I have the basic picture - Italian beaurocracy militates heavily against amateur music, especially in public places such as bars. There are almost no "sessions" as we know them in the north.
But perhaps - who knows? - there are enough ITM enthusiasts within reach of the northern tip of Tuscany (within reach of Pontremoli, to be precise) to make it worth getting together for a "kitchen session" once in a while? Or even some who are already doing that?
I expect to be living there from the middle of May, and would love to hear from anyone else with a compatible interest.
I suppose you might meet holidaying or resident musos by doing some town busking - if that's not prohibited, or a risky business, in that part of the world.
Thanks for that, Anto. It fits what I had heard. Firenze is probably a good 150km from where I expect to be, so although I might turn up some time, I obviously would not be regular. It might make a contact point to start from though, so thanks again.
I played a very late night session at the Michael Collins bar in Florence with a trad band I play in, we drank our heads off on free beer! Can't remember the owner's name but he owns 3 Irish bars in Florence. The live music scene was pretty non existent at the other pubs. We landed that one by chatting to a guy at the Hostel Plus for a while that knew the owner, the usual paroachial stuff from Ireland transported to Italy.
Anyway hope you get some sessioning in by a similarlry fortuitous conversation with the right person at the right time!
Could I just ask anyone who stumbles across this later in the year to send me a message rather than posting here? I won't be looking back at this in months to come! Thanks.
If you are in Toscana in May period, I suggest a very fine "maggio" tradition in that region (more in north Toscana near Emilia Romagna appennino mountains). Maggio tradition consists on walking, playing and singing towards towns and countrysides, wishing the arrival of spring season. It's very enjoying and many people freely aggregate themselves
The music in Italy
The music in Italy
I have the basic picture - Italian beaurocracy militates heavily against amateur music, especially in public places such as bars. There are almost no "sessions" as we know them in the north.
But perhaps - who knows? - there are enough ITM enthusiasts within reach of the northern tip of Tuscany (within reach of Pontremoli, to be precise) to make it worth getting together for a "kitchen session" once in a while? Or even some who are already doing that?
I expect to be living there from the middle of May, and would love to hear from anyone else with a compatible interest.
# Posted on March 7th 2010 by Alex Wilding
Re: The music in Italy
I suppose you might meet holidaying or resident musos by doing some town busking - if that's not prohibited, or a risky business, in that part of the world.
# Posted on March 8th 2010 by nicholas
Re: The music in Italy
hijack.
i'm working in verona till 14th, andwondered if there were any sessions/events bearing in mind the upcoming paddyfest
# Posted on March 8th 2010 by one nation under chicken
Re: The music in Italy
Being italian myself I can guarantee that italians rules are very strict on music (and busking too!), but anyway, you can try the session in florence! (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Florence-Irish-Traditional-Session/95539767456?ref=mf)
There are also some stable sessions in Rome, and I'm quite sure there's one in Genova and Milano (but got no info about that).
# Posted on March 9th 2010 by Anto
Re: The music in Italy
Thanks for that, Anto. It fits what I had heard. Firenze is probably a good 150km from where I expect to be, so although I might turn up some time, I obviously would not be regular. It might make a contact point to start from though, so thanks again.
# Posted on March 9th 2010 by Alex Wilding
Re: The music in Italy
I played a very late night session at the Michael Collins bar in Florence with a trad band I play in, we drank our heads off on free beer! Can't remember the owner's name but he owns 3 Irish bars in Florence. The live music scene was pretty non existent at the other pubs. We landed that one by chatting to a guy at the Hostel Plus for a while that knew the owner, the usual paroachial stuff from Ireland transported to Italy.
Anyway hope you get some sessioning in by a similarlry fortuitous conversation with the right person at the right time!
# Posted on March 10th 2010 by Paudy
Re: The music in Italy
Could I just ask anyone who stumbles across this later in the year to send me a message rather than posting here? I won't be looking back at this in months to come! Thanks.
# Posted on March 14th 2010 by Alex Wilding
Re: The music in Italy
Is there and Irish music happening in the Le Marche region?
# Posted on March 15th 2010 by markarrington
I suggest "maggio toscano"
If you are in Toscana in May period, I suggest a very fine "maggio" tradition in that region (more in north Toscana near Emilia Romagna appennino mountains). Maggio tradition consists on walking, playing and singing towards towns and countrysides, wishing the arrival of spring season. It's very enjoying and many people freely aggregate themselves
# Posted on March 16th 2010 by OsvaldoLaviosa