Oxford Slow Session

The January EuroPlus session will take place on Sunday, 29 January, starting 5:30pm, at the White House Pub.  SlowSessionistas will find plenty of familiar music being played there.  Subsequent months will revert to the usual Fourth Sunday.

Unfortunately I still haven’t confirmation of the timing of the Slow Session for February (Sunday 5th)… I’m hoping for 4pm start… but it may well have to move to 4.30pm. Look out for emails or check the website.

Meanwhile keep warm and play lots of tunes!

Dear Sessionistas,

May you play and enjoy lots of music in 2023!

And I hope that includes joining us for tunes in the White House pub at 4pm on Sunday 8th January.

However, if you’re unwell or too far away, you can join us on zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88313481316?pwd=UzRUdHMxL1N2UVN1YlBTTkRWRWQyQT09

Also:

There is a “bastard session” at the Isis Farmhouse as usual on the Second Friday of the month from 8pm (13th Jan)

And

 7pm (doors), Sunday 29 January, The Jericho Tavern, Oxford

The Owl Light Trio is supporting the glorious Jaz Delorean, frontman of the wonderful ‘Tankus the Henge’, in this celebrated Oxford music venue. For those of you who’ve not heard Jaz before, he’s an extraordinary singer and pianist. He’s rooted in jazz, but stretches his music out in all directions, and is an utterly compelling performer. The evening is curated by host Sam Taplin.

Tickets and further details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jaz-delorean-owl-light-trio-tickets-484356592607

May 2023 be merrier and more music-filled than 2022!

Best wishes,

Suke

Happy December too!

The combination of Christmas parties and England’s World Cup progress means that we have been squeezed out of our usual location at the last minute… I did a really thorough search of other places yesterday when I heard and either places were booked, too small or wanted to charge us for sad spaces. And outdoors isn’t an option! Fortunately the Old Fire Station is both a nice place, happy to host us, even prepared to sell alcohol (as well as teas and coffees) as it is a special event and in central Oxford (George St). The only drawback is that they need us gone and the place clear to lock up at 5pm, so we need to start early.

December Slow Session: 2pm start at Old Fire Station Café (entrance only from George St)

On the other hand, why not come along early and join us for lunch? Damascas Rose is providing food and we know they are delicious from our experience of Flo’s Cafe in Florence Park. I’ll be there from 1pm, so feel free to join me. And if you are busy, because of the changed time, I’m so so sorry and I hope we will see you in January (Second Sunday) 8th at 4pm.

Tomorrow, the Friday 2nd December is also Bandcamp Friday… an opportunity to purchase music and all the proceeds go directly to the musician…

For example: 

Jon Fletcher has a new album out with Magpie Lane: https://magpielane.bandcamp.com/album/the-25th?from=search&search_item_id=1584508555&search_item_type=a&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2298719522&search_page_no=0&search_rank=1&logged_out_menubar=true

And his page: https://jonfletcher.bandcamp.com/?from=search&search_item_id=3572519226&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2301408212&search_page_no=1&search_rank=1&search_sig=2254e4e546914c6adeffbef9498b437b

And Magpie Lane is doing a Christmas Concert at the Holywell Music Rooms on 3.30pm and 7pm on Saturday 3rd Dec and several other gigs too: http://www.magpielane.co.uk/ml_news.htm#2022

Tickets for Holywell: Tickets Oxford

Spiro: https://spiromusic.bandcamp.com/?from=search&search_item_id=2425092052&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2301401965&search_page_no=1&search_rank=2&search_sig=a7ebf58e7194217eab2a20779520477d

Rant: https://rantfiddles.bandcamp.com/?from=search&search_item_id=3260661670&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2301405293&search_page_no=1&search_rank=1&search_sig=944b3e74d65138fa449af582577ec01f

Spiers and Boden: https://spiersboden.bandcamp.com/?from=search&search_item_id=2434278694&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2301406655&search_page_no=0&search_rank=1&logged_out_menubar=true

Owl Light Trio: https://owllighttrio.bandcamp.com/releases

We have grown and more people are recommending tunes… It takes a while to get everything sorted so I end up doing a few at a time… and gives us a few more tunes to start learning over the winter break.

An Rogaire Dubh
The Lancashire
Motorway Mazurka
The Old Favourite
Portsmouth

And if you don’t already have tickets to Blowzabella this afternoon in Kennington, Ray is holding the fort at the White House pub, so do go and join him for some Euro-session tunes (basically most tunes).

Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you there or at the next Slow Session, Sunday 4th December at 5pm
(NOTE extra late because the pub is hosting a Christmas lunch beforehand)

Dear Slow Sessionistas

Happy November!

The clocks have gone back, the evenings are dark – so come and cheer up with some good tunes and good company!

We are also starting later so that we don’t clash with the pub’s lunch customers… so
4pm start, upstairs at the White House, Sunday 6th November
Tune of the month is Maiden Lane

If you are feeling poorly, or live too far away, you may join us on zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84464342573?pwd=eE0yMDNSTmtOUmg0a3BETmN6c1hOUT09
We will write in the Chat the name of the tune and you can write in the Chat for requests. You will probably need headphones, depending on your instrument.

Today is also Bandcamp Friday, where proceeds of sales go entirely to the artists, so this is a good day to purchase music…
And there are several great musicians with new music available.

Bandcamp is here: https://bandcamp.com/
Info on Bandcamp Friday: https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-fridays-update

Some examples:

Sam Sweeney’s new album: https://samsweeney.bandcamp.com/?from=search&search_item_id=2452732333&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2255111779&search_page_no=0&search_rank=1&logged_out_menubar=true

Sarah Jane Summers’s new album: https://sarah-janesummers.bandcamp.com/album/flight-paths?from=search&search_item_id=276609839&search_item_type=a&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2255114482&search_page_no=1&search_rank=8&search_sig=4fa3c81450654e771e97331792456026

Mike Vass: https://mikevass.bandcamp.com/album/the-best-of-mike-vass-2010-to-2020

Hope to see you soon!

Best wishes,

suke

A new month and another Slow Session on Sunday at 3.30pm as usual in the White House. I hope you can join us. Some easier tunes for the first hour, a short break and some harder or faster tunes after. The tune of the month is the lovely Galician tune Montanesa de Lugo.

If you can’t make it to Oxford, or you’re not feeling well, you can join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85067985211?pwd=UG9oUmVML0RqRzdqbE9MUXVlRnZvQT09
(But really being in the room together is much more fun and there are brownies!)

I’ve added three more tunes to the website: The Swaggering Jig (which I knew first as Give us a drink of water), Eade Road (by Jo Hamilton of the amazing Xogera) and The Millhouse. I hope you enjoy learning them as much as I have.

Other sessions:
If you are feeling like trying out some of the faster sessions in Oxford, here’s a handy list that Louis put on Facebook the other day:

Every Sunday 8pm: Irish at Half Moon, St Clements
1st Sunday of the month 3:30pm: Slow Session at The White House, Abingdon Road.
1st Sunday 8pm: Old Time/American at The Up In Arms, Marston.
2nd Monday 8pm: Singaround at the Half Moon, sometimes turns into a tunes session if things get too loud.
2nd Friday 8pm: Bastard English Session at the Isis.
3rd Sunday 4:30pm: Open session at The White House, Abingdon Road.
4th Sunday 4:30pm: Euro Session at The White House, Abingdon Road.
4th Monday 8pm: English(ish) at the Half Moon.

Hope to see you on Sunday!
Best wishes,
Suke

Dear Slow Sessionistas,

Happy August!

I hope this finds you well and keen to play tunes!

Cathy and Janet are running this session, 3.30pm Upstairs at the White House Pub on Sunday (7th August).

There is no tune of the month – so come along and play your favourites on the website (as ever really) and there is also no zoom session, so you have to bring yourselves to Abingdon Road and go and support Janet and Cathy.

I’m afraid (except that it is lovely here) I’m away in Skye and missing you all but enjoying hiking up mountains… and looking forward to playing tunes with you on the 4th September.

Many good wishes and good tunes!

Suke