OK team,
I vaguely remember something discussed here from a while ago but here's the challenge. What town or village has a scene that encompasses both surfing (no seadoos or windsurfers need apply) with a great little session scene ? There are one or posters here from my home town which has the best consistent surf in the southern hemisphere (Gisborne NZ) but not necessarily the best trad scene, that could change. Who's got the best of both worlds ?
anywhere in Donegal or Sligo, and as per above, Lehinch in Co Clare. What a great way to spend a day, surfing during the day and playing at a session in the evening, sounds like the perfect day!
I was at Lehinch in March/April this year, on one particular day, I could not believe the perfect sets (surf sets that is) rolling in. It was a spring tide and Liscannor bay looks to be fairly shallow, so the waves, which were pretty much the breadth of the bay were rolling in from way out. I have rarely seen such a surf. The car park was packed, lots of people running around with wetsuits and boards, but although it was sunny, it was a pretty brisk wind and still cold. The only thing was, there was approximately one boardrider out there. What a crying shame.
If that was anywhere near an Australian city, they'd be padding out there like lemmings, and every way would have numerous riders.
What, where are The Ventures, Jan and Dean, and the Beach Boys ?
A free drink to the first person posting "Walk Don't Run" on Youtube played as a polka on a bouzouki.....
Loved the Wainui beach link. Yeah - Gisborne NZ sure has some fantastic surf (and loads of gorgeous nearly deserted sandy beaches). Our trad scene is small though - maybe 10-15 people in the whole city (not counting the Scots Pipe band!) and the style is of necessity a little 'mixed'.
In Manly, Sydney at the moment, visiting for a few weeks. Having my first surf lesson tomorrow, all going well. Had a lesson scheduled on Monday but the waves were 3m which is a little big for beginners. But there is very little music about these parts or not that I've been able to track down. Heading home in a few weeks and looking forward to playing some tunes
A bit chilly down at Manly this time of year as well, Roisin. Much better in summer.
There are tunes over in the city, Roisin, I think there's a Tuesday night session at Kelly's at Newtown, and there's also a ceili and probably a good ol sesh after that at the Gaelic Club in Devonshire Street in the city (upstairs), not in the nightclub at street level, where you probably need to wear a lot of black clothing with silver things hanging off you and multi coloured hair I guess.
Manly has always been almost devoid of the music, it just isn't that sort of place. As you've seen it's an Aussie surfie sort of area e.g. the Steyne Hotel on the beach there.
There's Thurso, at the far North of Scotland. It is a haunt of tough surfers who find it a bit naff to disport themselves in tropical waters full of Great White sharks that aren't actually there, when they can do so in freezing cold waters full of killer whales that *are* actually there.
Music is a given there, because there cannot be anything else to do except drink lots of whisky. Without it there would be nothing to stop you changing into a seal.
There is always the Northumbrian coast, which I have seen touted as an esoteric surfers' paradise, very likely in the insane ditzy pulp of the Regional District Authority's tourist publicity. I find it hard to imagine the North Sea rolling in majestic five-storey waves in orderly procession, certainly not if the RDA's been tinkering with them. Its main function seems to be to channel freezing Russian weather systems into the heart of the area with as little resistance as possible. (This is the North Sea, not the RDA.) But there's a session on the Northumberland coast, I gather, at Low Newton-by-the-Sea; I would expect it to be better than the surfing.
Where there's surf there are surfers. I ran into a group of surfers up on Lake Superior last December when it was -15F. The surf was up and Lake Superior may be really really cold, but it doesn't get below 32F, so really the water was toasty compared to the air and wind.
The biggest problem is that everything ices up immediately.
Speaking of manta rays. In SW FL we get a lot of German tourists for some reason. One local beach is so haunted by manta rays that the warning signs are bilingual, English und Deutsch.
Or, from the rays' perspective, it's haunted by Germans. [shrug]
Just a quick update on my surfing and music exploits in Manly... surf lessons cancelled again but I got in some swimming and I bought a didgeridoo yesterday so getting a pain in my face On the weather front, its not bad considering I'm a pale-faced Irish girl but never thought I'd be in Sydney complaining of the cold in the evening when I know that back in Ireland the BBQs are going strong!
I'm leaving on the 7th July but might try to get to the ceili on 27th. Thanks for that Although I'm visiting family and the 3 year old really rules the roost so if I get permission from him, I'l be along
R
Enniscrone? I don't think there are any regular sessions in town, however there's always a chance of festival players passing through in summer...but you could go out to Bonniconlon on a Monday night or Tourlistraune on Wednesday. But the Tourlistrane one is very classy and you should only join in if you have a brass neck, nerves of steel and a heart of gold. Ballina also might have something to offer. Also I'm told the best surfing is up at Easkey. If you have wheels Enniscone could make a good base for both activities since as a resort town there is plenty of accomodation.
You´re right, Danny, I´d forgotten about Easkey. It´s more famous for surfing than Enniscrone.
There´s also good waves to be had sometimes at Strandhill, a bit nearer Sligo town, with the advantage of a camp site there.
Mind you, it´s a good few years since i was there with my sons, who are surfers, and things may have changed since then.
Surfing and traditional music
Surfing and traditional music
OK team,
I vaguely remember something discussed here from a while ago but here's the challenge. What town or village has a scene that encompasses both surfing (no seadoos or windsurfers need apply) with a great little session scene ? There are one or posters here from my home town which has the best consistent surf in the southern hemisphere (Gisborne NZ) but not necessarily the best trad scene, that could change. Who's got the best of both worlds ?
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Patkiwi
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Australia, of course. Or Donegal.
What's the next question?
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Lahinch, Co.Clare
Eniscrone, Co.Sligo
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by murfbox
Re: Surfing and traditional music
anywhere in Donegal or Sligo, and as per above, Lehinch in Co Clare. What a great way to spend a day, surfing during the day and playing at a session in the evening, sounds like the perfect day!
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by BanjoBongo
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Bundoran, Co.Donegal
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by snorre
Re: Surfing and traditional music
I was at Lehinch in March/April this year, on one particular day, I could not believe the perfect sets (surf sets that is) rolling in. It was a spring tide and Liscannor bay looks to be fairly shallow, so the waves, which were pretty much the breadth of the bay were rolling in from way out. I have rarely seen such a surf. The car park was packed, lots of people running around with wetsuits and boards, but although it was sunny, it was a pretty brisk wind and still cold. The only thing was, there was approximately one boardrider out there. What a crying shame.
If that was anywhere near an Australian city, they'd be padding out there like lemmings, and every way would have numerous riders.
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
I'm land locked now but I grew up in Hawaii and I vote 'Tam lin' as the #1 surf song in Irish trad!
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by shanty
Re: Surfing and traditional music
http://www.isasurf.ie
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by murfbox
Re: Surfing and traditional music
so what's the water temperature there in Ireland?
can you go for a surf up there?
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Surfing and traditional music
this guy was a brilliant tune player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nS_aR8XX_U&NR=1
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
What, where are The Ventures, Jan and Dean, and the Beach Boys ?
A free drink to the first person posting "Walk Don't Run" on Youtube played as a polka on a bouzouki.....
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Here's Jan. Dean didn't make it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z12pEG2aAeA&feature=related
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Not to be boasting or anything but here's last weekends action at Wainui Beach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THB3kvFZb3E
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Patkiwi
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Donegal surfing looks a lot like Oregon Surfing - here's Short Sands Beach (about and hour and a half from Portland)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OswaldWestShortSandsOregon.JPG
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by airport
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Loved the Wainui beach link. Yeah - Gisborne NZ sure has some fantastic surf (and loads of gorgeous nearly deserted sandy beaches). Our trad scene is small though - maybe 10-15 people in the whole city (not counting the Scots Pipe band!) and the style is of necessity a little 'mixed'.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Bredna
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Looking forward to playing a few tunes at home very soon Bredna, keep you posted. Waves like that can't be denied.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Patkiwi
Re: Surfing and traditional music
I grew up in Hawaii, as well, and I've had some great tunes out there!
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by jwvansteenwyk
Re: Surfing and traditional music
In Manly, Sydney at the moment, visiting for a few weeks. Having my first surf lesson tomorrow, all going well. Had a lesson scheduled on Monday but the waves were 3m which is a little big for beginners. But there is very little music about these parts or not that I've been able to track down. Heading home in a few weeks and looking forward to playing some tunes
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by RoisinD
Re: Surfing and traditional music
A bit chilly down at Manly this time of year as well, Roisin. Much better in summer.
There are tunes over in the city, Roisin, I think there's a Tuesday night session at Kelly's at Newtown, and there's also a ceili and probably a good ol sesh after that at the Gaelic Club in Devonshire Street in the city (upstairs), not in the nightclub at street level, where you probably need to wear a lot of black clothing with silver things hanging off you and multi coloured hair I guess.
Manly has always been almost devoid of the music, it just isn't that sort of place. As you've seen it's an Aussie surfie sort of area e.g. the Steyne Hotel on the beach there.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Sorry, the ceili at the Gaelic Club is on this Saturday night, 27th June. Also another good one on 18th July if you're still here.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Yeah, we surf a little bit here in Florida. The water isn't as warm as Donegal or Clare, but we make do.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Surfing and traditional music
It may not be so warm, but there aren't any sharks snapping at your heels!
http://www.surfingvancouverisland.com/surf/photo01.htm
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by oldstrings
Re: Surfing and traditional music
There's Thurso, at the far North of Scotland. It is a haunt of tough surfers who find it a bit naff to disport themselves in tropical waters full of Great White sharks that aren't actually there, when they can do so in freezing cold waters full of killer whales that *are* actually there.
Music is a given there, because there cannot be anything else to do except drink lots of whisky. Without it there would be nothing to stop you changing into a seal.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Surfing and traditional music
I don't know why you worry about sharks. They don't like eating people at all.
jellyfish...now THERE's something to seriously worry about!
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Surfing and traditional music
There is always the Northumbrian coast, which I have seen touted as an esoteric surfers' paradise, very likely in the insane ditzy pulp of the Regional District Authority's tourist publicity. I find it hard to imagine the North Sea rolling in majestic five-storey waves in orderly procession, certainly not if the RDA's been tinkering with them. Its main function seems to be to channel freezing Russian weather systems into the heart of the area with as little resistance as possible. (This is the North Sea, not the RDA.) But there's a session on the Northumberland coast, I gather, at Low Newton-by-the-Sea; I would expect it to be better than the surfing.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Where there's surf there are surfers. I ran into a group of surfers up on Lake Superior last December when it was -15F. The surf was up and Lake Superior may be really really cold, but it doesn't get below 32F, so really the water was toasty compared to the air and wind.
The biggest problem is that everything ices up immediately.
http://www.superiorsurfclub.com/08_fall_c/08_fall_c.html
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by misterpatrick
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Have they made any epoch-making albums about it?
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Speaking of manta rays. In SW FL we get a lot of German tourists for some reason. One local beach is so haunted by manta rays that the warning signs are bilingual, English und Deutsch.
Or, from the rays' perspective, it's haunted by Germans. [shrug]
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Santa Cruz!!!!!
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by fedorastain
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Oh, no sorry, bit far away from the action...
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by fedorastain
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Do the Germans put them out on the deckchairs?
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Do the Germans deck them out in gesellschaftskleidung?
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by airport
Re: Surfing and traditional music
A very long tradition of doing anything to get to a session, down to the sea in ships even:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfqoLyk8XMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXiWHRI5Uc&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic_xXsNZ9aM&feature=related
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
...and just when you thought you knew that set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVgtXL5sHos&feature=related
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Surfing and traditional music
No, the Germans sit in their deck chairs, wearing their formal European beach attire: Speedo, black dress socks, and sandals.
Maybe that's why the rays are mad?
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Surfing and traditional music
ha! that's a lovely image - reminded me that I've been meaning to learn this German http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3462
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by airport
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Or is it that the manta rays are assumed to read German?
# Posted on June 25th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Just a quick update on my surfing and music exploits in Manly... surf lessons cancelled again but I got in some swimming and I bought a didgeridoo yesterday so getting a pain in my face
On the weather front, its not bad considering I'm a pale-faced Irish girl but never thought I'd be in Sydney complaining of the cold in the evening when I know that back in Ireland the BBQs are going strong!
Although I'm visiting family and the 3 year old really rules the roost so if I get permission from him, I'l be along
I'm leaving on the 7th July but might try to get to the ceili on 27th. Thanks for that
R
# Posted on June 26th 2009 by RoisinD
Re: Surfing and traditional music
Enniscrone? I don't think there are any regular sessions in town, however there's always a chance of festival players passing through in summer...but you could go out to Bonniconlon on a Monday night or Tourlistraune on Wednesday. But the Tourlistrane one is very classy and you should only join in if you have a brass neck, nerves of steel and a heart of gold. Ballina also might have something to offer. Also I'm told the best surfing is up at Easkey. If you have wheels Enniscone could make a good base for both activities since as a resort town there is plenty of accomodation.
# Posted on June 28th 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: Surfing and traditional music
You´re right, Danny, I´d forgotten about Easkey. It´s more famous for surfing than Enniscrone.
There´s also good waves to be had sometimes at Strandhill, a bit nearer Sligo town, with the advantage of a camp site there.
Mind you, it´s a good few years since i was there with my sons, who are surfers, and things may have changed since then.
# Posted on June 28th 2009 by murfbox