Anybody on the forum living in southwestern Vermont, New York Capital region or North Adams / Pittsfield, Massachutes? Maybe we could get together and play or something. I could listen to you play a tune, and you could listen to me ruin it afterwards . Newbies would be especially welcome (so that I wouldnāt feel totally inept ).
I know that there are probably already places where whistlers in this area are getting together, but . . . I donāt know . . . perhaps a slightly less public venue than a bar would be more appropriate (and less embarassing ) for newbies?
I have several friends who may want to get involved also, if not to play, than just to listen. Some of them are big into Irish music (one is a self-proclaimed Hair of the Dog āgroupieā) and others are into renaissance festivals. I am also slowly turning my wife into a Celtic music appreciator (although, not necessarily a tin whistle appreciator!:)).
Iām usually on the forum during the week, but usually only at lunchtime (EST), so sorry if I donāt reply right away. I know some places where we would be welcome if nobody knows anyplace that we could meet.
Not sure how far youāre willing to travel, but there are slow seisiuns in each of the places you mentioned.
Every Tuesday at 7:00, there is one in Troy, NY. However, during the month of December we are on the road playing nursing homes and retirement villages. You can get more info at: http://www.communitylinks.us/comhaltas.htm
There is another smaller group that meets on Thursday at 7:30 in Lanesboro, MA, just north of Pittsfield at Harringtonās Rest. on Rt.7.
In Voohresville, just outside of Albany, there is a really slow session at Old Songs. I believe it is the first Wednesday of the month. Contact Old Songs for more info.
And then Comhaltus holds a monthly seisiun on the third Sunday of the month. From 2 - 3 PM is a slow seisiun. After that the more experienced players start mixing in and the less experienced begin to drop out. That is held at Celtic Hall on Rts. 9 & 20 in East Greenbush.
Hope to see you at one or all.
Mike
Lots of acoustic players gather every Tues, changing locations each month. For Dec, theyāre playing at the South End Tavern in Troy which is a real classic upstate NY blue collar bar and restaurant. Very friendly people, playing a wide variety of acoustic music.
Are you aware of any around Bennington Vt? I work in Albany, so I could hit the places you mentioned, but I would like to know if there is anybody around where I live, in Shaftsbury, Vt.
I will try to leave the board up on my computer so that I can answer your replies, but Iām at work, so no promises. I really didnāt expect so many replies so quickly!
I grew up spending a good part of my summers in South Wallingford. Iāll be back there in August. Maybe you can find me and we can serenade the folks at the lake there.
There is one in southwest Vermont I think on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, but I donāt know where. Iāll try to find out. I think it might be a closed seisiun though, or at least not for beginners. I think, I could be wrong, but Iāll try to find out.
I am very new to whistling. I have only been playing for about a month and a half now, but I have always enjoyed the music - never knew what instrument produced it until recently. I started out with a bad Generation āDā, attempted to tweak it, broke it, fixed it, gave it to one of my sons and wound up buying a MellowDog from Jerry Freeman (the down side of which is that, in order to have the whistle before Christmas, I have to accompany my wife while she sings āthe Wexford Carolā in front of a hundred people . Needless to say, I am practicing feverishly!).
I have to say that the penny whistle is the ONLY musical instrument that I have ever actually wanted to play.
Okay, hereās the low down on SE Vermont.
There are two sessions, but they are not strictly Irish. I have already talked to my friends that attend and they will make you feel welcome. Look for the keyboard/piano player and the hammered dulcimer player. Just say Mike sent ya.
Red Fox Restuarant in Bondville, VT every Wednesday. (My friends donāt attend on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday. Instead, they go to a seisiun at the Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs, NY)
Green River Inn in Sand Gate, VT on the first and third Tuesday.
You can also join our Tuesday group for a holiday dinner this coming Tuesday, the 13th at the Southend Tavern in Troy, NY. We wonāt be playing that night. Instead we are going to enjoy dinner together as friends and listen to the Fiddlerās Tour which is playing there this month. You can bring your whistle or not, no pressure to play. Just have a great time and meet some good, interesting folks.
Hope this helps.
Mike
South Wallingford is near Rutland. And Iāve been playing since I was in high school, I think, which was some thirty years ago, when I picked up a whistle to go with my recorder and clarinet collection. Though Iāve only begun to really play Irish in the past two years.
When summer comes Iāll expect you to have found your way to a couple of sessions, and maybe you can teach me a tune or two!
Thanks for hunting these places down for me - there is no way that I could have found them myself, I think. These places, especially the location in SandGate is fairly close to where I live, although somewhat off the beaten track. Tuesday is a killer, though - Wednesday at Bondville would be more reachable for me. Iāll have to see what I can do.
I wonāt be able to attend the holiday dinner, but thank you for your kind offer.
Weāll see . . . Although, considering my musical illiteracy, I truly doubt that I will be able to teach you anything. In fact, my big birthday present for my 14th birthday was being allowed to GIVE UP piano lessons!
Hey Shadeclan-- if you DO make it down for any of the South End Tavern sessions of Fiddlerās Tour, bring down some chocolate from The Chocolate Barn
Hereās a list of all sorts of sessions, courtesy of the Fiddlerās Tour website. Call or e-mail before you go: Iām not sure how up to date the list is.
Youāre always welcome to come visit me in my shop if you plan on being in the Albany/Troy area, but again call first.
Sorry that I didnāt respond to your first e-mail. I checked out the Times Union site you sent me. Again, unfortunately, Iām busy most Tuesdays , but at least I know that there are places to go when I am free.
Holy Cow, youāre right in Cohoes! I travel Rt 7 to 87 and Wolf Rd. every day - practically a sneeze away! It would be a real treat to drop by your shop and take a look one evening. I could even bring you something from The Chocolate Barn, but are you sure that you wouldnāt rather have a Vermonster from the Vermont Confectionary? Theyāre kind of like giant homemade chocolate turtles - your choice of nuts on either a white, milk or dark chocolate base, drizzled with caramel and white and dark chocolate stripes - delicious ! What do you say?
Let me know if you change your mind about the chocolate - Christmas is comming up, you know.
It would be great to drop by your shop - howās about sometime next week, maybe after work (@5pm) on Wednesday or Thursday or during my lunch hour any day.
. Newbies would be especially welcome (so that I wouldnāt feel totally inept 
) for newbies?
. Needless to say, I am practicing feverishly!).
, but at least I know that there are places to go when I am free.