Thanks for asking. I'll be in Scotland in September and was wondering the same thing. Is there a much of a crossover in tunes between ITM and traditional Scottish music, or do the Scottish sessions just play their traditional music?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. Both places are a long way from St Louis, you ken.
Hey guys, If you don't mind me saying, I think your on the wrong page here.
If I were you I'd hop over to 'Footstompin' & ask that question there - those guys there are the Scottish equivalent of the ITM experts here & will keep you right:
If you're in Glasgow on a Friday night, theres a good Irish session in the Victoria Bar (next door to the Clutha Vaults). Often of a high standard. Recommended. There are some other great pubs in Glasgow too, but I'm not sure of ones which are exclusively Irish.
I heard Irish music sessions used to be dominant in Edinburgh, and nowadays native Scots music is getting popular in sessions there. As far as I know, you can find Irish music sessions on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights in Bells.
But seriously Irish tunes are not banned in Scotland. The tunes like the Maid behind the Bar, the Banshee, the Gravel Walks, Morrison's jig and the Lark in the Morning are relatively well-known in Scotland. The Wind that Shakes the Barley, the Sliver Spear, and the Tarbolton are standard wherever you go.
You're right, slainte. The Irish session was imported to Scotland as just that. Somewhere folk went to play Irish music in a way that had become popular in Irish communities inside and outside Ireland. I wasn't really until the 80s that there was a serious move toward Scots music in sessions. It was a somewhat conscious move on the part of some people to promote more Scots music in sessions here, coupled with a natural process. I seem to remember specifically Scottish sessions even being set up. Perhaps someone nearer the centre of the Edinburgh session scene can fill in the history.
The result is a strong legacy of Irish tunes at most sessions - even those with a mainly Scottish bent. This has given rise to what I think of as the "Edinburgh session style" where Scots and Irish tunes and styles are mixed up together into a wierd half Guinness-half 80 shilling shandy. Definately not my pint. I get a little frustrated by the mixing and matching of styles.
I love Scots music and think it is only right that it should be played in the pubs of Scotland. However, I guess I play enough of it at "work" these days. I would love to go to a good Irish session once in awhile and have also wondered where to find one in Edinburgh these days.
I played in the Diggers, Edinburgh in Spring. The repertoire is Scottish but there were some players from Ireland there who were pleased to join in some ITM as they didn't get chance to play much of it.
Similarly, Sandy Bells has at least one ITM night (no idea which night) but I suspect singing might be included as well.
Both Slainte and Kris have it about right. Many sessions in Scotland will have mixture of both Irish and Scottish music plus a lot of hybrid tunes and some which are nothing like either!
So, there's no harm in playing some of your Irish tunes here. You'll not be banned.
Sandy Bells is good for Irish sessions most nights but for "purer" Irish music, Glasgow has probably more to offer.
Of course, the usual "session ettiquette" rules will apply. Don't try to "hog" the session with your tunes or deliberately change the dynamics to suit your own needs.
You'll be welcome to play a few tunes in most session pubs but, if you don't know them all, it's a chance to listen to others.
I think Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes and Liz Carroll have been popularised in Scotland. Is this an American influence? They aren't that popular in England or Ireland.
You'll meet few Irish people playing Irish music in sessions in Edinburgh, but those sessions are as good as any you find in Ireland or elsewhere. I have yet to join sessions in Glasgow, but found an article on the scene there: http://www.footstompin.com/articles/session_pubs/obj5050
slainte - why do you think those 3 fiddlers are popular in Scotland but less so in England and Ireland ? Don't understand that at all, and in fact , I don't believe it. [ Slightly off topic -sorry ].
I had a look at the footstompin link and it seems a bit behind the times. As a "foreigner" visiting Glasgow from Montreal I've visited a few of the sessions.
Ben Nevis: Wednesday night is loud and fast, Thursday night is sometimes on if anyone shows up, a bit slower than Wednesday.
Uisge Beatha: "folk club" from 6-12pm on Sunday with irish tunes welcome but lots of singing too, no session on Tuesday but a closed session on Thursday by invitation only.
Victoria Bar: Friday, great session lots of Irish very welcoming.
Babbity Bowsers: Saturday 4-late, very noisy pub, hard to hear what's going on, gets quieter later on, definitely more Scottish tunes.
Waxy O'Connor's: Sunday 4 - 7ish depends who shows up but often great musicians, mostly Irish some Scottish.
Park Bar: Thursday, small session, lots of Scottish tunes.
Sharkey's: if you're only visiting Glasgow for 10 days this might be a tough one. It took me three weeks just to find the place. Using Google Earth was just sending me in all the wrong places. It's actually behind the Citizens Theater, just south of the Clyde, hidden behind and underneath the railway arches. Straight Irish, led by Benny McHugh (Jimmy's Son).
As far as I know the Clutha Vaults is now an open mike night and the session at the Cafe Source is no longer with us.
Irish sessions in Scotland
Irish sessions in Scotland
Traveling to Scotland early October. Are there any "irish sessions" to be found? Have found sites for mainly Scottish tunes, but we only play Irish.
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by vega
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Vega,
Thanks for asking. I'll be in Scotland in September and was wondering the same thing. Is there a much of a crossover in tunes between ITM and traditional Scottish music, or do the Scottish sessions just play their traditional music?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. Both places are a long way from St Louis, you ken.
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by nofrets
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Hey guys, If you don't mind me saying, I think your on the wrong page here.
If I were you I'd hop over to 'Footstompin' & ask that question there - those guys there are the Scottish equivalent of the ITM experts here & will keep you right:
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?forumid=3
Hope you have a great time in the - 'finest country in the World'!
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Where in Scotland are you heading for ?
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by Kenny
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Gee, Ptarmigan - how are they on the wrong page if they're looking for Irish sessions?
According to the homepage here, that's what this board is about.
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by kris
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Ptarmigan, I'll be in Edinburgh, Inverness, Ft Williams, and Glasgow over a 10 day period. I know it will go too fast.
# Posted on July 3rd 2006 by nofrets
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
If you're in Glasgow on a Friday night, theres a good Irish session in the Victoria Bar (next door to the Clutha Vaults). Often of a high standard. Recommended. There are some other great pubs in Glasgow too, but I'm not sure of ones which are exclusively Irish.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Jamie
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
I heard Irish music sessions used to be dominant in Edinburgh, and nowadays native Scots music is getting popular in sessions there. As far as I know, you can find Irish music sessions on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights in Bells.
But seriously Irish tunes are not banned in Scotland. The tunes like the Maid behind the Bar, the Banshee, the Gravel Walks, Morrison's jig and the Lark in the Morning are relatively well-known in Scotland. The Wind that Shakes the Barley, the Sliver Spear, and the Tarbolton are standard wherever you go.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by slainte
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
You're right, slainte. The Irish session was imported to Scotland as just that. Somewhere folk went to play Irish music in a way that had become popular in Irish communities inside and outside Ireland. I wasn't really until the 80s that there was a serious move toward Scots music in sessions. It was a somewhat conscious move on the part of some people to promote more Scots music in sessions here, coupled with a natural process. I seem to remember specifically Scottish sessions even being set up. Perhaps someone nearer the centre of the Edinburgh session scene can fill in the history.
The result is a strong legacy of Irish tunes at most sessions - even those with a mainly Scottish bent. This has given rise to what I think of as the "Edinburgh session style" where Scots and Irish tunes and styles are mixed up together into a wierd half Guinness-half 80 shilling shandy. Definately not my pint. I get a little frustrated by the mixing and matching of styles.
I love Scots music and think it is only right that it should be played in the pubs of Scotland. However, I guess I play enough of it at "work" these days. I would love to go to a good Irish session once in awhile and have also wondered where to find one in Edinburgh these days.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by kris
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
I played in the Diggers, Edinburgh in Spring. The repertoire is Scottish but there were some players from Ireland there who were pleased to join in some ITM as they didn't get chance to play much of it.
Similarly, Sandy Bells has at least one ITM night (no idea which night) but I suspect singing might be included as well.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by geoffwright
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Both Slainte and Kris have it about right. Many sessions in Scotland will have mixture of both Irish and Scottish music plus a lot of hybrid tunes and some which are nothing like either!
So, there's no harm in playing some of your Irish tunes here. You'll not be banned.
Sandy Bells is good for Irish sessions most nights but for "purer" Irish music, Glasgow has probably more to offer.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by John J.
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Of course, the usual "session ettiquette" rules will apply. Don't try to "hog" the session with your tunes or deliberately change the dynamics to suit your own needs.
You'll be welcome to play a few tunes in most session pubs but, if you don't know them all, it's a chance to listen to others.
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by John J.
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
I think Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes and Liz Carroll have been popularised in Scotland. Is this an American influence? They aren't that popular in England or Ireland.
You'll meet few Irish people playing Irish music in sessions in Edinburgh, but those sessions are as good as any you find in Ireland or elsewhere. I have yet to join sessions in Glasgow, but found an article on the scene there: http://www.footstompin.com/articles/session_pubs/obj5050
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by slainte
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
slainte - why do you think those 3 fiddlers are popular in Scotland but less so in England and Ireland ? Don't understand that at all, and in fact , I don't believe it. [ Slightly off topic -sorry ].
# Posted on July 4th 2006 by Kenny
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
Hootennany in Inverness has sessions. heres a link: http://www.hootananny.com
Here is the Edinburgh Pub Guide: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/pubguide/index.html
We enjoyed a session at The White Hart in Edinburgh on a Thursday night. There were also sessions at Tass.
Good Times were had!
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by flutedoog
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
I think the sessions in Hootennany are mostly Scottish. It was so when I was there for a few sets of tunes around a couple of years ago.
Also have a look at The Gig Guide: http://www.gigguide.co.uk/listings.htm It just says "folk," though.
P.S. I might be wrong, Kenny. But I had the impression they are more popular up in the north.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by slainte
Re: Irish sessions in Scotland
I had a look at the footstompin link and it seems a bit behind the times. As a "foreigner" visiting Glasgow from Montreal I've visited a few of the sessions.
Ben Nevis: Wednesday night is loud and fast, Thursday night is sometimes on if anyone shows up, a bit slower than Wednesday.
Uisge Beatha: "folk club" from 6-12pm on Sunday with irish tunes welcome but lots of singing too, no session on Tuesday but a closed session on Thursday by invitation only.
Victoria Bar: Friday, great session lots of Irish very welcoming.
Babbity Bowsers: Saturday 4-late, very noisy pub, hard to hear what's going on, gets quieter later on, definitely more Scottish tunes.
Waxy O'Connor's: Sunday 4 - 7ish depends who shows up but often great musicians, mostly Irish some Scottish.
Park Bar: Thursday, small session, lots of Scottish tunes.
Sharkey's: if you're only visiting Glasgow for 10 days this might be a tough one. It took me three weeks just to find the place. Using Google Earth was just sending me in all the wrong places. It's actually behind the Citizens Theater, just south of the Clyde, hidden behind and underneath the railway arches. Straight Irish, led by Benny McHugh (Jimmy's Son).
As far as I know the Clutha Vaults is now an open mike night and the session at the Cafe Source is no longer with us.
# Posted on July 12th 2006 by lildogturpy