next academic year i will be moving up to scotland for university, and its coming to the point where i have to decide which university i acept. Thus my question is (despite academic comparatives) which city is best edinburgh or glasgow for tradtional music and finding other young folk musicians?.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Your studies are probably the most important consideration. Whichever of the two cities you choose, it's very easy to commute from one to the other for sessions and/or University.
As Kenny says, Glasgow is probably better for Irish music. However, I think Edinburgh has more sessions overall and a bigger variety. You can go to both places though and probably will.
Re Celtic Connections. There aren't really any extra sessions then apart from the very late ones at The Festival Club and these can be very unpredictable..sometimes exclusive. Of course, there's more people around so the regular sessions will have more of a "buzz". Mainly, though, this festival is concert based.
You also get certain times of the year when Edinburgh is busy too, e.g the Fringe, Ceilidh Culture and so on.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Glasgow and Edinburgh both have really lively session scenes. In terms of youth Glasgow possibly has sessions with a younger crowd (because of the RSAMD and the music course at Strath Tec) but that probably doesn't matter. Make the choice based on your academic concerns, not the music ones. On that basis Glasgow Uni is obviously superior (Edinburgh smells somewhat!! )
Ultimately, in musical terms, the choice comes down to choosing between quantity and quality. Edinburgh certainly has more sessions....................
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
The concertina and other musical instruments recently stolen in Glasgow, and only good experiences, if past, in Edinburgh, has swung my vote ~ Edinburgh...
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Check crime stats, and then contact the Student Union in both places... 'Sessions' are not the only measure of a city. If you've other interests, like sports ~ check that out too, but as someone else wisely put it ~ there's no huge gap between the two...and regular public transport... Best of luck...
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
For Glasgow:
www.guu.co.uk - Glasgow University Union
www.qmu.org.uk - Queen Margaret Union
Glasgow is unique in having two independent unions. They both offer plenty of entertainment (although it doesn't tend to be related to traditional music unsurprisingly)
I can't speak for Edinburgh but I am sure it is not too bad.
Of course this si assuming you would be going to Glasgow Uni or Edinburgh Uni and not one of the many other unis in the cities such as Strathclyde, Caledonian, Napier and so on.
Anyway, should you find yourself up Dundee way then pop into the sessions here - you would be more than welcome.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
If, jsut if, you suffer any of my madness, hunting down histories or old mouldy tunes and dances and the like, well, I've never been called to Glasgow's libraries, but Edinburgh and Aberdeen ~ YES!!! For all sorts of old books and learned journals Edinburgh has Glasgow beat by a mile...
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Unless you go to Glasgow University in which case the Special Collections department in the University library takes some beating. And let us not forget the Mitchell Library - better than any library Edinburgh has on offer.
And of course, if you were to go to Aberdeen you have to be able to cope with the smell of fish and the neverending squawking of seagulls.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Even though I'm from Glasgow, I can't really comment too knowledgably on the relative merits of either city in trad music terms, as I've been exiled for a fair while. Both, I know though, are very very good and punch well above their weight in terms of sessions per head of population for UK cities.
It has been mentioned above other aspects of student life besides sessions: eg crime rates, sports facilities and so on.
First there are still some dog-rough estates in Glasgow, but also in Edinburgh to a lesser extent. Obviously you don't ever want to go near these places, but their inhabitants do spill out into normal civic society. Glasgow is by far the worst for these estates.
Both cities are architecturally unique, Edinburgh, in opinion, looks prettier, really pretty, but In my view Glasgow has more variety and is thus more interesting - it's bigger, of course, maybe 1.5 -2 times the size of Embra.
Glasgow is said to be more friendly, and Embra snobby, but I personally have never found Embra folk unfriendly at all.
If you want to get out of either city to the Highlands and Islands it's a good deal easier to do so from Glasgow. Worth bearing in mind.
I hope these personal observations help you a little.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Well I will agree that both cities kick London into touch
It is true that there are some rough estates in Glasgow, but they do exist in Edinburgh and not really to any lesser degree. Both cities are getting much better though and have done for a long time. There are rough areas in every city though including Nottingham so I wouldn't worry about that too much.
Certainly in terms of Irish music, as I am sure our Edinburgh friends like Mr Gill will point, Edinburgh has plenty of Irish music, albeit that there may be more in Glasgow. The notion that Glasgow is deprived of good Scottish tunes is a nonsense though. There are lots. It just depends which sessions you go to and who happens to be there then.
If your sole decision is on the quality of sessions then don't worry - both are excellent - to be honest they are probably the top two cities in the UK in terms of sessions
On the other hand if you want a decent University education go to Glasgow. If you want quick access to cheap heroin then it is the 'burgh or Aberdeen for you.
If you want good football you should also come to Glasgow. We have two great teams and whether you go to see Celtic or Partick Thistle you will get a warm welcome.
Nottingham: population: 278 700
Sessions listed here: none
ie 0 session per 278 700 inhabitants.
There ye go. Edinburgh is officially the most sessionest city in Great Britain.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Also, there are sessions in the surrounding areas many of which are "variable" in quality. It's not all Irish/Scots music either and you're more like to come across "eggs and spoons" there.
However, these are important as they provide a place for these people to go. So, there's usually peace in the better sessions.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Don't worry, you don't have to go outside for a "smoke break".
She sounds a bit like an Edinburgh lass to me.
Reminds me of the time that there was two females in the Sheriff Court cells each up on several charges of disorder and the Glasgow woman was heard to say "See youse Edinburgh Folk, ye're aw a load o' snobs"
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
The other woman was from Edinburgh but didn't appear particularly snooty to me, although I didn't do a count on the number of "F" words used by each party.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Ye'll just hae tae spin a wee bobee, ken, & see fit turns up & mind, if ye dinnae un'erstan' the parliamo, then ye'd maybe better naw gone tae eethir yin o' thur cities - Jimmy!
Apologies John, but after all, I have been away for 16 yrs!
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
I remember there used to be a flat to rent in the next tenement, actually above Bells - I wonder if that's still rented out to students. Now that'd be ideal for you S.McMullen!
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Well, it's actually quicker to get to the centre of either city from Falkirk than from many parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow themselves.
Actually, there will be sessions after The Falkirk Fiddle workshop meetings and there are definitely ones in the Stirling area.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
"university rankings" ~ there are a number of books published annually that cover a number of important issues about university education and life... I haven't checked them for ages, but I remember a couple of the national papers did surveys, and one, maybe the Observer, took student opinion poles to fill out their evaluations. These are valuable. I won't say what uni, but when I was checking them out I also checked the adds for university professors and discovered that one of those I was considering was so out of popularity with its faculty that they had a mass exodus and suddenly had to fill a slew of posts ~ 'freshers' in the faculty sense of the word... That was not a good sign.
Best suggestion, go spend at least a week in both places, plan a vacation, if you can, and check things out, including the local sessions, a week's worth should give you something solid to base an opinion on, instead of fully accepting our personal biases here.
Both places feathred high at one point or the other for crime and drug abuse, but when you come to settling in, just ask people, including the police, and they will usually freely give you advice of where to avoid setting up your temporary home... We've known good people from both realms, so we know they exist. You'll find problems anywhere that a population of people gather. In the end it is best to form your own opinion ~ based on some experience of the places in question. Even then, it always takes time and patience and adaptability to make a place comfortable, even part time... Remember, wherever, you can always find transportation for alternatives and you can always escape for the summer.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Been to a couple of sessions in Edinburgh - had a great time. Haven't yet made it to a Glasgow session
Saying that - Edinburgh's a wonderful place to be a student in. I spend four very happy years there - admitedly twenty odd years ago. But my daughter's best friend is at Vet school there and seems to be enjoying herself.
J
You did omit to say what you were planning to study
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Yehbut michael, that works both ways. I don't know for a fact but what if the same applies for Glasgow sessions? And I just did a search over on the sessions section, so some in either city could be defunct --- all this based on the assumption that you actually took that post seriously, in which case you'd be losing your touch, michael.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
But you are assuming that his "bodrhan" is the same thing as a Bodhran, llig! Who knows, perhaps it's what those Nottingham chaps call their Fiddles?
I think the more worrying thing about his bio, is that he says:
" .... always looking for new musicians to play with ..."!
Aye, well, but what happened to all the musicians he used to play with, eh?
Maybe he's not so much 'coming' to Scotland as being encouraged to 'leave' England?
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Rotten scheisters you two. The guy is probably only 17 or 18. I wonder what either of you two were like at that age if this is the way youse behave as "mature2 adults. He also says he never really plays the bodhran. And don't come back with, Aw Danny chill out, we're only joking, and all that crap. How will young McMullen know the difference? Bullies.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Falkirk might be great for getting to the centre of Edinburgh or Glasgow, but try getting home after a session ....
You will note, Michael, that he owns a bodhran but doesn't use it. The very definition of a gentleman.
There's music enough in Aberdeen - and no seagulls since we did away with rubbish bags in favour of wheelie bins - but if you've only been offered places in Glasgow or Edinburgh, then no point in mentioning Aberdeen.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Hey, chill out there KFC, he's already said he's heading for Uni., so we know he's a bright lad & I'm sure he's poked around enough on this site, never mind other forums, to know what goes on. Also, if he's been around sessions he'll know only too well the banter that follows any Bodhran player around.
Of course llig was only joking - but I was being deadly serious ..... come on man, day ye no think we hae enough o' they sassenachs up here, as it is?
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
I've been accused of being a cyber bully before and it's not funny. I know I like playing with people's heads, especially on this home for the bonkers - myself included of course - but if I've crossed the line into being a bully I sincerely apologise. I appreciate that irony, sarcasm and general banter can oft be misconstrued, but this is no way an excuse if I have genuinely been a bully.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Told you you'd say chill out - how predictable.
But you don't know that he knows the score here - that's an assumption - he's only made just over 100 posts after all. I recently went to a session where I was oldest or 2nd oldest - most of the others were teenagers or not much more than. Could hardly get a peep out of any of them, all so self conscious (till they started playing of course.) I think you might be forgetting what some younger musicians can be like.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
This reminds me of my first time in a Belfast session, & I was only in my early 20's & it was the late 60's, so it was a scarey place for strangers anyway!
So I walked in with a Banjo under my arm, after nervously getting past the cage & barbed wire which surrounded the pub & the heavy dude on the door.
Anyway, I only knew one of the musicians, who proceeded to introduce me to the others, to which one big bloke near me said, with a poker face - "Aw sh!te, not another F*^$!£G Scotsman, that's all we need"! .......... My introduction to Belfast humour!
Anyway, I'm sure young S McMullen is made of stronger stuff than perhaps you give him credit for, KML.
For, as well as all the useful advice he's received so far, he's probably quite glad of the bit of humour too, I know I was when I first arrived here, & to be honest, it actually made me feel far more at home than all the other smarmy hellos & welcomes that other, 'well meaning folk' offered.
If he has taken offence, I'm sorry, but I reckon he's laughing his head off right now!
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Actually, to be honest, in some ways I have to agree with you Ptarm. I used to think there were far too many do-gooder cheesy-grinned over-welcoming have-a-nice-da-ay types a few years ago - things have settled down now. But then again I'm sure you, like me, would be the last one to want to put off any young musos, hence my "outcry".
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Absolutely!
Really, it's that age old problem with forums, that's been around since the dawn of the 'chip' - there are just so many different ways to interpret a post.
Of course that's why wind-ups here are such fun, because some poeple always take them at face value, like my last one, for example.
I must admit I do visit a couple of other forums, but with many of them, although I find them informative, they can also be very dry places too, which is why I like the madcap element that goes along with many of the postings from some of the zany, but also very musically knowledgeable folk, here.
I've only actually seen a couple of real bullies on this site & thankfully they were very quickly evicted by 'J'.
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
OF COURSE IM OFFENDED BY ALL OF YOU! MWUAHAHAHAHA lol only joking, for Christ sake me family’s Irish i know the session "culture" and I am at sessions every week (just with a load of old farts like ya selves hahahahah :P) (but i can fully understand how posts get misinterpreted so thank you kml it made the pain of bearing their comments much easier hehehe) ,
i know the jokes that go with bodrhans and even more painfully the endless jokes i hear about banjos, and i can agree because the 5 string gets on my nipples now and then and i have heard some terrible bodrhan players (me being one). But the fact of the matter is im feckin good on both instruments so shut ya pie holes! (lol again only joking im absolutely pants at the bodrhan but what is that infering about my uncommented banjo playing? im quite good, that is what it’s inferring mwhahaha hehe)
neways back to university, I have been accepted to study history and politics at both universities(so that puts out Aberdeen and furthermore in my first year ill probably be living in the university’s halls of residence) i would have done a music course but what’s the point, that’s for my fun time and i don’t want to be engulfed by pretentious musicians.
so all of you who live in Edinburgh and Glasgow beware!!!!! This banjo/whistles/guitar player is on your doorstep muwahahahhahaha and he loves irish music!
will i get stabbed for that? ya weeeeee bas*** a wee glasgow kiss
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Too bad we're not in either place, we'd have offered you lodgings ~ after lining the walls and blocking the window with old mattresses... And locking the liquor away...
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Only "vine" I had as a student was thon cheap Buckfast pish, in those huge litre bottles. Well, you get fed up drinking 'vater', don't you & the 'visky' is far too dear!
I even nearly ended up drinking 'winegar' one time.
this is a hard question but which city is best
this is a hard question but which city is best
next academic year i will be moving up to scotland for university, and its coming to the point where i have to decide which university i acept. Thus my question is (despite academic comparatives) which city is best edinburgh or glasgow for tradtional music and finding other young folk musicians?.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
EDINBURGH - except during 'CELTIC CONNECTIONS'.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
If it's Irish music you play, I'd recommend Glasgow, but there are good players in both cities.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by Kenny
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
its cetlic music on a whole really my father is from ireland but im more ore less just hoping to get into a band when i get up there.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Your studies are probably the most important consideration. Whichever of the two cities you choose, it's very easy to commute from one to the other for sessions and/or University.
As Kenny says, Glasgow is probably better for Irish music. However, I think Edinburgh has more sessions overall and a bigger variety. You can go to both places though and probably will.
Re Celtic Connections. There aren't really any extra sessions then apart from the very late ones at The Festival Club and these can be very unpredictable..sometimes exclusive. Of course, there's more people around so the regular sessions will have more of a "buzz". Mainly, though, this festival is concert based.
You also get certain times of the year when Edinburgh is busy too, e.g the Fringe, Ceilidh Culture and so on.
"finding other young folk musicians"
There's lots of good "old" ones too, by the way.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
wicked thanks for replys, o theres nothing wrong with old ones lol there my best friends
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
there just a real shortage of young folkies here in notts
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Aberdeen...
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
And, what's wrong with old folkies? ~ aside from the dress sense?
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Glasgow and Edinburgh both have really lively session scenes. In terms of youth Glasgow possibly has sessions with a younger crowd (because of the RSAMD and the music course at Strath Tec) but that probably doesn't matter. Make the choice based on your academic concerns, not the music ones. On that basis Glasgow Uni is obviously superior (Edinburgh smells somewhat!!
)
Ultimately, in musical terms, the choice comes down to choosing between quantity and quality. Edinburgh certainly has more sessions....................
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
The concertina and other musical instruments recently stolen in Glasgow, and only good experiences, if past, in Edinburgh, has swung my vote ~ Edinburgh...
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Check crime stats, and then contact the Student Union in both places... 'Sessions' are not the only measure of a city. If you've other interests, like sports ~ check that out too, but as someone else wisely put it ~ there's no huge gap between the two...and regular public transport... Best of luck...
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
For Glasgow:
www.guu.co.uk - Glasgow University Union
www.qmu.org.uk - Queen Margaret Union
Glasgow is unique in having two independent unions. They both offer plenty of entertainment (although it doesn't tend to be related to traditional music unsurprisingly)
I can't speak for Edinburgh but I am sure it is not too bad.
Of course this si assuming you would be going to Glasgow Uni or Edinburgh Uni and not one of the many other unis in the cities such as Strathclyde, Caledonian, Napier and so on.
Anyway, should you find yourself up Dundee way then pop into the sessions here - you would be more than welcome.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
If, jsut if, you suffer any of my madness, hunting down histories or old mouldy tunes and dances and the like, well, I've never been called to Glasgow's libraries, but Edinburgh and Aberdeen ~ YES!!! For all sorts of old books and learned journals Edinburgh has Glasgow beat by a mile...
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Unless you go to Glasgow University in which case the Special Collections department in the University library takes some beating. And let us not forget the Mitchell Library - better than any library Edinburgh has on offer.
And of course, if you were to go to Aberdeen you have to be able to cope with the smell of fish and the neverending squawking of seagulls.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
On the other hand if you want to hear tunes played in an old, mouldy style than look no further than Edinburgh or Aberdeen
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
No cause for alarm ~ wherever you end up settling there is never greener grass, just different shades...
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Even though I'm from Glasgow, I can't really comment too knowledgably on the relative merits of either city in trad music terms, as I've been exiled for a fair while. Both, I know though, are very very good and punch well above their weight in terms of sessions per head of population for UK cities.
It has been mentioned above other aspects of student life besides sessions: eg crime rates, sports facilities and so on.
First there are still some dog-rough estates in Glasgow, but also in Edinburgh to a lesser extent. Obviously you don't ever want to go near these places, but their inhabitants do spill out into normal civic society. Glasgow is by far the worst for these estates.
Both cities are architecturally unique, Edinburgh, in opinion, looks prettier, really pretty, but In my view Glasgow has more variety and is thus more interesting - it's bigger, of course, maybe 1.5 -2 times the size of Embra.
Glasgow is said to be more friendly, and Embra snobby, but I personally have never found Embra folk unfriendly at all.
If you want to get out of either city to the Highlands and Islands it's a good deal easier to do so from Glasgow. Worth bearing in mind.
I hope these personal observations help you a little.
# Posted on February 10th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Well I will agree that both cities kick London into touch
It is true that there are some rough estates in Glasgow, but they do exist in Edinburgh and not really to any lesser degree. Both cities are getting much better though and have done for a long time. There are rough areas in every city though including Nottingham so I wouldn't worry about that too much.
Certainly in terms of Irish music, as I am sure our Edinburgh friends like Mr Gill will point, Edinburgh has plenty of Irish music, albeit that there may be more in Glasgow. The notion that Glasgow is deprived of good Scottish tunes is a nonsense though. There are lots. It just depends which sessions you go to and who happens to be there then.
If your sole decision is on the quality of sessions then don't worry - both are excellent - to be honest they are probably the top two cities in the UK in terms of sessions
On the other hand if you want a decent University education go to Glasgow. If you want quick access to cheap heroin then it is the 'burgh or Aberdeen for you.
If you want good football you should also come to Glasgow. We have two great teams and whether you go to see Celtic or Partick Thistle you will get a warm welcome.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
...Not forgetting St. Mirren are nearby.
Agree with all of that, Alasdair, but I thought it's worthwhile to point out about these estates.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Edinburgh: population: 448 624
Sessions listed here: 10
ie 1 session per 44,862 inhabitants.
Glasgow: population: 599 950
Sessions listed here: 13
ie 1 session per 46,150 inhabitants.
London: population: 7 700 000
Sessions listed here: 50
ie 1 session per 154,000 inhabitants.
Nottingham: population: 278 700
Sessions listed here: none
ie 0 session per 278 700 inhabitants.
There ye go. Edinburgh is officially the most sessionest city in Great Britain.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Also, there are sessions in the surrounding areas many of which are "variable" in quality. It's not all Irish/Scots music either and you're more like to come across "eggs and spoons" there.
However, these are important as they provide a place for these people to go. So, there's usually peace in the better sessions.
Probably, there's more of those near Edinburgh.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
S.McMullen, here is an example of the shy, retiring, refined, genteel, ladylike talent you can expect to find on a night out in a Scottish city:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQwgsJUf8Hw
Have you considered Belfast?
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Don't worry, you don't have to go outside for a "smoke break".
She sounds a bit like an Edinburgh lass to me.
Reminds me of the time that there was two females in the Sheriff Court cells each up on several charges of disorder and the Glasgow woman was heard to say "See youse Edinburgh Folk, ye're aw a load o' snobs"
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
The other woman was from Edinburgh but didn't appear particularly snooty to me, although I didn't do a count on the number of "F" words used by each party.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
lol guys the advice is great but things arent any easier for me?
ive loked at the university rankings tho and edingurgh is higer than glasgow(in fact edinburghh is in the top 13 in britain and glasgow is about 30)
someone help me!!!!!!!!!
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Ye'll just hae tae spin a wee bobee, ken, & see fit turns up & mind, if ye dinnae un'erstan' the parliamo, then ye'd maybe better naw gone tae eethir yin o' thur cities - Jimmy!
Apologies John, but after all, I have been away for 16 yrs!
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Well, you could always move to Falkirk which is only about twenty minute train journey from each.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
John, a search in Sessions here has just revealed that there are NO sessions in Falkirk - so perhaps not one of your better ideas!
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
I remember there used to be a flat to rent in the next tenement, actually above Bells - I wonder if that's still rented out to students. Now that'd be ideal for you S.McMullen!
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Well, it's actually quicker to get to the centre of either city from Falkirk than from many parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow themselves.
Actually, there will be sessions after The Falkirk Fiddle workshop meetings and there are definitely ones in the Stirling area.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Fair enough John, but hey, that's a point - I wish I'd a £1 for every time I've got lost in Glasgow, aye & mostly when sober!
But I've never had that problem in Edinburgh.
Just a thought.
How's your compass & map reading S.McMullen?
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
McMullen, I see from your profile that own a bodhran? I'd Glasgow's miles better.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
"university rankings" ~ there are a number of books published annually that cover a number of important issues about university education and life... I haven't checked them for ages, but I remember a couple of the national papers did surveys, and one, maybe the Observer, took student opinion poles to fill out their evaluations. These are valuable. I won't say what uni, but when I was checking them out I also checked the adds for university professors and discovered that one of those I was considering was so out of popularity with its faculty that they had a mass exodus and suddenly had to fill a slew of posts ~ 'freshers' in the faculty sense of the word... That was not a good sign.
Best suggestion, go spend at least a week in both places, plan a vacation, if you can, and check things out, including the local sessions, a week's worth should give you something solid to base an opinion on, instead of fully accepting our personal biases here.
Both places feathred high at one point or the other for crime and drug abuse, but when you come to settling in, just ask people, including the police, and they will usually freely give you advice of where to avoid setting up your temporary home... We've known good people from both realms, so we know they exist. You'll find problems anywhere that a population of people gather. In the end it is best to form your own opinion ~ based on some experience of the places in question. Even then, it always takes time and patience and adaptability to make a place comfortable, even part time... Remember, wherever, you can always find transportation for alternatives and you can always escape for the summer.
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Maybe someone will offer you floor space for your explorations?
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Been to a couple of sessions in Edinburgh - had a great time. Haven't yet made it to a Glasgow session
Saying that - Edinburgh's a wonderful place to be a student in. I spend four very happy years there - admitedly twenty odd years ago. But my daughter's best friend is at Vet school there and seems to be enjoying herself.
J
You did omit to say what you were planning to study
# Posted on February 11th 2007 by jfother
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
"Edinburgh: population: 448 624
Sessions listed here: 10
ie 1 session per 44,862 inhabitants."
Well, If you count Bell's as one of the ten, you'll have missed the trick of there being 9 sessions there every week.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Yehbut michael, that works both ways. I don't know for a fact but what if the same applies for Glasgow sessions? And I just did a search over on the sessions section, so some in either city could be defunct --- all this based on the assumption that you actually took that post seriously, in which case you'd be losing your touch, michael.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
But I'm trying to persuade the guy not to come to edinburgh, he's got a bloody bodrhan for christ sake.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
But you are assuming that his "bodrhan" is the same thing as a Bodhran, llig! Who knows, perhaps it's what those Nottingham chaps call their Fiddles?
I think the more worrying thing about his bio, is that he says:
" .... always looking for new musicians to play with ..."!
Aye, well, but what happened to all the musicians he used to play with, eh?
Maybe he's not so much 'coming' to Scotland as being encouraged to 'leave' England?
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
You might feel a bit out on a limb in Falkirk.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by nicholas
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
ha ha, yeah. And i'm amused by the order in which he places his faves, "dubliners, flook, the chieftans, the pogues, christy moore, gerry o conor".
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Rotten scheisters you two. The guy is probably only 17 or 18. I wonder what either of you two were like at that age if this is the way youse behave as "mature2 adults. He also says he never really plays the bodhran. And don't come back with, Aw Danny chill out, we're only joking, and all that crap. How will young McMullen know the difference? Bullies.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Falkirk might be great for getting to the centre of Edinburgh or Glasgow, but try getting home after a session ....
You will note, Michael, that he owns a bodhran but doesn't use it. The very definition of a gentleman.
There's music enough in Aberdeen - and no seagulls since we did away with rubbish bags in favour of wheelie bins - but if you've only been offered places in Glasgow or Edinburgh, then no point in mentioning Aberdeen.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Bren
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Hey, chill out there KFC, he's already said he's heading for Uni., so we know he's a bright lad & I'm sure he's poked around enough on this site, never mind other forums, to know what goes on. Also, if he's been around sessions he'll know only too well the banter that follows any Bodhran player around.
Of course llig was only joking - but I was being deadly serious ..... come on man, day ye no think we hae enough o' they sassenachs up here, as it is?
I'm no fur forgettin' what they did tae Wallace!
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
I've been accused of being a cyber bully before and it's not funny. I know I like playing with people's heads, especially on this home for the bonkers - myself included of course - but if I've crossed the line into being a bully I sincerely apologise. I appreciate that irony, sarcasm and general banter can oft be misconstrued, but this is no way an excuse if I have genuinely been a bully.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Told you you'd say chill out - how predictable.
But you don't know that he knows the score here - that's an assumption - he's only made just over 100 posts after all. I recently went to a session where I was oldest or 2nd oldest - most of the others were teenagers or not much more than. Could hardly get a peep out of any of them, all so self conscious (till they started playing of course.) I think you might be forgetting what some younger musicians can be like.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
OK Michael, fair play to you.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
This reminds me of my first time in a Belfast session, & I was only in my early 20's & it was the late 60's, so it was a scarey place for strangers anyway!
So I walked in with a Banjo under my arm, after nervously getting past the cage & barbed wire which surrounded the pub & the heavy dude on the door.
Anyway, I only knew one of the musicians, who proceeded to introduce me to the others, to which one big bloke near me said, with a poker face - "Aw sh!te, not another F*^$!£G Scotsman, that's all we need"! .......... My introduction to Belfast humour!
Anyway, I'm sure young S McMullen is made of stronger stuff than perhaps you give him credit for, KML.
For, as well as all the useful advice he's received so far, he's probably quite glad of the bit of humour too, I know I was when I first arrived here, & to be honest, it actually made me feel far more at home than all the other smarmy hellos & welcomes that other, 'well meaning folk' offered.
If he has taken offence, I'm sorry, but I reckon he's laughing his head off right now!
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Actually, to be honest, in some ways I have to agree with you Ptarm. I used to think there were far too many do-gooder cheesy-grinned over-welcoming have-a-nice-da-ay types a few years ago - things have settled down now. But then again I'm sure you, like me, would be the last one to want to put off any young musos, hence my "outcry".
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Absolutely!
Really, it's that age old problem with forums, that's been around since the dawn of the 'chip' - there are just so many different ways to interpret a post.
Of course that's why wind-ups here are such fun, because some poeple always take them at face value, like my last one, for example.
I must admit I do visit a couple of other forums, but with many of them, although I find them informative, they can also be very dry places too, which is why I like the madcap element that goes along with many of the postings from some of the zany, but also very musically knowledgeable folk, here.
I've only actually seen a couple of real bullies on this site & thankfully they were very quickly evicted by 'J'.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
I've been thinking about my list of fave musos from when I was 17, it went like this:
Planxty, Bothy Band, Beethoven, Mozart, Roy Harper, Fats Waller.
Now I'd probably say:
Bothy Band, Planxty, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Fats Waller, Roy Harper. (sorry Roy)
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Still young at heart eh michael?
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
The original Young Fogey
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Bren
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
OF COURSE IM OFFENDED BY ALL OF YOU! MWUAHAHAHAHA lol only joking, for Christ sake me family’s Irish i know the session "culture" and I am at sessions every week (just with a load of old farts like ya selves hahahahah :P) (but i can fully understand how posts get misinterpreted so thank you kml it made the pain of bearing their comments much easier hehehe) ,
i know the jokes that go with bodrhans and even more painfully the endless jokes i hear about banjos, and i can agree because the 5 string gets on my nipples now and then and i have heard some terrible bodrhan players (me being one). But the fact of the matter is im feckin good on both instruments so shut ya pie holes! (lol again only joking im absolutely pants at the bodrhan but what is that infering about my uncommented banjo playing? im quite good, that is what it’s inferring mwhahaha hehe)
neways back to university, I have been accepted to study history and politics at both universities(so that puts out Aberdeen and furthermore in my first year ill probably be living in the university’s halls of residence) i would have done a music course but what’s the point, that’s for my fun time and i don’t want to be engulfed by pretentious musicians.
so all of you who live in Edinburgh and Glasgow beware!!!!! This banjo/whistles/guitar player is on your doorstep muwahahahhahaha and he loves irish music!
will i get stabbed for that? ya weeeeee bas*** a wee glasgow kiss
green grow the rashers o and all that jazz
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
o and if anybody does live in either citties, free accomditation while im visiting would be brilliant!!!!!!!! we can share a few tunes!!!
now thats irish cheek for ya :D
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Right - that's the last time I'm gonna help out any you young whippersnappers.
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
im actaully laughing........... seriously my stomach is hurting
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
That's the craic...
I've also got a stomach ache from laughing...
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Too bad we're not in either place, we'd have offered you lodgings ~ after lining the walls and blocking the window with old mattresses... And locking the liquor away...
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
"green grow the rashers o"
sounds like you've done self-catering in a student flat before!
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Bren
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
lol yeh bacon rapped in vine leaves
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
Only "vine" I had as a student was thon cheap Buckfast pish, in those huge litre bottles. Well, you get fed up drinking 'vater', don't you & the 'visky' is far too dear!
I even nearly ended up drinking 'winegar' one time.
Ah, those far-off, carefree student days, when a farthing would get you across the city in a handsom cab:
http://mtake9.hp.infoseek.co.jp/models/art_of_JH/Dsc00573.jpg
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: this is a hard question but which city is best
That link was just for you Gary!
# Posted on February 12th 2007 by Ptarmigan