The name's Bindi (no relation to the Irwins). In a nutshell - why I'm here....
Up in the Perth hills (that's Western Australia).
Spent a couple of years working over in the west coast of Ireland (Clare) in the early 90s, listening to and absorbing tunes amongst nightly pints with friends who played the regular session in McDermotts in Doolin. Followed that with 3 yrs in film school in Dublin.
Am now beginning to extricate those old lovely tunes from my memory and playing them on a Morse anglo concertina. Been playing concertina since October 2006. Also play guitar. Spent a couple of frustrating years learning piano as a child but I learn tunes primarily by ear these days - I don't have the patience for dots!
Three of us play a regular 'session' in our attic each week, with hubby (banjo/guitar/whistle) and another friend (bass/guitar/bodhran), an unconventional combination, but having a lot of fun and magic moments and that's the whole point. This has been going on since June 2007. Singing one or two songs - literally, one or two - just for a laugh.
While not a strict "traditionalist" (we play a few bluegrass, "old time", Cape Breton and French Canadian tunes as well), my passion is for the 'nuts and bolts' of Irish trad, the style of music I remember absorbing in Clare - I like it simple, uncluttered and bright.
Update: As of January 2009 the three of us have played two "gigs" - a engagement party and then a wedding (yes, the same couple), and it has been an absolute honour to be asked to provide this Irish couple the music for their wedding. Feels odd to be Australian-born doing this, but it was a great night and the feedback was all positive. Such a learning curve. Loving it completely, especially laughing afterwards about how nerve-racking playing outside your comfort zone is!
Still on a long learning journey but very much enjoying the scenery on the way!
Tunes in bindicat's tunebook: 30
| Reverse Beat Phenomenon - anyone had this? | August 6th 2008 |
| Tunes that "speak" to you | August 18th 2007 |
| Moving a session from home to the pub | August 2nd 2007 |
| Discussions | Re: Losing contributions to the discussions. | December 3rd 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: Does your instrument define you? | August 28th 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: Anyone else get Lyme Disease while at CIAW? | July 31st 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: Footstomping | June 16th 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: gan ainm!!! | April 7th 2009 |
| Name | Type | Key |
|---|---|---|
| The Cliffs Of Moher | jig | Adorian |
| King Of The Pipers | jig | Adorian |
| Humors Of Kilclogher | jig | Adorian |
| Jig Of Life | jig | Adorian |
| The Devil's Dream | hornpipe | Amajor |
| The Coleraine | jig | Aminor |
| The Green Groves Of Erin | reel | Amixolydian |
| Chief O'Neill's Favourite | hornpipe | Dmajor |
| Calliope House | jig | Dmajor |
| The Connaughtman's Rambles | jig | Dmajor |
| Rolling In The Ryegrass | reel | Dmajor |
| Music For A Found Harmonium | reel | Dmajor |
| The Foxhunter's | slip jig | Dmajor |
| Anything For John Joe? | reel | Dmajor |
| The Maids Of Mitchelstown | reel | Dminor |
| Bang Your Frog On The Sofa | reel | Dminor |
| Inisheer | waltz | Dmixolydian |
| Old Hag, You Have Killed Me | jig | Dmixolydian |
| Morrison's | jig | Edorian |
| The Butterfly | slip jig | Eminor |
| The Kid On The Mountain | slip jig | Eminor |
| The Bunch Of Keys | reel | Gdorian |
| The Kesh | jig | Gmajor |
| Merrily Kissed The Quaker | slide | Gmajor |
| Out On The Ocean | jig | Gmajor |
| Give Me Your Hand | waltz | Gmajor |
| The Boys Of Ballisodare | slip jig | Gmajor |
| Coridinio | hornpipe | Gmajor |
| The Clog | slide | Gmajor |
| The One-Horned Sheep | jig | Gmajor |