We are planning an Uilleann Pipers Gathering at Castell Bleddyn (the Blevins Home…its Welsh but you gotta overlook that!) in Nashville Tennessee on Sunday, January 2, 2005 from 10AM until 5PM. It’ll be an opportunity to meet others with a similar affliction, to get your reeds tweaked, and to participate in all sorts of other piping-related happenings. We will make time for recitals so come prepared to play your best tune if you want to avail yourself of that opportunity. There willl be instruction by the most experienced in attendance for the benefit of the least experienced. We will, hopefully, have the opportunity for one-on-one tuition. Lunch will be provided. Please contact me at glands@comcast.net to express your intent to attend to pipe in the New Year so we can make appropriate plans based on numbers. Lewis
Lewis,
Sounds great! Thanks so much for putting it together and playing host to us.
I plan on being there and will try to get at least a couple more of us east TN pipers there as well.
Rick
I’ve marked it on the calendar. We don’t seem to have anything else going on that weekend, but I’ll have to check with “she who must be obey’ed” 
-gary
it would be great if you fellas can make it.
Update: Traditional Irish session at same locale 7PM until 11PM (I’ve got work the next day folks and we have to knock it off a little earlier than I’d prefer). E-me at glands@comcast.net for directions.
Please see original post.
The event is shaping up nicely… this is gonna be fun!
We have 10 who have expressed an interest in attending the event. There will be a collective wealth of piping experience and many different sets present to see and hear.
Contact me at glands@comcast.net for additional info and directions.
I just want to say thanks to Lewis and his charming wife Renee for hosting this gathering…it was an enjoyable day and well worth the drive from Atl…especially the fantastic Irish stew for lunch!
Here are some photos for those of you who missed it.
The experts, showing us how it’s done.
Rick’s unhappiness as he realizes his mini-disc recorder is not capturing these tunes!
Lewis making reeds while Renee plays some tunes on the ‘box’
Tansy takes a break from the good life on the boat to join in the fun..
It sure was great getting a chance to meet all of you and play some tunes. Thanks to Lewis and Renee for hosting the event. The company, music, and food were outstanding.
I was there and it was truly a grand time. Thank you Lewis and Renee for opening your home to all of us!
I am basking in that sweet kick of inspiration as I practice what I began to learn yesterday.
Happy New Year to all you pipers!, Tansy
Many thanks to all who turned out for the event. We had a good day of music and craic. In all, there were 9 pipers piping on the 9th day of Christmas.
We spent the morning with introductions and recitals, discussion re the philosophy of piping and learning, followed by breakdown of a few passages of a couple of tunes to illustrate technique, expression with the pipes, and introduction to variations in bars of music. Thereafter, we watched a couple of DVD’s to study piping by some of the modern-day great pipers.
Lunch consisted of Irish stew and twice baked potatoes and was most excellent.
The afternoon festivities were accomplished by division into two groups. I spent time testing chanters, diagnosing reed issues, and tweaking reeds then later failed miserably in attempt to make a reed for a B chanter due to the employment of cane that was far to stiff to suit my taste. The second group consisted of a session/demonstration led by Skip Cleavinger and Mat McNeely (the experts depicted above). Those of us working on reeds were within earshot of the other group and I must say the music was excellent.
We had a nice session after dinner. I was pleased that the Knoxville contingent stayed for the music. Some of the local musicians were shocked to find about 4-5 pipers sitting in at the start of the eve as they had never seen such a sight. I commented that, based on our usual piping-related experiences, with only 4-5 sitting around at that moment, we’d wonder when all the rest of the guys would show up! The music was fantastic and was most definitely complemented by local expert virtuosos Sean (flute, whistle) and Frances (bouzuki or similar) and Bill (flute, whistle) who also were in attendance. It was good to have Rick Hall on the hammered dulcimer…he knows what he is doing with I-trad music on the instrument…fair play to him. Others played bodhran, mandolin, guitar, etc…but not a fiddle in the house for the main session.
Based on discussions I’ve had over the past couple of years, I was hoping that we could form a local committee and would be designated as the host of the East Coast tionol in 2005. Since the tionol in the Catskills was reportedly so successful this year it appears that, at least as of this morning, the event might not rotate to Nashville this year and East Durham may become the venue of choice. I don’t believe that is definite so take my musing with a grain of salt. Anyways, it was agreed by mini-tionol attendees that the mid-south is an ideal location for a tionol as it is accessible by large numbers from practically everywhere via automobile or inexpensive air travel (Southwest, Jet Blue, Delta). There is a definite interest in hosting a tionol, supporting other regional tionols, and doing other things to foster the growth of pipers and other traditional musicians. Thus, we will move forward and begin to plan a bonafide Music City tionol. Watch this site for more information.
Great Craic and great food! Many thanks to our gracious hosts, Lewis and Renee for opening their home and hearts to us. I was glad the East Appalachian Tennessee Uilleann Pipers (that’s EATUP to y’all 
) could make a good showing. It was a joy to finally meet other pipers in the state and region (Al & KY).
Thanks, Snoogie, for that photo of me; it is a good replacement for the one down at the post office! 
Seriously though, it was a very special day. I’m just sorry that a 3 hour drive and work the following morning necessitated leaving just as the evening seisiún was getting going well. 
I second Lewis’ desire and committment to looking into having the East Coast Tionól in our fair state.
Thanks again to Lewis and all those who participated.
Rick
Thanks a bundle Lewis and Renee for hosting the gathering! Great music and food all around. The footage of Kevin Rowsome, B. Koehler, Brian McNamara and Pat Cannady was excellent!
cheers,
Matt