A new regular session to play well known traditional English and some Irish tunes at a relaxed speed. Ideal for anyone who is learning these tunes. We will have a very slow first 30 minutes from 7-7.30PM probably mainly playing the house tunes, then speed up a little and everyone is welcome to suggest or lead their choice of tune. We aim to create a supportive welcoming session- it doesn’t matter if you don’t know the tunes and just join in where you want- or come and listen.
Venues
1st Sunday of the month 7-10PM at Kelham Island Tavern large downstairs room. We don’t have exclusive use of this room- people already here having a drink are welcome to stay.
3rd Sunday of the month 7-10PM at The Lescar “The Project Space” A large ground floor room separate to the main pub. There is step free access but you will need to enter via the gate to the beer garden, past the pub. We will have to pay a hire charge for this room so we will ask for a £1 contribution from those attending these sessions.
Confirmed sessions taking place:
Sunday 21st July- The Lescar
Please note- there will be NO SESSIONS IN AUGUST
If we find venues are not suitable or less popular we may change venues from September. If sessions are going well we will look at adding a midweek session once/ month at another site.
Rules
We aim to make this a welcoming, friendly session, we also need to maintain good relationships with the pubs. Please follow these rules- hosts may ask people to leave the session if they are not followed:
Please do not make any critical comments about other people’s playing ability/ use of sheet music/ preferring to listen to most tunes and joining in with those they know. This includes giving unasked for advice about how someone could improve. A negative comment- perhaps made as a joke could be enough to put someone off wanting to come back and join in.
Do not bring your own drinks and please support the pubs by buying drinks.
Under 18s are welcome but at The Lescar the pub rules are that they must leave by 9PM (at Kelham Island Tavern under 18s must be out by 11PM but we expect to finish around 10PM) . Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult- it’s not possible for the session hosts to also be responsible for looking out for young people. Please make sure that children do not disrupt the session.
Thank you.
House Tunes
If you want to practice the tunes before the session here is a list of tunes we plan to play regularly with suggested links to sheet music. You are very welcome to bring sheet music along if you like.
Bear Dance E minor (A and B parts only)
Enrico D major (in steady tunes section- not the slow start)
Michael Turner’s Waltz G major
Off to California G major (in steady tunes section- not the slow start)
Princess Royal
Seven Stars D major
Shropshire Lass D major
Sussex Cotillion G major (A and B parts only)
Sheet music available online: Royal Traditions House tunes– Shropshire Lass, Seven Stars includes chords, these are played at the start of the Royal Traditions Folk Club currently held a Dungworth Village Hall. Paul Hardy’s Session Tunebook has all but Shropshire Lass- Please note Sussex Cotillion is listed as The Cotillion. Includes chords. The Session All but Shropshire Lass. Includes audio files, no chord suggestions.
List of tunes from 19/5/24 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QJfZiDLVz7n7-cDkSZwSo7LPpOEj47QblFR8xlJOWWI/edit?usp=sharing