Where are the glasgow sessions?

Subject: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Dug2
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 02:03 PM

Hi- I'm in Glasgow at present - looking for a session
tonight (Friday) or Saturday/Sunday. Can anyone
tell me the best ones? (trad tunes, bit of singing maybe?)

Cheers,

Doug

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Leadbelly
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 02:07 PM

So sorry Dug2, cannot help you. Nevertheless, have a drink on me tonight.

Would like to be there.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 02:15 PM

Scotia Bar might be a good starting point.
Details
Giok

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:56 PM

Babbity Bowsters, late Saturday afternoon (horribly noisy though).

The Ben Nevis, Argyle Street, Sunday night (I haven't been to that one).

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Dug2
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 03:45 PM

Thanks. Cheers leadbelly - will do.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Dug2
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 07:50 PM

Just back from the Ben Nevis. This was the most unfriendly, unwelcoming session that I have ever been to. (And I've been to a few!)

Turned up, said hello, drew up stool. No eye contact from anyone, no acknowledgement. Joined in on a few tunes. No eye contact, no acknowledgement. Tried to talk to a few people. Blank.    Stood up and sang a trad Australian song- as is my wont. People talked, scowled. I finished and sat down to silence from musos, but applause from punters. The only friendly person was a young Canadian who was over for a year studying Scottish music. He told me he had had the same experience - very unfriendly and unwelcoming response from the musicians. Yes the music was good. Yes there were some great player there. But my experience runs contrary to everything I have experienced in sessions, and everything I hold to be important about sessions.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 12:00 AM

They must have liked you, they let you leave alive.   :-)

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,scabby douglas
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 07:52 AM

I haven't been to the Ben Nevis in a while, but I did have a similar experience which was why I don't go back.

For a mixed session, Sunday night at the Uisge Beatha on Woodlands Road is better - although getting the opportunity to do a song will depend on how busy it is, and how umm.... refreshed... Phil (session leader)is.

Wednesday night at Morrison's Bar on Clyde Street is a singer's sesh, and Tuesday night at Wintersgill's on Gt Western Road is mixed. These are both pretty friendly and welcoming.

Sorry you had such an unfortunate experience at the Ben Nevis, I put it down to the fact that most of the players were young (when I was there) and not entirely socialised.


Take care

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Craig
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 05:36 AM

I've been a regular at the sessions in the Ben since New Year and although I must admit to having a similar experience some time before Christmas there are a few things I'd like to point out (take them into consideration if you will).

1) I wasn't there the night you're referring to (I'm assuming you were there on Sunday as your comment is dated Monday)
2) It is very unusual for someone to sing at the Ben's session, hence the mixed response, and as for them talking - it's a session in a busy pub, there's going to be noise.
3) If someone's obviously leading the session (folk get paid to on some nights) they'll be trying their hardest to accomodate everyone and get everyone playing.
4) Yes the players are predominately young ones (from the RSAMD and Strathclyde traditional music courses) and fair enough it can seem a bit of a clique to a new player due to this but stick with it (every session's the same).
5) I'm aware it's incredibly unsocial of me to say this, but one of the things my tutor taught me when I was in my early teens and starting to go to sessions was to just follow the crowd and not make yourself standout by doing your own thing unless invited to by the leader(s). Doing so makes you exclude them.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: McMullen
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:01 AM

im going to study in glasgow this year, i hope it isnt that bad

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:52 AM

It's all right, McMullen. This Nevis session seems in a class of its own; generally things are a lot more relaxed. I suggest the bigger the age range, the less uptight.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Dug2
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:54 AM

Craig - I've been going to sessions and running
them for over 20 years, so I do have an inkling
of how things should (and generally do) work.

Your comments are entirely in keeping with what
I experienced at the Ben Nevis.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 08:02 AM

in every pub from what ive seen,cheers

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Craig
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 09:35 AM

This debate has appeard on the footstompin website - can I direct you there to show that my views aren't alone.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Craig
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 09:42 AM

I also highly doubt that everyone that goes there by themselves has a bad experience.

Seeing as I wasn't there I won't defend or equally deny this story, yet every session gets into its own way of working, purely because it has evolved that way, and do people not generally just accept that, rather than trying to change it? Is every single session going to be the same? Doubt it.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Craig
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 09:45 AM

Here's the link for the footstompin page.

Footstompin

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Dug2
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:59 AM

Thanks for this, Craig. I've added a post to it.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 02:09 PM

I've always found the crowd at the Ben Nevis very welcoming... and that's not always the experience for someone like myself with a south of England accent in Glaswegian bars!

It is predominately a young crowd though, musicians more than singers, and it does get very crowded on a Sunday.

As well as the other sessions mentioned above there's Vicky's (The Victoria Bar) on a Friday night down by the Clyde... an 'interesting' bar!

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 01:30 PM

Can anybody give me directions?

I'm not too sure if this is the right place to be asking, but I've recently moved up to Glasgow and I'm looking for predominantly americana-style sessions or anything of that type at all. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 01:52 PM

Edinburgh!

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:09 PM

I was hoping Glasgow might have something to offer! - from Peebles initially. On edinburgh though, where would you reccommend, Jim Lad?

Advice still welcomed by others on Glasgow, of course!

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Banjiman
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:16 PM

Uisge Beatha on Woodlands Road is great...and Phil is a good bloke despite earlier posting....in my experience he tends to let the more accomplished singers/ players have more slots but anyone is welcome to join in and everyone gets a turn.

Big audience as well. 6-12pm on Sundays, we make the effort to go whenever we are in Glasgow.

Paul

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 03:17 PM

Pete - there's a regular bluegrass/Americana session at the Tass in Edinburgh on the first Thursday of the month. There are sessions around Midlothian with a substantial bluegrass/Americana content; PM me for a contact email address.   There is also a regular Americana night (once a month?) at the Eastgate Centre in Peebles. Try http://bluegrassinscotland.com/bgscot/events.htm for more listings, though it's very incomplete - maybe they need help in updating it.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: GUEST,guest Mike
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:43 PM

Havent been to that beautiful country in years.....Live up in Greenock!!!!! LOVED IT

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Pete Begbie
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:58 PM

Good advice, Paul. Thanks a lot. I'll definately get down to Uisge Beatha.

All the best.

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Banjiman
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 04:49 AM

Pete & Guest Pete (suspect you are the same?),

Just to be clear Uisge Beatha is a mixed session, with songs and tunes....songs are any genre (I've heard trad folk (Scottish, Irish, even English), contemp folk, blues, "acoustic", bluegrass, old time, country....etc, etc). The tunes played by "the house musicians" are mainly Scots & Irish trad but I suspect if you started something different, folks would just join in....I've always found it really welcoming, open & eclectic.

If you do go, say hi to Phil and Liam (uilleann pipes) for us.

Paul

Subject: RE: Where are the glasgow sessions?
From: Pete Begbie
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 07:40 AM

Yeah, it's the same Pete. Mainly do Americana songs - country, old-timey, bluegrass stuff - but after two months in Ireland, I'm partial to a bit of trad! Sounds like it's for me.

Thanks for the info,

I'll say hi.

Regards.