This session is genial and reasonably diverse, depending upon who shows up. Joe, the host, is focussed on Irish material, but as you might expect there's also Scottish and Cape Breton material in the repertoire, and he's also into old-timey and bluegrass stuff. The pace is usually quite manageable, Joe is quite kind to those who are just starting out, and the Guinness at the Tranzac is nice and cold.
In addition to the weekly session on Monday nights at the Tranzac, there is a Comhaltas session (which means educational, and a more relaxed pace much of the time) on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Joe Macklem (listed in the contact info) is the contact for the Monday session and NOT the contact for the Comhaltas session.
There are apparently no longer sessions on Monday. I dropped by the Wednesday session last night; it was my second session. Wonderful music, friendly atmosphere. I definitely plan on going back! This month, there is a session on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday instead of the usual 2nd and 4th because of the winter holidays.
Questions re: Wednesday sessions and mailing list requests should be directed to Denis Lyons. His e-mail address is as follows (please take out the REMOVE before using the address): denis.lyonsREMOVE@sympatico.ca.
Wednesday Comhaltas sessions welcoming to beginners
I've been to two so far, and love it so far. Slow sessions are at 7:30 pm, regular session starts somewhere around 8:30 pm (the first blends into the second).
If you're interested, I've posted reports about my first two Tranzac sessions:
This session is genial and reasonably diverse, depending upon who shows up. Joe, the host, is focussed on Irish material, but as you might expect there's also Scottish and Cape Breton material in the repertoire, and he's also into old-timey and bluegrass stuff. The pace is usually quite manageable, Joe is quite kind to those who are just starting out, and the Guinness at the Tranzac is nice and cold.
# Posted on October 23rd 2002 by MichaelBolton
Comhaltas Session on SOME Wednesdays
In addition to the weekly session on Monday nights at the Tranzac, there is a Comhaltas session (which means educational, and a more relaxed pace much of the time) on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Joe Macklem (listed in the contact info) is the contact for the Monday session and NOT the contact for the Comhaltas session.
# Posted on March 30th 2003 by MichaelBolton
Monday sessions cancelled
There are apparently no longer sessions on Monday. I dropped by the Wednesday session last night; it was my second session. Wonderful music, friendly atmosphere. I definitely plan on going back! This month, there is a session on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday instead of the usual 2nd and 4th because of the winter holidays.
# Posted on December 9th 2004 by Inkygirl
New contact info
Questions re: Wednesday sessions and mailing list requests should be directed to Denis Lyons. His e-mail address is as follows (please take out the REMOVE before using the address): denis.lyonsREMOVE@sympatico.ca.
Denis gave me permission to post this info.
# Posted on December 9th 2004 by Inkygirl
Wednesday Comhaltas sessions welcoming to beginners
I've been to two so far, and love it so far. Slow sessions are at 7:30 pm, regular session starts somewhere around 8:30 pm (the first blends into the second).
If you're interested, I've posted reports about my first two Tranzac sessions:
http://www.blatherings.com/archives/002592.html
http://www.blatherings.com/archives/002604.html
Debbie
# Posted on December 22nd 2004 by Inkygirl
Tunes at the Tranzac
Here's a useful list of tunes frequently played at the Tranzac:
http://free.angeltowns.com/durham/TranzacN.htm
# Posted on March 17th 2005 by Inkygirl
The Tranzac session now has its own Web site:
http://www.tranzacsession.org/
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by Inkygirl