The level is intermediate with possibly a couple of very good players joining in for support, all diddlers very welcome of course. Hopefully we'll get away with not having to play many songs. We'll see what shape it takes in the next month or two.
The pub is situated within walking distance of Lewisham Rail/DLR station.
Orson, that would not influence any of us "serious musicians" of course - I was only passing on this useful little bit of info.
Aidan, Ken and Sheila would love it if you came up. They specifically asked me to ask the Thursday/Sunday group of musicians. The Holly Tree will be their session and I will try and go there regularly to help them out. I will talk to (posh) John and ask that the improv side of the session is confined to the Duke.
With the Holly Tree, the way I figure it is if we support Ken and Sheila early on, we could 'mould' the session to something we all like, along the lines of the Blythe and Shillelagh's.
Danny,
Ken told me he'd be glad if you could come down from time to time so tread as heavily as you wish.
So, will you be in the Queen's arms that day?
See you Thursday maybe Sarah. I'll see if I can ask Paul and Sarah, either Thursday or next Tuesday at the Cricketers, whether they might want to come along.
The landlord was really friendly and although it was really noisy at first, from about 10.30 only the appreciative punters remained. They clapped at the tunes and (as usual)cheered at the songs. We had a couple of good vocalists who gave us McAlpine Fusiliers, The Leaving of Liverpool, Dirty Old Town, This Land is Your Land and the Wild Rover. Fields of Athenry only last 3 minutes and it's worth living with it for that long and then diddle to our heart's content which is what we did the rest of the time. Besides, the songs were sang in keys we could play to. We left at 1.15 - but could have stayed on if we'd wanted to. The regulars very much hope to see us again next week.
Well done cath and others for getting this one off the ground. I won't be around next friday either, and possibly not for much of July. If you can hold out till August, I'll try and support it when I can.
Ken and Sheila are the ones in charge and Aidan and I provided support. I will try it again next Friday and see how it evolves as some of the people who came last Friday cannot make it this week.
Max and Big Dave came up on Friday to join the regulars - Also young Greg from the English Cricketers session. It's a very eclectic mix at the moment and a very well attended session.
Erik has a bit of a drive getting there but I hope he can make it regularly, what a great box player he is.
Thanks for the songs Dave and George.
Ok, I went along last night for the first time. Yeah, although most of the players were not exactly virtuosos, but Miles turned up, as did Mick Davis (D/G box supremo), but Mick didn't play. There was also a nice fiddle player called Nick (nice in both senses of the word - nice player and he seemed a nice guy). The pub itself is a wee gem, and the beer IS free...which greatly contributed to my downfall, and the bar staff and general ambience of the pub is of being very friendly. Worth a trip, deffo.
Doh ! Session on tonight, but off next week 23rd, then back to normal from 30th. Regulars are 1 guitar, 1 bodhran/whisle, 1 banjo and 1 fiddle players - all visitors welcome - free drinks!
Dave, thank you for coming to our session. Musically less ambitious than the Blythe but you can always be sure of a warm welcome while Ken and Sheila are in charge. Hope you had a good journey back to New England, and that you can come back and play with us again.
All the best
The last four weeks at the Holly Tree have been less and less welcoming and although the landlord at the end of the night says thanks very much, great music, we're having to compete with the radio played quite loud on the other side of the bar.
And, not that I care in principle, but they are restricting the amount of free drinks musicians can have. Very few of us drink more that a couple of soft drinks so we're not bleeding them dry. It just seems to be getting unfriendly. We've asked the landlord if he doesn't want us there and he keeps saying, 'but I do, I love the music' - yet he spends the night on the other side of the pub where the speakers blare out some radio station. I understand it will take place next Friday, but I'm not sure I want to be there. Will keep an update.
Well, it seems it can. The landlord got funny about all the free drinks, so we just had one free round, and bought the rest - no big deal. Anyway, we did not have to compete with a loud radio and had a great session. We're not in it for the free drinks, just for the music, and that's what we got Friday, so it seems to be good for everyone. Hope it continues....
On this Friday 19th May and next 26th. The latter date is bit of a birthday party for Sheila, so it would be good if the occasional players would come and join us.
Transferred to the Golden Lion in Sydenham but on an ad hoc basis so if you fancy coming down, send me an email and I'll confirm whether or not this is on. Some free drinks, an appreciative public and a dedicated space. The pub is 5 minutes away from Sydenham station. We've given up on the Holly Tree because of competition with the radio which the landlord kept on quite loud while we played, while saying that he really wanted us there. Can't understand how patrons put up with diddling on one side and magic fm on the other. I would never drink in that kind of place.
See comments at bottom of thread of Shillelagh's as a Friday session has just begun. Free drinks... so far. Tiny pub, do keep an eye as we don't know how long they'll want us there.
Cath
Starting Friday 18th June
The level is intermediate with possibly a couple of very good players joining in for support, all diddlers very welcome of course. Hopefully we'll get away with not having to play many songs. We'll see what shape it takes in the next month or two.
The pub is situated within walking distance of Lewisham Rail/DLR station.
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Cath
OOPS I FORGOT
The landlord is offering free drinks to the players.
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Cath
... not that that would influence any of us "serious musicians" of course
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Just a person
Cath ... what's the deal on this one? I might actually be able to make this Friday!
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Aidan Crossey
Don't think I can make it this Friday. I've driven past it - it looks a nice wee pub. Just up from the local gay bar, the Queen's Arms - no joking!
Good luck - BTW who's the side? (I need to know, so's not to tread on anyone's toes!)
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Nick Splease
Orson, that would not influence any of us "serious musicians" of course - I was only passing on this useful little bit of info.
Aidan, Ken and Sheila would love it if you came up. They specifically asked me to ask the Thursday/Sunday group of musicians. The Holly Tree will be their session and I will try and go there regularly to help them out. I will talk to (posh) John and ask that the improv side of the session is confined to the Duke.
With the Holly Tree, the way I figure it is if we support Ken and Sheila early on, we could 'mould' the session to something we all like, along the lines of the Blythe and Shillelagh's.
Hope you guys can make it
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Cath
Danny,
Ken told me he'd be glad if you could come down from time to time so tread as heavily as you wish.
So, will you be in the Queen's arms that day?
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Cath
Er - no! I have enough trouble getting leave for 2 sessions a week. A gay bar would mean red card!
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Nick Splease
Well, I hope you'll still try the hetero one across the road one of these Fridays
# Posted on June 15th 2004 by Cath
Now that's not a bad day to choose Fri but I can't do this week cos I've been out 4 nights in a row and will be grounded!
Hope it goes well. Hope to make the Blythe Thurs week anyway
Sarah
# Posted on June 16th 2004 by Sarah the Flute
See you Thursday maybe Sarah. I'll see if I can ask Paul and Sarah, either Thursday or next Tuesday at the Cricketers, whether they might want to come along.
# Posted on June 16th 2004 by Cath
The landlord was really friendly and although it was really noisy at first, from about 10.30 only the appreciative punters remained. They clapped at the tunes and (as usual)cheered at the songs. We had a couple of good vocalists who gave us McAlpine Fusiliers, The Leaving of Liverpool, Dirty Old Town, This Land is Your Land and the Wild Rover. Fields of Athenry only last 3 minutes and it's worth living with it for that long and then diddle to our heart's content which is what we did the rest of the time. Besides, the songs were sang in keys we could play to. We left at 1.15 - but could have stayed on if we'd wanted to. The regulars very much hope to see us again next week.
# Posted on June 19th 2004 by Cath
Well done cath and others for getting this one off the ground. I won't be around next friday either, and possibly not for much of July. If you can hold out till August, I'll try and support it when I can.
# Posted on June 20th 2004 by Nick Splease
Ken and Sheila are the ones in charge and Aidan and I provided support. I will try it again next Friday and see how it evolves as some of the people who came last Friday cannot make it this week.
# Posted on June 20th 2004 by Cath
Max and Big Dave came up on Friday to join the regulars - Also young Greg from the English Cricketers session. It's a very eclectic mix at the moment and a very well attended session.
Erik has a bit of a drive getting there but I hope he can make it regularly, what a great box player he is.
Thanks for the songs Dave and George.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Cath
My first time...
Ok, I went along last night for the first time. Yeah, although most of the players were not exactly virtuosos, but Miles turned up, as did Mick Davis (D/G box supremo), but Mick didn't play. There was also a nice fiddle player called Nick (nice in both senses of the word - nice player and he seemed a nice guy). The pub itself is a wee gem, and the beer IS free...which greatly contributed to my downfall, and the bar staff and general ambience of the pub is of being very friendly. Worth a trip, deffo.
# Posted on July 31st 2004 by Nick Splease
HOLLY TREE
Anybody available tonight for the Holly Tree?
# Posted on August 6th 2004 by Cath
Maybe, but I won't know until this evening
# Posted on August 6th 2004 by Just a person
Holly Tree break
The Holly Tree session will no be running on Friday 13th but will start again on Friday 20th August.
# Posted on August 7th 2004 by Cath
Holly Tree
Don't forget, it's back on this week
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by Cath
Might be able to make it tonight!
# Posted on August 27th 2004 by Aidan Crossey
HOLLY TREE SCHEDULE CHANGE THIS WEEK
We're having the session on Thursday instead of Friday this week. Wonder why
Back to normal next week.
# Posted on March 16th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree day off
Advance warning that there will be no session on 16th September only. Session as usual this Friday and those afterwards.
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree
Doh ! Session on tonight, but off next week 23rd, then back to normal from 30th. Regulars are 1 guitar, 1 bodhran/whisle, 1 banjo and 1 fiddle players - all visitors welcome - free drinks!
# Posted on September 16th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree
Dave, thank you for coming to our session. Musically less ambitious than the Blythe but you can always be sure of a warm welcome while Ken and Sheila are in charge. Hope you had a good journey back to New England, and that you can come back and play with us again.
All the best
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree
What a night! Thanks for coming back Dave, shame we had to stop at 12.30 - but it was fun all the same.
# Posted on November 5th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree - off for 1 week
No session on Friday 18th but back to normal on 25th
)
(St. Catherine's day, coincidentally
Whereas Shillelagh's should happen on Saturday 19th
# Posted on November 13th 2005 by Cath
Holly Tree - can it go on?
The last four weeks at the Holly Tree have been less and less welcoming and although the landlord at the end of the night says thanks very much, great music, we're having to compete with the radio played quite loud on the other side of the bar.
And, not that I care in principle, but they are restricting the amount of free drinks musicians can have. Very few of us drink more that a couple of soft drinks so we're not bleeding them dry. It just seems to be getting unfriendly. We've asked the landlord if he doesn't want us there and he keeps saying, 'but I do, I love the music' - yet he spends the night on the other side of the pub where the speakers blare out some radio station. I understand it will take place next Friday, but I'm not sure I want to be there. Will keep an update.
# Posted on January 21st 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree - can it go on?
Well, it seems it can. The landlord got funny about all the free drinks, so we just had one free round, and bought the rest - no big deal. Anyway, we did not have to compete with a loud radio and had a great session. We're not in it for the free drinks, just for the music, and that's what we got Friday, so it seems to be good for everyone. Hope it continues....
# Posted on January 30th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
They'll be serving stew on Friday 17th March.
# Posted on March 15th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
There will be no session Friday 21st April - private party.
Should be back on following week.
# Posted on April 17th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
No session Friday 12th May. Could well be the end but will check next week.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree on
On this Friday 19th May and next 26th. The latter date is bit of a birthday party for Sheila, so it would be good if the occasional players would come and join us.
# Posted on May 17th 2006 by Cath
Hmm...
Quite possibly........
# Posted on May 17th 2006 by Nick Splease
Holly Tree
Seems kind of back on track and a bit more comfortable to play in.
# Posted on June 6th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
No session during football season - will advise when session resumes
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
Starting again this week
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
No session Friday 4th August. Should start again on 11th.
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
Session still going every Friday
# Posted on September 8th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree
No session at the Holly Tree this Friday 27th October. Back on Friday 3rd November.
# Posted on October 24th 2006 by Cath
Holly Tree change
Transferred to the Golden Lion in Sydenham but on an ad hoc basis so if you fancy coming down, send me an email and I'll confirm whether or not this is on. Some free drinks, an appreciative public and a dedicated space. The pub is 5 minutes away from Sydenham station. We've given up on the Holly Tree because of competition with the radio which the landlord kept on quite loud while we played, while saying that he really wanted us there. Can't understand how patrons put up with diddling on one side and magic fm on the other. I would never drink in that kind of place.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by Cath
Holly Tree to Temple Bar
See comments at bottom of thread of Shillelagh's as a Friday session has just begun. Free drinks... so far. Tiny pub, do keep an eye as we don't know how long they'll want us there.
Cath
# Posted on November 2nd 2007 by Cath