Oak: Benefit

[tmcg]

For anyone in the NYC area looking for some good music tonight on short notice, there's a benefit concert for the uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan up in Yonkers. Information at the Tara Circle site.

The music should be great, and I hope the weather will cooperate.

Comments

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Darn, I wish I had known in advance! I was all set to stay in the city tonight after Roving Shakespeare, but it got rained out, and now I'm home.

While I'm on the subject, you seem to know a lot about the NYC Celtic music scene. I've been wanting to get involved in it since I moved to the city - can you recommend anything?

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd thought to post earlier! Then I was glad I hadn't, because I feared the event might be rained out, but they moved it inside and it went off pretty well.

If you're looking to play an instrument in a session, a good place to start in NYC is Jack Dempsey's Pub, Second Avenue between Third Street and Fourth Street, on Tuesday nights starting around 7:30 or 8. It's a very friendly session, completely open, with a wide range of playing levels and styles. Some singing is welcomed, though as a newcomer I'd probably check with the session leader first and see if it's okay (if that's the case, I can email you about who to talk to).

Another good place is Blaggard's on Sundays from 5-8pm. Those sessions are led by a different professional each week. The one I went to was well organized and very enjoyable. It's a fantastic opportunity to play with some topnotch musicians.

Let me know if you're thinking of swinging by either of those, and I'll see if I can make it that night. You'll meet lots of great folks at either session.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I play tin whistle, but I'm by no means excellent (not bad, mind - just not excellent) and I would probably want to sit in on a session or so before actually playing myself - would that be okay? I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I've never actually gone to any sessions, so I'm a little fuzzy as to how they work.

Thanks so much for the tips. I'll definitly be taking advantage of them when I move back to the city in September.

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome! I look forward to seeing you at a session in the fall.

You can certainly sit and listen before you dive in. The etiquette is not to sit in the session circle (or whatever shape or clump passes for the circle) if you're not playing, but at both Blaggard's and Dempsey's there are seats at the bar right up close to the music, where you can observe the interaction and get a feel for the ambience (and what tune sets are popular). The moment you introduce yourself as someone who might like to play, you'll be encouraged to play, and if you failed to bring a whistle someone may offer to lend you one. Be warned. *G*

There's a wonderful book by Barry Foy called A Field Guide to the Irish Music Session: A Guide to Enjoying Irish Traditional Music in Its Natural Habitat (ISBN 1568331940). I highly recommend getting it. It's hilarious as well as spot-on, and will fill you in on all the subtle points of etiquette.

The other thing to be aware of is that at both Blaggard's and Dempsey's (but more at Dempsey's, early in the evening when they go in a round-robin style), you may be encouraged to start a set of tunes. You can always pass, so don't panic. :)