I am moving to Asheville, North Carolina in a week. I’m going to college there, and I don’t know of any good sessions in the area. Can anyone help me out?
Yes. There’s an advanced session at Jack of the Woods pub in Asheville on Sunday evenings: 5 - until.
Wednesday nights at 8 there’s a beginner/intermediate session at the Dripolator Coffee House in Black Mountain, which is about 20 minutes away.
Soon, there will be a slow session at a local fiddle teacher’s house. Probably on Saturdays.
Set dancing on Thursdays.
In the summer, there’s the Swannanoa Gathering. Most of us either volunteer at that or just go out for sessions.
There are also Gaelic lessons at UNCA if you’re into that kind of thing.
We have a pretty lively little scene with some top class players. Believe it or not. We do a lot of house parties/sessions as well, especially during the winter. There are a couple of really nice musicians from South Carolina who hang out up here a lot, there are some musicians in Knoxville who are great and we visit the fine folks up in Charlottesville when we can. There’s also a hoard of musicians from Raleigh that we don’t get to see enough.
Basically, there’s more than enough here to keep you playing all the time if you want to.
There are a couple of players out at Warren Wilson College and some nice players at UNCA. None of these students come out enough, suppose they’re busy with school - sheesh! Hopefully that’ll change this year as they were all freshmen last year. Maybe you can encourage them to come out.
There’s a festival coming up in a couple weeks. You really should come to that. It’s not a sit down, band type festival but a session festival where people from all over the South East show up (sorry, I can’t post details… I’m not in charge of it and the person who is doesn’t want it to get out of hand). We camp out in a cow pasture and play all night. Send me a private message with your email address and I’ll give you details since you’ll be living in town.
Really glad to hear of some new blood. We have a fun scene here but it’s always nice to have new people. Send me an email and we can get together for some tunes. We kindof’ keep our heads down and into the tunes on Sundays because we have had some terror sessions in the distant past but if we know who you are or if you can play you won’t find a friendlier bunch.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Oh, yeah. And if you’re around this Friday the band Dorsa http://www.dorsa.com/ is playing at Jack of the Woods. Haven’t ever heard them but they’re meant to be good. Some of us will be going out to that and you’re welcome to join us.
Also, quite a few bands come through here. In the spring there’s the Celtic Concert Series and we get all the big names through. This fall Chulrua will be through as well as Bohola. Sometimes musicians come through and never leave. You’ll see what I mean when you move here.
Cheers again. Jeremy
Someone recently asked Pat Egan about the scene in Asheville. His response was, “You’d better know how to swim.”
Of course, you’re underage so we might have to lend you water wings until you’re 21.
Thank you! I’d come out for the concert this Friday, but I’m going to see Jump, Little Children at the Orange Peel. I’m probably an intermediate player… Slow sessions are too easy, but I don’t know an awful lot of obscure tunes, which is all they seem to play at advanced sessions I’ve been to.
What do you play? I play whistle, low whistle, and I’m learning mandolin and lap dulcimer.
my email is KThoney @ earthlink.net (I put the spaces in so spambots won’t attack)…
Actually, the Wednesday night session in Black Mountain is no longer a beginner session; I’d say it’s intermediate to advanced, depending upon who shows up. There are also quite a few old time sessions in the area, where your mountain dulcimer would be welcomed.
You’ll love it here.
Right. Intermediate to Advanced but beginner friendly.
Coosa. Who are you? This is Jeremy Ball. I play flute and sometimes guitar. Show up on Wednesday every once in a while. Always at the Sunday session…
Corinthia. I’m sending you an email.
Jeremy, it’s me! Lynn
Hey guess what: Ramey and I are going to the Milwaukee Irish Fest on Thursday!
Alright! Queen Fiddle, herself! I might pop in the Wed. session. That’s great, going to Milwaukee. I don’t know if Pat and the lads will be there, but I know John is teaching a guitar class. Tell 'em I say hi and that I AM working on his website. Make sure to have a drink for me. And do some set dancing! I hear it’s meant to be really good up there.
Cheers and beers
I’ll raise a pint for you! And boy, am I looking forward to that – I’ve been on a “beer fast” for the past several weeks. Makes me cranky.
Hey, if you can get a cheap last minute ticket up to Milwaukee, you can crash with us. I found round trip tix on Delta for only $146.
They do have great set dances there – massive ones. We did it two years ago when we were up there. It was great fun.
I know John will be there, and Liz Carroll, and Flook…and Tommy Peoples. Hope to run into more folks we know, especially Pat.
Have fun on Wednesday; I’m sorry I’ll be missing it. Looking forward to Billy J’s return. He definitely helps keep the rhythm of that session consistent (lately it’s been really hard to hear there, but maybe since tourist season is dying down, things will get better). Need more guitars!
Corinthia, we look forward to meeting you.
Okay, back to this grim cr#@* I call work.
I look forward to meeting you too. I just hope that the sessions have some rhythm variety… I hate advanced sessions where it’s all jigs and reels. Irish trad tunes tend to sound so similar, that if they only play jigs and reels, it gets so monotonous. I like sessions where polkas and hornpipes are played, too.