This session is good for beginners, but you won't be bored if you're advanced and ready to have fun. About 10-15 musicians per night. Always fun and inclusive. Good singing, playing, dancing. On Monday nights, there's dancing at 8:00 pm. Slainte.
Went there after my daughters graduation from CAL this last weeeknd on Sunday. Bunch of fiddle players, a lone box player and several whistel/flute/guitar players. Nice music. Singing also. Nice session-next time I'll bring something to play on
Gosh am I the only one that goes there from the session?? Went there last nite (Oct 10,04) and had a great time. People sing-OMG, people play at reasonable pace. Shay leads a good session. Brought my fiddle and felt fine playing
I will be going to the Starry Plough session in Berkeley tonight with a goat-thumping friend. Any Sessioneers also going?> If so, hope you come up to say hello.
I was there some years ago before I knew what I was doing. I like to think I've improved at this ITM thing since then, so it might be fun <wg>.
I just looked to see where Tracy is. It's a bit far for an evening out. Maybe on a Sat. I'm on the Penninsula. I'd love to come over once to see what's going on.
I've made it a point to stop into the Starry Plough every time I go up to Berkeley t see my daughter. Last time was last February. I actually had enough nerve to break out my pipes and start a tune; Shay was really accomodating.
There is undoubtedly great music to be enjoyed here. I would suggest that if you go, you have a reasonably good base of tunes at your fingertips, and make contact with someone there before you go. I went with a friend and knew someone who was a regular, so it was okay for me.
As you've probably guessed by now, my feelings about this are mixed. I believe I will be going again when it is convenient, but I really prefer a friendlier and more inclusive atmosphere than I saw there. What I didn't like was the setup. There's an inner circle that starts all the sets and tunes. Those in the inner circle do not for the most part acknowledge the existence of those outside the circle.
There wasn't a crowd and in fact things lagged a bit. I'm sure it is different on other nghts. However, since there were less than 20 players last night, I think it would have been good to go beyond the inner circle and ask those who were there to start a tune or set. Besides making for a friendlier atmosphere, this is a great way to bring in new tunes and keep a session from continually repeating the same repertoire.
Hey cathrynb, did you ever go to the session in Palo Alto ? http://www.sfpipersclub.org/session.html someone told me that they’re really open and unconditionally friendly. (I once lived there). I think they want as many people as possible to learn to play at least a couple of tunes, and have a good time. Give a lot of families something simple to do at christmas- but not necessarily playing the music with each other! This inner/outer circle thing ? I think that’s good too, for the other reasons you mentioned.
Thanks for the tip. I do not think that session is actually still going, though. A friend of mine used to go all the time.
In any event, sometime in the next 10-14 months, we will be relocating to the Washington, D.C. area for husband-employment reasons. It seems there is a session every day around those parts, and two on some days. So there are more sessions in my future, anyway.
If anyone here is interested in going to the Starry Plough, fire off an email. If I'm planning to go that week (all depends on how early I have to do my Live Court Reporter imitation on Monday AM), we can brave it together.
I dropped in for the first time during a recent stay in the East Bay area. Had a lovely time. Shay as noted above is really accommodating. The format is unique in my admittedly limited experience, nice mix of tunes with breaks for sessioneers and non-sessioneers alike to sing. Decent sized crowd in the pub who actually seemed to be there to listen to the music. And no football or soccer on the big screen telly as a distraction. In fact, I can't even remember seeing a screen there.
Thanks to all the regulars for making me feel welcome!
This session is good for beginners, but you won't be bored if you're advanced and ready to have fun. About 10-15 musicians per night. Always fun and inclusive. Good singing, playing, dancing. On Monday nights, there's dancing at 8:00 pm. Slainte.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Danaan
Forgot to Mention...
The session is led by Shay Black of the irish singers/band, the Black Brothers.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Danaan
Went there after my daughters graduation from CAL this last weeeknd on Sunday. Bunch of fiddle players, a lone box player and several whistel/flute/guitar players. Nice music. Singing also. Nice session-next time I'll bring something to play on
# Posted on May 24th 2004 by I_Fel
Gosh am I the only one that goes there from the session?? Went there last nite (Oct 10,04) and had a great time. People sing-OMG, people play at reasonable pace. Shay leads a good session. Brought my fiddle and felt fine playing
# Posted on October 12th 2004 by I_Fel
Who goes to Starry Plough?
I will be going to the Starry Plough session in Berkeley tonight with a goat-thumping friend. Any Sessioneers also going?> If so, hope you come up to say hello.
I was there some years ago before I knew what I was doing. I like to think I've improved at this ITM thing since then, so it might be fun <wg>.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
Tell us how it is. I try not to drive through Berkeley. It gives me a headache. But if it's a good session, I might change my mind.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Meri-pixie
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
I know of another session that is being organized in Tracy. Would you like to be in the loop on that, or is it too far east?
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
I just looked to see where Tracy is. It's a bit far for an evening out. Maybe on a Sat. I'm on the Penninsula. I'd love to come over once to see what's going on.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Meri-pixie
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
I use to go to the "Plough". Met my husband there back in 1979. I danced there when Terri O'Neill was running the ceilis. Have fun if you go.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by harpgal
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
I've made it a point to stop into the Starry Plough every time I go up to Berkeley t see my daughter. Last time was last February. I actually had enough nerve to break out my pipes and start a tune; Shay was really accomodating.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
PS
The first time I saw Uilleann Pipes really up close was at the Plough with Denis Brooks playing, so it goes back a few years, maybe 1978 or so.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
Cathryn's Report:
There is undoubtedly great music to be enjoyed here. I would suggest that if you go, you have a reasonably good base of tunes at your fingertips, and make contact with someone there before you go. I went with a friend and knew someone who was a regular, so it was okay for me.
As you've probably guessed by now, my feelings about this are mixed. I believe I will be going again when it is convenient, but I really prefer a friendlier and more inclusive atmosphere than I saw there. What I didn't like was the setup. There's an inner circle that starts all the sets and tunes. Those in the inner circle do not for the most part acknowledge the existence of those outside the circle.
There wasn't a crowd and in fact things lagged a bit. I'm sure it is different on other nghts. However, since there were less than 20 players last night, I think it would have been good to go beyond the inner circle and ask those who were there to start a tune or set. Besides making for a friendlier atmosphere, this is a great way to bring in new tunes and keep a session from continually repeating the same repertoire.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
Hey cathrynb, did you ever go to the session in Palo Alto ?
http://www.sfpipersclub.org/session.html someone told me that they’re really open and unconditionally friendly. (I once lived there). I think they want as many people as possible to learn to play at least a couple of tunes, and have a good time. Give a lot of families something simple to do at christmas- but not necessarily playing the music with each other! This inner/outer circle thing ? I think that’s good too, for the other reasons you mentioned.
# Posted on October 9th 2006 by Gilbey
Re: Who goes to Starry Plough?
Thanks for the tip. I do not think that session is actually still going, though. A friend of mine used to go all the time.
In any event, sometime in the next 10-14 months, we will be relocating to the Washington, D.C. area for husband-employment reasons. It seems there is a session every day around those parts, and two on some days. So there are more sessions in my future, anyway.
If anyone here is interested in going to the Starry Plough, fire off an email. If I'm planning to go that week (all depends on how early I have to do my Live Court Reporter imitation on Monday AM), we can brave it together.
# Posted on October 10th 2006 by cathrynb
Starry Plough Website
http://www.starryploughpub.com/
Follow the link to "Starry Session"
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by TimGraffham
Still going strong!
I dropped in for the first time during a recent stay in the East Bay area. Had a lovely time. Shay as noted above is really accommodating. The format is unique in my admittedly limited experience, nice mix of tunes with breaks for sessioneers and non-sessioneers alike to sing. Decent sized crowd in the pub who actually seemed to be there to listen to the music. And no football or soccer on the big screen telly as a distraction. In fact, I can't even remember seeing a screen there.
Thanks to all the regulars for making me feel welcome!
# Posted on December 13th 2008 by mkchen
Discussion: The Story of The Starry
# Posted on March 8th 2010 by TheChrispy
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/23997
# Posted on March 8th 2010 by ceolachan