In Ireland any session I ever attended was open to everyone in a friendly and involving way inthe hope of spreading the Music and tradition if someone trys to play and clearly are not up to speed then they themselves usually know
"Hello world, we are having a session. Now go away and leave us alone."
If it was truly closed, they wouldn't advertise it. Sounds more like it is a public performance to me (pardon me for using that dirty 'p' word).
I was made very welcome at that particular session on several occasions, and I've been to plenty of 'open' sessions here in Ireland where I didn't feel welcome at all.
I think the main reason to have a 'closed' session is so that you can have a session with a bunch of friends (and maybe impose some quality control!). If that's what you want to do, it's fine, but yep, probably best not to advertise it on here!
They can do what they want, of course, and since their session is closed, it is nice that they are upfront about it. Everyone can make of their session what they want of it. That fact is somewhat at odds with letting the world know about their eventh, though, which I found somewhat amusing.
That session was likely posted here when it was an open session. Circumstances apparently changed, but the poster can't delete the listing, so they've simply updated it.
Nothing wrong with publicizing a by-invite session. If you're in the neighborhood and want an invite, contact them and ask. In places where trad musicians are vastly outnumbered by boom-chuck guitarists, folk singers looking for an open mic, and wannabe percussionists, going the invite-only route is actually a polite way of preventing confrontations at the session. You can sort things out ahead of time and spare everyone the embarrassment and/or anger over differing expectations.
The notice *may* be saying to people who've been to an open session there before - "Please don't make a(nother) trip or detour here, there's no open session here any more."
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me - may spare people time, expense and disappointment / embarrassment.
I think it's fair enough too. Keeps the damned bedroom guitarists and new drum folk from turning up. I like when other players turn up at our session but sometimes I wonder if it would be better making it invite only to keep the belters away. "But the musics for everyone man" - Feck Off
What IS the point of posting it here - unless it is meant to advertise it to listeners to come along. But why on this web site? Is n't this site for musicians mostly?
Posting by-invite sessions on this forum is a good way to attract the better musicians. They'll know the belters aren't welcome.
Really, isn't that how you approach an unfamiliar session? Go for a listen, and if you like what you hear and can make a genuine contribution to it, you chat up one of the players and ask if they'd mind you sitting in. That's just seeking an invite, eh?
That sounds great in theory Miss Lonelyhearts but sadly the belter rarely knows that they are a belter as that very knowledge would probably deviate them away from their belter-like behaviour.
Note also the use of the word "now" as in "this is NOW a closed session" and the fact that this isposted as acomment in Jan 2010 to a session that was first lsited in Dec 2009.
i.e. the comment is update explaining a change in circumstance that it is helpful for people to know about.
Yep, No Cause, but if a belter sees this session posted here and tries to wrangle an invite, at least the regular players have set a precedent for telling the eejit off.
Over the years, I've found that most invite-only sessions do welcome good players. After an audition of sorts, the invite is quickly extended to people who can play.
True enough. Personally I have no problem with invite only sessions, whether they be in a public place or not. All the other tables in the pub are invite only. Why should it be any different just because the people at this table are holding instruments?
The problem is that Jeremy does not allow a "de-listing". There's a particularly good and well known closed session listed here that I get an invite too sometimes, and some feckin eedjit punter posted it here as a regular session. But Jeremy won't delete the listing. Stupid.
It's the quantity over quality thing that Jeremy wants. It's so he can say that there are bla de bla de so many thousands of sessions listed, but the fact that the vast majority of them are useless listings doesn't bother him.
It's exactly the same with the tunes section, quantity over quality
I didn't realise so many thrashers, drummers etc. threatened your peace - I thought you lived on the back of a rainy desert island where the combined weight of the humans is dwarfed by that of the midges and any instrument not made of bog oak rots in seconds...perhaps coming to your session is actually taking off as an extreme sport, and the guys are just bringing any odd guitar or drum as a kind of accessory!
politics, it's all politics. I feel sorry for Jeremy (who ever you are). Ya, try to do something nice for folks and the complain that is's not nice enough
I'd have to agree with Llig, though I'd choose other words. When I look at the listings that come up near me, more than half are totally dead wood - long gone, not a chance of return, wrong kind of event etc. Of the rest, a number have the wrong date and time because the "owner" of the entry is no longer on the scene; the session has closed, reopened at the same place but on another day and time by different people under different management, yet is lumbered with the old entry.
Like the tunes here, it's a great resource, but it seems to be gradually choking to death like a garden that is never cultivated. It is in fact getting *harder* to identify possible sessions in a given area as the database silts up with detritus from the past.
It's pretty straight forward that Jeremy is in line with the majority of dictators when they are of the opinion that they are doing something nice for folks.
The interesting difference is that most dictators take power of their domains, where as internet impresarios create their domains. It's a fascinating difference.
"There's a particularly good and well known closed session listed here that I get an invite too sometimes, and some feckin eedjit punter posted it here as a regular session. But Jeremy won't delete the listing. Stupid."
Hi Llig, I'd actually like to meet you someday you're quite a character. Where's this session?
Punter: "Gee, we sure enjoyed listening to your session, and we're going to spend two weeks in Ireland this summer. Do you know of any good sessions there? "
Me: "Of course. Here's a website that has listings for Irish sessions all over the world."
Llig was banished here by an evil witch who tried to join his session but was turned away. So she condemned him ever to wander the mustard-colored landscape, muttering about doom to all who will listen.
Although, however and whyever he showed up, he often comes up with some pretty thoughtful and well appreciate observations!
Of course not everybody on thesession.org are competent musicians....
That session could have been posted here and who knows? - an army of egg shakers could have showed up, or off da beat bodhrans,a whole load of wanna be musicians.....
I posted a session here that quickly detiorated (not because of thesession.org don't get me wrong) but I certainly wouldn't recommend people lookin for a tune to go there
Going back to what people were saying about "belters", I feel like the world is small enough at this point, that if you wanted to go to a closed session and felt you were good enough to attend but didn't know the session organizer, you could probably find somebody who could vouch for you to the session organizer. I've found in my experiences that no matter what city I go to, there are usually no more than a few degrees of separation between myself and somebody involved with the sessions there. If you're travelling around, having a closed session posted here at least lets you know there's music happening in that city, so just start asking around if you want to know more information. Seems like a decent way to keep your session free of problems.
Speaking of "belters" who don't get the idea of what the session is about, I have a little problem with self-appointed critics who go to a session once, then go to thesession.org and post their description of the session, which may put off others from attending.
Whilst it might clutter the number of sessions now deceases, the fact that there is a record makes for some fascinating, and I must add, dismal reading.
It’s a natural thing for sessions to move, though the alacrity with which it happens these days I find somewhat alarming, both from personal experience and observations from a site such as here.
Maybe that is a spin off from the outbreak of Irish “theme pubs” when many landlords with no Irish connection just tried to coin a quick buck, and likewise many musicians jumped on board and many Athenry, Irish/Wild Rover Bands evolved. There were a number of bands already doing gigs like this but they didn’t predominate in what one called a session pub.
I remember once at Sandy Bell’s, a great session pub in Glasgow, in about ’83 when I’d just played “Aisling gheal” an old Irish air. This man came over and asked if I knew what he thought was the most fantastic pipes air known to man, and he rambled on and then asked if I would please play it. I asked did he have a name for it, all the usual courtesies, and he started to intone…”Amazing Grace”!
I was spared any problems as this man was immediately ejected from the pub; it was self “policed”.
Getting back to this discussion, I think it is incumbent on those who post a session to maintain the integrity on this site. I humbly give an example where I myself was a little tardy.
And for those who question the value of posting sessions, I can only say we’ve had some lovely diverse people, some of whom were players, who have visited us here in Hobart by finding our session on “The Session”!
Sandy Bells is in Edinburgh. If you were in Glasgow you might have been in the Ben Nevis (not sure how many years back this session goes) or possibly the Vicky Bar or maybe Sharkey's. I suspect you were probably in Edinburgh though. Either way thanks for the story. It is nice when the pub values the session and defends the music.
Of course it was in Edinburgh! I had some lovely sesions there, with some fabulous musicians.
And absolutely right, the ones I went to in Glasgow were mainly Sharkey's and the Vicky Bar.
there was another place I went to in Glasgow near a big bus/coach station, would it be a street called Buchannan Street? That was just walk in and play during the day with some friends when I was visiting.
Buchanan st is one of the main streets in Glasgow. I am not sure which pub it would have been though. I was not playing back in 1983 being but 4/5 years old. Sharkey's is still going strong although I have never been but the Vicky Bar session has since moved on to pastures new.
The late Jimmy McHugh got Sharkey’s started. It’s great to know it’s still going strong; Brendan (Benny) one of his sons still goes there, as do other Session members as I understand.
I used to hitch 100 miles to get to that session; mind you it was worth every midnight hour stood at the roadside trying to get a lift back home!
As regards Edinburgh’s Sandy Bell’s I can remember that too like it was yesterday. There were some great players there too, some now playing in the Upstairs Session with harps!
There was a nice little session in a place called The Greenmarket? And I played many times in The Royal Oak. That used to go on very, very late. And on a Sunday afternoon/evening there was a really nice paced one at The West End Hotel I think it was called.
The last time I played at Sharkey’s was at Jimmy McHugh’s wake about ten years ago now. It was an incredible turnout and tribute to a man who had done so much for music.
Well, technically, "belting" is a singing technique--basically a way to increase volume. So a "belter" is someone who sings loud or has a strong singing voice. Give it a bit of sarcasm and you can imagine why being called a belter on guitar or bodhran (or anything, really) at a session would not be a compliment....
In the local speak round here it could be either good as in "what a belter" for a goal. But also a thump as in (historically of course) "if you dont shut up I'll give you a belt round the earhole". I understood the latter for guitar's and bodhrans.
It was Neil Morrison and Ann Hughes but they were still a couple.
They used to play in The Fiddlers Arms, Grassmarket which is now...sadly.. a different kind of pub altogether. The Green Tree was actually in The Cowgate which is a continuation of Grassmarket.
There used to be great sessions in both but The Green Tree sessions tended to be more Irish whereas The Fiddlers was mostly Scottish.
Neil and Ann also frequented The West End Hotel, The Thistle and so on. I believe Neil has recently passed away but I remember both of them to be very welcoming and encouraging.
Re Sessions
Re Sessions
What do people feel about Sessions being posted as a closed session like this one
http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/2513
In Ireland any session I ever attended was open to everyone in a friendly and involving way inthe hope of spreading the Music and tradition if someone trys to play and clearly are not up to speed then they themselves usually know
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by glengarslasher
Re: Re Sessions
IMHO it is grand if a session is upfront about it being by invitation. From the posting this one seems as clear as it can be.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Re Sessions
"Hello world, we are having a session. Now go away and leave us alone."
If it was truly closed, they wouldn't advertise it. Sounds more like it is a public performance to me (pardon me for using that dirty 'p' word).
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Re Sessions
I was made very welcome at that particular session on several occasions, and I've been to plenty of 'open' sessions here in Ireland where I didn't feel welcome at all.
I think the main reason to have a 'closed' session is so that you can have a session with a bunch of friends (and maybe impose some quality control!). If that's what you want to do, it's fine, but yep, probably best not to advertise it on here!
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Pat Mustard
Re: Re Sessions
They can do what they want, of course, and since their session is closed, it is nice that they are upfront about it. Everyone can make of their session what they want of it. That fact is somewhat at odds with letting the world know about their eventh, though, which I found somewhat amusing.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Re Sessions
That session was likely posted here when it was an open session. Circumstances apparently changed, but the poster can't delete the listing, so they've simply updated it.
Nothing wrong with publicizing a by-invite session. If you're in the neighborhood and want an invite, contact them and ask. In places where trad musicians are vastly outnumbered by boom-chuck guitarists, folk singers looking for an open mic, and wannabe percussionists, going the invite-only route is actually a polite way of preventing confrontations at the session. You can sort things out ahead of time and spare everyone the embarrassment and/or anger over differing expectations.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
The notice *may* be saying to people who've been to an open session there before - "Please don't make a(nother) trip or detour here, there's no open session here any more."
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me - may spare people time, expense and disappointment / embarrassment.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by nicholas
Re: Re Sessions
Nicholas, your mind is rapier sharp, and I admire your choice of words....
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
I think it's fair enough too. Keeps the damned bedroom guitarists and new drum folk from turning up. I like when other players turn up at our session but sometimes I wonder if it would be better making it invite only to keep the belters away. "But the musics for everyone man" - Feck Off
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by bogman
Re: Re Sessions
What IS the point of posting it here - unless it is meant to advertise it to listeners to come along. But why on this web site? Is n't this site for musicians mostly?
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by 'S dat you, O'Flibberty?
Whole lotta love
No worries Claire. I'm sure they'll offer you an invite.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Re Sessions
I think nicholas has hit it on the button. Belter discouragement.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by bogman
Re: Re Sessions
Posting by-invite sessions on this forum is a good way to attract the better musicians. They'll know the belters aren't welcome.
Really, isn't that how you approach an unfamiliar session? Go for a listen, and if you like what you hear and can make a genuine contribution to it, you chat up one of the players and ask if they'd mind you sitting in. That's just seeking an invite, eh?
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
That sounds great in theory Miss Lonelyhearts but sadly the belter rarely knows that they are a belter as that very knowledge would probably deviate them away from their belter-like behaviour.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Re Sessions
Note also the use of the word "now" as in "this is NOW a closed session" and the fact that this isposted as acomment in Jan 2010 to a session that was first lsited in Dec 2009.
i.e. the comment is update explaining a change in circumstance that it is helpful for people to know about.
Pretty sueful to know that I's have thought.
- chris
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Re Sessions
"pretty sueful" that is. we haven't quite gone wholesale over to American lawsuit culture yet in the rest of the world
- chris
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Re Sessions
fiddlesticks I can't beleive i made the same typo in my correction, waht a nugget: "useful" bleedin' "useful"
- chris
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Re Sessions
Yep, No Cause, but if a belter sees this session posted here and tries to wrangle an invite, at least the regular players have set a precedent for telling the eejit off.
Over the years, I've found that most invite-only sessions do welcome good players. After an audition of sorts, the invite is quickly extended to people who can play.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
If I go to a closed session, it is usually at someone's house in private, never in public.
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by pipersgrip
Re: Re Sessions
True enough. Personally I have no problem with invite only sessions, whether they be in a public place or not. All the other tables in the pub are invite only. Why should it be any different just because the people at this table are holding instruments?
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Re Sessions
The problem is that Jeremy does not allow a "de-listing". There's a particularly good and well known closed session listed here that I get an invite too sometimes, and some feckin eedjit punter posted it here as a regular session. But Jeremy won't delete the listing. Stupid.
It's the quantity over quality thing that Jeremy wants. It's so he can say that there are bla de bla de so many thousands of sessions listed, but the fact that the vast majority of them are useless listings doesn't bother him.
It's exactly the same with the tunes section, quantity over quality
# Posted on March 13th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
@bogman:
I didn't realise so many thrashers, drummers etc. threatened your peace - I thought you lived on the back of a rainy desert island where the combined weight of the humans is dwarfed by that of the midges and any instrument not made of bog oak rots in seconds...perhaps coming to your session is actually taking off as an extreme sport, and the guys are just bringing any odd guitar or drum as a kind of accessory!
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by nicholas
Re: Re Sessions
Although the other day Jeremy did delete an out-of-date and useless link in "Links" when it was drawn to his attention.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Re Sessions
Jeremy deletes plenty of stuff, as any old run-of-the mill dictator does. It's his job. He has a fetish for deling my posts. C'est la vie.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
politics, it's all politics. I feel sorry for Jeremy (who ever you are). Ya, try to do something nice for folks and the complain that is's not nice enough
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by croxton
Re: Re Sessions
deleting
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
I'd have to agree with Llig, though I'd choose other words. When I look at the listings that come up near me, more than half are totally dead wood - long gone, not a chance of return, wrong kind of event etc. Of the rest, a number have the wrong date and time because the "owner" of the entry is no longer on the scene; the session has closed, reopened at the same place but on another day and time by different people under different management, yet is lumbered with the old entry.
Like the tunes here, it's a great resource, but it seems to be gradually choking to death like a garden that is never cultivated. It is in fact getting *harder* to identify possible sessions in a given area as the database silts up with detritus from the past.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Linsey Doyle
Re: Re Sessions
It's pretty straight forward that Jeremy is in line with the majority of dictators when they are of the opinion that they are doing something nice for folks.
The interesting difference is that most dictators take power of their domains, where as internet impresarios create their domains. It's a fascinating difference.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
Lingpupa, as I've said before, this place is only a resource for those who are under re-sourced
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
"There's a particularly good and well known closed session listed here that I get an invite too sometimes, and some feckin eedjit punter posted it here as a regular session. But Jeremy won't delete the listing. Stupid."
Hi Llig, I'd actually like to meet you someday you're quite a character. Where's this session?
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by D.J.F.
Re: Re Sessions
Punter: "Gee, we sure enjoyed listening to your session, and we're going to spend two weeks in Ireland this summer. Do you know of any good sessions there? "
Me: "Of course. Here's a website that has listings for Irish sessions all over the world."
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by John Galt
Re: Re Sessions
"Lingpupa, as I've said before, this place is only a resource for those who are under re-sourced"
you seem to spend a lot of time here
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by croxton
Re: Re Sessions
Funny, but most sessions I've been to may not be by-invite only, but they do tend to operate by-disinvite for certain folks....
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
Llig was banished here by an evil witch who tried to join his session but was turned away. So she condemned him ever to wander the mustard-colored landscape, muttering about doom to all who will listen.
Although, however and whyever he showed up, he often comes up with some pretty thoughtful and well appreciate observations!
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Re Sessions
Yes, perhaps.l But the question still remains, boxers or briefs?
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by croxton
Re: Re Sessions
I suspect commando....
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
Aww, llig's bitter about the only tune he ever submitted getting deleted years ago...
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Joe CSS
Re: Re Sessions
Of course not everybody on thesession.org are competent musicians....
That session could have been posted here and who knows? - an army of egg shakers could have showed up, or off da beat bodhrans,a whole load of wanna be musicians.....
I posted a session here that quickly detiorated (not because of thesession.org don't get me wrong) but I certainly wouldn't recommend people lookin for a tune to go there
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by premier
Re: Re Sessions
"invitation only": I agree with Groucho Marx - I wouldn't want to be a member of a club that accepts people like me
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Re Sessions
Going back to what people were saying about "belters", I feel like the world is small enough at this point, that if you wanted to go to a closed session and felt you were good enough to attend but didn't know the session organizer, you could probably find somebody who could vouch for you to the session organizer. I've found in my experiences that no matter what city I go to, there are usually no more than a few degrees of separation between myself and somebody involved with the sessions there. If you're travelling around, having a closed session posted here at least lets you know there's music happening in that city, so just start asking around if you want to know more information. Seems like a decent way to keep your session free of problems.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Jason G
Re: Re Sessions
Speaking of "belters" who don't get the idea of what the session is about, I have a little problem with self-appointed critics who go to a session once, then go to thesession.org and post their description of the session, which may put off others from attending.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Re Sessions
I thought "belter" was a compliment...
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Alasdair Paul
Re: Re Sessions
LOL.
This reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's redneck routine, "you might be a redneck if...."
"You might be a belter if you think 'belter' is a compliment."
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
I must admit that I would normally associate "belter" with the singing style of the likes of Liza Minelli and Sophie Tucker...
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Re Sessions
I suspect that a while back ceratin teachers were known as belters, even if they used the tawse/strap/slipper.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by minijackpot
Re: Re Sessions
G’day!
I like this thread and the many comments posted.
Whilst it might clutter the number of sessions now deceases, the fact that there is a record makes for some fascinating, and I must add, dismal reading.
It’s a natural thing for sessions to move, though the alacrity with which it happens these days I find somewhat alarming, both from personal experience and observations from a site such as here.
Maybe that is a spin off from the outbreak of Irish “theme pubs” when many landlords with no Irish connection just tried to coin a quick buck, and likewise many musicians jumped on board and many Athenry, Irish/Wild Rover Bands evolved. There were a number of bands already doing gigs like this but they didn’t predominate in what one called a session pub.
I remember once at Sandy Bell’s, a great session pub in Glasgow, in about ’83 when I’d just played “Aisling gheal” an old Irish air. This man came over and asked if I knew what he thought was the most fantastic pipes air known to man, and he rambled on and then asked if I would please play it. I asked did he have a name for it, all the usual courtesies, and he started to intone…”Amazing Grace”!
I was spared any problems as this man was immediately ejected from the pub; it was self “policed”.
Getting back to this discussion, I think it is incumbent on those who post a session to maintain the integrity on this site. I humbly give an example where I myself was a little tardy.
http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/523
And for those who question the value of posting sessions, I can only say we’ve had some lovely diverse people, some of whom were players, who have visited us here in Hobart by finding our session on “The Session”!
All the best
Brian xx
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Re Sessions
Sandy Bells is in Edinburgh. If you were in Glasgow you might have been in the Ben Nevis (not sure how many years back this session goes) or possibly the Vicky Bar or maybe Sharkey's. I suspect you were probably in Edinburgh though. Either way thanks for the story. It is nice when the pub values the session and defends the music.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Re Sessions
Mea culpa!
Of course it was in Edinburgh! I had some lovely sesions there, with some fabulous musicians.
And absolutely right, the ones I went to in Glasgow were mainly Sharkey's and the Vicky Bar.
there was another place I went to in Glasgow near a big bus/coach station, would it be a street called Buchannan Street? That was just walk in and play during the day with some friends when I was visiting.
Brian x
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Re Sessions
Buchanan st is one of the main streets in Glasgow. I am not sure which pub it would have been though. I was not playing back in 1983 being but 4/5 years old. Sharkey's is still going strong although I have never been but the Vicky Bar session has since moved on to pastures new.
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Re Sessions
The late Jimmy McHugh got Sharkey’s started. It’s great to know it’s still going strong; Brendan (Benny) one of his sons still goes there, as do other Session members as I understand.
I used to hitch 100 miles to get to that session; mind you it was worth every midnight hour stood at the roadside trying to get a lift back home!
As regards Edinburgh’s Sandy Bell’s I can remember that too like it was yesterday. There were some great players there too, some now playing in the Upstairs Session with harps!
There was a nice little session in a place called The Greenmarket? And I played many times in The Royal Oak. That used to go on very, very late. And on a Sunday afternoon/evening there was a really nice paced one at The West End Hotel I think it was called.
The last time I played at Sharkey’s was at Jimmy McHugh’s wake about ten years ago now. It was an incredible turnout and tribute to a man who had done so much for music.
Best
Brian xx
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Re Sessions
>"You might be a belter if you think 'belter' is a compliment."
belter means something is good in local speak here, but it is used as in:
"a belter of a goal"
maybe
"a belter of a tune"
much the same way that "beauty" is sometimes used
-chris
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Re Sessions
Well, technically, "belting" is a singing technique--basically a way to increase volume. So a "belter" is someone who sings loud or has a strong singing voice. Give it a bit of sarcasm and you can imagine why being called a belter on guitar or bodhran (or anything, really) at a session would not be a compliment....
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Re Sessions
In the local speak round here it could be either good as in "what a belter" for a goal. But also a thump as in (historically of course) "if you dont shut up I'll give you a belt round the earhole". I understood the latter for guitar's and bodhrans.
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by David50
Re: Re Sessions
"Greenmarket"? It was the Green Tree, on the Grassmarket.
(flattened and now a block of flats)
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: Re Sessions
Thank you Michael!
That's the one. Sorry to hear of its demise, I had some fantastic meetings with people who are friends still some 25 years on, let alone tunes there.
If I remember correctly, would it have been Neil and Ann(e?) Morrison who played there, acordion and fiddle on a regular basis? A lovely atmosphere.
Thanks Brian x
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Re Sessions
http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/523
briantheflute, is there an Irish Murphy's pub in every Australian town? Just curious.
# Posted on March 16th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Re Sessions
Brian,
Just noticed this thread.
It was Neil Morrison and Ann Hughes but they were still a couple.
They used to play in The Fiddlers Arms, Grassmarket which is now...sadly.. a different kind of pub altogether. The Green Tree was actually in The Cowgate which is a continuation of Grassmarket.
There used to be great sessions in both but The Green Tree sessions tended to be more Irish whereas The Fiddlers was mostly Scottish.
Neil and Ann also frequented The West End Hotel, The Thistle and so on. I believe Neil has recently passed away but I remember both of them to be very welcoming and encouraging.
# Posted on September 5th 2010 by John J.