I decided not to do a gig as the landlord is offering considerably less than what he originally said. sod him. Anyone looking for a flute player around London or Kent for tomorrow?
An almost Irish night at Edinburgh Folk club tomorrow. "God, how I hate folk music. :>)) " (Who said that?) with great Edinburgh band Fine Friday featuring the marvelous Nuala Kennedy on flute. They have Cathal McConnell booked to do the opening spot as well so anything could happen and it probably will. :>))
Nothwithstanding the above, I might go for a tune elsewhere as I've seen them all fairly recently. Depends on the mood, though.
Just to diverge (only a little!) from the subject matter of this thread, it's worth pointing out that there are good historical arguments for believing St Patrick was not only not Irish but was born in the village of Banwell in Somerset, in the West Country of England. Banwell is very close to the Bristol Channel, and is only about 30 minutes drive from where I live in the south of Bristol.
Brannigan - I could use you if you're a handy banjo player, ie, you know all the standards. I've probably already got a guitarist. The thing is in Deptford, SE London. 2 spots of about half hour each, the first one at 1pm, then (I think) the other, mid afternoon (unspecified as yet). Basically an on-stage accoustic gig, should be dead easy. If still interested email me via my name here.
....and I shall be entertaining at a very posh gig (well it says smart clothes on the contract) and I very much doubt there will be anyone Irish there at all but no doubt they will have all the plastic commercial paraphenalia.... Hmmmm
Of course Patrick wasn't Irish since he was captured by us fierce b##tards on a trip to Wales. Escaped back over there and then felt homesick for the dear oul sod [and possibly the drink to be had] and came back to convert us all to North Sea Gas or some such religion.
In any event - the excuse to have another shindig [especially since all those off the booze for lent give themselves a dispsenation for Paddy's day] is hardly needed over here but welcomed nevertheless!!
Hope ye all have a really good day - afraid it'll be a quiet one for me since my better half is off with a crowd of dancers to portugal for the week, leaving me with the weans. Ah well, I comfort myself with the thought that for every week away that P
Didn't make my mind about celebrating yet. Have a choice between my usual place for St Paddy's - unfortunately, they hired the worst band ever for tomorrow, and I would not endure to listen to this cacophonic spawn of hell - and a poshy theatre place with some decent music (has anyone heard of Ozan Trio?) but high ticket prices. So frustrating.
Still, can play some tunes to myself and enjoy a pint in a delightful company of my parents and siblings.
Have an enjoyable and memorable St. Paddy's Day, everyone.
Gigging tomorrow at the Irish Embassy's Reception/ Played three all nighters last week, so I don't think I will be partying come Saturday, on account of the liver, the wallet and the family (random order).
LOL. Steve, regarding your penultimate post: st. paddy's has always struck me as the *worst* day for ITM. at least in chicago, pubs tend cancel their session if they happen to have one on the annointed day. they need every inch of space for the drunken hordes. but if there is music it is usually some sloppy irish band piped cacophanously thru some hideous sound system. the pros tend to have fancy gigs somewhere and can't be found. the rest of us are passed out over a pint wondering what happend.
honestly: i'm not a big fan of st. paddy's day here in chicago. green beer, green river, the lucky charms irish mentality. jaysus. give me a break. sorry, i'm being iconoclastic but there you have it...
That's just what it's like here in SF too Brendan. I hide on P-Day, I'd rather just stay home and watch a video or something... maybe work on a new tune, or read this website.
I've turned down about 8 gigs this year I think, and took two. One was at a country club where we did a show of tunes, songs and dance for a group of lovely wealthy Irish Americans. *ka-ching* And then on Sunday a street festival, on a stage at the quiet end of the fair, in the shade, on a perfect day (our audience was in the shade too in a nice setting with tables and chairs.) The sound guy actually knew what he was doing -- and we had a blast.
After about 15 years of P-Day abuse, I have learned to be very discreet about which offers to accept. I've retired from being a Paddy's Day musical whore. I find that the experience put unnecessary pressure on my instruments, band-mates, and our music. I wouldn
It's amusing to do a topic search here on "Patrick's", and find the same general discussion and gripes have come up every year, on schedule.
Growing up in Ireland in the 50's and 60's, it was a religious holiday. We wore a little sprig of shamrock on our best clothes, and went to mass to sing "Hail Glorious Saint Patrick". It was a break from Lent, so we could eat chocolates or Taytos or whatever we'd given up, and watch the weird American high school bands march in Dublin on the telly. Not a huge deal by any means, and we weren't burning with anticipation for the day.
When my wife and I came to Canada, the locals were shocked and dismayed at our lack of respect for "Paddy's Day" - we didn't wear green to work, decorate our house with shamrocks or leprachauns, or drink unusually large amounts of beer (green or otherwise.) And our accents didn't quite measure up to the ideal, either.
To the folks in Ireland -- have things changed a lot over there now?
I was in Ireland on Paddy's Day once. I was in Galway, and on my way to the shop in the morning, as I rounded a corner, I was met head-on by a lovely parade of school children all dressed in their blue and white uniforms with a few curly red heads glowing in the morning sunshine. They were playing recorders and had marching drums, and the weather was unusually bright. It set the mood for the rest of the day, nowhere to be seen were there any weird green hats or Aran sweaters. No "Kiss Me I'm Irish" plastic pin-on shamrocks, or *gag* green beer.
I spent that evening at the Irish-speaking pub on Dominick Street playing tunes with the gang and listening to songs and recitations etc. The crowd wasn't a drunken mob, and everyone seemed to be celebrating the day with grace and dignity.
The only sign of what I usually expect to see on Paddy's Day, was a gaggle of tourists from NY, who were in their green sweaters and such. One of them came over and yelled, "WHAT'S THAT INSTRUMENT? I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE BEFORE." I've never been so embarrassed to be a Yank. The folks in the session sensed my embarrassment, I think, because they answered for me. I have no idea if it's still like that now (this happened in 1990) but it's how I'll always remember St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.
Well, thanks, Joe. Oh Guinness free indeed -- I have to drive too many places to be able to drink, sadly. At the moment, I seem to have a new shin splint, my left ankle has got a bit of a shooting pain whenever I point it -- I discovered this one while going up into a toe stand, and quickly came right back down again -- my scalp itches from wearing my wig from early morning until the last show of the day, and all my leg joints are aching.
Other than that, we're having a blast. ;)
Tomorrow, Dirk is going to join us, which'll be fun, and then the whole band will get together to save the school's collective rear end -- two of the shows are extremely far apart and take place close to rush hour, and they're going to help me cover for the dancers if traffic keeps the dancers from making the second gig on time. Then we scurry hurriedly to our own gig downtown, and then from there we scurry to our performance for the evening.
Yee haw. I think I am going to do a few things, cook dinner, eat it, and then hop into the hot tub for ten minutes. Then I'm going to go to BED.
Well - pray for me - for the first time in my life I'm about to poke my nose into St Patrick's Day celebrations! (Might be the last time, too.)
bb and co are going to be at Durty Nellie's (of Sunday night session fame) from lunchtime and I'll call in after work. Fortunately I have somewhere else to go, so I should be off by the time they start actually *hosing* people onto the footpath. Have fiddle in hand, but doubt there'll be swinging room!
(By coincidence, the irregular-but-usually-Thursday Mass in the naval chapel here just happens to be today, but I don't think we'll get to sing "Hail Glorious St Patrick".)
I was a bit puzzled by the hoo-haa on March 17 in Sydney when I moved here - there was little fuss about it in the country, no one other than Catholics paid attention and even then it wasn't a high profile feast day, possibly because the Dominican nuns and the order of brothers that ran the schools had stronger ties to France than Ireland.
jaysus, mary and joseph, tish! you and me and a few other miscreants here are going to be roasting on a spit in hell for these blasphemous outbursts. but i'll save a pint for ya, although i hear they only serve miller light down there that's tinged with the red blood of our misguided souls...
It was only a little over 2 yrs ago I discovered my passion for ITM, even though I have played music since I was very young. About 18 months ago I decided I'd like to be performing ITM professionally, at least once in a while...not that I'd attempt to make a living at it, I'm not that deluded Tomorrow night will be my 3rd paid gig...at a very small pub in a very small town, so I don't think it will be too bad. I'm just chuffed to be doing it!
the big parade is saturday before in these parts, then the bars fill up right after. i joined my son and daughter in law for a few tunes between sets by his irish for a day rock band in the afternoon and watched a set and a couple of fist fights in the evening, reminded me why i don't go looking for paddy's day gigs anymore, drunks falling into you while you try to play loud enough to be heard. looking forward to a little kitchen music tomorrow night.
Zina,
I know I am told by my wife that I am color-blind but I could swear that the Irish rugby team recently beat England at Twickenham wearing green jerseys, and sure isn't it called the 'Emerald Isle'. You dont see much blue sky in Ireland.
Hmm...Blue, white and gold would make a nice flag!
If anyone in London still hasn't got their evening sorted out come and join me at the Railway Tavern, Angel Lane, E15. See the sessions listings fo rmore details.
Serious offer - Leeds UK, Saturday evening, band/group for irish tunes and songs required (no dancing) for a St Paddies dinner, good money. Let me know if interested and I will pass details on.
The Cumberland Arms is a great spot for music. I was up there a few months ago. As far as I remember the Wednesday night spot was for an "anything but Irish music" session, which I think is a great idea for something a little bit different. The Thursday night sesh is the Irish one and has a slightly different personnel. I suspect they might swap things around this week though!
For the record, I've been invited to a birthday party which I can't make; one of my friends was born on St Paddy's day, which is good since she plays the fiddle and has spent a fair proportion of her life in Belfast. Sorry, Laoise!
My work is having an end of project "do" which I feel obliged to attend, nice timing guys. But the night is only going to start for me at 8 when I've got a gig with Kane O'Rourke and Chris Corbett (who I believe frequents this site under a nom de plume) at some place called Badger's! Doesn't sound particularly like an Irish pub to me but what the hell. There may well be some after-hours action in the "Land of Youth", if anyone fancies heading to Wandsworth for a late one.
Wow! The Cumberland has changed a bit! I spent 15 months in Newcastle/Gateshead ('91-'92) and used to listen to the Thursday night sessions - I didn't play then. Once spent two hours in a drunken stupor at Byker Metro before I found out that the trains stopped running at 11.00.
They also had Sunday lunch sessions, to which I took some visitors once. The place was very quiet, but I assured my guests that things would soon hot up; this was *the* place for live music. A fiddler turned up, spoke to the barman, and walked out. Then two gentlemen in black suits came down the stairs and walked out through the bar. I made a comment about them looking like undertakers. They were; someone had died that morning. We left.
On a 'happier' day, some guys, sans shakey eggs, decided to put some pebbles in empty coke tins to improvise some percussion, jeez the noise!
There was also a piper with a set that looked like a small gas works. It leaked, and the holes were plugged with bits of Blu-Tak. Every now and then one of the plugs would shoot out across the bar and the pipes would deflate with a huge sigh.
Memories! Hoping to visit Newcastle this year, so must play the place a visit.
(Do any of you remember bb - or was it Dow? - telling a story a while back about the session cramming into the wheelchair restroom because it was the only space left in the pub?)
Well, living in Kansas City, we've been labelled the biggest St. Patrick's day parade in America. We showed our true spirit today by having two people shot near the end of the parade (both lived, luckily), multiple arrests for fights, etc...
Post St P's night blues..... There were 60 at my gig average age about 90 I think BUT they danced to my amazement and what's more a good 30 of them made it thru to midnight! I did get a bit concerned when the ambulance drew up outside ... but it wasn't me honest!
In contrast to the accounts of lurid goings-on at some St Pat's gigs, our gig at Rickford in Somerset (only a few miles from the good saint's alleged birthplace) was quite low-key, but very enjoyable nonetheless. A good-natured crowd in the pub, plenty of green and funny Guinness hats being worn and Guinness consumed. One of our guitarists was a lady who sang some Irish songs, a couple in Irish, so that sanctified the evening as a true St Patrick's Night gig.
The most excitement was when some benevolent drunk spotted our two guitars, wandered up and asked us to play Duellin' Banjos. We explained they weren't banjos but guitars and that DB wasn't playable on guitars (at any rate, not last night it wasn't!), so he wandered off satisfied. Later on, our tame virtuoso fiddler played a spirited rendering of Orange Blossom Special specially for the guy.
Halfway through the evening, for a change, we departed briefly from the Irish sets and played what we call our "English" set (but one of the tunes is probably Scottish) which is a regular feature at our Rickford sessions. Curiously, that set got what was easily the biggest applause of the evening for the purely instrumental music - there must be a message in there somewhere.
In Riyadh -- 4 paid gigs. Used my share to buy an MP3 player, the 60-giga Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra in order to store my Irish CD collection. One more gig next weekend and we'll be quiet for the rest of the year apart from our weekly practices.
St. patrick's day celebrations
St. patrick's day celebrations
All the best for St. Patrick's day to all of you wherever you'll be whether you'll be playing or singing or dancing or drinking or otherwise or all 5.
Joe
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
I decided not to do a gig as the landlord is offering considerably less than what he originally said. sod him. Anyone looking for a flute player around London or Kent for tomorrow?
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Danny I can see in 3D. (Padddies Day)
joe
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
In
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Bender
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
An almost Irish night at Edinburgh Folk club tomorrow. "God, how I hate folk music. :>)) " (Who said that?) with great Edinburgh band Fine Friday featuring the marvelous Nuala Kennedy on flute. They have Cathal McConnell booked to do the opening spot as well so anything could happen and it probably will. :>))
Nothwithstanding the above, I might go for a tune elsewhere as I've seen them all fairly recently. Depends on the mood, though.
John
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: short spots sat
If booking couple of short spots might be able to make it; guitar bit banjo - Only London mind
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Brannigan
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Zina, Should have put the title as:
OH, GUINNESS FREE, OH, GUINNESS FREE
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Just to diverge (only a little!) from the subject matter of this thread, it's worth pointing out that there are good historical arguments for believing St Patrick was not only not Irish but was born in the village of Banwell in Somerset, in the West Country of England. Banwell is very close to the Bristol Channel, and is only about 30 minutes drive from where I live in the south of Bristol.
The historian Harry Jelley specialises in this field and write-ups on the Banwell theory can be found at these two websites:
http://www.sophiagroup.org/patrick.html
http://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/artgue/guestjelley.htm
On St Patrick's night tomorrow I'll be at a gig only a few miles away from Banwell.
Trevor
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Trevor Jennings
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Brannigan - I could use you if you're a handy banjo player, ie, you know all the standards. I've probably already got a guitarist. The thing is in Deptford, SE London. 2 spots of about half hour each, the first one at 1pm, then (I think) the other, mid afternoon (unspecified as yet). Basically an on-stage accoustic gig, should be dead easy. If still interested email me via my name here.
Danny.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
....and I shall be entertaining at a very posh gig (well it says smart clothes on the contract) and I very much doubt there will be anyone Irish there at all but no doubt they will have all the plastic commercial paraphenalia.... Hmmmm
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Sarah the Flute
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Of course Patrick wasn't Irish since he was captured by us fierce b##tards on a trip to Wales. Escaped back over there and then felt homesick for the dear oul sod [and possibly the drink to be had] and came back to convert us all to North Sea Gas or some such religion.
In any event - the excuse to have another shindig [especially since all those off the booze for lent give themselves a dispsenation for Paddy's day] is hardly needed over here but welcomed nevertheless!!
Hope ye all have a really good day - afraid it'll be a quiet one for me since my better half is off with a crowd of dancers to portugal for the week, leaving me with the weans. Ah well, I comfort myself with the thought that for every week away that P
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by breandan
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
May the Tattoo always Tickle,
May the Go-Go Boots always get ya to the session,
and May the Tunes always sing to your soul.
Happy St. Pat's to you all.
Deb.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Agnes Nutter
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Didn't make my mind about celebrating yet. Have a choice between my usual place for St Paddy's - unfortunately, they hired the worst band ever for tomorrow, and I would not endure to listen to this cacophonic spawn of hell - and a poshy theatre place with some decent music (has anyone heard of Ozan Trio?) but high ticket prices. So frustrating.
Still, can play some tunes to myself and enjoy a pint in a delightful company of my parents and siblings.
Have an enjoyable and memorable St. Paddy's Day, everyone.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Janek
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Gigging tomorrow at the Irish Embassy's Reception/ Played three all nighters last week, so I don't think I will be partying come Saturday, on account of the liver, the wallet and the family (random order).
Here is what everybody else will do:
http://www.oslostpatricksday.com/
Happy St. Pat's to all!
Snorre
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by snorre
Just one Paddy!
LOL. Steve, regarding your penultimate post: st. paddy's has always struck me as the *worst* day for ITM. at least in chicago, pubs tend cancel their session if they happen to have one on the annointed day. they need every inch of space for the drunken hordes. but if there is music it is usually some sloppy irish band piped cacophanously thru some hideous sound system. the pros tend to have fancy gigs somewhere and can't be found. the rest of us are passed out over a pint wondering what happend.
honestly: i'm not a big fan of st. paddy's day here in chicago. green beer, green river, the lucky charms irish mentality. jaysus. give me a break. sorry, i'm being iconoclastic but there you have it...
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Brendan
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
I'm not a big fan of the 17th in America, period.
Oh well...
-P
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Pádraig
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
That's just what it's like here in SF too Brendan. I hide on P-Day, I'd rather just stay home and watch a video or something... maybe work on a new tune, or read this website.
I've turned down about 8 gigs this year I think, and took two. One was at a country club where we did a show of tunes, songs and dance for a group of lovely wealthy Irish Americans. *ka-ching* And then on Sunday a street festival, on a stage at the quiet end of the fair, in the shade, on a perfect day (our audience was in the shade too in a nice setting with tables and chairs.) The sound guy actually knew what he was doing -- and we had a blast.
After about 15 years of P-Day abuse, I have learned to be very discreet about which offers to accept. I've retired from being a Paddy's Day musical whore. I find that the experience put unnecessary pressure on my instruments, band-mates, and our music. I wouldn
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
It's amusing to do a topic search here on "Patrick's", and find the same general discussion and gripes have come up every year, on schedule.
Growing up in Ireland in the 50's and 60's, it was a religious holiday. We wore a little sprig of shamrock on our best clothes, and went to mass to sing "Hail Glorious Saint Patrick". It was a break from Lent, so we could eat chocolates or Taytos or whatever we'd given up, and watch the weird American high school bands march in Dublin on the telly. Not a huge deal by any means, and we weren't burning with anticipation for the day.
When my wife and I came to Canada, the locals were shocked and dismayed at our lack of respect for "Paddy's Day" - we didn't wear green to work, decorate our house with shamrocks or leprachauns, or drink unusually large amounts of beer (green or otherwise.) And our accents didn't quite measure up to the ideal, either.
To the folks in Ireland -- have things changed a lot over there now?
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by grego
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
I was in Ireland on Paddy's Day once. I was in Galway, and on my way to the shop in the morning, as I rounded a corner, I was met head-on by a lovely parade of school children all dressed in their blue and white uniforms with a few curly red heads glowing in the morning sunshine. They were playing recorders and had marching drums, and the weather was unusually bright. It set the mood for the rest of the day, nowhere to be seen were there any weird green hats or Aran sweaters. No "Kiss Me I'm Irish" plastic pin-on shamrocks, or *gag* green beer.
I spent that evening at the Irish-speaking pub on Dominick Street playing tunes with the gang and listening to songs and recitations etc. The crowd wasn't a drunken mob, and everyone seemed to be celebrating the day with grace and dignity.
The only sign of what I usually expect to see on Paddy's Day, was a gaggle of tourists from NY, who were in their green sweaters and such. One of them came over and yelled, "WHAT'S THAT INSTRUMENT? I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE BEFORE." I've never been so embarrassed to be a Yank. The folks in the session sensed my embarrassment, I think, because they answered for me. I have no idea if it's still like that now (this happened in 1990) but it's how I'll always remember St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Well, thanks, Joe. Oh Guinness free indeed -- I have to drive too many places to be able to drink, sadly. At the moment, I seem to have a new shin splint, my left ankle has got a bit of a shooting pain whenever I point it -- I discovered this one while going up into a toe stand, and quickly came right back down again -- my scalp itches from wearing my wig from early morning until the last show of the day, and all my leg joints are aching.
Other than that, we're having a blast. ;)
Tomorrow, Dirk is going to join us, which'll be fun, and then the whole band will get together to save the school's collective rear end -- two of the shows are extremely far apart and take place close to rush hour, and they're going to help me cover for the dancers if traffic keeps the dancers from making the second gig on time. Then we scurry hurriedly to our own gig downtown, and then from there we scurry to our performance for the evening.
Yee haw. I think I am going to do a few things, cook dinner, eat it, and then hop into the hot tub for ten minutes. Then I'm going to go to BED.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Well - pray for me - for the first time in my life I'm about to poke my nose into St Patrick's Day celebrations! (Might be the last time, too.)
bb and co are going to be at Durty Nellie's (of Sunday night session fame) from lunchtime and I'll call in after work. Fortunately I have somewhere else to go, so I should be off by the time they start actually *hosing* people onto the footpath. Have fiddle in hand, but doubt there'll be swinging room!
(By coincidence, the irregular-but-usually-Thursday Mass in the naval chapel here just happens to be today, but I don't think we'll get to sing "Hail Glorious St Patrick".)
I was a bit puzzled by the hoo-haa on March 17 in Sydney when I moved here - there was little fuss about it in the country, no one other than Catholics paid attention and even then it wasn't a high profile feast day, possibly because the Dominican nuns and the order of brothers that ran the schools had stronger ties to France than Ireland.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Tish
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
St Patrick
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by murfbox
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
jaysus, mary and joseph, tish! you and me and a few other miscreants here are going to be roasting on a spit in hell for these blasphemous outbursts. but i'll save a pint for ya, although i hear they only serve miller light down there that's tinged with the red blood of our misguided souls...
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Brendan
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
It was only a little over 2 yrs ago I discovered my passion for ITM, even though I have played music since I was very young. About 18 months ago I decided I'd like to be performing ITM professionally, at least once in a while...not that I'd attempt to make a living at it, I'm not that deluded
Tomorrow night will be my 3rd paid gig...at a very small pub in a very small town, so I don't think it will be too bad. I'm just chuffed to be doing it!
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by ketida
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
I'll drink your health too, Brendan - if I can get within cooee of the bar!
(We're not off to a good start - the naval chaplain was just seen wearing a bright green shirt. Aaargh.)
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Tish
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Yes, what is it about the green thing, especially since the national color of Ireland is actually blue, not green?
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
the big parade is saturday before in these parts, then the bars fill up right after. i joined my son and daughter in law for a few tunes between sets by his irish for a day rock band in the afternoon and watched a set and a couple of fist fights in the evening, reminded me why i don't go looking for paddy's day gigs anymore, drunks falling into you while you try to play loud enough to be heard. looking forward to a little kitchen music tomorrow night.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Dont
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Zina,
I know I am told by my wife that I am color-blind but I could swear that the Irish rugby team recently beat England at Twickenham wearing green jerseys, and sure isn't it called the 'Emerald Isle'. You dont see much blue sky in Ireland.
Hmm...Blue, white and gold would make a nice flag!
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Donough
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
I've got paid gig. Except it's just a normal session, at a normal venue, but they're giving us cash, as well as booze and food. Does that count?
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Q
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
If anyone in London still hasn't got their evening sorted out come and join me at the Railway Tavern, Angel Lane, E15. See the sessions listings fo rmore details.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Paul_draper
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Can anyone reccommend an event/venue in Newcastle for tonight? I've a friend there who is at a loose end. Not a muso, but she loves the music.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Q
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Although I've been a performer most of my life, I'm doing my first solo gig this afternoon.
At a retirement home.
In Holland -
Michigan. (Yes. Holland, Michigan USA)
They are having a Happy Hour to celebrate the day. Sure hope those seniors don't get too rowdy!
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by tocotodo
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Q,
I wonder if it's worth your while checking out the Cumberland Arms in Byker.
http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk/
I've just looked and Wednesday's seems to be the usual night for Irish music so....
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Paul_draper
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Thanks Paul!
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by Q
Re: St. patrick's day gig
Serious offer - Leeds UK, Saturday evening, band/group for irish tunes and songs required (no dancing) for a St Paddies dinner, good money. Let me know if interested and I will pass details on.
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
The Cumberland Arms is a great spot for music. I was up there a few months ago. As far as I remember the Wednesday night spot was for an "anything but Irish music" session, which I think is a great idea for something a little bit different. The Thursday night sesh is the Irish one and has a slightly different personnel. I suspect they might swap things around this week though!
For the record, I've been invited to a birthday party which I can't make; one of my friends was born on St Paddy's day, which is good since she plays the fiddle and has spent a fair proportion of her life in Belfast. Sorry, Laoise!
My work is having an end of project "do" which I feel obliged to attend, nice timing guys. But the night is only going to start for me at 8 when I've got a gig with Kane O'Rourke and Chris Corbett (who I believe frequents this site under a nom de plume) at some place called Badger's! Doesn't sound particularly like an Irish pub to me but what the hell. There may well be some after-hours action in the "Land of Youth", if anyone fancies heading to Wandsworth for a late one.
con
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
tonight I
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by crannog
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Shit I used to go to the Cumberland Arms when I was a kid! some sessions never die.
God save sessions.
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Choonz
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Wow! The Cumberland has changed a bit! I spent 15 months in Newcastle/Gateshead ('91-'92) and used to listen to the Thursday night sessions - I didn't play then. Once spent two hours in a drunken stupor at Byker Metro before I found out that the trains stopped running at 11.00.
They also had Sunday lunch sessions, to which I took some visitors once. The place was very quiet, but I assured my guests that things would soon hot up; this was *the* place for live music. A fiddler turned up, spoke to the barman, and walked out. Then two gentlemen in black suits came down the stairs and walked out through the bar. I made a comment about them looking like undertakers. They were; someone had died that morning. We left.
On a 'happier' day, some guys, sans shakey eggs, decided to put some pebbles in empty coke tins to improvise some percussion, jeez the noise!
There was also a piper with a set that looked like a small gas works. It leaked, and the holes were plugged with bits of Blu-Tak. Every now and then one of the plugs would shoot out across the bar and the pipes would deflate with a huge sigh.
Memories! Hoping to visit Newcastle this year, so must play the place a visit.
Martin.
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Conway
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Well, umm, I lived to tell the tale.
(Do any of you remember bb - or was it Dow? - telling a story a while back about the session cramming into the wheelchair restroom because it was the only space left in the pub?)
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Tish
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Well, living in Kansas City, we've been labelled the biggest St. Patrick's day parade in America. We showed our true spirit today by having two people shot near the end of the parade (both lived, luckily), multiple arrests for fights, etc...
Just makes you proud to live in KC...
Eric
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Jayhawk
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Post St P's night blues..... There were 60 at my gig average age about 90 I think BUT they danced to my amazement and what's more a good 30 of them made it thru to midnight! I did get a bit concerned when the ambulance drew up outside ... but it wasn't me honest!
Sarah
# Posted on March 17th 2004 by Sarah the Flute
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
In contrast to the accounts of lurid goings-on at some St Pat's gigs, our gig at Rickford in Somerset (only a few miles from the good saint's alleged birthplace) was quite low-key, but very enjoyable nonetheless. A good-natured crowd in the pub, plenty of green and funny Guinness hats being worn and Guinness consumed. One of our guitarists was a lady who sang some Irish songs, a couple in Irish, so that sanctified the evening as a true St Patrick's Night gig.
The most excitement was when some benevolent drunk spotted our two guitars, wandered up and asked us to play Duellin' Banjos. We explained they weren't banjos but guitars and that DB wasn't playable on guitars (at any rate, not last night it wasn't!), so he wandered off satisfied. Later on, our tame virtuoso fiddler played a spirited rendering of Orange Blossom Special specially for the guy.
Halfway through the evening, for a change, we departed briefly from the Irish sets and played what we call our "English" set (but one of the tunes is probably Scottish) which is a regular feature at our Rickford sessions. Curiously, that set got what was easily the biggest applause of the evening for the purely instrumental music - there must be a message in there somewhere.
Trevor
# Posted on March 18th 2004 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Gig
The serious offer of a well-paid gig got no takers. Evidently
# Posted on March 18th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Hey, I'd totally do it, but that wouldn't pay the plane fare, dude. ;)
# Posted on March 19th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Wow! you should have said, Geoff. Conan? David? Ye's up for this one? I can drive!
Nae kiddin'!
Danny
# Posted on March 19th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
Will the pay me the cash to do a 2 hour bodhr
# Posted on March 19th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: St. patrick's day celebrations
In Riyadh -- 4 paid gigs. Used my share to buy an MP3 player, the 60-giga Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra in order to store my Irish CD collection. One more gig next weekend and we'll be quiet for the rest of the year apart from our weekly practices.
# Posted on March 20th 2004 by lukegarry