This venue replaces The Lion. The session is still run by the benevolent Dave Rowlands and Mike Edwards of the Gypsy's Kiss Band, and is from 8:15 to 11:00 sharp. We still have the restriction of a relatively early finish because the pub is in the middle of a residential area.
The sessions are lively and of a high standard, but beginners welcome. Good mix of instruments. Fair amount of room for the musicians at one end of the pub by the entrances (more than at The Lion). Irish music mostly, but other types of folk music are not uncommon. Occasional unaccompanied folk songs (local and West Country) from singers who know what they’re doing. A very appreciative audience. Parking in the streets nearby can be difficult, so be prepared for a little walking.
The Grapes is two or three minutes walk from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spectacular views of the Avon Gorge and the Bridge from the grassy areas near the Bridge (often used for photo shoots).
It's been a while since I've been to a Monday session (anywhere) for various reasons, but I've heard from reliable sources that singers have now largely taken over at The Grapes, and instrumentalists tend to be fewer and fewer. Still a good social pub, though.
Your "reliable sources" are indeed correct, lazyhound!
I went there this Monday (3rd August 2009). I was one of only three melody players present, the other instruments being guitars and bodhrans.
The evening consisted of about 75% songs, 25% tunes. Most of the singers were really good, so (notwithstanding the lack of tunesets), it was quite an enjoyable evening.
I was even considering going back there sometime in the future, until (near the end of the evening, not wanting another pint) I bought a half. The pints that I bought earlier were not especially cheap at £2.80 apiece, but they charged me £1.50 for the half! That is, at a rate of £3.00 per pint. When I questioned this, I was informed that there was a "premium" for buying beer in halves!
That did it. My words to the landlady aren't printable here, but suffice to say I think that she guessed that I wouldn't ever be going back to her pub again.
(There are of course other session pubs in Bristol where the musicians get free food or beer).
I'm told that the Grapes is struggling for business at the moment, and that it is normally virtually empty apart from the session nights. I can sympathasise with their situation, but if they think that they can prop up their business by exploiting singers and musicians, they'd better think again.
Not this particular musician, anyway!
... And why don't they turn off that bl**dy piped muzak (without the need to be prompted) when they see that we're ready to start to play at the beginning of a session?.
Locally (Sarf London) Guinness GBP3.30, Stella GBP3.40.
Don't know about bitter, no where seems to sell it any more as no-one ever drinks it these days, except you do see some very old men drinking the stuff in Youngs pubs...
Firstly, Bristol prices are naturally lower than London prices.
Secondly, beer is cheaper in other Bristol session pubs.
Thirdly, other Bristol session pubs don't charge you at a higher rate when you buy a half.
Fourthly, several other Bristol session pubs provide FREE drink and/or food for their session musicians.
Fifthly, (based on my visit this week) 70% of this "session" is not a session at all, but performance singing. How many members of thesession.org would appreciate this? Not many, I suspect.
This was great session pub up until about six months ago, but sadly, it is no longer to be recommended, IMO.
The Grapes, Bristol
This venue replaces The Lion. The session is still run by the benevolent Dave Rowlands and Mike Edwards of the Gypsy's Kiss Band, and is from 8:15 to 11:00 sharp. We still have the restriction of a relatively early finish because the pub is in the middle of a residential area.
The sessions are lively and of a high standard, but beginners welcome. Good mix of instruments. Fair amount of room for the musicians at one end of the pub by the entrances (more than at The Lion). Irish music mostly, but other types of folk music are not uncommon. Occasional unaccompanied folk songs (local and West Country) from singers who know what they’re doing. A very appreciative audience. Parking in the streets nearby can be difficult, so be prepared for a little walking.
The Grapes is two or three minutes walk from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spectacular views of the Avon Gorge and the Bridge from the grassy areas near the Bridge (often used for photo shoots).
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by lazyhound
The Grapes, Bristol
It's been a while since I've been to a Monday session (anywhere) for various reasons, but I've heard from reliable sources that singers have now largely taken over at The Grapes, and instrumentalists tend to be fewer and fewer. Still a good social pub, though.
# Posted on June 15th 2009 by lazyhound
The Grapes, Bristol
Your "reliable sources" are indeed correct, lazyhound!
I went there this Monday (3rd August 2009). I was one of only three melody players present, the other instruments being guitars and bodhrans.
The evening consisted of about 75% songs, 25% tunes. Most of the singers were really good, so (notwithstanding the lack of tunesets), it was quite an enjoyable evening.
I was even considering going back there sometime in the future, until (near the end of the evening, not wanting another pint) I bought a half. The pints that I bought earlier were not especially cheap at £2.80 apiece, but they charged me £1.50 for the half! That is, at a rate of £3.00 per pint. When I questioned this, I was informed that there was a "premium" for buying beer in halves!
That did it. My words to the landlady aren't printable here, but suffice to say I think that she guessed that I wouldn't ever be going back to her pub again.
(There are of course other session pubs in Bristol where the musicians get free food or beer).
I'm told that the Grapes is struggling for business at the moment, and that it is normally virtually empty apart from the session nights. I can sympathasise with their situation, but if they think that they can prop up their business by exploiting singers and musicians, they'd better think again.
Not this particular musician, anyway!
... And why don't they turn off that bl**dy piped muzak (without the need to be prompted) when they see that we're ready to start to play at the beginning of a session?.
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Less than three quid a pint is cheap!
Locally (Sarf London) Guinness GBP3.30, Stella GBP3.40.
Don't know about bitter, no where seems to sell it any more as no-one ever drinks it these days, except you do see some very old men drinking the stuff in Youngs pubs...
# Posted on August 7th 2009 by yhaalhouse
Still not recommended!
You completely miss my point, yhaalhouse.
Firstly, Bristol prices are naturally lower than London prices.
Secondly, beer is cheaper in other Bristol session pubs.
Thirdly, other Bristol session pubs don't charge you at a higher rate when you buy a half.
Fourthly, several other Bristol session pubs provide FREE drink and/or food for their session musicians.
Fifthly, (based on my visit this week) 70% of this "session" is not a session at all, but performance singing. How many members of thesession.org would appreciate this? Not many, I suspect.
This was great session pub up until about six months ago, but sadly, it is no longer to be recommended, IMO.
# Posted on August 7th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian