A Session Diary

This weekend is Rochester Sweeps or ‘Medway Sweeps’ as the council would like it. Usually, there’s a lively session in the Victoria and Bull, but there doen’t seem much appetite for it this year. Anyway, as a result and because it’s the 5th Sunday, there is no session tonight at the Rose and Crown. Wednesday’s Irish and Thursday’s mixed lumpy went well. Problem still not resolved with thumpy-shaky-bangy. Further thought needed.

I wonder why it is that we don’t celebrate St George in England? Are we ashamed of the association of Englishness with something negative about England? I know quite a few musicians who would happily go and celebrate St George’s Day by playing some traditional tunes but there isn’t the audience enthusiasm as there is with St Patrick. May day will be celibrated by the Morris Men and then there will be the Folk Festival Season where folk music of all kinds will be played, but will there be an ‘English Session’? I doubt it. There’ll be an Irish one at every venue though.

The Irish session is exciting, pulsing, toe-tapping stuff so that’s where it scores I suppose, but nothing is nicer than good lumpy English music played on a Summer afternoon or evening, in a garden….

The mixed lumpy session was its usual lively self. The fearless leaders have returned from darkest (and apparently coldest) France and had two weeks to make up. May have been a record number of tunes in a 2 hour session! Some guests. An extra table strategically placed by the landlord, possibly entirely coincidentally, meant that the string bass could not be used. Ah, what a pity. Still the percussion in use sounded like intermittent rounds being fired by the Gurkhas on the practice range. “20 rounds, intermittent drum beating, in your own time. Fire! How we stay on the tunes sometimes amazes me. Despite the acoustics, the heat, the confined space, (and the amusical contributions) the Bear is still a fabulous atmosphere with a very appreciative audience.

I would have thought that there would be a session of English Music for St Georges day on Sunday 23rd, but there doesn’t seem to be anything happening. Curious isn’t it – every pub has a band for Paddy’s night, but not a sausage for good old St George. Not even a mummers play.

The Irish session – back to full strength. The flautist returned from Syria enthusing about whirling dervishes that he saw there. No strangers, no iteinerants. Not that they are not welcome – just sometimes nice to be in the familar and cosy just as at othet times it’s nice to have something different. Ah – one member missing – the pipes. There was some swapping of seating arrangements going on too. Maybe because it’s spring. Good banter as always, and a question. Is there any other accordianist out there apart from ours who travels with a tea cosy in his case? We think he may be unique.

One of the hot topics at the moment and discussed in every (other) session is how to get rid of the session nuisance. The one with much more neck than talent and actively detracts from any gathering he attends. Yes we have one. There are a few out there and they come in all guises but generally what they have in common is to offend the musicians or cause them to play less well or struggle against what they are doing. Now music should be sympathetic. Adding to the mix if it enhances the overall. I know that’s not always true. Sometimes you’re learning a tune, sometimes you’re just playing along because you know it, but it should be like the Hypocratic Oath -First Do No Harm! Anyway thing may come to a head tonight….

Unexpectedly, I went along to the Monday Session. Normally I’m out dancing on a Monday night, and the session is only once a month – the third Monday. Sometimes holidays and things conspire to make me free when it’s on. I’ve only been once before and the atmosphere was distinctly breton-esque but I was assured that it should be a mixed session. The venue is very conducive. Small but the acoustics are good and the staff and regulars are keen on the music. Way out in the back of beyond – it is just a pub and a church but what a pub and what a church! (The Yew Tree at Barfreston in Kent BTW). A good time was had by all and it was still going at 11:30 when I left. A fair mix of players but vey good if beginners want to go somewhere less threatening than one of the bigger sessions where there are ‘pro-sessioneers’. Some of the tunes were way too fast (a sign of nerves?) and not many joined in on the standards (which was a bit strange). It was almost as if each had a repertoire and only played if their list coincided with yours. Still much to commend it, especially for beginners.