I have developed a keen interest in playing the uilleann pipes over the last couple of years. I am actually a fiddler, but that began to seem like a dime-a-dozen trade after I saw and heard people playing the pipes at ceili events, and so I am keen to start playing and learning.
So far, I have been a lurker on this forum for about a week, and have found much of the information here very helpful. The next step for me, I feel, would be to get to know pipers personally who are living in the DC area, and then perhaps to get them to help me locate a practice set and a teacher. I have only just moved to DC, and so am not totally aware of the bext places to go, plus, it wouldn’t hurt to meet with other local enthusiasts from here.
Anyone out there a DC area resident, and know of any good sessions coming up that they might want to share a guinness at?
Is Sterling, VA near enough to DC for you? 'Cause there’s a session there in a place called O’Faolain’s with a piper (Jim Wade), a semi piper (me), and another occasional pipes playing person (Gil Hocker). See my post in the city guide for more: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=31668
Also, I know there’s a session at Nanny O’Brien’s in DC, but I’ve never been to that one and I don’t know if any pipers go there.
I’m going to play a Katrina benefit concert on Monday, Sept 26th at Nanny O’Briens in Cleveland Park. You should stop by and meet some of the locals. The lineup includes Billy McComisky on box, Brendan Mulvahill fiddle, Brian Gaffney guitar and myself (Mark Hillmann) on pipes. It will not be a quiet evening. If you bring an enormous amount of cash with you, I can set you up with a practice set as well.
