I met I guy I know from Monaghan who was living in Galway for a no of years. I told him how lucky he must have been to have such great music round him while living there. He said That it was not as good in the last 2/3 years as most of the musicians that moved there in the late 90's had either moved out of Galway or dont go out for sessions that much anymore.
Is there anyone living in Galway that tell me if this is through. I was there a few times a few years ago and loved the Wed session in Coilis or the Fri night in the Crane with Brian McGrath and Paul Bradley.
Hi there, unfortunately your Monaghan friend is correct. A lot of musicians have moved away from Galway and most of the sessions to be found in the city are gigs more than sessions. I'm also from Monaghan and have been living in Galway for many years, but I stopped playing music in the city a few years due to the lack of sessions that are open to musicians to join in.
I don't think the blame lies with either the publicans or the musicians who play the gigs, Galway has changed and grown as a city in the last few years and there are now very few pubs here which have an atmosphere conducive to friendly session.
All this being said, there is still great music to be heard in Galway. Although most sessions are now really gigs, the standard of music is really excellent.
I haven't been back there for ages. One of my favourite musicians in the city was Padraig Rynne, but he's already gone. I wonder if Brendan Browne still plays there. Is there still a session in Taaffes every afternoon?
padraig's back in Co. Clare but still goes to Galway some Wed nights to play with Mirella Murray. Alot of musicians have moved out of Galway due to the changing scene and expanding city sprawl..it gets harder to make a living when the price of things go up and session fees don't...copped on 'dole' offices didn't help either so the musicians that chose to remain generally travel out of Galway to make their living. Kinvarra's thriving with musicians at the moment though..
I don't think there's less actual music, but I would agree many/most
of the sessions (as opposed to gigs) are being converted, bit by bit, into gigs. I've started up something which is a weird mix of the two, I think unique in the city: it is a "gig" in the sense that we get paid, but its not run by a fixed number of people, and the money we get is split between everyone. Its a fun open session in Monroes every thursday. See the listings or http://godel.nuigalway.ie/opentrad/
Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
I met I guy I know from Monaghan who was living in Galway for a no of years. I told him how lucky he must have been to have such great music round him while living there. He said That it was not as good in the last 2/3 years as most of the musicians that moved there in the late 90's had either moved out of Galway or dont go out for sessions that much anymore.
Is there anyone living in Galway that tell me if this is through. I was there a few times a few years ago and loved the Wed session in Coilis or the Fri night in the Crane with Brian McGrath and Paul Bradley.
# Posted on September 11th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
Hi there, unfortunately your Monaghan friend is correct. A lot of musicians have moved away from Galway and most of the sessions to be found in the city are gigs more than sessions. I'm also from Monaghan and have been living in Galway for many years, but I stopped playing music in the city a few years due to the lack of sessions that are open to musicians to join in.
I don't think the blame lies with either the publicans or the musicians who play the gigs, Galway has changed and grown as a city in the last few years and there are now very few pubs here which have an atmosphere conducive to friendly session.
All this being said, there is still great music to be heard in Galway. Although most sessions are now really gigs, the standard of music is really excellent.
# Posted on September 11th 2006 by saidhbh
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
What musicians have left Galway and why?
# Posted on September 11th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
I haven't been back there for ages. One of my favourite musicians in the city was Padraig Rynne, but he's already gone. I wonder if Brendan Browne still plays there. Is there still a session in Taaffes every afternoon?
# Posted on September 11th 2006 by slainte
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
Padraig Rynne is still round for sure...dont think he plays the sessions as much these days......
Totally agree though, the city is definitely short of a couple of open sessions...
# Posted on September 12th 2006 by dfiddle
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
padraig's back in Co. Clare but still goes to Galway some Wed nights to play with Mirella Murray. Alot of musicians have moved out of Galway due to the changing scene and expanding city sprawl..it gets harder to make a living when the price of things go up and session fees don't...copped on 'dole' offices didn't help either so the musicians that chose to remain generally travel out of Galway to make their living. Kinvarra's thriving with musicians at the moment though..
# Posted on September 12th 2006 by maryp
Re: Is there less music in Galway nowadays?
I don't think there's less actual music, but I would agree many/most
of the sessions (as opposed to gigs) are being converted, bit by bit, into gigs. I've started up something which is a weird mix of the two, I think unique in the city: it is a "gig" in the sense that we get paid, but its not run by a fixed number of people, and the money we get is split between everyone. Its a fun open session in Monroes every thursday. See the listings or http://godel.nuigalway.ie/opentrad/
# Posted on September 22nd 2006 by gettrick