Monday 19th February 2007

Now that things have settled down to (near) normal again, it's difficult to find new things to post except reports of the sessions. However, sometimes sessions turn out to be quite unexpected and worth a mention. Such was the case last Thursday when the back bar of the Bear contained more musicians (well some musicians and some just with musical instruments) than punters. There were 2 new faces - a Duette and a flute. The flute was from the States and played some very nice Irish Reels. The Duette seemed a bit on the Musical Hall side of things but nicely done all the same.

Colin the concertina, two irregular fiddle players one of whom is called Martin and also the lovely Heather Grabham made a welcome appearance, but offset by both plinky and thumpy. If thumpy tries to play that hunting horn one more time ... On the bright side, plinky is much more considerate these days.

And Ralphie played the Dambusters. Well it's a change from the Budgie song and nicely done I might say.

There is a mixed session tonight at the Plough and Harrow Tilmanstone. Not mixed as in boys and girls but mixed as in French, English, Irish etc music - not a pure session like the Irish ones tend to be. Speaking of the Irish session, we haven't seen Jez for an awful long time now. Probably chasing cash point raiders and 12 year olds with guns instead of the serious stuff - banjo playing! Ho hum.

There will be the last Sunday session at the Anchor, Faversham this coming Sunday. Strictly Irish of course.

Friday 9th February 2007

The sessions have settled back to near-normal. Well, as normal as sessions ever get. The regulars are back, the sessions are fuller and the occasional guest drops in. The weather recently meant reduced numbers. Some have a long way to come and others who are out in the sticks are on ungritted roads, but enough make it through the snow and ice to make a merry tune. Every now and then, one of the locals says he enjoys what we do, so it feels as though we're not disturbing the normal ambiance of the pub too much.

Ralphie has a song. Where it came from I know not - it's probably original but if you've heard it before, maybe you'd post a comment. It's about a budgie. The sort of song in the French tradition (like Allouette) except darker. Parts of the budgie get eaten in each verse and you repeat all the parts (forgive the pun) in order. The song then takes an absurd twist into 'I have eaten the Id of my budgie' and 'I have eaten the Gestalt of my budgie'.

There may or may not be a session at the Anchor in Faversham this Sunday. Ring the pub to find out if we're playing. We were hoping to play, but haven't heard yet if it's available.

Friday 26th January 2007

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.