's entertainment and everybody is welcome. Every Thursday night is different and it depends on who turns up and what they can do as to what happens.

In the back bar of the Bear (those of you who know it will appreciate this with incredulity), we have had, over the years: Bagpipes (full Highland and Irish and Northumbrian and Breton), Hurdy Gurdy, a selection of medieval wind instruments, Saxophone and Euphonium, Hammer Dulcimer, Nyckelharpa, Harp, Appalachian Clogging, French Dancing, Irish Dancing, English Sessions, Irish Sessions, Singers and Poets and I'm sure there's more. We've had Burn's Night, St Georges Day, Solstice Celebrations, St Patrick's Day and who knows what else besides (not all Thursday Nights). We've run sessions for the Hop Festival and Food Festival and Barn Dances for fund raising and charity.

As for guests, they are legion - Tim Edey, Paul Lucas, Davey Slater, Tan Tethera, Bob Kenwood, Eugene Lambe and many many more from home and overseas. Add to this heady mix, the Bear's long standing regulars and supporters and it is never a dull evening.

It's not always an English Music Session or even a mixed music session, but it is a good night and if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't go!