A Catch-up Post
The debate recently, in the snug of the Furtive Ferret has been running along the lines of ‘Is it worth carrying on?’ and ‘Why do we do it?’. This is in a purely session related context you understand. Not a symptom of general depression.
The sessioneers at the regular Wednesday Irish Sessions have dwindled to below critical mass now on several ocassions and is sometimes as low on the Sundays. It is kept going by sheer determination at the moment but questions have been asked.
Why is attendance so low? well, the 5 of us there on Wednesday debated the reasons.
But the opinion is divided between stopping altogether which means no Irish music session and carrying on with low numbers which is disheartening.
The Thursday session was a bizarre session of two halves. Without the regular leaders there, I started proceedings as a normal session with the 10 or so sessioneers assembled. And then the leaders came in at 9:40 in stereotypical French costume (from ‘Allo ‘Allo – even down to ‘It is I, Leclerc!’) and I’m not quite sure what happened after that – it was all a bit chaotic. They certainly played through sets we’d already played and closed out the other sessioneers including Ernie who was eager to play on his concertina but didn’t get the chance.
The Deal Marathon though (12 – 5 in the Ship) was thoroughly enjoyable. Playing with the Desperates is always a pleasure, even though I did inadvertently provoke some disgraceful song about Nelly Cartwright when I played Redwing. John and Chris certainly perked up at that point!