A Session Diary

Tuesday 8th September 2009

2009-09-08T16:11:00.002Z

An advance viewing of the next Session Diary entry is at sessiondiary.com.

I will post it here as well a little later on.

Friday 4th September 2009

2009-09-04T14:20:00.003Z

Greetings Sessioneers!

I've been toying with a new home for the Session Diary, and its own URL – sessiondiary.com. Not quite ready yet, but getting there.

This week, I have been exercised by certain activities concerning an upcoming festival. Now, it’s well known that some of the committee don’t like Folk Music so it’s been a bit of a battle for a few years to keep the Folk community happy and active amongst the rest of the events.

So, the committee asked for an evening Irish Session and two mixed lunchtime sessions. And we agreed. Hoorah!

What exercised me is that the programme fails to mention any one of the three sessions or their leaders. They can do it at Broadstairs. They can do it at Deal. They can even do it at Tenterden. Despite the organisers have a famous brewery in their locale, the likelihood of their being able to organise a drinking festivity in the establishment must rank near the lower end of the scale. The best they could offer was a three day ‘Come all Ye Session’. God alone knows what that will attract. I don’t want to be a session snob, but at any festival you get the instrument worriers (usually melodeons), the cutlery percussionists and the 3 tune repertoire. There are many fine players who would gather for a tune if it were properly advertised. Add to that Blues, Singers, Jazz, Country etc etc…

I am in wholehearted favour of these things but anyone with an ounce of sense would lay them on at different venues and advertise them properly!

I know that each and every one of the members of the committee is well meaning, so I assume that it is a case of committees blighting the planning process. That, or there are some very strange non-folk members who have way too much control.

And that’s a shame, because a lot of goodwill will be lost. Most, if not all the sessioneers give up their time, usually for free or at most for meagre expenses and travel from as far as the Medway towns and Folkestone. And we are not talking of ‘enthusiastic amateurs’. We are talking about people who have shown a certain dedication to Folk, their instrument and the music over a long period of time. Most have been in bands and recorded somewhere along the line and all of them are worth listening to.

Now to get this for free and not even put it in the programme is taking the recycled beer. Even worse is to lump Irish Session and Mixed English Session in as just a ‘Come all Ye’ pub session. Barbarians.

I offset this with a fantastic gig last Saturday for a Scottish Wedding which was highly enjoyable for all. The Irish Session was cancelled this week because there will be one (should be one) tonight and Thursday was a practice for Saturday and Sunday.

Never mind, in two weeks time, it’s Deal.

Friday 28th August 2009

2009-08-28T08:37:00.001Z

A Bank Holiday weekend, Hoorah!

I'm glad to say that the madness of Broadstairs is behind us. As one of the sessioneers put it, Broadstairs showed every indication that it remembered that it was on Thanet, and then reverted to type.

I'm also glad to say that the Irish Session on Wednesday was swelled by guests and although the music veered a little East and North of Ireland sometimes, it was a jolly good evening. Joining the regular crew or 'team' as we now say at work (please somebody shoot the management gurus) were members of Rude Albert from Ashford, Chris-the-KGB-staff-car {K=Kernow}and his wife (I'm sorry I don't know her name) and Mick-the-plumber. Altogether there were 12 of us and it really made a noticeable difference having a large number of musicians round the session table. Some cracking reels were played, which we kind of take for granted as normal session fare but you realise when you have guests how playing together every week for 12 years gives the session a very tight and polished feel.

The audience, which is normally composed of locals, was a large contingent of vintage bikers (yes, both bikes and riders were vintage) who seemed to like what we did. We liked their bikes too and drooled a little over the AJS, the BSA and the Royal Oilfield. There were some foreign ones there too. They don't count.

By contrast, Thursday was back to normal. Although there were several guest sessioneers or semi-regulars, the evening was not one of those where others were invited to play which is a shame.

Sunday is an Irish Session at Ospringe and you have Bank Holiday Monday to recover!

Wednesday 19th August 2009

2009-08-19T15:57:00.002Z

The warp in Folkspace continues. It is unlikely that the Irish session will reconvene before September.

On a brighter note, I went to a very comfortable and friendly session at the Ship at Conyer last night where there was not a single ego spoilt proceedings. How refreshing. Now if only we can translate that to Thursdays ......... I can't think of when I last spent time in an English /Mixed session with a nicer group of people. Of course all the other sessions contain nice people.

The bad news is that the landlord leaves in September and the future of the session is uncertain.

Tomorrow, well I have been debating about it with myself. The Thursday session was one of the first I went to when I arrived in Kent. It's been through a few changes but it has weathered them all. The problem is that it isn't often a session in the accepted sense of the word. It's a band practice (3 of them are in the band) which the rest can join in or not. If guests arrive, they may get invited to play or sing - usually as an entertainment spot, but few of the regulars do.

As I've said before, it can be an enjoyable folk evening and that suits many people who want a second folk club with a difference (music, dance, poetry, songs) but sometimes, I hanker for the good old fashioned go-round-the-circle session like we had last night.

Sunday 16th August 2009

2009-08-16T16:18:00.003Z

Sessions go funny around festival time.

I have a theory that the concentration of Folk in places like Broadstairs (or Sidmouth or Whitby or any of the others. Cambridge doesn't count) actually warps Folkspace. Of course there is the natural gravitational effect of Folkies gathering on the doorstep and the opportunity to play some different tunes with some nice players. But what of the regular sessions? The warp in Folkspace does things to those too.

In the past we have always foregone the regular Wednesday Irish Session for just this reason. If there has been a session at or near the Festival, some of us may have gone to that to feed our habit.

Well this year, a session was organised and many of the Irish contingent made the trek to Broadstairs. When I arrived, the Irish music was in full sway and I was eager to get started. There were a few of the usual Festival Session Worriers there but they aren't usually a problem. I was waved rather dramatically to a seat by the others only to be beaten by what looked like an itinerant. Well sleeping rough at any rate. I ended up eventually sat next to him. Definitely rough. I wish I had taken the other offer of a seat near the wall.

Once established, he had the gall to complain about Irish Tunes. At one point he seemed to ask me if minded him sat there. Not if you're going to play I replied. At which, he pointed to a melodeon. Oh joy, I thought, itinerant, rough and 3 Morris tunes.

There was obviously something going on here that I was not aware of. Some discussions ensued involving the landlord and as a result, from the Irish contingent, One left, One disappeared, One went to see a friend who was performing nearby and it was clear we were leaving. Were we not welcome? Wrong sort of music? What seems to have happened is that the landlord had agreed to let any musician use the bar (unaware of any differences) and a particular cohort had taken that to mean they had rights to run a session every evening.

I pottered over to the Lord Nelson where I met a fellow sessioneer and had a jolly nice time playing English tunes with Life and Times who ran a proper session going round the assembled musicians. At half time we were treated to a Rapper dance from a scratch Geordie team (may or may not have been Tyne Bridge) which was very good and danced to Irish music! There were a number of interesting tunes and a tenor (yes, tenor) banjo player who played finger style and very well too. Never seen that before.

Friday 7th August 2009

2009-08-07T13:23:00.004Z

Here we are, poised on the edge of Broadstairs week. It seems to come round more quickly each year. Yes, I know. It's a symptom of getting old. Anyway, the weather seems to be set fair so the school field shouldn't look like Glastonbury. On the other hand, it means no free but involuntary wash for some of the happy campers.

I have been amusing myself in the dark and frankly scary corners of web hosting this week, trying to decide what to do with one of my domains. Folkipedia is two years old and is coming up for renewal. I have, as a result of my meandering through the infernal regions of cyberspace decided to try out some alternative presentations.

The present incarnation of Folkipedia is held on freely available Wiki software called Dokuwiki which has worked well and holds well over 1000 pages now. However, it does have its little quirks and so I've been looking at alternatives.

I was impressed by a particular webhost (not the only one I'm sure) that offered a one click install of a Wiki called TikiWiki. So I tried it. So far, it looks very good and I'm pleased with the look and feel of it. The control has more settings than I would care to set in a lifetime but that means it's also very flexible. The documentation leaves a lot to be desired, but there is some, and other hearty souls have chipped in.

For the adventurous amongst you, you can have a look at the (or a) new look Folkipedia at http://pvs.me.uk/wiki/ and if you feel inclined, let me know what you think. It is very much work in progress and does not have a full complement of pages (what the trade calls 'proof-of-concept').

I did try and use the biggy - MediaWiki - the one that Wikipedia uses (amazing that all these software packages are open source and free). The result is here at http://pvs.me.uk/mediawiki and I don't think it looks as good or as professional as the one in TikiWiki so I haven't developed it on any further.

Don't get me started on Domain Parking, Forwarding, redirects and what Google does.

"What of the sessions? ", I hear you cry!

Well, the Irish session has been small but beautifully formed. Some may say that the balance is a little wrong but I think 2 tenor banjos, a guitar and a set of Uillean Pipes sounds good. No, I don't care what you say, you can never have too many tenor banjos. OK. Stop throwing things *NOW* please. Often we have the addition of another banjo, a whistle or sometimes two and an Accordian (or Accordion according to preference). Sadly of late we have had no itinerant fiddlers who always seem to be imported from Eastern (Sorry - Central) Europe or Amerikay. I got told off once for saying that the Czech Republic was in Eastern Europe. Well all of Europe is East to us!

Speaking of Amerikay, we had three at the Bear Session on Thursday. Two came with Barbara (Paul and Jody) and one (Gary) came with Dave and Carol Partridge. More of the American guests a little later.

Now, as the regular leaders were away, I stepped in to keep some sort of event going in their absence and invite others to come and keep the bench warm. (By the way, has anyone else noticed the smell in that corner?). So in my way, as I like to do sessions, we go around in turn on the old familiar 'play, nominate or pass' basis so that everyone who has turned up with an instrument or a voice gets a turn if they want one. There was at one point I'm sure at least 16 musicians, all of whom had a turn as we went round and round. Lots of interesting tunes to join in with old favourites in new combinations and new tunes. Never a gap or a dull moment.

When it came to Gary, he said he would sing a traditional Scottish song that had been re-written for New Joisey - The Rolling Mills of New Jersey (Roberts and Barrand). After he had sung said song (that's alliteration that is) which we all much appreciated, Jody declared that the last thing he expected to hear in a pub in Faversham after coming all the way from New York, was another American singing the Rolling Mills of New Jersey. Just shows that anything can happen in the back bar of the Bear, and sooner or later, it will.

All together, with the number of musicians, the calibre of the guests and the general atmosphere (I put it down to pre-Festival Syndrome or PFS) , I think everyone had a really good time. At least I hope they did. We did a happy birthday for Marie somewhere in there too.

The only fly in the ointment (or as Jake Thackray put it, the grit in life's vaseline) was a certain self styled percussionist who used to have a penchant for one string bass. Several sessioneers felt the need to glare at him in his arrhythmic and (how can you have atonal percussion? This man can) bizarre interpretations of the traditional tunes. Sadly, I think he is impervious to the laser glare of slighted musicians. Not that he was the only one masquerading as a musician who was asked to politely play somewhere else! No names, no pack drill.

Another brilliant pair of guests was Eugene and Caroline who gave us a superb set of Irish tunes but sadly left too early. It may have been the masqueraders.

In amongst all this, at least two sets got up to Mazurk. Now, I'm not going into detail here but I really do have to get the Mazurka rhythm nailed. It is so easy to turn the tune rhythm into a waltz, and the dancers will still dance to it. There are many styles of Mazurka and it's generally best to use the tunes from the right area rather than any old mazurka which is what we tend to do. One thing is certain, the Irish mazurkas (nice tunes as they are) have no natural dances to go with them. If you look at the mazurka dances in France, they are as regional as the bourees meaning that the Auvergne is different from Provence etc. Actually, the Provencal is quite slowly played but has fantastic movements but I digress.

Speaking purely personally, I enjoyed one of the nicest sessions I've been to for a long time because of the company and the talent that they all brought to the occasion.

Friday 24th July 2009

2009-07-24T12:06:00.002Z

The Festival Season is upon us and soon it will be Broadstairs. You can tell by all the rain although, this year, they do forecast a heatwave for the second week in August. So better get the wellies out then.

"What of the sessions?" I hear you cry.

I would like to make clear at this point that these entries are the fevered ramblings of a sessioneer and not a report from the Independent's Session Critic. Scoff and chortle into your ale if you will, but these are personal observations, based on my own predilections which are well known.

In an ideal world, I would like music sessions to be music sessions. Musicians who sing can do so whenever the muse is upon them but I would like singers who don't musicsh to go to folk clubs. Story tellers such as Adrian O' are welcome anywhere anytime. I'm not sure about poets. That's it in a nutshell.

Having said that, and contrary to popular belief, If I run a session, I would not turn away singers, poets or anyone else who comes to play/sing/juggle tripe/crochet chain link fences/gargle the Marseillaise/fart Rule Brittania or bend horseshoes by hand into interesting artistic objets d'art. I always leave it very much to them to work out whether they feel they are in the right place.

Well, the Irish session is still stuggling along and is very variable. Apparently, last week was a stonker (I had to miss it. Rats!) but this week was less stonking with a turn out of only 4 stalwarts. Nevertheless, a good time was had and some good tunes played. Beau of KentFolk came to support us and a good discussion was had as well meandering as it does around many topics.

As for Thursday in the Bear, It fares a lot better than the Irish Session and has a good following of musicians and singers.

Mike and Ruth always lay on a good evening's entertainment and everybody is welcome. Every Thursday night is different and it depends on who turns up and what they can do as to what happens.

In the back bar of the Bear (those of you who know it will appreciate this with incredulity), we have had, over the years: Bagpipes (full Highland and Irish and Northumbrian and Breton), Hurdy Gurdy, a selection of medieval wind instruments, Saxophone and Euphonium, Hammer Dulcimer, Nyckelharpa, Harp, Appalachian Clogging, French Dancing, Irish Dancing, English Sessions, Irish Sessions, Singers and Poets and I'm sure there's more. We've had Burn's Night, St Georges Day, Solstice Celebrations, St Patrick's Day and who knows what else besides (not all Thursday Nights). We've run sessions for the Hop Festival and Food Festival and Barn Dances for fund raising and charity.

As for guests, they are legion - Tim Edey, Paul Lucas, Davey Slater, Tan Tethera, Bob Kenwood, Eugene Lambe and many many more from home and overseas. Add to this heady mix, the Bear's long standing regulars and supporters and it is never a dull evening.

It's not always an English Music Session or even a mixed music session, but it is a good night and if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't go!

Tuesday 23rd June 2009

2009-06-23T15:46:00.002Z

I was given a tune book recently. Some kind soul knew of my interest in Folk Music and had found a small book entitled 'Folk Tunes' Book 1 for solo descant recorder copyright 1946. Yes, there is a book 2 and book 3.

Oh how things have changed thank goodness.

What was the idea of a folk tune in 1946? Well here is a list of things to play in a 1946 session (no, they didn't really exist then AFAIK).

Ash Grove
The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington
Billy Boy
Charlie is my darling
Cockles and Mussels
Early one morning
God Save the Queen. (As a folk tune !?!)
Greensleeves (must crop up in every folk collection)
The Harp that once thro'Tara's Halls
Lass of Richmond Hill
My Love's an Arbutus (a plant as far as I can tell!)
On Ilkley Moor bah't 'at
O Shenandoah
Robin Adair
Star-spangled Banner
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
When Johnny Comes marching home
Ye Mariners of England.

It is a characteristic of this time that American, often Civil War tunes were mixed quite casually with the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English ballads of the day. Folk was a different world which transcended national boundaries but somehow still got lumped together. I still can't believe that some of them were 'classified' as folk.

Just a taster from Books 2 and 3:

Amongst quite respectable tunes such as Keel Row and the Lincolnshire Poacher are Rule Britannia, Yankee Doodle, Go Down Moses and Jeannie with the light brown hair. I think it's stretching it a bit to put those down as 'Folk'.

I'm glad things have changed but it does make you wonder if folk should be classified and categorised and pigeon-holed at all. Maybe someone will look back on the last 40 years and exclaim 'What were they thinking!".

Wednesday 10 June 2009

2009-06-10T09:39:00.009Z

It has been a long time since St George's day which was the last post to the diary. What has happened since then? Well it's a case of same old, same old I'm afraid but there are some observations which might be pertinent.

I know there are some regular readers who eagerly await the next entry but it gets harder and harder to write for two reasons. The main one of these is that more people read the diary so there is a much greater risk of upsetting somebody! Shelagh suggested writing a new one which was entirely fictitious but closely modelled reality, changing names to protect the guilty. It's tempting.

First observation then: the Irish Session still struggles to achieve critical mass for regular sessions, but there was a good turn out for a Sunday Session at the Unicorn at Bekesbourne. Not only were some of the old George crowd there, but a couple came all the way from Battle to join us. The pub is advertising Folk and a BBQ every Sunday. Whether this is genuine love of the genre or a way of attracting punters, I know not but it is a nice venue and we wish it every success.

Second: An old rant, but sessioneers play in sessions, singers go to folk club. In the words of the famous Alexander Orloff, Simples!

So why do singers turn up to sessions and take up valuable playing time? This is a genuine question, because they do.

Not that their output is unworthy of an audience, it is just a case of propriety.

Not that the individuals aren't nice people - they are. It's just a question of what that line is in the sand of folk that delineates one type of activity from another.

Maybe sessions are an entirely Irish concept and in England a session is a general folk gathering. Maybe it's to do with the concept of what the gathering is in the mind of the leader. Some like songs, some don't.

Then there is the idea of the clan. That is a small community of folk minded people who travel together as an entity. If there is a session, you get the singers, poets, jugglers, worriers and audience thrown in. But it's the same for a folk club, open mic etc. - the whole shebang work as a whole. Come one come all. Or a permanent BOGOF offer. This is probably essential in a small community to keep the music and song alive but not so essential in a richer environment.

Or perhaps it's a confidence thing. Maybe some singers are more confident singing in a session environment rather than in front of an audience.

Now most sessions can be enlivened by an occasional song and many musicians sing an occasional song in both the Irish and English session. But I hate it when the singers (who only sing) compete with musicians for spots so it becomes a competition. I just want to go and play music.

There is one other small problem as well. If you have a good session going with the right pace and drive, a song can kill that mood instantly and ruin the 'groove' for want of a better word. There are some who go as far as suggesting that some kinds of music do the same - like trying to get back into reels and jigs if someone plays a slow air or a waltz.

Life isn't easy being a sessioneer.

Friday, April 24th 2009

2009-04-24T10:22:00.013Z

The day after St George's Day. I hope you all celebrated. I hope you all celebrated as well as we did in the back bar of the Bear!

After many years of us saying 'wouldn't it be good to do something...', Mike and Ruth organised a worthy celebration with England flags, English tunes and songs, English Ale and Roast Beef Baps. It was a splendid do, better than the successful Burn's night. Probably because we are English and not Scottish.

There was every element of Englishness from the pride of knowing that you're English to the saucy seaside humour of the Carry On films. Given that Ruth, Barbara and Heather dressed in a very appropriate serving-wench-cum-national-costumes and then handed out Roast Beef Baps or carried Jugs of Ale it is not surprising that 'Would you like one of my delicious baps, kind sir?" was greeted with "Yes, and send me the girl with the large jugs if you will". More good natured banter ensued on that theme.

Nearly every cliche of Englishness was unashamedly exploited. Hoorah! Huzzar!

The tunes were supposed to be English only but a couple of Irish and a Scottish crept under the wire. The singing was truly eclectic and much helped by a guest - Robert Brown.
Ably helping the singing were regulars Heather, Richard, Barbara, Chris and Rod, and a return visit from Gavin who came into it unaware of what was planned. The assembled multitude joined in with gusto and varying degrees of success. A group of Geordies expressed their appreciation by singing Bladon Races. Properly. You could imagine walking down Northumberland Street on a Saturday afternoon and diving into Fenwick's as the football crowd came down the road singing. Why Aye Man.

A sample of the songs:-

Three Drunken Maidens
Yarmouth Town
All around my hat*
Lola
Jerusalem
Drink Old England Dry
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
The Doh-a-beer song**
Nutting Girl
The English, the English, the English are best. (I'm not sure that one was wise but no one exacted terrible revenge.)
Geordie's lost his Penker***

* With a last chorus of:

All around my hat, I will wear the green willow
All around my hat for a twelvemonth and a day
And if anyone should ask me, the reason why I'm wearing it,
It's my f***ing hat, and I'll wear what I like!

Thank you Lizzy.

**
Doh, a beer, a Mexican Beer
Ray, a man who buys me beer
Me, a man I buy beer for
Fah, a long way to the bar
So, I'll have another beer
La,la,la,la,la,la,la
Te, No thanks I'll have a beer

That will bring us back to ...

Thank you Chris. Yours predates the Simpson creation.

***

Not what you might think. It's his marble. Opinion is divided whether he lost it 'doon the netty' (down the toilet) or 'doon the Koondy' (drain). At any rate, it was in his pocket all the bloody time.

Sunday 12th April 2009

2009-04-12T14:27:00.003Z

I have to mention the Thursday session at the Bear. Mike and Ruth are away for a couple of weeks so it's sort of running itself with me keeping it together. Shelagh was worried that there might not but that many musicians turning up because a) it's Easter and b) some might not come if M&R were away and c) some said they were busy.

Imagine my surprise to find that we had 21 musicians from the Bear Cubs to Erwin Libbrecht gracing our little session. The back bar was absolutely packed as you can imagine. Well, you can if you've ever been there. The temperature must have been in 3 figures (old money of course) and there was a dangerous lack of oxygen / build up of CO2 but nothing deterred us.

There were a few regulars in the audience but quite a few missing as well. More than made up for though by the number of musicians which included Chris and Ellie, Dave and Carol, Martin and Stephanie, Shiner and the cubs, Ray, Gunther, Giesler, Heather,John and the usuals such as myself, Shelagh, Barbara and Colin. If we'd had George(ina), Bill, Chris, Peter and some of the others, it would have been totally impossible to get us all in.

A jolly good time was had by all and it was midnight before we got out!

The Irish session is still debating about Sunday nights. Although the landlord of the ship at Ospringe is being kind to us, and the next session is due on the 2nd Sunday (May I presume). Some will be in Ypres and some on holiday so not a good time to hold a session.

Saturday 4th April 2009

2009-04-04T09:15:00.002Z

I've been having mixed thoughts about the blog recently, I don't mind telling you. The sessions don't seem remarkably different from other times and I don't want to write the same thing again. I could treat it as a diary I suppose and say:

Wednesday. Irish Session. Usual suspects. Nothing special happened.
Thursday. Mixed Lumpy. Lots there. Usual Pleasant Chaos.

But that would be pointless.

And then I have to be careful what I write and about whom, just in case anyone is reading this. I have had occasion, difficult to believe I know, where individuals have taken umbrage at what I wrote. I think that is a creative handcuff and stifles the very essence of what makes it enjoyable. I suppose that I could make it subscription only.... mmmm.... there's a thought. Then I could be as scurrilous as I liked.

And then we are now being asked to keep blogs at work. I daren't write a work blog in my style (see paragraph above) and frankly, I'd rather write this one.

And lastly. Does anyone read this? Well I do get an occasional request for the next installment of simple session folk but by and large I wonder whether the effort is worth it. Maybe a subscription only service will uncover the closet readers.

Well. News. Mike and Ruth will be away for the next two weeks so I will lead the sessions and generally keep things moving along but it will be in my style. For those of you who have not experienced my style, it is more or less classic session. After a few warm-ups, the entire assembly is asked (sort of in turn) if they have a tune or a set they would like to do, or if shy, one they would like to nominate a tune or set for us all to do. If it all goes quiet, I will start something we all know and generally keep things going until the muse returns.

Mike and Ruth will be back for St George's Day with a promise of Roast Beef!

Wednesday 4th March 2009

2009-03-04T15:42:00.003Z

And what a roller coaster ride it is on the session scene! More ups and downs than ....... Ok better stop there.

After the heated debate on pubs and music and all the ideas that flowed in (such as musicians paying landlords to use the pub for a session!) it seemed that things were getting back to normal.

The Thursday gathering at the Bear was polled for tunes that each musician wanted to play. These were gathered into a list and then run through giving some musicians a better chance to play something they wanted. I much prefer an organic session without lists where anybody might start a new or interesting or half forgotten tune. But it is definitely a move in the right direction for many of the regulars.

The Irish session is once again subdued but not by comments, rather self imposed by a few rejections. Well, I say rejections, in reality it was one pub who is closing on a Sunday night until the Summer so there is no session there for a while. It was a new session and was only once a month but it happened to be the one at the centre of the 'controversy'.

The sessioneers have taken this as an omen that the session-god is displeased and has given us a sign to lay-off, learn some new sets and find some new bodies. Or maybe we're over-reacting.

For those who don't know, the third Bear Bones book is available 'Grandson of Bear Bones', but at the moment, you'll have to email me or catch me on a Thursday in the Bear when I usually have a few about my person.

Note to self: I must add it to the mail order on my site!

Session joke:

Q - How do you kill a circus?

A - Go for the Juggler

Happy Sessioning.

Thursday 5th February 2009

2009-02-05T15:43:00.002Z

Well dear readers, I'm quite excited by the upturn in the fortunes of the Irish Session. Last night we were invited to try the Chequers in Ash. The landlord and locals were appreciative and quite enthusiastic, the sessioneers turned out in decent numbers and there were unexpected guests.

Without a doubt the session was boosted by both Adrian O' with his stories and songs and Eugene Lambe and Caroline with their fantastic music.

Now isn't it just great to be part of a session that provides a place for talent like that when it is in the area? The music just flew and with great lift and rhythm.

The acoustics are good but the beer's a bit pricey. I don't think anyone is going to whinge about that too much though. What exactly the long term future of the session will be is still uncertain but there are two venues now for Wednesday willing to take us. Maybe we'll share.

Tonight is the Bear of course - the strange and strangely-different-every-week entertainment for the regulars of the aforementioned Inn. Eugene and Caroline will be there again and I hope they get a chance to play. In deference to Eugene, I don't think we should inflict the Bear versions of Irish tunes on him!

There may be a very large jug of water on the table as well. I can't say any more.

Sunday 1st February 2009

2009-02-01T16:13:00.004Z

Things seem to be in flux at the moment in the session world, fuelled by Beau's prognosis of no live music in pubs any more by 2012 based on his analysis of gigs from his excellent Kent Folk website. Just today, a fledgling session (The Parrot) has died due to change of management.

Now we have had a canter about what is and what is not a session on this blog before and opinions vary hugely according to geographical location, ethnicity of the music, type of venue and level of players.

Most session players agree on a few basic things.

1) Session musicians play in sessions for the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people.

2) The session is invited to play by the landlord as a mutual thing and it is not beholden on either to outstay their welcome.

3) There is no contract, no payment no expectation of entertainment beyond what happens spontaneously, no 'hidden agenda' of either bands getting bookings or landlords getting in punters. Complimentary drinks or food by an appreciative landlord are welcome but not necessarily expected.

Pubs are closing at an alarming rate. It is not the profitable industry it once was. Rents and business rates are increasing, the smoking ban has decimated the pub drinkers in certain types of pub. The entertainment and performing rights changes have made it more difficult but not impossible. Any landlords left are looking for ways to attract trade or at least to not drive it away. Sessions may not be helpful to the landlord's cause. If eaters bring in the money, the session has to go. That is understandable and nobody's fault.

Sessions - proper sessions can revert to people's kitchens or back rooms or anywhere else. As mentioned above,
'Session musicians play in sessions for the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people.' They don't necessarily need pubs.

Most sessioneers will have other outlets for their music - gigs, bands, barn dances, teaching etc and those are very different occasions. In a similar vein, Open Mic events, Folk Club floor spots et al are not places for 'the love of the music and the fellowship and musicianship of other like-minded people'

Sessions are something unique and specific and they are harder and harder to find. All we [sessioneers] want to do is sit down with some fellow musicians and play some tunes. Learn off each other, spark off each other, have a laugh and be moved by the music.

Thursday 30th January 2009

2009-01-29T15:55:00.011Z

The Wednesday night Irish session is once again following a nomadic existence, having been made homeless by the closure of yet another pub. Three of the pubs that have hosted the session have closed. I hope that's a coincidence. Anyway, feeling a bit like the Israelites, the sessioneers roam around East Kent looking for a suitable place to pitch up and settle. The George at Molash has been very accommodating for the past 2 weeks. Unfortunately, it is designed more for drinking and eating than musicians, so the acoustics are not the best. Nonetheless, we are very grateful for somewhere to play. Next week, we are trying the Chequer Inn at Ash who seem keen on giving us a try. I never like that phrase. 'Keen on giving us a try' usually means - free music, boosts the punters. I mean there must be a bit of quid pro quo in situations like that and maybe there will be.

The session at the Simple Parrot on the first Sunday is still going but is under threat from lack of audience. The Yew Tree at Barfrestone is interested in a Sunday session and I think a few more possibilities are in the offing.

But on the what-would-be-lumpy-English-if-it-weren't-for-the-porridge-scene, it goes from strength to strength. Last Thursday had a Burn's Supper complete with Ernie dressed as a Scot giving the address and stabbing the Haggis. A very nice plate of neaps, tatties and haggis followed and some acceptable Scottish tunes were played. Richard sang some Scots songs and everybody was happy. For those who don't know, Burns fathered 14 illegitimate children and died at 38 from a heart attack.

And he wrote poetry. I guess writing poetry is a hazardous occupation.

I am very pleased to see so many players but it is hard to play sometimes. As the number of instruments increases, so the sound sort of smears into a less lumpy consistency. I think the beat gets lost. Andy calls it porridge. Porridge may still be too lumpy as a descriptor.

I have noticed that the promise of free food does tend to bring out sessioneers who we haven't seen for a while. Must be a coincidence, surely.

As it is always different every week in the Bear, I wonder what tonight will bring?

Tuesday 6th January 2009

2009-01-06T12:17:00.003Z

A happy new year to all my readers, and compliments of the season. Today is 12th night, Epiphany, the Old Christmas Day (before the calendars changed). A day for Wassailing. Next Monday will see many of the Plough Monday traditions that are still going.

With Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve falling on Wednesday last year, the session opportunities were a bit thin over the holiday period so we were all suffering Session Withdrawal Symptoms (SWS) and it was with eager anticipation therefore like a junky looking forward to a fix that we awaited New Year's Day.

Unfortunately, the expected session on New Year's day was cancelled because the landlord of the Bear wanted a night off and closed the pub. (Everybody: Ahhhhh!)

So instead we were invited to the Ship at Conyer (Everybody: Hooray!) where some of the Bear players live and it was a jolly good evening, packed out with Bear players and audience and a couple of faces not previously seen. The pub was welcoming and apart from it being bit back-of-beyond-ish it was a very good place for a session. We've been to much more out of the way places. Try finding the Compasses at Crundale. There is a session starting at the Ship on the third Tuesday of the month for beginners / intermediates. All are welcome in the spirit of teaching and encouraging people new to the music to develop and grow in confidence.
The locals did alarm us by telling us that the favourite ring tone for mobile phones out there is Duelling Banjos from Deliverance. I mean Mobile Phone reception in Conyer?

That reminds me that when I got my recent mobile phone bill, I had a roaming charge from France. After the initial outrage at O2 getting it wrong, I realised that in fact it was when I had lunch at the Coastguard at St Margaret at Cliffe and had indeed made a phone call. I had not expected reception right down at the base of the cliff but was delighted to find that the phone did actually have a signal. How it managed to pick up a roaming signal from France 20 miles away I do not know. But it did. And it's expensive.

The sad news is that the Irish session at The Spoonerism on Wednesdays may be on its last legs. Not because of a lack of interest, but because the Anchor is closing. Wednesday 7th January will be the last session there. Whether we will be able to find a place as accommodating as the Anchor was, remains to be seen. This is the third pub in 10 years that has hosted the Irish session and closed. I'm sure it's coincidence.

On a brighter note, the two sessions that we have had so far at the Simple Parrot in Canterbury have been enjoyable and may herald a new era of Sunday sessions rather than Wednesday sessions. The Yew Tree at Barfrestone is interested and we have the Chequers at Challock as well for as long as Max doesn't retire.

Tomorrow night will see a big pow-wow amongst the sessioneers to decide on the future of the Irish Session. After all the effort that people have put into it to keep it going this long, I hope that it manages to survive. Thursday will see some of us back to the Bear as normal (as normal as it ever gets!) for some lovely mixed lumpy.

Monday 15th December 2008

2008-12-15T12:57:00.003Z

Well into Yule / Saturnalia now and heading for the festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicta on the 25th. OK, Pope Julius hijacked it for Christ's birthday in 349 AD in a good bit of PR and then the Victorians did unspeakable things and lastly the High Street finished it off. Well one good thing is that it is the only day now in the year when the majority of the shops are shut! Still, mulled wine was a decent invention.

On the session front, the Irish session is still suffering low turn-out but struggling personfully on and actually not doing too shabby a job. It means more variety (slides, polkas, jigs etc) than is usual for our session and more people start sets which is good. The session joke is still a regular feature I'm glad too say and if a none-too corny one crops up I'll let you know it here.

A new session has been established at the Simple Parrot or Simon's Parrot or some such in Canterbury on the first Sunday of the Month from 8:00 pm. We shall see how it goes. Having been down this road before when a pub has changed hands, it's a testing time. Do they want us because they like us or because it might attract punters? Answers on a postcard please ......
I hope it's because they like us. Mind you at £1.50 a time, it's the only venue where we have to pay to park! Thank you Canterbury; why don't you really encourage people into the city at night? Or any time for that matter. Oh and while we're on the subject, there'd be a lot less congestion and traffic in Canterbury if you'd finish off the two A2 junctions. You can't get off Northbound at the North-Western end nor on Southbound at the South-Western end (Wincheap). Madness. I think somebody looked on a map rather than tried to drive it. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Believe me.

I feel better now.

Meanwhile, at the Mixed Lumpy Session which is the Bear in all its newly painted glory (It's not the same without a brown ceiling) it just gets better and better. Well, in terms of numbers it does. Last week there were 21 people with some kind of noise making device. Up from last week but not the record. It is different every week (one of Mike's sayings) and we now have a regular Nykelharpa player - Barbara, and although we haven't seen him for a couple of weeks, a Hammer Dulcimer wielded by Bill. How they get them under their chins I do not know.

Apparently the Tilmanstone session (Third Monday) is still going and there is a session at Smeeth I believe on Mondays which may or may not be in the Woolpack. On the Irish front, apart from the new Simple Simon's Parrot and the regular Anchor, there is still the irregular Chequers at Challock.

16th November 2008

2008-11-16T18:16:00.003Z

I was musing on the fortunes of sessions recently because of two events.

The first was our mixed lumpy session on Thursdays at the Bear in Faversham where the week before last, the musicians outnumbered the audience. I swear there were 16 musicians there or possibly more. Well, there were at least 16 bodies in musician's corner bearing instruments. And a singer or two.

There is a problem with sessions that get quite big and that is that they get mushy - the sound that is. It gets harder to play against the background. It's not that there are too many melody instruments, it's often that there are too many accompanists (including cutlery). Still I would rather see too many than too few. Oh, and the variety of tunings increases of course with the number of instruments. Sometimes it gets difficult to play because some instruments are 'not quite in'. Now I know it's not the boxes because they're static (although I have come across more than one concertina in the 'old' tuning). So it's the strings and woodwind. I know my stringed instruments change with the temperature and humidity levels throughout an evening.

The second event was our last Irish session on Wednesday in The Anchor at Wingham (or 'The Spoonerism' as we call it). There were just 4 of us - and 3 were banjos. The fourth was a flute. He is an explosives expert in real life - I keep thinking Blaster Bates for some reason. So 3 banjos - normally a daunting prospect but we enjoyed ourselves and didn't drown the flute at all.

One way to be less unpopular with a banjo is to take two instruments - a melody instrument (banjo) and a chord maker (guitar, bouzouki etc). Two of us regularly alternate banjo and bouzouki so that it does not get too imbalanced. Oh and the Irish session does have a tune-up - even if the pipes only stay in for one set! :-) Overall, the Irish sessions are just more fastidious about tuning which makes the music better. Much better.

Let's see what this week brings ................

Thursday, 30th October 2008

2008-10-30T16:02:00.004Z

We are now in that gloriously confused season which combines the pagan and the Christian with a soupcon of rebellion. (sorry about the cedilla - I can't find one).

Yes of course it's Samhain / Halloween /Mischief Night / All Hallows / All Souls / Souling / Guy Fawkes. If you look closely it's the same festival underneath.

Anyway, despite the dark nights, attendance at sessions has been good and we have even seen new faces - or in some cases, old faces but with an instrument. Maybe there are closet sessioneers. The Irish Session is going strong and we still have our Slovakian Fiddler for a while. If anybody wants to give her a job .......

The English / Mixed is also going great guns and has acquired two new Melodeons and a harmonica. We continue to attract itinerant sessioneers who drop in for a tune when they're passing through and it's always nice to see them.

I was musing the other day on the international aspect of our sessioneers. We've had American, Dutch, Belgian, French, Slovakian, Irish, Scottish and German to my certain knowledge. It adds a certain something but it's hard to get them to play their own traditional material.

Some of our favourites seem to be Scandinavian - Swedish in particular with wonderful names that mean such ordinary things - ganglat- 'Walking Dance' for example or even more exotic - ganglat fran Applebo - ' Walking Dance from Applebo' (second apology for lack of accents. I must find out where this editor keeps them. There's probably a heap of mis-shapen and rusting diacritics in a box waiting to be picked out and inserted into the text after a quick polish)

The debate about 'What is a session?' continues to rumble as it always will. Just accept that it may be a:

Band Practice
Rehearsal
Practice
*SESSION*
Concert
Sing-around
Open Mic

and the content may not be as advertised, and you won't go far wrong.

Not long now to the second most confused celebration of Yule / Christmas /Natalis Solis Invicta /Visa/ etc ............

5th October 2008

2008-10-05T10:13:00.003Z

Winter draws on.

You can tell it's Autumn - Strictly Come Dancing has started again.

The Festival Season is almost over - just Tenterden to go.

There has not been a great deal to report on the session scene of late as everything seems to have settled to near-normality. Or as near normal as it ever gets.

Of note:

The 4 hour marathon session in the Ship in Deal over the festival weekend was very enjoyable and contained an unexpected gem. One of the few times that Desperate Measures have played again since they disbanded. Lumpy English Music at its finest and worthy of Old Swan or Tiger Moth.

On the Irish scene we lost one young talented female fiddler and gained another. Serena has left to pursue other things and Suzannah has returned (with George) from their world tour. That's not as grand as it sounds, the took a year out to go round the world. And now they're back.

I gather Tilmanstone is still a debatable issue. Will it continue or will it disband? Watch this space.....

I must mention a project before closing. It's an attempt to raise interest in and get traditional music played on St George's Day (23rd April). The idea is to play lumpy English tunes with an English place name in their title - such as Newcastle, Portsmouth, Morpeth Rant, Wiltshire Tempest etc.
More details as they emerge. This is Kent Brockman signing off.........

4th September 2008

2008-09-04T15:24:00.002Z

I don't really know how to approach this post. A lot has happened recently and it's difficult to know how to relate the bizarre events which were the Faversham Hops Festival Sessions.

Now we all know that sessions at festivals are different from regular weekly sessions and anyone can drop in. One is prepared for a wide spectrum of ability and musicianship. The leader skillfully guides the session through the shoals and keeps it all together. OK. The session leader prevents mayhem and bloodshed.

I have a friend who believes that there are musicians and those who worry instruments so one gets melodeon-worriers and guitar-worriers and so on. There are always a fair few worriers at festival sessions.

Now, the Friday night was an Irish Session which had not been advertised so no new faces and a packed, roasting hot bar. A couple (who we normally see at the regular Thursday session) did come in briefly and after a bewildered interval, left. I think they thought it was one of them there 'normal' sessions and Irish was a step too far. Well, they have joined a Morris side.

Saturday and Sunday mornings brought the glory that is the festival band. This is a line up to rival Albions and Oysters in it's sheer entertainment and effrontery. With many of the musicians in bands and a line up including drums and bass it can really rock. It is so much more than an amplified-session-on-stage and how does the programme describe it? 'enthusiastic locals'. That sounds like a euphemism if ever I heard one. And not even any expense money let alone payment. I wonder if they expect us to help next year. How the Pogues got their name comes to mind.

After a civilised interval of tea and scones, we headed on both days for the Bear to lead anybody who was there in the 'come all ye' all day session. It transpired that this activity clashed with a delica-session up the road hosted by two stout locals - Chris Taylor and Bob Kenwood. For those of you wondering what a delica-session is, it's an idea borrowed from some folk clubs where it operates a bit like the deli counter at Sainsbury's. You take a ticket and when your number is called you do your spot and ask for 3 slices of corned beef and a pork pie. It's all true except for the corned beef and pork pie. I think.

On the Sunday, always a quieter day, the session started gently in the Bear and we were joined by Chris the Concertina who is always welcome at any gathering plus a few regulars and irregulars. Always nice to see his daughter Ellie who does a powerful song. She got way more applause than we did. Everything was going so well and then in came the menagerie. Or is it bestiary?

Joining the session were a large, hairy, smelly, slavering dog and a serpent with their human keepers. The dog was real and the serpent was of the musical kind but modern and made of fibreglass (I didn't know that). The dog didn't want to be there and we didn't want the dog to be there so it was mutual and right next to me. I don't know about the serpent but it seemed more relaxed than the dog and looked as though it wanted to be there. Actually, it made it a more exciting day that it would otherwise have been. Yes I know.

Thank goodness Wednesday night was back to the steady Irish in the Anchor. And tonight shall be the Bear again boys and girls. What will the evening bring?

26th August 2008

2008-08-26T15:28:00.003Z

A grim bank holiday but it's been busy on the session scene. There was Broadstairs of course with numerous sessions going on from organised to campsite impromptu. On Monday, the regular trek of East Kent sessioneers to The Lord Nelson took place to play with Paul Lucas and guest who this year was Pip who many will remember from the local scene. He is now studying for a Folk degree in Newcastle so good luck to him for that.
There was an amazing array of 'Folk' instruments including a metallic silver accordion (no go faster stripe though) and a huge white midi-interfaced 120 bass accordion which seemed stuck on music hall (there's a setting ...). Add the fiddles, banjos, melodeons, flutes, whistles, guitars and bangy-shaky things and that was the session. I refuse to be drawn.

In and around the festivals, one gets the true feeling of sessions. 'Anything but Irish' proclaimed one and 'English Only' said another. Some are 'Celtic' and to be fair some, like Paul's are 'Come All Ye' sessions.

I'm not sure if sessions that exclude Irish are perpetrated by those who can't play Irish or Don't like Irish or just think it shouldn't be played by non-natives. Probably a combination of all three. There is certainly a divide although some sessioneers manage to play on both sides and are accepted.

I also had the time to go to the Tilmanstone session and found it a pale shadow of its former self. This is a shame because it suits some musicians down to the ground - especially beginners but whereas the session used to be extremely tolerant of the tentative and timid *BUT* also play tunes at approaching normal speed and rhythm so beginners knew what to aspire to, it is now terribly slow and I know from experience that it will not improve on its own. There is talk of closing it if the next one does not pick up. That's the third Monday of the month at the Plough and Harrow at Tilmanstone from about 8:30. Go Rock Them.

There will be a lot of sessioning this week as it is the hop festival at the weekend. Sorry, The International Faversham Hops Festival. So we will be sessioning Wednesday (Irish), Thursday (Mixed Lumpy), Friday (Irish - in the Bear), Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes in the Bear after playing in the Festival Band both mornings.

And Rest.

Sunday 3rd August 2008

2008-08-03T15:08:00.006Z

Friday was Yorkshire Day for all the White Rose fans in the Viking half of the country. It is the place where I first encountered 'Folk' rather than the very poor imitation that was foisted on us at school and was lucky enough to be round (a little late) at the start of the second Folk Revival. A great era of Fairport, Steeleye, Lindisfarne, Pentangle et al whose influences rubbed off on many.

In Kent, if you want to travel to a session or a gig it generally involves going on the A2/M2 or M20. This week and for a while now, they seem to have decided to give the outside lane of the M20 between Folkestone and Ashford a rest and make everybody go by it slowly so we don't disturb it. Well, it's coned off and nothing is ever happening so it must be having a rest. What other explanation could there be?

To the sessions though. On Wednesday we played our usual Irish session at the Anchor at Wingham (Be quiet, Spooner ) and Adrian O' dropped in. Always good to see but his voice was almost gone so no story this time. He brought with him a woman from Saga who is putting together Irish theme holidays and what better place to meet up but at an Irish session. We had another guest sessioneer who drops in when he is over in Kent. Thomas from the Czech Republic, who plays Mandolin very well and joined us at both sessions.

This week's Thursday session was definitely a red letter day - rarer than an eclipse. I have been playing in Kent for very nearly 10 years and I have heard of a few legends who had moved away before I arrived. On Thursday I met one. His picture has been hanging on the wall of the Bear in Faversham for as long as I've been there. It was Enda McCabe. Back for a wedding.

Now for such a special occasion, arrangements were made for some of us from the Irish session to arrive at 7:30 and play a few tunes with Enda until the regular session happened at 9:00. And that's almost what happened. There was some nervousness as 9:00 approached to see what would happen as two session cultures clashed especially as some of us played regularly in both sessions while others played categorically in one or the other. In fact it was thoroughly civilised and tunes from both camps were played by all to general enjoyment and most lasted until 10:30. Enda was on strict orders not to stay out late. The rest of us pottered on to 11:00 but it had been a long night.

The book of tunes from the Bear Session 'Son of Bear Bones' is now available on-line if anyone would like a copy. Just go to http://www.banjolin.co.uk/tunes/sobb.htm and with a bit of luck the nice people at PayPal will help you buy one. It's only a fiver (+ p& p) and you get 90 tunes in 35 sets (plus a few singles) as played at the Bear Inn as featured on this site! OK - it started really as a printed compilation of tunes for those who join in the session and an aid to newcomers but it's actually a good little book of tunes with some rare ones which you don't find at many sessions. It's nicely put together and properly printed and has a picture of the famous establishment on the front. God Bless You.

It is festival season - Cambridge and Sidmouth at the moment and Broadstairs week after next. If any of you are at Broadstairs, don't forget to drop into the Nelson at lunchtime for a session with Paul Lucas and guest. I might see you there!

Friday 25th July 2008

2008-07-25T11:59:00.007Z

The Schools have broken up for the summer holidays or long vacation if you're posh. This has various effects. The roads of Canterbury which are normally a nightmare between 8 and 9 are now completely free running. It happens every holiday and half term. If ever proof were needed that it's the school run which causes congestion......
Another effect is that lots of musicians who earn their living as teachers and therefore cannot usually afford themselves the luxury of late nights at a session during the week are free to come out and play tunes.

Of course teacher is a misnomer these days because the job is actually bureaucrat and general patsy for the government's mad schemes. The amount of actual teaching that is allowed is very little and I suspect that some teachers may resort to underground teaching not actually prescribed within the National Curriculum. God forbid. Ofsted would have a seizure. (pause for image ....) There was a time when Teaching and Learning were two sides of the same coin. Now it's a buzz phrase, it gets parodied to Leaching and Turning. God bless the reverend Spooner. Yes, you can learn without being taught and you can teach without anyone learning but teaching as facilitating learning is a concept too indirect for whichever department it is these days. DCSF? DEFRA? Used to be the DES. Talking of Buzz phrases, Isn't 'Every Child Matters' the most patronising phrase ever to insult the teaching profession with? Of course they do. That's why you're a teacher. Getting the best out of each and every one was your vocation and teachers were regarded as professionals. I know that a few set copying and sloped off to the staff room for a confiscated fag, a cup of coffee and a game of cards but not many.

Ok. I think I've been contentious enough. On a lighter note, here in Shangri-La or the campus of the University of Kent, we have been watching the escapades of the Lambeth Conference with interest. From Gay Bishops to Bishop Aerobics it has certainly transformed the place into a sea (or See?) of purple. Sort that out how you like. I just read it back and found several meanings I hadn't intended.

As you can imagine, parking is at a premium with this event going on and some members of staff have been forced to park on grass verges so that they can get in to work and do their job. What do you think happened then boys and girls? Yes. They all got ticketed for contravening campus parking regulations. As someone wryly observed, it's not very nice parking on the poor vergers who were only looking after their Bishops.

Now why are we here? Oh yes. Sessions. Bit of a brick dropped re. the Chequers at Challock (no scope for Spooner there). Normally it's the last Sunday of the month - which will be this Sunday as luck would have it. But, another interim session was on the calendar and no one went and the landlord opens specially for the session on Sundays and we may have blown our welcome. Bugger.

It was very good to see Eugene Lambe and Caroline again. They joined us at the Bear last week and also at Tilmanstone on Monday. Eugene has a set of half pipes (Uilleann) which are just fantastic in a session.

The 'Son of Bear Bones' is now finalised with advertisers (the Bear and Andybanjo) and is in production. It's gone up slightly to £5.00 but still an absolute bargain. It will be ready to sell at the Hop Festival in August at the Bear and the Festival shop but copies are available now. I'm toying with the idea of selling through the Banjolin web site as well for those who cannot get to the session as often as they would like (e.g and see teachers above) . PayPal seem to make it very easy to partner up and sell so if there is a demand, I'll be able to post copies out for just the extra cost of post and packing.

Ideas are now coming in for sequels. Grandson of Bear Bone is obvious. Daughter of Bear Bones gives some gender balance. What about Bear Bones's Irish cousin or Bear Bones Abroad (I rather like that one for a collection of Mazurkas and sundry offerings). Another helping of ......, ........ goes Morris Dancing, ......... Golden Classics. I'm sure the sessioneers will contribute to the naming.