Singarounds + sessions research project

Subject: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 06:50 PM

First post in my role as mudcat newbie so be gentle with me! Any members out there interested in contributing to our research project on the health of singaounds and sessions? Have a look at our early stages website at www.rolling-on.moonfruit.com for a quick intro but in short, we'd like to hear your stories about what you love and hate about the scene; biogs and stories; thought pieces; rants and recommendations. I've been following mudcat threads on all sorts of related subjects for the past year or so and have been entertained by the barbed humour and good sense you folks come up with.

We have been running a weekly hybrid session/singalong in our own place (The Plough and Fleece, Horningsea, Cambridge UK) for the past 10 years and it dawned on us that as the place was built in 1760, people like us had sat there singing songs and telling tales for over 250 years so we wrote a song about it, the song won a competition and before we knew where we were we had a touring project on our hands, visiting other sessions and singarounds, sharing the Rolling On song and recording the local punters belting out the chorus and then patching it in to the master track - currently 1008 people singing on it and growing all the time.

So - lets have your thoughts and hope we eventually get to meet up in person at your own session or singaround. If you want to email for more info here you go [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: GUEST,Nygel - The Goose Is Out!
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:14 AM

Our Singarounds have become more and more popular, we often get at least 40 people coming along and once recently had 60. I wish we got those kind of numbers to our club nights. :)

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:58 AM

What you're asking comes across as "please post to my site instead of Mudcat" - that sort of discussion is what we get here anyway. Think you could refine the idea a bit so as not to be competing?

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 11:45 AM

I've a feeling we bumped into you at Quorn, Leics when you paid us a visit not so long ago.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 11:46 AM

btw: the link doesn't seem to work.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 12:04 PM

What he means is http://www.rolling-on.moonfruit.com/.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:50 PM

Point taken about Mudcat being the key posting site, Jack. i checked this out with Joe before sending the first post and the idea is to major on the discussion, debate and interactive side of things on here on mudcat but offer folks the option of contributing to the 'stories' section on the Rolling On website if they fancy that.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:55 PM

Thanks Nygel - recebtly had an email chat with Sue from the Goose is Out commending the blurb on your website, explaining to new punters how the singarounds work. Great example of hospitality and good humour!

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 04:57 PM

Yup - I loved visiting the session at Quorn. What a fine and crowded night that was. Bloody good example of how a stranger like me can be made to feel at home in the first few seconds of sitting down!

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 05:55 PM

Hi, Tony -
Feel free to post anything from this thread onto your Website, but Jack has a point. Discussions work better if they're not split. This community is here, not on your Website - so the discussion will most likely progress better if it continues to live here.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 06:05 PM

I live in a rural area 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, California. Our biggest town has 10,000 people. We had no singarounds for a while, but then a woman moved to town from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she had belonged to the In Harmony's Way group. She founded "In Harmony's Way Up In Auburn" maybe 8 years ago, and it has been wonderful. We meet in the afternoon of the third and fifth Sundays of the month (12 Sundays + 4), and we have a lovely time. Several people drive from Sacramento or the 75 miles from Davis - I think our afternoon singing time is helpful for those who come from far away. And there's an instrumental session at a local restaurant after we finish singing.

This singaround is the most supportive singing group I've seen. People come from all levels of talent, and all are appreciated and supported. We do have written rules which we follow in spirit, but we often defy them just for the hell of it.

We tell people to come with three songs prepared to sing for and/or with the group. We ask people not to sing on the verses or play an instrument unless requested by the person whose turn it is. People are welcome to sing with an instrument, but only when it's their turn.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 06:42 PM

My local sing around crayside folk club usually has under 20 people . It's about the right size IMO , so every participant usually can do 3 songs if they arrive early enough. We have a range of abilities and styles, and everyone gets encouraged and appreciated. There are other punters around often that seem to appreciate us there , though not always actively listening. One slight gripe is the occasional player who spend the time they are not themselves performing, on their phone , but at least they are quiet ! Hardly any rules, though participants are not expected to play the same song three weeks running .there's no charge but an optional raffle.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Nick
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 06:20 AM

I don't think a lot has changed in 15 years...

Also haven't done an internal link for years so if it doesn't work someone could perhaps fix it

From 2004ish

I met hundreds of people since that post and it strikes me that not much has changed.

The thing we started still exists though at a different place (in Huby now) and to my knowledge has existed for nearly 16 years now every week. I think it peaked (apart from the weekend in 2004 where all the players came from 'ull and Beverley and we tried to drink the pub dry) the Wednesday night in Flaxton where I couldn't get into the pub because it was too full of all sorts of folk...

What a joy.

I used to record bits and pieces and have all sorts of things from the past. Some people are quite well known now :)

And a lot of people improved hugely

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 22 Jun 18 - 04:56 AM

Thanks Nick -and the link back to 2004 worked fine. Interesting reading and a useful benchmark too.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 Jun 18 - 03:26 AM

There is a fine line between a Singers' Club and a session. A singers' club tends to sing from the stage which is usually the floor. But some singers and some clubs sing from where they are. And some clubs that are nominally singers' clubs book occasional guests, have Harvest Suppers or coach trips to interesting places with similar clubs in the evening nearby. And on my lists mister.red there are singarounds that call themselves clubs.

Just like Folk, the terms session, club & singaround can be pretty fluid. IME

But by and large they all are inviting. The exceptions are ones that become inward looking and moribund as a result. Such is human nature.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Tony Phillips
Date: 25 Jun 18 - 03:52 AM

Useful stuff, Mr. Red - thanks for the links

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: GUEST,Andymac
Date: 26 Jun 18 - 01:35 AM

There are several sessions near me in the north of Scotland. Inverness has an excellent session every 2nd Sunday in the Waterfront bar. It also helps raise money for the local foodbank though we all wish it wasn't necessary.
There's a few other sessions appearing in local pubs: the Gellions (Inverness's oldest pub), Encore and also in McGregor's (he of Blazin Fiddles, Travelling Folk). They are tunes-dominant but are very welcoming of songs too.
My village recently started a session every last Wednesday of the month which is mostly song based. The nearby folk club in Ardersier has a weekly song session/singaround and the inestimable Dave Goulder still hosts an occasional singaround most Wednesdays at the Achness Hotel in Rosehall.
Besides this there are sporadic sessions based in Dingwall, Balintore, Kincraig and Invershin. There will be others I've forgotten or don't know of. It's an ever-changing scene.
In fact when I look at this list, folk music is quite healthy near me!

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Jun 18 - 03:24 AM

Tony Phillips

Check out my RoW list (rest of world) - there is a list of listing sites in areas beyond my chosen remit.

Subject: RE: Singarounds + sessions research project
From: GUEST,jojo
Date: 26 Jun 18 - 12:25 PM

Joe's "we ask that they not sing the verses, and only play when requested to do so"
I believe this is how it should be.   I sing unaccomplished and began to sing the Skye Boat song and suddenly three or four people joined in playing the tune - I had to STOP! I find this incredibly rude - after all, do they know my key? my pace? have we practised together? did I ask for accompaniment? NO