Edinburgh Folk Sessions?

Subject: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:19 PM

Any sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday, 2nd. & 3rd. of March? An six-pack of us are coming up from Yorkshire and fancy a bit of music.
Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: MKmike
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 05:20 PM

You're spoilt for choice in Edinburgh! I was working there a couple of years ago and used to go in The Royal Oak - brilliant little pub. There's music there every night I think, but Tuesday is a session night..Best thing is to give them a call. The link to their website is below
http://www.royal-oak-folk.com/

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 05:26 PM

Probably Sandy Bells. It's right near Greyfriars Bobby and the place where JKR firt Pottered as well:-) Jack Campin will put you straight though.

Good luck in a lovely city.

DeG

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: GUEST,KP
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 05:47 PM

Wednesdays:

Slow tunes session, usually at Bennet's Bar Tollcross - but check here for latest info:
Slow session

Fast(er) session The Tass Bar on the Royal Mile Mile junction with Jeffrey St.

Fast(est) session The Athletic Arms, commonly known as the 'Diggers' (its next to a graveyard...) in Gorgie

And there's Edinburgh Folk Club on The Pleasance

Taxis will know all these places.

Have a good time
KP

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 07:11 PM

The slow session is now at the Borough, Causewayside (near the National Library of Scotland's new building). Scottish tunes, mainly.

Tuesday is one of the Irish tune nights at Sandy Bells.

Also on Tuesday, the sing/playaround at Penicuik Folk Club. Not too hard to get to by public transport if you're staying in the centre of Edinburgh.

Look at my Twitter page (JackCampin) for updates.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: DebC
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 08:16 PM

As far as I know, the Tass on Friday nights has a lovely singing session hosted by George Duff and Adam jack.

Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 08:40 PM

They won't be here on Friday!

Plus for the slow session (actually not as slow as it used to be) is that the Borough is a terrific venue - very modern pub, separate back room, friendly staff, and they do really good chips. Beer isn't cheap, but nowhere in the centre of Edinburgh is.

There is also Linda Campbell's accordion-led session on Tuesday nights at the Whiski Bar in the High Street. Take-no-prisoners full-speed Scottish dance music. Fitting six more people in might be difficult as it's cramped.

Neither of those can fit in more than the occasional song. What sort of music do the six of you do? (Songs are okay any time at the Royal Oak).

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 02:48 AM

Thanks a million for the info. As you all seem to think, we're spoilt for choice.
We'll have a melodion, guitar, accordian, harmonica and voices, I think.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: MKmike
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 01:36 PM

Hi Roger, I've been to a couple of the sessions at Sandy Bells, the music was good but they're a clicky lot there not very inclusive! Best bet for you is the Royal Oak, I've got shares in the place lol !

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Zen
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 01:44 PM

I've found the exact opposite with Sandy Bell's and The Royal Oak, at least on a Sunday afternoon. The session Jack Campin leads at SB's couldn't be more welcoming. When they weren't there over one holiday period we tried the Royal Oak. All eye contact was avoided by the incumbents and we didn't feel welcome at all and so left. YMMV of course and maybe we were just unlucky that day.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: bill\sables
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 07:40 PM

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 08:06 PM

We haven't had anybody play 4'33" in Bells yet, but if you're going to:

1. tell us in advance
2. bring a clock.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: bill\sables
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:11 PM

Probably be a banjo as well Roger

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:38 PM

Bill, are you saying you're coming up here with Roger's squad? If so let me know where you are?

I might be at the slow session at the Borough, but the monthly Linlithgow session is on Thursday night and I was thinking of going to that (lots of McGinn, probably). Two nights running is a bit much.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 06:18 PM

Leith Folk Club also meets on a Tuesday in the Village Inn, but that would not be a session. Not a big venue, and they've got Scottish Folk legend Archie Fisher on 2nd March, so you'd be well advised to reserve tickets in advance for that night: you could still go to the Royal Oak for your session afterwards as they stay open until 2am!
http://www.leithfolkclub.com/
Or, at the very other end of town, on the 44 bus route, there's a session on Tuesday 2nd in Balerno at the Grey Horse pub from 8.30. It's a mixture of songs and tunes, taken in strict rotation round the room.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Flashmeister
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:36 PM

Is Sandy Bells pretty open then? - came up last year and chickened out of playing anything in the end (too busy on the Caly 80!) met Mr.Campin v briefly by merit of wearing a daft hat and am kicking meself that we never got involved - coming up again soon with the box on the train this time - what's the format in Sandy Bells - mainly Scottish or trad or is it all comers?

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 08:37 PM

The Bells sessions are not all the same. Most of the evening ones are Irish; I don't often to get to them but Wednesday night is Scottish, I think. The Sunday afternoon one, with George Current and me as the fixtures, is mostly Scottish but extends to almost anything - if you're looking for a session to bring your vielle or alphorn to, we're it. (We don't get many singers these days and would welcome more). There is also a beginner mostly-fiddle slow session early evening on Monday at Bells which is mostly Scottish, and a slowish moothie session George leads on Wednesday (?I think?).

The Royal Oak sessions also vary depending on who's leading them.

On my Twitter page (JackCampin) I mostly list sessions where a significant amount of Scottish music happens (no all-Irish or singer-songwriter ones) - they're all sessions I could imagine myself going to, even if in practice I can't often make it.

Subject: RE: Edinburgh Folk Sessions?
From: Flashmeister
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 08:57 PM

Thanks for that Jack - it's just knowing what to play at what sessions tis all - I'll do my twee angsty singy-songy stuff at some, trad at others and adapt to the climate so to say for all others....def have to make a Sunday one at Sandy Bells while up in Auld Reekie - last time we came there was yourself, a chap with lots of harmonicas, fiddles, bodhran, a guitar from behind the bar and it was pretty much tunes played which was where I got cold feet being primarily cack-handed mandolin, guitar and flesh-horn meself.
Interestingly enough at my own little session we've had a right flurry of Scottish music of late - guess it's been a subconscious trigger for a return to Edinburgh on the session trail.