Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Pistachio
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 03:40 PM

Info: re Gillian on PM. She now has your details!
Hazel.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 06:52 PM

LOL thanks for the offer of hand chimes--an unusual octave may I add; I haven't done any solos on that sort of instrument. Do I get some ringers along with 'em?

I love listening to tunes as much as I do singing songs so I guess we'll flip a coin when we arrive. And of course review the gig guide.

~CH~

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 May 09 - 07:20 PM

Okay, Newtongrange would *definitely* be your thing for the Thursday night.

On the afternoon of Sunday 21st, you'd probably get more out of the Linlithgow singaround than either Sandy Bells or the Royal Oak (though you'd be welcome at any of them).

There is a handbell group based in Dunblane: http://www.ringinpraise.org.uk/DCHR.htm but as far as I can see there is no handbell-related public event in Scotland while you're here. I can lend you a one-chromatic-octave set of chime bars from E flat if that's any use.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 31 May 09 - 05:25 PM

Singing's really my thing, I wondered aloud about fiddle because you referred to tune sessions.

I play enough guitar to back myself or sometimes sing a cappella, occasionally with banjo too. Not really stuck to any one genre, more a matter of do I love the song. I started exploring instruments tuned in 5ths when I got a cello some years back but it would be a stretch to say I play it. Lately, the last 3 years or so, I've been singing 4-part a cappella and ringing handbells so my fingertips aren't as tough as they used to be.

~CH~

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 30 May 09 - 08:51 PM

Try the Royal Oak in Infirmary Street About 10 min. walk from the centre
They also have a web site you could look at.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 May 09 - 06:39 PM

No, I play mainly wind instruments (lots of them) with a sideline in washboard and various folk lutes (anything tuned in fourths). I do occasionally sing but only in sessions where that's the main focus.

Fiddlers are very welcome at the Sandy Bells Sunday session, and at the Royal Oak one that happens at the same time - the Oak gets more fiddlers than Bells does, but as a visitor you can try both . If your thing is English fiddle music, there's a good chance that George and I will know some of your tunes or be able to busk them (probably nobody at any other session in Edinburgh will). If it's American fiddle music, there are a couple of bluegrass/old-time sessions (Reverie Bar in Newington on Wednesdays and the Waterloo Bar in Waterloo Place on Fridays) but I'm not sure if either is every week - PM me if you want me to find out.

LOTS of fiddlers at the Antiquary in Stockbridge on Thursday nights. But it's horribly noisy. I play better in places where I know the audience can hear my mistakes.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 30 May 09 - 02:53 PM

Jack, are you a fiddler?

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 May 09 - 05:06 AM

That's the Dean Tavern. Easy to get to and back from by public transport - any Gorebridge or Birkenside bus from the city centre, there's a stop across the road from the Dean. Last bus back is after the session finishes. You get to see some countryside on the way.

I live in Newtongrange, five minutes' walk away, but haven't been to that for a few years - it's a very large singaround with a lot of singer-songwriter stuff, mostly nice people but not really my thing. Usually the best variety of the regular Midlothian session/singarounds, with a reasonable amount of Scottish material (the others are overwhelmingly American singer/songwriter). Gillian is a good singer.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Pistachio
Date: 29 May 09 - 08:07 PM

Try The Dene Tavern, Newton Grange, 25 mins south of city Thursday 8pm for a song session. My twin Gillian goes each week. PM me and I'll check her phone number for you!
Hazel.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 29 May 09 - 06:15 PM

Thanks, Zen...

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Zen
Date: 29 May 09 - 01:56 PM

Good session at the Tappit Hen in Dunblane on Tuesday nights. That's about an hour on the train and 5 mins walk.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 29 May 09 - 11:06 AM

Thanks for that info, Jack. Hope we'll see you,
~CH~

Subject: RE: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 May 09 - 03:36 AM

I'll be at Sandy Bells on Sunday afternoon (Scottish instrumental session 3.30-8.00). Drop into Sandy Bells or the Royal Oak when you arrive, get the Gig Guide (free leaflet about what's on) and ask people. I don't keep information about things that far in advance but there should be plenty.

Third Sunday afternoon in the month is the session/singaround at the Black Bitch in Linlithgow - that's about 20 minutes on the train from the centre of Edinburgh and 10 minutes walk from the station. Starts between 2 and 3 (look up Linlithgow Folk Club). Not enough tunes for me but they have some good singers.

Subject: Edinburgh catters? Going late June 09
From: Crowhugger
Date: 28 May 09 - 09:34 PM

My better half Bill and I will visit Edinburgh for the week of June 20-28. We'd love to check out some folk music while we're there, something right in the city proper or perhaps within an hour's train/bus ride from downtown. Any info you have about pub events or song circles etc. during that week would be greatly appreciated. Of course if you'd like to get together to share a song or two that would be just wonderful!

So far, Tuesday daytime and Friday evening (June 23 & 26) are booked with Bill's Master of Science graduation ceremony and related events. The other things we plan to do are flexible time-wise.

We're starting to get very excited about this trip. Our first time crossing the pond was in 2003 for Bill's MBA graduation. We did that as a high-speed-tourist-see-everything trip through Scotland, London & Paris, but this time we'll enjoy a much more human pace. Can't wait!

~CH~