NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30

Subject: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 11:22 PM

Date change! The July singers' session is actually being held on June 30. That's because some people will still be away for the holiday weekend on July 7, when it would normally be held.

Here's a refresher of last month's message:

If you live in the New York City area, or you're visiting, and you're interested in Irish traditional singing, you're welcome to join us at our monthly singers' session. (Listeners are welcome too.)

It's a monthly Irish style singers' session that's been going on for awhile. Here are the details:

The session USUALLY meets the first Monday of every month, at Paddy Reilly's Pub in Manhattan - corner of 2nd avenue and E. 29 street.

People start gathering about 6:30 P.M. - singing usually gets started between 6:45-7:00. The session generally runs until sometime between 9:00 and 9:30.

People sing mainly Irish songs, with the occasional Scottish or
Appalachian song in the mix. This is largely solo singing, although
people will sometimes join in on choruses. However, if solo singing
isn't your cup of tea, you can ask people to join in up front. It's a very friendly group, and if you give us a song, you're sure to get a round of applause!

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 11:24 PM

Sounds lovely!
I hope I can attend sometime.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: wayfarer
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 10:22 AM

Are there instruments as well, or just vocalists?

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 09:29 PM

Wayfarer - We mainly sing unaccompanied. Someone recently has used a concertina to back themselves on a few songs which was very nice. I think that's the only exception we've had though. Did you have a particular instrument in mind?

I will be honest it's not really the type of session for a lot of guitars, etc. But I wouldn't want to see anyone stay away just because they were uncomfortable singing unaccompanied. If that's truly the case I would say, bring the instrument, but think about trying to get to the point of singing unaccompanied. I play instruments as well, and like to sing with them in other settings, but I think the general ambiance here favors unaccompanied singing. Some of us go to Irish tune sessions where singing is not very welcome, if at all, and this session was started to place singing front and center. I think the general feeling in the group is that we'd like to keep it that way for this particular group. Maybe if there's enough interested, a second group could be started to combine the singing and instruments. (I'd join!)

Anyway, Wayfarer and Pamela, and anyone else interested, you're welcome to come by if you get the opportunity.

Perhaps see some of you tomorrow evening for the next session.

Zhenya

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Peg
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 09:31 PM

That sounds great. The Boston-based singers' club moved to some inaccessible place out in the burbs a while back. This would actually be easier for me to get to, being carless. I would love to come to this sometime!

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 10:48 PM

Peg - Several of us from the singers' session took a trip in February to Whitinsville MA to sing with a group there. Is that the Boston group that you're mentioning here? Wherever you're located, you're welcome to join us.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:16 AM

Great to hear of it! Being on the west coast I'll have few chances to attend, but when I do, I'll be sure to be there.

Go raibh maith agat.

David

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 02:25 AM

Great, David. People have done a number of songs in Irish, by the way.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Barry Finn
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 04:27 PM

I think Peg was talking about the Boston Traditional Singer's Club that sadly didn't move out of the immediate Boston area but was disbanded in the summer on 2001. It was held at Paddy Burke's & in all fairness the establishment held on to us far longer than they should have. They let us have the 3rd floor but we were hopefully to bring in enough patrons that would buy drinks so as to cover the expenses. That didn't happen but they kept us going for far longer than they should've. It was a great singer's Club, correct me Peg, if I'm off. It'd b great to hear & sing with you again.
Best of luck with your session, please keep posting your dates here, I'd love to find a way I could plan around it.

Barry

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Peg
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 04:32 PM

Zhenya, I have been to Whitinsville, but no, different group. Barry is right, but I did not realize it had disbanded? I guess I assumed since so many of the regulars started going to the irish Cultural Centre in Canton, that was kind of a replacement for it; but no, not the same group exactly, my mistake! You are too right that it was a great singer's club, Barry--gosh, some very memorable songs and stories and moments we had!

Would it not be cool if we could all meet at that NYC singers' club one day? I only live a two and a half our drive away...

I am thinking of starting something similar here in Albany, must find a venue first. Heck, maybe I should do it at my house.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: wayfarer
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:54 AM

I dropped by Paddy's last night for a pint and a listen but not much seemed to be happening. I'll check for future postings and maybe try again in the fall.

btw Zhenya, I do play guitar, so if you know of any sessions happening around town, let me know. Unfortunately most of the sessions I've attended already seemed to have a surfeit of guitar players. ( Maybe I'll brush up on my mandolin, banjo, or bodhran!)

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 02:54 PM

Wayfarer, and anyone else who may have stopped by Paddy Reilly's last night – my apologies. The session never took place last evening.

I had to stay later at work and arrived about 7:15 - usually at that time there's a group singing already. When I didn't see anyone I knew, I asked the woman at the bar if any singers had come in, and she said no. I left and later on got in touch with a few people. Apparently, the woman who runs the session did show up around 6:30,and waited quite a while, but finally left when no one showed up. She said the bartenders change shifts at 7, so the new one wouldn't have known she was there. Usually she sends an email a few days before the session to remind people, but she never sent one this month. Because of this, at least one person told me they assumed there was no session so they didn't bother going over to the pub. Another person I heard from is actually out of town. I'm not sure about the others yet.

This happened once before, over a year ago, but generally, we've had a nice crowd of 10 or so regulars and a few visitors or rotating people each month for months now. Maybe the date change and summer vacation plans just threw everything off. Again, my apologies, especially after I went and posted this thread.

I'll post future meetings, but next time, I'll check with individual people first to make sure a reasonable amount are planning to be there and the circle will really come off.

As for sessions, the one I'm most familiar with is at Dempsey's Pub on 2nd avenue between E. 3rd and 4th sts in Manhattan. The session is weekly on Tuesdays starting at 8 P.M and running until at least 10:30-11:00 and usually later. This is a completely open session and generally gets a large crowd. Playing guitar there would be fine. I go to this about 1-2 times a month right now, depending on the rest of my schedule. I won't be there tonight, but maybe next week. I would say this is generally an intermediate to advanced intermediate level session, but there are some very good players, and a few advanced beginners who join in. Until 10:00, round robin format is usually used, and from 10:00 on it's anyone's call to start a tune. About once a month, there's a guest musician, and then the round robin may be suspended for that week.

Another open session takes place on Monday night at the Landmark Tavern on 11th avenue and W.46 st in Manhattan. This one features Don Meade and a weekly guest musician. I've only been there once, due to scheduling issues, but it was very nice. That night, it seemed quite a bit more advanced than the Dempsey's session, and I mostly just listened. It was a very friendly atmosphere, though.

There are quite a few other sessions around in the area. If you want information about something in a specific location or on a specific night, let me know, and I'll ask around.

Zhenya

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: irishenglish
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 02:59 PM

Zhenya, well, I neither sing or play an instrument, but I wanted to introduce myself since you mentioned The Landmark Tavern, one of my fav drinking holes! That is if you can get yourself all the way over to 11th Avenue. I've been to their sessions before, and they do seem nice, and with that big room in the back, it must be nice as a player or singer to be out of the way of the regular bar. I know the owners there, so I am glad that it is getting some notice. Cheers!

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Celtaddict
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 10:45 PM

Zhenya, I did not see this post until today, and was thinking I wish I had known as I would have loved to be there; I was in NYC Saturday and Sunday but left Monday morning. I would like to be able to know when it is happening, as I would love to arrange to come sometime. I live 2 or 2 1/2 hours away.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:05 AM

Celtaddict – well, as you can see from my last post, the session actually never took place this month, so you didn't miss anything. It generally has gone off fine on a monthly basis, although the summer months can get iffy because regular members are sometimes away. Usually, it's the first Monday evening of the month, with exceptions sometimes happening around holiday weekends.

I don't know yet when the next one will be, but I'll post another message once I know. As I promised above, I'll check more carefully with people first to make sure they're really planning on coming!

A website for the singers' session is in the works, so when that's available, I'll post a link. In the meantime, this blog lists the session, and many other Irish music events in the area as well:

Trad Music News

irishenglish – Glad to hear you like the Landmark. I should add that they have a nice menu as well, so you can eat while playing or listening to the session. I'm going to try and get there again this summer. I tend to be on a later schedule on the weekend, and then come Monday morning, I have to transition back to the much earlier workweek schedule, and by Monday night, I'm a zombie. I make it to the singers session because it's only once a month and starts and ends early, but I haven't become a regular at the Landmark session.

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: Zhenya
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:07 AM

Let's try that blue clickie again:


Trad Music News

Subject: RE: NYC Irish Singers' Session June 30
From: GUEST,wayfarer
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 05:54 PM

thanks for response and additional session info, zhenya