The Starry Irish Music Session
Every Sunday Come join Shay Black and friends for a couple of pints and an evening of traditional Irish music and song!
Open session to all - singer friendly!
8pm Cover: Sliding Scale
Shay Black's Bio: http://www.black-brothers.com/library/shay.htm
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FIRST SUNDAYS ADVANCED SESSION
The Starry Plough has been the East Bay home of participatory Irish music and dance since it opened. The Sunday session and Monday Ceili are the weekly expression of that commitment. The Monday Ceili has served all levels of its community by offering lessons and by having beginner's and advanced dances. The current Sunday session has remained an intermediate tune session that includes extended singing sets.
To bring in more of the Irish traditional music community we hold a first-Sunday-of-the-month advanced players session. As always, all are invited to this advanced session but it is organized differently:
-8 pm - 11 pm
-Different group of 2-3 leaders each month, posted on the Starry Plough calendar
-A strong emphasis on tunes and melody instruments
-Tune choices and pacing directed by the session leaders. There may occasionally be some singing but there will be no extended song sets
-A de-emphasis on numerous guitars, bouzoukis, rhythm instruments and bodhrans. Session leaders will invite individual rhythm instrumentalists.
-A learning culture: recording and tune swaps encouraged!
-A respectful culture: playing along only when you know and can keep up with the tune. Quiet learning is fine, full volume noodling is not.
-No free beer
To receive a once a month reminder email about the advanced session and who will be leading on a particular Sunday night, send a blank email to: starrysession+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ADVANCED SESSION ETIQUETTE
Joining the Session If the session is small, ask someone who seems to know what's going on if you may join them. In larger sessions, it's probably OK just to join in. If it's your first time at the advanced session, don't sit in the inner circle. The circle will frequently open up to a familiar or respected musician who turns up, but don't expect this behavior if your playing is not yet known. Only sit in the session if you're going to play in the session. If you're there to listen, be considerate and let those that want to play sit next to each other. Starting a Tune Set The advanced sessions is led by a small group of 2-3 who are being paid by the pub and tips. As a rule of thumb, let them start tune sets. They'll invite others (and possibly you) to start tunes throughout the night. Don't play a tune unless you can play it through several times without faltering in melody and rhythm. It's better to play a tune slowly and well than quickly and badly. If you have started a tune which few people know, try to follow it with a popular tune which will bring people back into the session. It's expected that if you start a tune, you'll be choosing what follows, so have a group of two or three tunes which go together well.
General Thoughts: Be extra cautious and considerate if you are a bodhrán/guitar/bouzouki player or player of an instrument with a lot of sustain and "reverb" like the hammered dulcimer. The session leaders will probably have arranged for rhythm players of their choice to attend. More than one will often clash. In the advanced session there is a hierarchy: melody instruments are more important than backing. Even if the main rhythm player stops playing for a set, consider letting the melody players have an all-melody round. It's more difficult to tune while a tune is being played; be considerate and wait until everyone is done tuning before starting to play. Recording is common, is a great way to learn tunes and is encouraged at the Starry Plough, but it is always appreciated when you ask first. Every session has its unique unspoken rules…or lack of them, so remain aware.
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Come Join us Every Monday night for the Starry Plough Traditional Irish Dance and Music Session.
Dance Lessons start at 7pm
and
Dancing starts at 9pm
$5 donation is suggested (no one turned away)
Check out Starry Plough Céilí at
www.starryploughceili.com
