This session is a lively, casual and fun group of people. Features all ages from children to seniors and is open to everyone who is interested. Skill level from beginner to intermediate and advanced.
We get started about 3:30 and go till 6:00 each week. The Shebeen is a very nice new South African style pub and braii in the Charlottesville area and there is ample free parking right out front and it is easy to get to.
To be placed on the mailing list about this group contact:
blue@virginia.edu
We went to this venue today and had a very nice dinner, but were told that the session players "just stopped coming" and so there apparently is no longer a session there. Someone else came later and asked about it as well.
As a former regular at the Shebeen Session, I feel I can speak with some authority about its demise.
There was feeling among some of the players that we were treated with a certain disdain by some of the staff. Often they would cancel us without notice to host a party. In addition, we would often arrive to play, only to find that they had seated diners at "our spot." Now, they are a business, and I don't fault them for catering to actual diners. But many of us who played were regular consumers of both spirits and food (and PAYING consumers, at that...none of us got so much as even happy hour rates for our drinks, and of course nobody was paid--so that translates into free entertainment for the pub)
To be fair, it was felt among some of the staff that there was some "stiffing" going on--intentional or not. We always reminded everyone to pay their tabs, though, and strongly encouraged generous tips. But that never made much difference in the way we were treated.
Beyond that, there were some internecine difficulties as well. In short, the group became too stratified. Beginners felt frustrated at the perceived cliquishness of the mainstays and complained about the speed of tunes. Some of the experienced players felt a bit hamstrung. They didn't want to play at full throttle, but they wanted to keep the tempo as lively as possible. Some even felt that there were people trying to play "fast" who were not skilled enough to pull it off. This led to situations where tunes would be ground away at until dead.
Eventually, the more experienced players drifted away. Some went to play at a more advanced session. Some focused on doing gigs. For some, life just intervened. Those who remained were insufficient to keep the session going on their own, so it just faded away with a whimper. I ended up having to move to a new city where there isn't even a beginners session.
So, no. We didn't just stop coming. It was far more complex than that. The good news is that there seems to be an attempt to revive at least one session in Cville at Durty Nellys. I think it starts this February (2009). All are welcome. But standard rules of session ettiquete apply. Keep your ears open, and your mouth closed (during tunes, and especially songs...unless you are the singer!) Be respectful, of the tunes and of each other. Have fun, but not at the expense of others' fun.
Session open to everyone
This session is a lively, casual and fun group of people. Features all ages from children to seniors and is open to everyone who is interested. Skill level from beginner to intermediate and advanced.
We get started about 3:30 and go till 6:00 each week. The Shebeen is a very nice new South African style pub and braii in the Charlottesville area and there is ample free parking right out front and it is easy to get to.
To be placed on the mailing list about this group contact:
blue@virginia.edu
Hope to see you there!
# Posted on January 8th 2004 by wrenblue
Defunct?
We went to this venue today and had a very nice dinner, but were told that the session players "just stopped coming" and so there apparently is no longer a session there. Someone else came later and asked about it as well.
# Posted on November 26th 2007 by soft black stars
"just stopped coming"
As a former regular at the Shebeen Session, I feel I can speak with some authority about its demise.
There was feeling among some of the players that we were treated with a certain disdain by some of the staff. Often they would cancel us without notice to host a party. In addition, we would often arrive to play, only to find that they had seated diners at "our spot." Now, they are a business, and I don't fault them for catering to actual diners. But many of us who played were regular consumers of both spirits and food (and PAYING consumers, at that...none of us got so much as even happy hour rates for our drinks, and of course nobody was paid--so that translates into free entertainment for the pub)
To be fair, it was felt among some of the staff that there was some "stiffing" going on--intentional or not. We always reminded everyone to pay their tabs, though, and strongly encouraged generous tips. But that never made much difference in the way we were treated.
Beyond that, there were some internecine difficulties as well. In short, the group became too stratified. Beginners felt frustrated at the perceived cliquishness of the mainstays and complained about the speed of tunes. Some of the experienced players felt a bit hamstrung. They didn't want to play at full throttle, but they wanted to keep the tempo as lively as possible. Some even felt that there were people trying to play "fast" who were not skilled enough to pull it off. This led to situations where tunes would be ground away at until dead.
Eventually, the more experienced players drifted away. Some went to play at a more advanced session. Some focused on doing gigs. For some, life just intervened. Those who remained were insufficient to keep the session going on their own, so it just faded away with a whimper. I ended up having to move to a new city where there isn't even a beginners session.
So, no. We didn't just stop coming. It was far more complex than that. The good news is that there seems to be an attempt to revive at least one session in Cville at Durty Nellys. I think it starts this February (2009). All are welcome. But standard rules of session ettiquete apply. Keep your ears open, and your mouth closed (during tunes, and especially songs...unless you are the singer!) Be respectful, of the tunes and of each other. Have fun, but not at the expense of others' fun.
# Posted on January 16th 2009 by CelticHeartbeat