Starts around 7:00, led by singer/bodhran/whistle player Tom Maguire & flute player/maker Skip Healy on alternate weekends. A lot of "bread & butter tunes" singing is welcome esp. on Tom Maguire's nights. It is an intermediate session that is very welcoming to beginers, very friendly help. The owner Tom Ward is almost always there at the session & loves Irish music & song.
The session now alternates between Tom Maguire and fiddler Bob Drouin of the group Pendragon, Skip having moved along to other endeavors. It is still an intermediate session, but since space is at a premium, and fire laws are being more strictly enforced, the owner tries to limit the number of musicians playing at any given time to five (although that flexes sometimes). So since the regulars usually fill the quota, it is sometimes difficult to accomodate visitors for more than a few tunes, unless one of the regulars is absent.
Al Brown
This session has been very small lately. The owner still likes to keep it on the small side, but more often than not there are seats open for visitors! Drop by and join in!
What a great time we had recently on a visit up north at this session, all thanks to AlBrown, Mad Baloney, Jaychoonz, Bob the fiddler and the cool-looking biker dude with the banjo and bodhran whose name escapes me. (Sorry dude!)
In Florida we rev it up but we like it laid back primarily, what with all the retired refugees from elsewhere in the country all invading our State, and these gents had a wonderful, easy-going swing that was simply perfect to our ears.
We heard and played along with a fantastic selection of tunes. It was all played with judicious variation and nyah, just too much fun.
Because of decreased patronage in the bar during the summer months, the owner has decided that he can no longer support the session, although he hopes to bring it back by the end of August 2011. This may be the beginning of the end for one of the longest running sessions in the state, which I have been involved with almost continuously for more than a decade.
Ward's
Starts around 7:00, led by singer/bodhran/whistle player Tom Maguire & flute player/maker Skip Healy on alternate weekends. A lot of "bread & butter tunes" singing is welcome esp. on Tom Maguire's nights. It is an intermediate session that is very welcoming to beginers, very friendly help. The owner Tom Ward is almost always there at the session & loves Irish music & song.
# Posted on August 13th 2002 by B Rad
Changes at Wards
The session now alternates between Tom Maguire and fiddler Bob Drouin of the group Pendragon, Skip having moved along to other endeavors. It is still an intermediate session, but since space is at a premium, and fire laws are being more strictly enforced, the owner tries to limit the number of musicians playing at any given time to five (although that flexes sometimes). So since the regulars usually fill the quota, it is sometimes difficult to accomodate visitors for more than a few tunes, unless one of the regulars is absent.
Al Brown
# Posted on November 1st 2004 by AlBrown
This session has been very small lately. The owner still likes to keep it on the small side, but more often than not there are seats open for visitors! Drop by and join in!
# Posted on February 5th 2007 by AlBrown
Tom Maguire has parted company with this session, which is now led exclusively by Bob Drouin.
# Posted on November 5th 2007 by AlBrown
Ward's Little Gem of a Session
What a great time we had recently on a visit up north at this session, all thanks to AlBrown, Mad Baloney, Jaychoonz, Bob the fiddler and the cool-looking biker dude with the banjo and bodhran whose name escapes me. (Sorry dude!)
In Florida we rev it up but we like it laid back primarily, what with all the retired refugees from elsewhere in the country all invading our State, and these gents had a wonderful, easy-going swing that was simply perfect to our ears.
We heard and played along with a fantastic selection of tunes. It was all played with judicious variation and nyah, just too much fun.
Thanks again guys!
# Posted on October 21st 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Taking a Break
Because of decreased patronage in the bar during the summer months, the owner has decided that he can no longer support the session, although he hopes to bring it back by the end of August 2011. This may be the beginning of the end for one of the longest running sessions in the state, which I have been involved with almost continuously for more than a decade.
# Posted on July 19th 2011 by AlBrown
The session is back on Sunday nights, 6:30 to 9:30, and visitors are welcome! Bring an instrument and some tunes!
# Posted on September 18th 2011 by AlBrown