Sheffield Song Session

Subject: Sheffield Song Session
From: GUEST,John R
Date: 24 Jul 22 - 04:02 PM

I'm starting this thread after walking across town to attend the famous Kelham Island Singing session and finding it seemingly discontinued.

I feel the need to do a bit more research. I can't seem to find much about any current sheffield song sessions online so would be intersted to hear if anyone has any knowledge of one. I've been to several sessions in other cities this year that were thriving so it would be a great shame if Sheffield continued without one.

I know that Covid is still a concern for everybody but I think if people are sensible and don't come to sing with cold and flu symptoms we could all keep relatively safe.

I've had an interest in starting a session focused on traditional song for a while so If there aren't any happening, I am likely to start my own and see how it goes. I this does occur I'll do my best to publicise it.

Cheers,

John

Subject: RE: Sheffield Song Session
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 24 Jul 22 - 05:55 PM

In May2022 they were talking about the possibility of restarting on the FB page
https://m.facebook.com/groups/102532263115230/permalink/5011474675554273/


There's a 'Sheffield Folk Musicians page where it would be worth asking what's on roundabout.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/442317622472206

Subject: RE: Sheffield Song Session
From: r.padgett
Date: 25 Jul 22 - 01:46 AM

Right well I used to go to the KIT singing session and it was well attended (unaccompanied) and new ish singers were welcome too ~it attracted students and some professional singers too

post Covid and new landlord ~ so really needs restarting ~ was used this year live at Sheffield sessions ~ new blood needed

Music session maybe needed too but as a separate entity? Val Huzzard?

Ray

Subject: RE: Sheffield Song Session
From: GUEST,John R
Date: 25 Jul 22 - 06:08 AM

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the response, I don't want to step on anyone toes with this but I genuinely couldn't find a singing session still running within
Sheffield. Rather than using the back room at KIT I'm considering using a couple of other venues.

The Kelham Island session was always brilliant but I found the focus on English chorus songs tended to limit the material. What it seemed to excel at, was as you say, introducing younger people and new singers to traditional song and the idea of singing in public.

What I would really like to do is to see the Kelham Island session back and run another session midweek that focuses on solo singing of songs from any tradition (with the occasional chorus) . In that way they could work together.

Cheers,

John

Subject: RE: Sheffield Song Session
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 25 Jul 22 - 06:32 AM

? is there much singing at 'Saturday night at Fagans'?
https://m.facebook.com/groups/sessionatfagans/

Subject: RE: Sheffield Song Session
From: GUEST,John R
Date: 25 Jul 22 - 06:50 AM

Hi Freddy,

When I first came to sheffield I would go to the Fagans Saturday night fairly often.

Covid, shift work and family life have kept me away for a while. In my experience its a very open and friendly session but more of an acoustic anything goes session with a lot of singer-Songwriter type material. All done to a high standard with some very good players backibg it up.

What I'm thinking is a session with more of a focus on traditional songs and ballads specifically, where people can be given the space to practice some quite difficult material. There's plenty of that sort of thing going on in Ireland and it's lead to some really exciting new acts who focus on traditional material to come through.

It might be a bit of a pipe dream and there may be no appetite for it but I'm happy to trial it and see what happens.

John