If you make it to Perth (West Australia) there are sessions each Monday night at the Irish Club starting at about 9.30pm. Comhaltas have classes before that.
There is also a session at the Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford on a Friday night. That pub is owned and run by Frank Lunny (Donal Lunny's brother).
By the Way: Where in Australia is "Jill" from??
Cheers
Donough
bb
Yep, if you know where? Down under is pretty dam big. Depends on where you are. I am sorta away from the big smoke
but I believe the ITM sessions are really big in places like Sydney and Melbourne. I've never been to them but I could find out.
I was living outback for most of last year - plenty of opportunity to practice fiddle, but usually to the wind.
I do go for a once a week session (of sorts) at the local Irish Club while I'm in town, there are some very good Irish musos about (but they tend to be pretty closetted). I'm just here to do a quick little uni degree, then I'm heading back to where its all happenin' in some remote little settlement in whoop whoop beyond the black stump.
Nothing like falling asleep at the computer and wondering what a cheeus - WATCGIB is. I had a 50% assessment today that I did an all nighter on last night - did brilliantly but at what cost. No secret, I'm in Canberra.
If you are really serious bb, and not to be outdone by NZ and WA, I believe there are two fair dinkum ITM sessions in Darwin (if you like it hot and muggy - I think one is at 'The Durham Castle'. A couple of thousand kilometres south, Bojangles, Alice Springs in home to a band called Bloodwood. It isn't a serious session session that they run, but they have a regular spot at "Bojangle's" for their friends and they do play ITM as a large part of their repetoir (its a mixture really Aussie,
funny you should ask, bb... the craziest session I was ever at was in canberra, but you may have missed it. I think it's on the Easter weekend. If you're ever there during the National Folk Festival, don't miss it. It has a huge bar that never closes with thirty or forty different sessions happening in various nooks and crannies. It's unbelievable. A bit messy, but such fun!
Other than that, Canberra is completely useless. I've never been to such a boring town. I'd be very surprised if anything goes on there the rest of the year.
There was a good one in Melbourne, but I forget the name of the pub (I know that's not much help). Good luck.
Sorry, sleep deprevation got the better of me. Fiddler on Vermouth has got the National Folk Festival right - its great, so if you're in Canberra over Easter, its something not to be missed. There is a huge session bar that goes nonstop for four and a half days (and nights), a mixture of performers (from all over the world) and session players from all over Australia (we are the national capital after all!), and you take your pick about who you join and the type of music you want to play. ITM is pretty strong in the heirarchy of things, although there is also a strong old timey Aussie element. You even get to choose sessions within ITM!
But for a REAL Aussie session experience, I recommend the Top Half Folk Festival, on the long weekend in early June. It is very small performance wise, but 100-150 or so people travel from the top end and the bottom end of central Australia to spend a long weekend playing and poeting together. Its been going for 32 years. There is a lot of musical (and bush poet) talent in the bush!!!!! It also has a strong ITM element. Last year it was held near Alice Springs on a cattle station 'Ooraminna' on the film set of a film 'The drover's boy' that has never been made. The setting was simply out of this world - like stepping back in time. Authentic 19th Century outback buildings to play in and around, plenty of red bull dust, log fires, fully catered for with yummy Aussie bush tucker, great music and easy friendships. A must if you can make it.
Yes, well, Fiddler on Vermouth, as I say the Canberra ITM community is very small (in more ways than one), but I have been told you can session every day of the week in Sydney or Melbourne. However, I believe there is a new open fast session at O'Mallee's Irish (?) Pub (a Murphy's pub!!!!) on Sunday nights here, a closed session by invitation only for 'elite' players at Filthy McFadden's (an authentic Irish pub) on Friday nights and the not very seriously ITM session at the Irish Club on Tuesday nights. The secret for ITM survival in 'boring old' Canberra is to make your own. And that's not hard. Private sessioning with those you know is all the go. Whats more, there are you guys out there to 'talk' serious ITM with while I've got me nose down swattin' away at the studies.
The sessions in Canberra at the moment are Wednsday and Sunday evenings at King O'Malley's in Civic. Despite what was said on another post, they are not closed and elite sessions (I do wonder about the kind of people who find sessions elite). They are good, though. During the past year we had Enda O Cathain living here, so the fiddlers have whole new repetoire. There hasn't been a session at Filthy McFadden's for yonks.
Sydney presently has its Sunday session at The Shannon. I think it's in Abercrombie Street, but you should check. The Harp, in Tempe, has dancing on Saturdays(?). That's worth checking as well. Melbourne has The Quite Man, in Flemington. Some details here: http://www.irishaustralia.com/Billy/ Ther may still be sessions at The Normandy but it's a bit raucus.
Sorry, I haven't got the details about Brisbane, Hobart, or Adelaide to hand. Some country towns have good music. Warnambool has Tommy Carty (guitar) and Caolite O Suileabhain (box) who are well worth hearing.
I've only played once in the last 6 months(bit of a change from 7 days a week in galway), but theres a session in adelaide at the governor hindmarsh pub on a friday night from about 10. the standard is fairly low, but theres a great box player from milltown malbay called pat organ who is always there, unfortunatly its a seven hour drive away from where i am, southern eyre penninsula
Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand = Waxie O'Shea's Irish bars, some Sunday nights. But you don't want to come down here. It's really cold right now.
Ah, well Patrick Lyons, it just depends what side of the fence you're sitting on. The inner or outta! Nice to see someone else from Canberra contributing to "The Session" though. Should be more of it.
Cheers
Hiya! Only just joined on, great site! I'm a kiwi fiddle player living and playing in a couple of bands here in Scotland, last time i was in New Zealand, a couple of years ago, there was a very good sess on monday night at Kitty O'sheas. I like this discussion page idea, if i've anything of note to add in i'll let you all know...
I just moved back to America from Melbourne - try the Quiet Man in Racecourse Rd, Flemington,
but I forget what night. There was something on a Saturday (I think) at Pugg Mahone's, but that might
have stopped, I don't know. And the Celtic Club on Queen Street, that was meant to be good, too.
Melbourne's FANTASTIC for music, you should be right no matter where you end up.
Have fun, I'm jealous.
-Rachel
I agree with Pat Lyons - I'm from sydney & have found that the canberra sessions are not closed at all - in fact they are some of the friendiest tune players you'd ever meet. Yeah & the national is the best festival I've ever been to - Ive been going for years and I like it better than the festivals in ireland - not for the music - just the people and atmosphere - great craic (hi pat - hows things? Bridie)
There's also one in Canberra at the Australian National University on Friday lunchtimes in Union court outside. Great friendly bunch - newcomers welcome
Down under sessions
Down under sessions
Jill, you mentioned you are from down under - I'm planning a trip there in a couple of months - Are there any sessions going on?
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by bb Cruella de vil
Re: Down under sessions
If you make it to Perth (West Australia) there are sessions each Monday night at the Irish Club starting at about 9.30pm. Comhaltas have classes before that.
There is also a session at the Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford on a Friday night. That pub is owned and run by Frank Lunny (Donal Lunny's brother).
By the Way: Where in Australia is "Jill" from??
Cheers
Donough
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by Donough
Re: Down under sessions
bb
Yep, if you know where? Down under is pretty dam big. Depends on where you are. I am sorta away from the big smoke
but I believe the ITM sessions are really big in places like Sydney and Melbourne. I've never been to them but I could find out.
I was living outback for most of last year - plenty of opportunity to practice fiddle, but usually to the wind.
I do go for a once a week session (of sorts) at the local Irish Club while I'm in town, there are some very good Irish musos about (but they tend to be pretty closetted). I'm just here to do a quick little uni degree, then I'm heading back to where its all happenin' in some remote little settlement in whoop whoop beyond the black stump.
cheeus - WATCGIB
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by Jill
Nothing like falling asleep at the computer and wondering what a cheeus - WATCGIB is. I had a 50% assessment today that I did an all nighter on last night - did brilliantly but at what cost. No secret, I'm in Canberra.
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by Jill
Re: Down under sessions
The Dogs Bollix Pub is the place to be in Auckland, NZ on Tuesday nights. The pub is owned by the Dogs Bollix Irish Band.
Al
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by Al Baxter
Re: Down under sessions
If you are really serious bb, and not to be outdone by NZ and WA, I believe there are two fair dinkum ITM sessions in Darwin (if you like it hot and muggy - I think one is at 'The Durham Castle'. A couple of thousand kilometres south, Bojangles, Alice Springs in home to a band called Bloodwood. It isn't a serious session session that they run, but they have a regular spot at "Bojangle's" for their friends and they do play ITM as a large part of their repetoir (its a mixture really Aussie,
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by Jill
Re: Down under sessions
has canberra have any good sessions?
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by bb Cruella de vil
Re: Down under sessions
funny you should ask, bb... the craziest session I was ever at was in canberra, but you may have missed it. I think it's on the Easter weekend. If you're ever there during the National Folk Festival, don't miss it. It has a huge bar that never closes with thirty or forty different sessions happening in various nooks and crannies. It's unbelievable. A bit messy, but such fun!
Other than that, Canberra is completely useless. I've never been to such a boring town. I'd be very surprised if anything goes on there the rest of the year.
There was a good one in Melbourne, but I forget the name of the pub (I know that's not much help). Good luck.
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by Kerri Brown
Re: Down under sessions
Sorry, sleep deprevation got the better of me. Fiddler on Vermouth has got the National Folk Festival right - its great, so if you're in Canberra over Easter, its something not to be missed. There is a huge session bar that goes nonstop for four and a half days (and nights), a mixture of performers (from all over the world) and session players from all over Australia (we are the national capital after all!), and you take your pick about who you join and the type of music you want to play. ITM is pretty strong in the heirarchy of things, although there is also a strong old timey Aussie element. You even get to choose sessions within ITM!
But for a REAL Aussie session experience, I recommend the Top Half Folk Festival, on the long weekend in early June. It is very small performance wise, but 100-150 or so people travel from the top end and the bottom end of central Australia to spend a long weekend playing and poeting together. Its been going for 32 years. There is a lot of musical (and bush poet) talent in the bush!!!!! It also has a strong ITM element. Last year it was held near Alice Springs on a cattle station 'Ooraminna' on the film set of a film 'The drover's boy' that has never been made. The setting was simply out of this world - like stepping back in time. Authentic 19th Century outback buildings to play in and around, plenty of red bull dust, log fires, fully catered for with yummy Aussie bush tucker, great music and easy friendships. A must if you can make it.
Yes, well, Fiddler on Vermouth, as I say the Canberra ITM community is very small (in more ways than one), but I have been told you can session every day of the week in Sydney or Melbourne. However, I believe there is a new open fast session at O'Mallee's Irish (?) Pub (a Murphy's pub!!!!) on Sunday nights here, a closed session by invitation only for 'elite' players at Filthy McFadden's (an authentic Irish pub) on Friday nights and the not very seriously ITM session at the Irish Club on Tuesday nights. The secret for ITM survival in 'boring old' Canberra is to make your own. And that's not hard. Private sessioning with those you know is all the go. Whats more, there are you guys out there to 'talk' serious ITM with while I've got me nose down swattin' away at the studies.
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by Jill
Re: Down under sessions
The sessions in Canberra at the moment are Wednsday and Sunday evenings at King O'Malley's in Civic. Despite what was said on another post, they are not closed and elite sessions (I do wonder about the kind of people who find sessions elite). They are good, though. During the past year we had Enda O Cathain living here, so the fiddlers have whole new repetoire. There hasn't been a session at Filthy McFadden's for yonks.
Sydney presently has its Sunday session at The Shannon. I think it's in Abercrombie Street, but you should check. The Harp, in Tempe, has dancing on Saturdays(?). That's worth checking as well. Melbourne has The Quite Man, in Flemington. Some details here: http://www.irishaustralia.com/Billy/ Ther may still be sessions at The Normandy but it's a bit raucus.
Sorry, I haven't got the details about Brisbane, Hobart, or Adelaide to hand. Some country towns have good music. Warnambool has Tommy Carty (guitar) and Caolite O Suileabhain (box) who are well worth hearing.
# Posted on May 11th 2002 by PCL
Re: Down under sessions
I've only played once in the last 6 months(bit of a change from 7 days a week in galway), but theres a session in adelaide at the governor hindmarsh pub on a friday night from about 10. the standard is fairly low, but theres a great box player from milltown malbay called pat organ who is always there, unfortunatly its a seven hour drive away from where i am, southern eyre penninsula
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by Anthonymcg
Re: Down under sessions
Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand = Waxie O'Shea's Irish bars, some Sunday nights. But you don't want to come down here. It's really cold right now.
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by cat
Re: Down under sessions
Ah, well Patrick Lyons, it just depends what side of the fence you're sitting on. The inner or outta! Nice to see someone else from Canberra contributing to "The Session" though. Should be more of it.
Cheers
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by Jill
Re: Down under sessions
Hey there PATRICK LYONS.
if your the same patrick lyons youll rem Colm & Eimear!!
Drop us a line
cmarron@eircom.net
# Posted on May 12th 2002 by bootboy
Re: Down under sessions
Hiya! Only just joined on, great site! I'm a kiwi fiddle player living and playing in a couple of bands here in Scotland, last time i was in New Zealand, a couple of years ago, there was a very good sess on monday night at Kitty O'sheas. I like this discussion page idea, if i've anything of note to add in i'll let you all know...
# Posted on May 13th 2002 by jamiedj
Re: Down under sessions
I just moved back to America from Melbourne - try the Quiet Man in Racecourse Rd, Flemington,
but I forget what night. There was something on a Saturday (I think) at Pugg Mahone's, but that might
have stopped, I don't know. And the Celtic Club on Queen Street, that was meant to be good, too.
Melbourne's FANTASTIC for music, you should be right no matter where you end up.
Have fun, I'm jealous.
-Rachel
# Posted on May 13th 2002 by rachj
Re: Down under sessions
I agree with Pat Lyons - I'm from sydney & have found that the canberra sessions are not closed at all - in fact they are some of the friendiest tune players you'd ever meet. Yeah & the national is the best festival I've ever been to - Ive been going for years and I like it better than the festivals in ireland - not for the music - just the people and atmosphere - great craic (hi pat - hows things? Bridie)
# Posted on May 14th 2002 by aussietunes
Re: Down under sessions
There's also one in Canberra at the Australian National University on Friday lunchtimes in Union court outside. Great friendly bunch - newcomers welcome
Cheers
Jerry
# Posted on February 26th 2007 by ijerry