Start up a new session culture on Cowal

Subject: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 14 May 08 - 03:42 PM

Hello,

since I moved to Dunoon I am desperately missing good traditional sessions. And I am talking of sessions with a lot of traditional tunes and fiddeltedy and nice ballads.

Nada.
Niente.
Nothing.

I feel like a fish on land :-(

There is a monthly gathering at the Whistlefield Inn which is really nice but not the thing I am looking for.

Now a new pub will open and the landlord is looking for trad musicians to revive the local trad music scene.

So I thought it might be a good idea to ask you here if you would be happy to join us from time to time to make this place a great place for live trad folk sessions in Cowal.

Any support will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Sabine

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 May 08 - 05:04 AM

Ah Sabine, not exactly a hotbed of Scottish traditional music, the famous Dunoon. Perhaps it's the legacy of having been a holiday destination for Glaswegians for so many years, and now a dormitory town for the USN nuclear base nearby.
Maybe better to consider C&W instead :)
Good luck in finding something.

Giok

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 15 May 08 - 08:18 AM

Sorry Giok,

but I totally disagree.
The US naval base at the Holy Loch shut down years ago.I think the Americans are more or less in Helensburgh, due to the fact, that the naval base is now at Faslane. There are no Americans left here in the area, they all went away years ago! Maybe you should update your records, eh? ;-))))

So, Dunoon is no longer a dormitory town for the navy!

There is a C&W weekend from time to time, but more line dancing vor OAPs *eg*

I still believe that it is worth a try. Dunoon is quite a busy place still with lots of young people and it is in reach of public transport from Gourock/Greenock as well.

Come on folks ,get your instruments tuned and visit us :-D

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 May 08 - 08:48 AM

Yes you're right Sabine, I haven't been to Dunoon for a long time.
I'd love to come visit, but it's a long way, 225 miles approx, and 5+ hours driving. Unfortunately that equates to a lot of expensive diesel!
Hope you get something going.

Giok

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:54 PM

*refresh*

The latest news:

the session should be on a Sunday afternoon / evening.
So far there are some folk interested and coming from Glasgow.

Anyone interested?

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 05:24 PM

I would be Sabine , but its even further from West London ! Good luck !

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 09:46 PM

Get this noticed on the Footstompin' Website for more interest!

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 03:26 AM

thanks! will do!!!

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 06:28 AM

What's the venue for the sessions?

Dunoon's a releatively small town, but still well-equipped with pubs - could take a while to find by trial and error.

There were Sunday afternoon sessions a few years back (maybe under the auspices of "McEwan's Sessions"?) in one of the pubs further along Argyll Street. I forget the name.


I'm not likely to make it for a while, but I know Dunoon well, so maybe see you later...

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 07:44 AM

It will be at the "Crown", opposite the Argyll Hotel.

The pub is completely refurbished and has a new management.
The Sunday afternoon sessions had been at the Lorne Bar, but this must have been ages ago, so I've been told.

My aim is to find a group of musicians for a first opening session, like a kind of starting shot to get things on the way.

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 08:56 AM

the footstompin idea is good.

You may be able to encourage a few folk over from Gourock or Greenock, or even (heaven forfend) Port Glasgow.

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 12:37 PM

Well, if there are musicians in Greenock, Gourock etc. fine!
So far I have not found anyone here in that area. Or, nobody was able to tell me about any folk sessions which are not too far away.
Quite depressing, to be honest...

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Big Tim
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 02:09 PM

Sabine, I think there may still be a session in the Whistlefield Inn, there was until recently at least. Give them a ring.

btw, I'm in Dunoon too: a beautiful spot.
(The Clutha always come here, but only for the Cowal Games).

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 02:37 PM

Yes,
I know that there is a session at the Whistlefields but this is not what I am looking for because it is more or less a sing-a-long. Which is quite nice though...

being an irish trad folk musician since more than 20 years now I miss that fiddledidey and all the other sounds from mandoline, banjo, bodhran etc.

btw.... think jim mclean told me to get in touch with you...seems I forgot to, oeps...

Subject: RE: Start up a new session culture on Cowal
From: Sabine
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 03:41 AM

Well,

we now managed to pick up a date and a time for the first session.

Sunday, 06/07/2008 at 2.30 pm
The Crown
Argyll Street
Dunoon

The pub is opposite to the Argyll Hotel, very close to the bus station as well as the Dunoon Pier.

It would be great to hear from anyone who would like to turn up, so that we have enough chairs etc.

Hope to see you soon

Sabine