I am going to be attending college in Washington DC, and I am from the west coast. I have studied for 8 years with Dale Russ, and went to the Fiddle Tunes Festival a couple of years back. I wondered if anyone knew about the Irish music scene in DC. I would love to connect with people to just play for fun, or if anyone teaches in the area. Thanks!
although i am a relative newbie to DC, i am pretty familiar with the scene. alway happy to help direct people to music. drop me a line thru the site and i'd be happy to help you out any way i can...
This guy is just a great fiddler and all around good guy. He taught at the fiddle retreat. He has a very laid back approach to fiddling but is just a wonder to watch.
The DC and Baltimore area is very fortunate to have numerous Irish music session, lesson, and concert, opportunities at all levels. Some of the great fiddlers such as Phillipe Varlet and Brendan Mulvihill live in the area. I live in the area, but still consider myself a beginner. Drop me a line and I can get you more information, or get you in touch with some helpful contacts. The Upper Potomac Irish Weekend in late October will have Liz Knowles teaching fiddle this year (along with other instrument workshops). That's always a fun weekend. I'll add more information in the Events section.
I'm always at the RiRa session, occasionally at McGinty's, and only rarely now at Nanny's, although I used to go there a lot when I first started playing in sessions 10 years ago.
As was already mentioned, the two main fiddle teachers in DC are Philippe Varlet and Brendan Mulvihill. Brendan is a legend among fiddlers, and if there is only one Irish musician you should hear and meet while you're in DC, it would be Brendan. He plays a gig at Nanny O'Brien's most Wednesday nights.
Feel free to PM me via this site if you'd like any more info on this or anything else about the DC Irish scene. Welcome to town!
There's also a session at The Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, MD on the 3rd Sunday of the month, and a session on Saturdays at noon at the Auld Shebeen sponsored by this gang: http://www.novasession.org
Music in DC Area??
Music in DC Area??
I am going to be attending college in Washington DC, and I am from the west coast. I have studied for 8 years with Dale Russ, and went to the Fiddle Tunes Festival a couple of years back. I wondered if anyone knew about the Irish music scene in DC. I would love to connect with people to just play for fun, or if anyone teaches in the area. Thanks!
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by RedHairandFreckles
Re: Music in DC Area??
although i am a relative newbie to DC, i am pretty familiar with the scene. alway happy to help direct people to music. drop me a line thru the site and i'd be happy to help you out any way i can...
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Brendan
Re: Music in DC Area??
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~updf/UPDF/page5.html
This is the Upper Potomac Fiddling Club. They hosted a really nice fiddle retreat over the winter. Great group of people.
http://www.omalleysmarch.com/ajim/jimmain.htm
This guy is just a great fiddler and all around good guy. He taught at the fiddle retreat. He has a very laid back approach to fiddling but is just a wonder to watch.
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by ceolgaelach
Re: Music in DC Area??
The DC and Baltimore area is very fortunate to have numerous Irish music session, lesson, and concert, opportunities at all levels. Some of the great fiddlers such as Phillipe Varlet and Brendan Mulvihill live in the area. I live in the area, but still consider myself a beginner. Drop me a line and I can get you more information, or get you in touch with some helpful contacts. The Upper Potomac Irish Weekend in late October will have Liz Knowles teaching fiddle this year (along with other instrument workshops). That's always a fun weekend. I'll add more information in the Events section.
JimL
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Jiml
Re: Music in DC Area??
Here's a rundown on the big four weekly sessions in the DC area:
RiRa, Bethesda MD, Sundays and Wednesdays
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=24996
McGinty's, Silver Spring MD, Tuesdays
(no web presence for this session AFAIK)
Nanny O'Brien's, Connecticut Ave NW DC, Mondays
http://thesession.org/sessions/display/491
I'm always at the RiRa session, occasionally at McGinty's, and only rarely now at Nanny's, although I used to go there a lot when I first started playing in sessions 10 years ago.
As was already mentioned, the two main fiddle teachers in DC are Philippe Varlet and Brendan Mulvihill. Brendan is a legend among fiddlers, and if there is only one Irish musician you should hear and meet while you're in DC, it would be Brendan. He plays a gig at Nanny O'Brien's most Wednesday nights.
Feel free to PM me via this site if you'd like any more info on this or anything else about the DC Irish scene. Welcome to town!
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by johnkerr
Royal Mile & Auld Shebeen
There's also a session at The Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, MD on the 3rd Sunday of the month, and a session on Saturdays at noon at the Auld Shebeen sponsored by this gang: http://www.novasession.org
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Strummer007
Re: Music in DC Area??
agree with johnkerr: brendan mulvihill is like on another plane of fiddle playing existence...
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Brendan
Re: Music in DC Area??
Actually I believe the Royal Mile session is on the fourth Sunday of the month, not the third.
# Posted on July 7th 2006 by johnkerr