I went to my favorite coffee house this weekend, The Coffee House of Occaquan. It’s a great little place, and the lady who owns it always has music on the weekends. Well as I got out of my car, I heard something distinctly Irish. They were playing Irish music!!
My wife and I walked up the steps, around the side to the back of the building and there on the lawn was Síor-Óg, one of our local ITRAD bands. It was the first time I’d heard them, although I’d met the guitar player several years before this.
Anyway, I was entranced as I watched both of their whistlers play. Both of them alternated between low whistles and high whistles! Now, granted, the high whistle is no big deal really, but I was so juiced to find them playing low whistles! It took me a bit of time before I was able to place the whistles, but I was sure they were both playing Burkes. … and they were.
I approached them afterwards and talked to them. They were very friendly, and Mike – one of the two whistlers (he’s been playing for 20 years) – even stayed afterwards and played solo with Ray backing him up on guitar.
What a delight! I think what got me so excited was that these fellows were the first Low whistlers I’ve actually met besides myself! It was SO COOL!
I really had a blast. They’ll be playing a celtic festival or two this summer and I intend to be there. The only thing I kicked myself for was that right before I left home I thought to myself, “You should bring your tinwhistles with you.” But then I second guessed myself and figured there’d be no way I’d have a use for them at the coffee house. ARG!! We could have had a little jam session!
Ah well. Next time I’ll be prepared. My, oh my, those Burkes were lovely though. I would have loved to have had my Alba Low D there to compare to their Burke Low Ds. I think that maybe my Alba would have been a bit louder. Anyway … It was cool, you know?
All the best,
Little John
I wish I could run into a live trad band like that! There doesn’t seem to be much in my area (Lake Norman, North Carolina). I have a Clarke Meg in my glove compartment at all times. I’d probably have to have a few pints before breaking it out though.
Aye Sir Nick,
If I’m ever down near Lake Norman I’ll let you know. You can pint up before we break out music! 
Best to you,
Little John
I went to my favorite coffee house this weekend, The Coffee House of Occaquan. It’s a great little place, and the lady who owns it always has music on the weekends. Well as I got out of my car, I heard something distinctly Irish. They were playing Irish music!!
Hey littlejohn would that be Occaquan, VA? Since I live in Fredericksburg, I’d be interested in finding out about some of the local groups and where they might be playing.
Mike
Great story, Little John! 
Yep. That’d be Occaquan, VA.
Little John:
I came across your posting. Thanks for taking the time to mention seeing us. Nice to know we provided some unexpected pleasure. Good to run across you again. Glad you got a chance to chat with the whistle players. I’m fortunate to have fallen in with two fine whistlers and one heck of a fiddler (not to mention a fine vocalist who was not there). We’ll be down there again later this summer, at least once. Bring your whistles.
We’re usually a lot tighter than we were that Saturday. Hearing each other was a bit tough. We also were a bit more informal this time as we had some students with us (The Sior Og Youth Movement, sans dancer and young vocalist). Our gig at the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts though was one of our best. I believe we’ll be doing the Fairfax Irish Festival in September.
From the simple guitarist’s standpoint, I am having more fun and learning more about playing this instrument by doing accompaniment on trad music than in all the year’s of folk rock and blues. Though, as you heard, Mike and I are working on a few things that we hope will stretch the bounds. I might have reason to call on some of those old skills again. Keep in touch.
Ray
PS: Were you able to pick up one of the Lunasa CDs I mentioned?