Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London

Subject: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:28 AM

Spelling of Thread Title gone belly-up. Sorry!

Anybody out there live South East London direction. Me, Irish-born singer, player of guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, 'zouk, etc. Songwriter and composer.

Musically stagnating. Too much diddling along by myself in the house. Need to get playing with others. But not interested in sessions - would rather get together with one or two musicians, rehearse a pretty tight 60-90 minute set, play the occasional gig or house concert.

Family commitments prevent any more demanding musical involvement.

Anyone in a similar situation?

If so, why not visit my website, check out a few of my tunes and writings. This might give you some idea where I'm coming from (or may not, you can't always read too much into such things) ... Click here

E-mail me Click here

Or leave a message here.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 03:41 PM

How South East? Is it easy to get to Stratford? If so, there's a session there in the Old Black Bull near the town hall, every Thursday at 8.30/9.00 ish. Manitas is always there.

LTS

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:46 AM

Liz the Squeak ...

I'll have a think about this one. I believe you pointed this one out to me earlier. Sessions aren't exactly what I'm after (although could be a good recruiting ground).

Go raibh mile ...

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:47 AM

Where in South East London are you? One of the bands I play in The Flying Chaucers meets in Catford/Lewisham on ad hoc basis. We are a core of 4 players Melodeon, fiddle, flute and percussion and then have others eg guitarists invited in on the gigs which can range from full ceilidhs to background music/songs or playing in the London Park bandstands. Can you sight read ? or play along by ear ?

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 04:33 AM

Sarah ...

I live Lewisham, innit?

I've heard of you guys, of course.

Emmm... don't do the sight-reading thing I'm afraid ... can read abc (slowly) and sometimes do the ear thing (although less good at the latter since I learnt to read abc) ... more of a "learn by playing 50,000 times" person.

The key thing I'd like to achieve over the course of the next few months is the 2-3 musician ensemble, a set of an hour and a half, good 50/50 mix of traditional Irish tunes (plus one or two of my originals) and songs (I have some of the sets worked out in my head).

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 09:54 AM

Well Lewisham is the centre of the universe just about. There are loads of folkies Irish and beyond meeting there. Good hunting ground is to be found at the Blythe Tavern in Catford. Other source of potential musicians is via Brian Keene (fiddle player) who runs the Greenwich Music shop.Failing that there is the infamous Dacre Arms where it is rumoured Johnny French can be spotted! I can let you know when people are likely to be meeting up. We may go for a drink this Thurs at the Blyth after practice. Glad you've heard of the Chaucers - did you go to our ceilidh at Blackheath Halls?

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Peg
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 10:24 AM

Liz; I do hope you and Micca will bring me to one of these sessiuns next time I come over!!!

Peg

Yank longing to jump the puddle

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 10:28 AM

Sarah ...

Thanks for this.

Didn't go to the Flying Chaucers do at Blackheath Halls. We've not got regular babysitters lined up and I'm reluctant to go off to too many events on my own cos I just don't think that's the right thing to do. (Although like all rules I break this one from time to time ...)

Hence the line in my first post about not being interested in sessions ... I'd prefer the type of project where a lot of the rehearsing and even performing could be done within the musicians' own houses ... (dream on!)

Do keep me posted on Flying Chaucer and Blyth Hill Tavern activities. And do let me know, if you get a chance, how you find the tunes on my website. (There's a hornpipe called the Humours of Lewisham which you might find interesting for its local connection ... there's also a jig called The Royal Oak, but this is named after a pub managed by a friend in Vauxhall, not the Royal Oak in Loampit Vale.)

Subject: RE: Musical Sparring Partrners : SE London
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 06:11 PM

Micca doesn't do the sessions, Manitas does. Some people get confused that I spent more time with Micca than I do my husband Manitas. One answer, Micca doesn't play the melodeon.... No way would I marry Micca though.

LTS