There will be a slow session for learners before the Moorbrook session starting from 24th January. It will be at St Thomas Centre from 7pm to 8.30pm. Here you can learn the tunes played at the main session, and play with others before going over to the pub. Every 4th Thursday except February.
4th Thursday afternoons at The Moorbrook, Preston ~ an appreciation ~
I've stumbled across this session a few times now in my rambling or I'd keep shtrum, which would also be the case if I thought it was shight. I'm happy to say, in my opinion, it's not. I prefer not to report on the negative. I admit concerns, starting with trepedation about visiting the 'foreign country' of any session, but what really worried me was what I saw the first time I walked through the door ~ two tenor banjo pluckers and a crank! By 'crank' I mean their resident vielle-a-roue (hurdy gurdy) player (& maker), Neil Brook. Other regulars include a grumpy looking ol' squeezer scowling behind his 2-row box. I wondered if this was their 'Don Coroleone'? He seeming to be at the head of the table, facing the entrance... There's usually a fiddler or two or three, which includes their senior resident fiddler and character, Michael Dunne. There's a few winds, passable and hopeless, and they've a resident uilleann piper and permanent long suffering board member of the local Comhaltas. Also good news, for some that might have concerns, their viel-a-roux player also doubles, no, he triples on a double necked thing-a-ma-jig, with strings for pluckin' and stummin'. I do realize that for some that wouldn't be considered 'good news'. Yes, they have their share of pluckers. I musn't forget the chatty few there as appreciative support, the family and friends, their 'audience', and me and a pint. And never wanting to forget the nod to the proprietor by who's grace it all happens ~ the pub owner and bartender who it turns out has rhythm and ain't half bad with his occassional improvised hand percussion, tapping away on the bar.
I had heard tales, and we know how those can grow out or proportion, and that is probably why I first took the frowning box squeezer as proof of grumpiness. I've learned to try not to let first impression persist unchallenged. There was nothing grumpy about the music they made collectively. They ain't half bad, and the two tenor banjo pluckers did a fair job of it without sending me round the twist, which is saying a lot. I enjoyed their music. Tempos were relaxed, not hurried, and the variety of forms, not reel dominated, was impressive, even including the occassional waltz and O'Carolan piece. No, it wasn't a purist event. They dabbled in traditions other than Irish or the music of Lancashire, but their play list didn't jar uncomfortably between my ears, in my alternately wired head. I didn't sense any of the tensions that can occur between some, no hint of competition or a jarring ego. I had no sense of anyone out to prove something. The 'Don', the ol' squeezer, did seem to be the main focus of where sets were coming from, but it didn't feel tyrannical. No whip was present, no brass knuckle dusters, koshes or shillelaghs. However, I do realize that some people consider any member of the accordion family to be in the same league with such weapons or threats. My guess is that his scowl earned him some added consideration, that and he was ~ 'the box player'. But, I sensed nothing unreasonable or unpleasant.
It's a lovely session, and I don't say that lightly, being tight with my complements. It's small, intimate, and with only a rare situation of someone who hasn't a clue rhythm, pitch, tune or accompaniment wise, or at least not to the point of it being a huge interference... The session corner of this pub is a tight fit, which probably accounts for the assigned seat feel to it, and a hint of a seating hierarchy, with the 'Don' at the head. I never saw a 'stranger' join the group, so I don't know whether there are 'special' requirements or expectations or some special opening in the seating ~ or whether or not they'd chew you up and spit you out or greet you with a hearty welcome. Maybe the box player cracks a smile?
All kidding aside, this is a lovely session, at least viewed from the outside, from my vantage point... I've only been along for a listen, and I can say honestly that I've enjoyed myself for the few short times I've had the pleasure...
With respect to the box player mentioned above, and me feeling guilt ~ it's a 3-row, 12 bass, and he has been known to crack the occassional smile between tunes, and has even been known, so I've been told, been known to even descend into a full chuckle. However, I have been warned not to get on his bad side... So, with guilt and fear I'm trying to temper my funny bone a little here... Hopefully he's one of those curmudgeons that refuses to be connected to the Internet...
4th Thursday of the month...
Sponsored by the Preston Branch of Comhaltas Ceoloiri Eireann...
# Posted on July 18th 2004 by ceolachan
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann -
excuse previous spelling slip...
# Posted on July 18th 2004 by ceolachan
"The Moorbrook is still going on the 4th Thursday. We will probably go to the Unicorn from September. "
~ the Chairman of the Board, CCE, Preston Branch
# Posted on August 2nd 2005 by ceolachan
Moorbrook ~ 4th Thursday of the month...
# Posted on October 3rd 2005 by ceolachan
Slow Session
There will be a slow session for learners before the Moorbrook session starting from 24th January. It will be at St Thomas Centre from 7pm to 8.30pm. Here you can learn the tunes played at the main session, and play with others before going over to the pub. Every 4th Thursday except February.
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by Eber Finn
4th Thursday afternoons at The Moorbrook, Preston ~ an appreciation ~
I've stumbled across this session a few times now in my rambling or I'd keep shtrum, which would also be the case if I thought it was shight. I'm happy to say, in my opinion, it's not. I prefer not to report on the negative. I admit concerns, starting with trepedation about visiting the 'foreign country' of any session, but what really worried me was what I saw the first time I walked through the door ~ two tenor banjo pluckers and a crank! By 'crank' I mean their resident vielle-a-roue (hurdy gurdy) player (& maker), Neil Brook. Other regulars include a grumpy looking ol' squeezer scowling behind his 2-row box. I wondered if this was their 'Don Coroleone'? He seeming to be at the head of the table, facing the entrance... There's usually a fiddler or two or three, which includes their senior resident fiddler and character, Michael Dunne. There's a few winds, passable and hopeless, and they've a resident uilleann piper and permanent long suffering board member of the local Comhaltas. Also good news, for some that might have concerns, their viel-a-roux player also doubles, no, he triples on a double necked thing-a-ma-jig, with strings for pluckin' and stummin'. I do realize that for some that wouldn't be considered 'good news'. Yes, they have their share of pluckers. I musn't forget the chatty few there as appreciative support, the family and friends, their 'audience', and me and a pint. And never wanting to forget the nod to the proprietor by who's grace it all happens ~ the pub owner and bartender who it turns out has rhythm and ain't half bad with his occassional improvised hand percussion, tapping away on the bar.
I had heard tales, and we know how those can grow out or proportion, and that is probably why I first took the frowning box squeezer as proof of grumpiness. I've learned to try not to let first impression persist unchallenged. There was nothing grumpy about the music they made collectively. They ain't half bad, and the two tenor banjo pluckers did a fair job of it without sending me round the twist, which is saying a lot. I enjoyed their music. Tempos were relaxed, not hurried, and the variety of forms, not reel dominated, was impressive, even including the occassional waltz and O'Carolan piece. No, it wasn't a purist event. They dabbled in traditions other than Irish or the music of Lancashire, but their play list didn't jar uncomfortably between my ears, in my alternately wired head. I didn't sense any of the tensions that can occur between some, no hint of competition or a jarring ego. I had no sense of anyone out to prove something. The 'Don', the ol' squeezer, did seem to be the main focus of where sets were coming from, but it didn't feel tyrannical. No whip was present, no brass knuckle dusters, koshes or shillelaghs. However, I do realize that some people consider any member of the accordion family to be in the same league with such weapons or threats. My guess is that his scowl earned him some added consideration, that and he was ~ 'the box player'. But, I sensed nothing unreasonable or unpleasant.
It's a lovely session, and I don't say that lightly, being tight with my complements. It's small, intimate, and with only a rare situation of someone who hasn't a clue rhythm, pitch, tune or accompaniment wise, or at least not to the point of it being a huge interference... The session corner of this pub is a tight fit, which probably accounts for the assigned seat feel to it, and a hint of a seating hierarchy, with the 'Don' at the head. I never saw a 'stranger' join the group, so I don't know whether there are 'special' requirements or expectations or some special opening in the seating ~ or whether or not they'd chew you up and spit you out or greet you with a hearty welcome. Maybe the box player cracks a smile?
All kidding aside, this is a lovely session, at least viewed from the outside, from my vantage point... I've only been along for a listen, and I can say honestly that I've enjoyed myself for the few short times I've had the pleasure...
Go raibh ma'agat / Thanks ~ with appreciation...
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by ceolachan
4th Thursday evenings!!!
2nd Sunday afternoons at The Unicorn, Preston ~ 4 - 7 p.m.
http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/1085
~ with many of the same folks...
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by ceolachan
4th Thursday evenings at The Moorbrook, Preston ~ beginning at 8:30 p.m.
4th Thursday evenings at The Moorbrook, Preston ~ beginning at 8:30 p.m.
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by ceolachan
3-row / 12 bass
With respect to the box player mentioned above, and me feeling guilt ~ it's a 3-row, 12 bass, and he has been known to crack the occassional smile between tunes, and has even been known, so I've been told, been known to even descend into a full chuckle. However, I have been warned not to get on his bad side... So, with guilt and fear I'm trying to temper my funny bone a little here... Hopefully he's one of those curmudgeons that refuses to be connected to the Internet...
# Posted on December 14th 2008 by ceolachan