Live music in the British Isles?

Subject: Live music in the British Isles?
From: GUEST,Wyllow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:35 PM

I'm going to be visiting Great Britain and Ireland in September 2003 and I'm wondering if anyone can recommend their favorite places to hear live traditional music or attend sessions. Specifically, I'll be in London, Bath, Dublin, Edinburgh, and maybe Glasgow. I'm a folk singer myself, but I'm not taking my guitar :( however, I'll definitely be taking a couple of pennywhistles.
Thanks for your help!

Wyllow

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: GUEST,"I Tamlin"
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:53 PM

i live in Bath
i'd recommend The Bell in Walcot Street (gigs monday wednesday sunday lunchtime &n a good place to meet musicians), and the main weekly folk session, which may be at the King William (London Road) or maybe The Porter Butt (also London Road) - the latter is certainly on but the former has often been more exciting. Friday night & maybe sunday, sometimes saturday afternoon in the bell, sometimes elsewhere too... there may even be (if goss. is true) a songs session by September. You could try the Hat & feather upstairs on a Thursday for a VERY ECKLECTIC open session, not just folk but folk allowed...

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:56 PM

In London there is a wide choice of venues every night of the week depending on WHERE in London you are staying.Monday would give you Herga and several others,Tuesday perhaps Sharps and so on through the week.Probaly a similar situation in Glasgow and Edinburg,tho perhaps not so much variety in Bath.I am West London and could provide asistance to get to the BEST small club in Southern England,namely Maidenhead on a Thursday evevning.

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 03:23 AM

There's a few (lots) going on in Glasgow - I'll have a wee chat to my pals in Glasgow and get you a few venues...

Ella

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 03:34 AM

Not sure when you're in London in September but The Old Rose And Crown in Walthamstow is on Thursday nights (at the end of the Victoria line). We will be having an informal session on the 4th but our guest nights start again on 11th, coincidentally with a couple of Americans - Debbie McClatchy on the 11th and Jeff Davis on the 18th finally John Tams and Barry Coope on the 25th details here

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: GUEST,Guest:
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 04:06 AM

In Edinburgh, try The Royal Oak, Sandy Bell's, The Hebrides in the Old Town, all within walking distance of each other. Try also the Antiquary on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge on a Thursday night.

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 05:05 AM

In Glasgow:

Wednesday
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8:30 pm till about midnight: St Andrew's in The Square, off High Street. - Mostly Singing Session - Mixed traditional, contemporary, a few tunes. You'll be able to borrow a guitar if you need one.

Hang on: a few of us compiled a list of these. Let me go and dig it out...

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 07:11 AM

This came from Footstompin Music's site :
http://www.footstompin.com/articles/session_pubs/obj5050

Normally, I'd just link it, but I originally contributed a chunk of the info, and I can provide some updates, so thought it'd be clearer.

Footstompin.com is a great site with a lot of input from Simon Thoumire.
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Sessions in Glasgow

Here are some places to play or hear traditional music in Glasgow as recommended by our readers:

Brian writes "The Victoria Bar on a Friday night is always a popular session, I occasionally travel through from Edinburgh to play in it. There is also, I believe, a session on a Wednesday night in the Ben Nevis on Argyle Street."

Steven writes "Babbity Bowster in the Merchant City on a Saturday
Laurie's at King St and Parnie St any night, but also Saturday
Cafe Source at St Andrew's In The Square on Wednesday evening - singing session
Tue and Sun evenings at Uisge Beatha on Woodlands road for mixed tunes and singing seshes.
I think the Clutha Vaults is doing stuff one evening. Not sure which."

OK.. UPDATES

Tuesday evening at UIsge Beatha is dormant at present. Sunday evenings are still liveley and busy.
Clutha Vaults sesh is, I believe, on Mondays.
There is also a session in Wintersgills on Great Western Road on a Thursday, now.
These sessions will have a strong singing component.



Hughie writes "In the city centre go to Ye Olde Scotia Inn (pictured) in Stockwell street , this place has an amazing folk history. Walk down Byres road, and discover whats available, in the little lanes tucked away here and there you will find great pubs with an even greater atmosphere. Just outside Glasgow discover the great acoustic sessions at The Howwood Inn, Howwood near Johnstone this is an amazing venue".

Jennifer writes "There is a session from 9pm on Wednesdays and Sundays in the Ben Nevis Bar on Argyll St. The Park Bar some Thurs, and Sundays. The session in Babbitys on a Saturday is from about 4.30ish".

Teesh Teesh posed the question: Where can I hear Irish music in Scotland?. Glasgow figured largely in the replies.

Simon writes "Sharkey's pub (not sure where it is) seems to me to be a hub of Irish music. Also St Rochs High School on a Tuesday night has Irish music teaching - led by Frank McArdle of 120 kids. They will also be able to point you in the right direction"

John writes "Try Sharkey's session behind Citizen's Theatre every Monday, it an Irish session. Also Babbity Bowsers on Saturday/Sundays, Scotia bar, Clutha and Victoria bar (last 3 all very close together), Park bar near Kelvingrove Art Gallery for highland music (great Scottish stuff)".

Note to GUEST, Wyllow:
All of the sessions mentioned will be free admission.

In addition, the Star Club is on every Thursday evening with various guest artists- door charge about £6.

If you need any more info, you can either ask in this thread or PM me. (although you can't do the PM thing as a Guest....)


Cheers


Steven

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Forsh
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 11:57 AM

If you are planning to stop over between London & Edinburgh, I will let you know what's on in the Noth East, (seat of all English culture, don't let those whinging Londoners tell you any different!)

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: GUEST,Wyllow
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 12:17 PM

Thanks everybody, this is great! I appreciate all the input about the "real" places that probably aren't in any of the tourist books.
I'm really looking forward to attending some of these sessions!

Wyllow :)

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 01:00 PM

If you want to know what's on in the London area, try the Folk London Diary.

I would agree with all the London choices so far. If you do decide to go to "Sharps", it might be worth trying to get there early so that you can visit the library at Cecil Sharp House - the HQ of "The English Folk Dance and Song Society".

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 03:01 PM

Wyllow,

My own trip to England and Ireland is just a bit earlier than yours -- I'm getting on a plane tonight! -- and I started asking the same questions a couple of months ago.

Here's a link to the thread I started, including many reponsses that should prove interesting to you:

England/Ireland in August: Advice?

Like yourself, I'm not carrying my guitar along with me -- but I did pack my capo and fingerpicks!

I'll be back in the States before you start your trip. Too bad; I wish I could say "See you there"!

Subject: RE: Live music in the British Isles?
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 04:36 PM

Don't forget that due to licensing restrictions most London clubs are members only (Sharps is definitely an exception, Herga was when I last went there but that was some years ago). Most have to be very strict about this as some councils do use "secret shoppers" to check that conditions are being observed. I suggest emailing membership requests to the lot which will cover you if you decide to turn up.