How many of you have taken part in a moving session on a coach (bus) on the way to a Fleadh?
And if not a bus, what is the most esoteric mode of transport that you've graced with tunes (and there has to be more than one person playing so skateboards are right out ... aren't they?)
My favourite was a moonlit session out on deck on the way from Holyhead to Dublin. Eat your heart out, Titanic..
I have played impromptu sessions on the subway here in NYC. Not the best venue as it is often very bumpy, and jerky. Makes it somewhat difficult to keep your hands (lips, in my case) on your instrument!
Most memorable was in July 2006 crossing by ferry from Isle of Skye to Harris and Lewis. Sea was like a millpond (rare!), sun was shining (rare!) and I met a guy with a guitar, out came my (and my son's) fiddle and we got stuck into some tunes out on deck for the whole crossing. Bliss! (Yes, I think we DID do Out on the Ocean!)
Been on a coach to the Fleadh (Dublin to Sligo, 1989 I think) where there was a session on board. Didn't join in as the participants were a bunch of mates doing their own thing.
Played a session in a car going up to the Edale Festival, and also a sort of session in a car going to Catskills from Philadelphia a few years ago. Some other strange mobile session-esque phenomena, will post when I remember.
I've climbed to the top of a tallship sailboat (one of the larger ones) on its way to the Farao Islands. Playing the fiddle on top of the crow's nest was mighty fun. Some of you may frown that the session included a button accordianist, but the fact that he made it up there was quite an achievement: Climbing up the last stretch to access the crow's nest you have to tilt backwards for quite a few yards. 30 feet above the deck, with his according hanging on his back, and no security lines.. is a sight I'll never forget.
I once climbed to the top of a railways signal pole and played a tune (Have photo to prove it) I also stood on the most northerly point of the Irish Mainland (Malin Head) and played a few tunes. Now I want to stand on the most southerly point of the Irish Mainland (Mizen Head) and do the same. Maybe next year.
The narrowboat "Jason's Trip" (I believe it's still running) used to end the season with a voyage from Camden Town to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, a leisurely return excursion of twenty hours or so. A group of us took a ton of food and half a ton of instruments and played for strollers on the towpath, people in their back gardens, and patrons of several pubs along the way.
I played on a small trailer hitched to a car in the 1994 Downpatrick St. Patrick's Day parade wearing a green space-alien costume. No kidding. Also busked on trams in Prague -- also a long time ago.
Played all the way from London to Barnsley in a Transit minibus on the way to Barnsley Folk Festival, back in about '76.
Cathy Cook was sitting next to me and had to wind down the window for her fiddle-bow ! OOPS, no, must have been '86, '96 maybe !
At the "Echoes in the Glen" event near Kilcar (Co Donegal) in August this year. The coach had a problem leaving the top of the Glen because of a badly parked car on the narrow road, so the musicians on the coach got out their instruments and had an impromptu session for half an hour until the driver of the car was located.
hello Guernsey Pete,
I remember the occasion well, and yes it was about '76 or maybe '77, (oh dear, just realised how ancient thats making me feel, 86 or '96 definitely sounds better)
Free Reed,
when you come down to play at Mizen Head give me a shout and I might join you for a most southerly session, it's no great distance from where I live.
How's about on the ferry to Roscoff, Brittany for their St. Patrick's celebration. Lasted well on to the wee small hours followed by breakfast in Roscoff and then a couple of hours sleep before beginning again. Wonderful time...
Played in the Channel Tunnel on way to gig in Switzerland. Steward opened radios up so more of the passengers could listen.
Also had a couple of sessions on steam trains at morris events.
Another session on ferry to Isle of Wight.
I love playing while travelling!
mention of ferries made me think of a ferry crossing a few years ago from Rosslare to Pembroke with the Mizen set dancers, on our way to a festival at Tredegar House in Wales. We played most of the way over, the dancers danced several sets, and persuaded a few bemused fellow passengers to have a go too!
When I was younger, I got the night ferry between Liverpool and Dublin quite a few times. There was always a session in the bar at the back of the boat. The front bar was no smoking I think, and was just full of people sleeping on the benches. The back bar was the place to be ... raucus party and tunes all the way. And I remember it takes a while too. Much much more fun than the Holyhead Dun Laoghaire.
Getting there has nearly always been as much fun as reaching the destination! The Church used to refer to "occasions of sin" but trips to fleadhs and festivals can equally be seen as "occasions for music". I'll never forget those Summer coach trips from Bedford to London for the Roundwood Park Irish Festival back in the 1980s. No sooner than we'd reached Kempston (approx. 2 miles) the instruments were out and everyone was in full flight with reels and jigs galore. Some of the prime movers would have been the talented Conneeley family and Mick would have been only "knee high to a grasshopper"at the time along with the Magills and Halls from Sandy. Another memorable one for me was on the Dublin/Liverpool ferry en-route to a Manchester trad weekend with a group of Ennis musicians back in the 90s which would rival any Fleadh session.
Brian McNeil related arriving at the Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry terminal with Battlefield to find four other minibuses also waiting, Silly Wizard were one of them I believe. Apparently they just took over the bar and sessioned their way across.
We used to tie together 3 or more punts and have a session on the river Cam, busking for beer money or charity as we went. It was great but I did manage to get sunburned more than once in the process.
coach sesssions
coach sesssions
Just as a show of hands:
How many of you have taken part in a moving session on a coach (bus) on the way to a Fleadh?
And if not a bus, what is the most esoteric mode of transport that you've graced with tunes (and there has to be more than one person playing so skateboards are right out ... aren't they?)
My favourite was a moonlit session out on deck on the way from Holyhead to Dublin. Eat your heart out, Titanic..
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by oxcart
Re: coach sesssions
I have played impromptu sessions on the subway here in NYC. Not the best venue as it is often very bumpy, and jerky. Makes it somewhat difficult to keep your hands (lips, in my case) on your instrument!
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Imnotirish
Re: coach sesssions
Most memorable was in July 2006 crossing by ferry from Isle of Skye to Harris and Lewis. Sea was like a millpond (rare!), sun was shining (rare!) and I met a guy with a guitar, out came my (and my son's) fiddle and we got stuck into some tunes out on deck for the whole crossing. Bliss! (Yes, I think we DID do Out on the Ocean!)
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by domnull
Re: coach sesssions
The bus station in Galway with a fiddler I'd met in a hostel and a homeless dude with a guitar.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by DrSilverSpear
Re: coach sesssions
Been on a coach to the Fleadh (Dublin to Sligo, 1989 I think) where there was a session on board. Didn't join in as the participants were a bunch of mates doing their own thing.
Played a session in a car going up to the Edale Festival, and also a sort of session in a car going to Catskills from Philadelphia a few years ago. Some other strange mobile session-esque phenomena, will post when I remember.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Rudall the time
Grand place for a session
I've climbed to the top of a tallship sailboat (one of the larger ones) on its way to the Farao Islands. Playing the fiddle on top of the crow's nest was mighty fun. Some of you may frown that the session included a button accordianist, but the fact that he made it up there was quite an achievement: Climbing up the last stretch to access the crow's nest you have to tilt backwards for quite a few yards. 30 feet above the deck, with his according hanging on his back, and no security lines.. is a sight I'll never forget.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by FiddleTramp
Re: coach sesssions
I once climbed to the top of a railways signal pole and played a tune (Have photo to prove it) I also stood on the most northerly point of the Irish Mainland (Malin Head) and played a few tunes. Now I want to stand on the most southerly point of the Irish Mainland (Mizen Head) and do the same. Maybe next year.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: coach sesssions
I've had a few tunes on whistle at the top of 14,000 ft peaks in Colorado and Munros in Scotland.
I've also played a session in a boys' loo.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by DrSilverSpear
Re: coach sesssions
The narrowboat "Jason's Trip" (I believe it's still running) used to end the season with a voyage from Camden Town to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, a leisurely return excursion of twenty hours or so. A group of us took a ton of food and half a ton of instruments and played for strollers on the towpath, people in their back gardens, and patrons of several pubs along the way.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by oldstrings
Re: coach sesssions
A friend and I played aboard a trap drawn through the streets of Feakle by Riverdance the pony.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: coach sesssions
...and I've had a few little sessionettes on buses and tube trains in London.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: coach sesssions
I played on a small trailer hitched to a car in the 1994 Downpatrick St. Patrick's Day parade wearing a green space-alien costume. No kidding. Also busked on trams in Prague -- also a long time ago.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Chrishty
Re: coach sesssions
Played all the way from London to Barnsley in a Transit minibus on the way to Barnsley Folk Festival, back in about '76.
Cathy Cook was sitting next to me and had to wind down the window for her fiddle-bow ! OOPS, no, must have been '86, '96 maybe !
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: coach sesssions
At the "Echoes in the Glen" event near Kilcar (Co Donegal) in August this year. The coach had a problem leaving the top of the Glen because of a badly parked car on the narrow road, so the musicians on the coach got out their instruments and had an impromptu session for half an hour until the driver of the car was located.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: coach sesssions
hello Guernsey Pete,
I remember the occasion well, and yes it was about '76 or maybe '77, (oh dear, just realised how ancient thats making me feel, 86 or '96 definitely sounds better)
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by cathycook
Re: coach sesssions
Free Reed,
when you come down to play at Mizen Head give me a shout and I might join you for a most southerly session, it's no great distance from where I live.
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by cathycook
Re: coach sesssions
How's about on the ferry to Roscoff, Brittany for their St. Patrick's celebration. Lasted well on to the wee small hours followed by breakfast in Roscoff and then a couple of hours sleep before beginning again. Wonderful time...
# Posted on October 13th 2008 by john knoss
Re: coach sesssions
Played in the Channel Tunnel on way to gig in Switzerland. Steward opened radios up so more of the passengers could listen.
Also had a couple of sessions on steam trains at morris events.
Another session on ferry to Isle of Wight.
I love playing while travelling!
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by Tarrantella
Re: coach sesssions
Had a tune with an accordion-playing friend on the Glasgow-Inverness train on the way back from Celtic Connections one year.
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by west-coaster
Re: coach sesssions
mention of ferries made me think of a ferry crossing a few years ago from Rosslare to Pembroke with the Mizen set dancers, on our way to a festival at Tredegar House in Wales. We played most of the way over, the dancers danced several sets, and persuaded a few bemused fellow passengers to have a go too!
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by cathycook
Re: coach sesssions
When I was younger, I got the night ferry between Liverpool and Dublin quite a few times. There was always a session in the bar at the back of the boat. The front bar was no smoking I think, and was just full of people sleeping on the benches. The back bar was the place to be ... raucus party and tunes all the way. And I remember it takes a while too. Much much more fun than the Holyhead Dun Laoghaire.
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: coach sesssions
Getting there has nearly always been as much fun as reaching the destination! The Church used to refer to "occasions of sin" but trips to fleadhs and festivals can equally be seen as "occasions for music". I'll never forget those Summer coach trips from Bedford to London for the Roundwood Park Irish Festival back in the 1980s. No sooner than we'd reached Kempston (approx. 2 miles) the instruments were out and everyone was in full flight with reels and jigs galore. Some of the prime movers would have been the talented Conneeley family and Mick would have been only "knee high to a grasshopper"at the time along with the Magills and Halls from Sandy. Another memorable one for me was on the Dublin/Liverpool ferry en-route to a Manchester trad weekend with a group of Ennis musicians back in the 90s which would rival any Fleadh session.
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: coach sesssions
I was on that Liverpool/Dublin boat a few times too - same story. I never ever felt well on arrival. The tunes were good though.
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by pavlf
Re: coach sesssions
Brian McNeil related arriving at the Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry terminal with Battlefield to find four other minibuses also waiting, Silly Wizard were one of them I believe. Apparently they just took over the bar and sessioned their way across.
# Posted on October 14th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: coach sesssions
We used to tie together 3 or more punts and have a session on the river Cam, busking for beer money or charity as we went. It was great but I did manage to get sunburned more than once in the process.
# Posted on October 15th 2008 by SineadE