Ray’s new session at the White House Pub on the 4th Sunday of the month… is happening again on Sunday 27th March at 4.30pm with the focus on Euro/ Scotland /Orkney and Shetland tunes.
If you want to find a list of the Scottish tunes that are on the Slow Session website, scroll to the bottom of the Tune of the month page where there is a list of the tunes that are mostly Irish and a list of the tunes that are mostly Scottish.
I thought you might be tempted to try out Ray’s new session at the White House Pub on the 4th Sunday of the month… starting this Sunday 27th Feb at 4.30pm with the focus on Euro/ Scotland /Orkney and Shetland tunes.
Depending on numbers, Ray plans to be downstairs but if too many might move upstairs.
If you want to find a list of the Scottish tunes that are on the Slow Session website, scroll to the bottom of the Tune of the month page where there is a list of the tunes that are mostly Irish and a list of the tunes that are mostly Scottish.
I’ve added Billy Malley’s Schottische, the Good Natured Man and the £42 cheque. The first two because I’ve been listening to lots of Martin Hayes and he’s making some excellent YouTube tutorials these days. And the last because it is a great Planxty tune that fits between Denis Murphy’s and John Ryan’s and Peter has been asking for it to be added.
And if you fancy something faster, James Bell is hosting the Bastard English Session at the Isis Farmhouse Pub tonight from 9pm to midnight. It will be in the marquee at the back with the sides open. The Pub is charging £10 for entry (to all the gigs on tonight) but has told James that he can have a list of Session attendees that will be free… To get on his list, email him (https://jamesbellcentral.net/general-enquiries/) or message him via Facebook
The Slow Session tune of the month for January is our new tune Out on the Ocean. And don’t forget to say any other tunes you’ve been practicing and want to play. We’ll play lots of the easier tunes in the first hour. You might want to have a go at Carraroe as it goes nicely into Out on the Ocean. We have moved to The White House Pub (upstairs) on the Abingdon Road. Do please buy a drink (or tea) from the pub and bring it upstairs. It’s nice if we buy stuff as that makes the pub keen to give us the room for free. Do come and join us. It is definitely more fun playing together in person than over zoom… but you can join on zoom too (password – if required = slow), so you can join either way.
On Sunday 21st Nov, Louis is hosting a Tap Social Session at the White House Pub at 3.30pm… lots of good tunes including many familiar slow session tunes (probably played a bit faster!)
On Tuesday 23rd Nov, Ray and Ed are hosting the Scandi / Euro session in Wolvercote Village Hall from 8.30pm. Bring your own refreshments and cake to share… and bring your own shot glass if you want to taste Ray’s “home-spiced Kajsa-Warg akvavit”
Keep well everyone and hope to see and/or hear you soon!
I’ve finally learned and added two lovely new tunes; Out on the Ocean suggested by Noah and The Swallowtail Jig suggested by Cathy, so something to keep you busy as the evenings get darker quicker.
And for November, we are moving to a new location: upstairs in the White House Pub on Abingdon Road. Details on where to park and how to find it are on our new How to Find us page. Hope to see you on the 7th!
Dear Slow Sessionistas, I cannot recommend this ceilidh band highly enough. They make dancing joy! And free! And Open air! And in the afternoon!
Unfortunately I am organising my mother’s memorial, otherwise I would definitely definitely be there… So dance for me too and enjoy!
Saturday 9 October, 4-5.30pm, Faringdon Market Place (S6 bus from Oxford every 30 mins)
The Dirty Big Canal Dance Band (in slightly scaled-down form as the Little Big Canal Dance Band!) is playing a ceilidh, outside, for real! Jane, Colin, and the mighty Jo(h)ns; Fletcher (Magpie Lane) and Ruddock (Xogara, Rholben) are delighted to reunite with brilliant caller Jane Bird. There’ll be an emphasis on keeping things safe and joyous, and Jane B will call dances that work in small groups. And it’s free! Come and dance your socks off with us!
This dance has been put on by the lovely people of Oxfolk Ceilidhs, in partnership with ‘Folk Weekend Oxford On Tour’, who have created a one-day mini-festival in Faringdon. There are sessions, Morris, and gigs going on all day, culminating in a concert by the incomparable Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. Details of all the events as part of the day are available here: https://www.folkweekendoxford.co.uk/9-uncategorised/449-folk-weekend-on-tour-faringdon.html