Search:

Fair comment, but there will be occasions outwith an actual session when you might feel like playing - perhaps sitting in the sun learning a great tune you heard at a session the night before. I...

My experience of visiting Temple Bar in Dublin (not especially looking for a session, basically a tourist) was very disappointing. Pub gigs with very predictable repertoires.
Personally over the...

Paul hits the nail on the head: not all sessions in Ireland are alike - some are advertised as "sessions" but are actually paid performances aimed at attracting tourists and others are actual...

Lisa Ornstein does have a links page on her website to a number of resources https://www.lisaornstein.com/useful-links-for-quebecois-music-and-dance/

Sorry Ranald, though Lisa is mentioned in Danse Ce Soir, she is not the author. Laurie Hart and Greg Sandell are the co-authors. And right now you can get 30% off if you order directly from...

You might be interested in Lisa Ornstein's (bilingual) book, Danse Ce Soir – Fiddle and Accordion Music of Quebec (Mel Bay). She's an ethnomusicologist and an excellent fiddler, who has been studying...

From that list I'd probably only bother with;

Donnybrook fair
Banish misfortune
Fig for a kiss
Foxhunter's
Going to the well for water
Ballydesmond polka
Toss the feathers
King of the...

Just a heads up to the OP - we don't call them "jam sessions" over here, just sessions (ye might get a funny look if you walked in somewhere and asked if they had "jam sessions" there ), also...

Hey friends! Don Stiernberg is one of the world’s great mandolin players. In this video, he chats about his music, career, and connection with the legendary Jethro Burns. Don also gives us some tips...

Someneck Guitars in Dublin sometimes gets in vintage and/or high end mandolins - I played an old Gibson A there back in 2019. Just outside of Galway Clareen Banjos down in Clarinbridge has mandolins...

I took some correspondence lessons form John way back when. I recently came across the original sheets he mailed me. They were done in pencil. I decided to re-scan them and share here. Some nice...

The Smother’s Brothers were an incredible influence my life. The hard part of getting old is seeing the people you love and respect leave this world. They were as good as it could get.

I recently went to an old time party at a friend's house. There were maybe half a dozen fiddles, plus banjos, etc. Big jam. I was playing my Duff. I played a few tunes and thought, well, this is...

It's not lacking in expressive possibilities at all, there are just different possibilities than on the mandolin. I think tenor banjo is the winner here, and you should give it a shot.

I just got off the phone with Bruce Weber about a mandolin issue that had nothing to do with any of his mandolins. It was a mandolin from another maker that had an issue. By the way, I do have a...

I decided to give this tune a go, and in the process of experimenting with it, came up with this somewhat unique version. Pretty untraditional, but hopefully enjoyable to listen to.

(Yeah, yeah,...

Picked up this beautiful burgandy/Gold interior Hoffee from Vernie at Bluegrass Mandolins(he has listings in the mandolin accessories classifieds). I have also purchased a very cool brown/splatter...

Congrats to everyone at Elderly Instruments on this recognition just announced:

Elderly Instruments Aims to Be a ‘Conservator of Musical Heritage’

Elderly Instruments, the Great Lakes regional...

Al was a gifted guitarist, composer, and photographer, a true animal lover, a kind human being, and loving husband to Amy White. God rest his beautiful soul and I pray for strength and healing for...

I don't think this is a controversial take, but maybe it is. Anyway, I think Bluegrss is played fast because it's performance music; stage music, designed to excite an audience that is listening but...

Here are some Acadian (East Coast French-Canadian) musicians from New Brunswick, including Louis Arsenault doing a fine performance on mandolin. They're playing a medley, of which the first two tunes...

Bluegrass today just released a statement saying Jesse McReynolds is under hospice care and isn’t expected to live much longer.
Sad news, one of the greats to say the least, that just leaves Bobby...

Here's my solo mandola take on John Whelan's tune "Trip to Skye."


https://youtu.be/G1rBPDKWi8k

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/05/07/a-giant-of-irish-trad-music-the-chieftains-fiddle-player-sean-keane-dies/


https://youtu.be/h_HyKbHbTQw

This lovely piece of music from the 17th century, written by Michael Praetorius. Please enjoy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aUZMx6JAXk