I'm a player of folk and filk, both traditional and not-so. I play guitar and bodhran, (yes, I can hear the groans from here, but I've been payed for studio work on bodhran, so I must not suck too horribly...) and also love to sing.

There are several sessions in my area, but they seem somewhat unfriendly toward both bodhran players, (good or otherwise,) and singers. I do love listening and playing along with all the jigs, slipjigs, and reels, but I always got the impression from my irish friends that sessions were places of welcome and warmth, where one could sing, join in, learn, and generally have a good time around a few pints.

I've come away from the sessions here with a feeling exactly opposite- something like, "you don't play the fiddle or the uillean pipes, so don't come round too often" seems to be the reception I find. Is that normal?

Personally, as I said, I love both listening and playing with the fiddle tunes, but it begins to all run together, and I've only found one or two people wiling to brave the icy stares and cold shoulders enough to sing at all. I've, for the most part, stopped attending. Should I just look for other sessions, or will this be the standard I should come to expect?