Music in Clifden (Ireland)

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: Stewart
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 12:31 PM

About 8 years ago my wife and I visited Clifden. I asked the B&B owner about sessions and he recommended a certain pub (I don't recall the name). That evening we went there only to find a trio of paid musicians playing corny American-Irish songs aimed at tourists, so we left after a short while.

The next evening we met a couple at a restaurant, and while talking about the faux session of the previous evening, they mentioned they had also been there and were quite disappointed. I then said I would stop by the pub at about 8, before the paid musicians came at 9, and see if I could play fiddle solo for a while.

That I did, and I was graciously received and given a spot at which to play. Our friends from dinner were there as well as other people. They seemed to enjoy my playing, and after a while a pint of Guiness arrived. A little later the brother of the owner came over and told me how much he liked my playing. He said to keep playing and he would bring me a choice whiskey from the bar, which he did.

When the paid musicians came at 9 I packed up my fiddle and left with most of the other patrons. The paid musicians did not seem too pleased with this. That is my recollection of Clifden. A nice town, and I'm sure there there are other pubs there with real sessions.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 09:23 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 08:09 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 12 - 09:33 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 08:53 PM

We were there just the other week on a Monday night - nothing doing despite some of them saying they did music "every night of the week".
We did get some music in our hotel in Westport on the Sunday night - Polish barmaid said it would be "country" but "feelgood". One set went from Tom Paxton into Johnny Cash without a break! Wandered up the road to Matt Molloy's bar but no music that we could hear.
Finally got some music in Galway on the Tuesday, spoke to someone who asked if I played anything - thanks to Ryanair didn't dare bring any instruments. Yer man says, ask the barman, there might be a bodhran behind the bar - so I did, and they offered to SELL me one of those 6in diameter souvenir ones! Sorry, but NO!

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: Zen
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 11:14 AM

I've always been able to find a proper session on visits to Clifden. Pubs have included (as far as I can remember) Lowry's, The Central Bar and Mannion's. I think EJ King's sometimes has sessions too. In the summer season there are often booked musicians leading so-called "sessions" but they are really gigs for those involved.

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 08:06 AM

Not sure if that's the one - I'll have to go back and check! ;>)>

Regards

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST,JOB
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 07:05 AM

This one?

http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/1604

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 06:55 AM

Could it have have been Lowry's traditional music bar?

CC

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 03:25 AM

Damned if I remember! Top of the town, down a side road to the left, I think.... It WAS a good night, after all! ;>)>.

Regards

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 03:20 AM

refresh.... what was the bar with the music Martin :-)

Subject: RE: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 05:35 AM

Clifden is a very nice, rather tourist-oriented town. Probably be relatively quiet at the end of April (but remember we have a bank holiday on the first weekend in May!).

On a thread a few years back, I posted an account of a cautionary experience of my own in the town:

--------------------------
Mention of Clifden reminds me of an incident a few years ago when my wife and I were there, due to head off next morning to Inishbofin, I think.

We went looking for a session. Started by going into a pub with musical instruments emblazoned on their windows. No luck - but they listed three options for us to try. First was a small hotel across the road where the archetypal "Tom and 'Tina" were setting up their gear to play country music (probably for the locals!). Quick exit and down to the next venue, a nice-looking pub on the street corner. Four very competent traditional musicians standing there, miked up and playing for a large group of tourists who stood there in much the same way they'd stand at the monkey-cage in a zoo! Nothing wrong with the music - but not worth hanging about for....

The first good sign for the third option was that, initially, we couldn't find it! When we did, we found a brilliant young woman fiddler, accompanied by her father on guitar and a woman who looked like the classic Jewish bridge player lady, complete with twin-set and pearls! She was laying into the piano like there was no tomorrow - with a pint of Guinness balanced precariously on the lid! The music was rough - but brilliant. The whole pub was involved and we had a great night.

Persistence pays!
-----------------------------------------------

So - give yourself time to sound out a few people about any "traditional music" on offer. With a bit of practice, you can often tell if your respondent knows what they're talking about...

Good luck with the visit. It's a lovely area.

Regards

p.s. As a postscript for those who know them, I might mention that the young woman was one of the Kane sisters, both now very well known and excellent fiddlers.

Subject: Music in Clifden (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 04:59 AM

I'll be in Clifden at the end of April, does anyone know of any regular music sessions there or thereabouts.