Folk at the Bull

avatar
(Edited)

▶️ Watch on 3Speak

Last week I was playing some tunes with @daniellemurray and Bob (no Hive yet) in Hitchin. We had the option of playing there again this week, but with the heat and the competition from the Wimbledon final that was called off. Instead we headed over to Stony Stratford near Milton Keynes where they have a folk music jam session.

I am not sure if I have been there before, but it is a nice looking little town. They have a pair of old inns called The Cock and The Bull. These may be the origin of the phrase 'cock and bull story' as this was a stop on a route north from London and travellers would tell the locals some fanciful tales. We were at The Bull Inn where people gathered with a wide assortment of instruments.

As with a lot of such sessions people take it in turns to play a tune and others can join in. It was obvious that they knew a lot of the same tunes and the standard of musicianship was very high. There was some lovely harmony singing plus we had some poems too. I joined in where I could, including on a rowdy version of Johnny B Goode.

I accompanied Danielle and Bob on some folk and jazz tunes. On my turn I played a couple of my own songs, so more people have heard my Ikea one now. For my last one I said it was a traditional song from the Midlands about welcoming in the summer months. It was actually Mister Blue Sky and seemed to go down well. They did seem open to other genres of music. Another guy played some Radiohead.

This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. This is music that many of us might not hear often, but the tunes are part of our traditions and ought to be kept alive. I did think that the average age was fairly high and we need some younger people to play too. I have seen some of them at various other folk events, so there is hope.

Rock on!

▶️ 3Speak

music folkmusic livemusic musicforlife proofofbrain
0
0
0.000
20 comments
avatar

Fantastic afternoon, spent in such highly musical and congenial company! I first went to that session in the early noughties when its founder, Matt Armour, was still alive, bless his soul. He had such a welcoming way of encouraging newcomers, an openness to a whole variety of music genres, while at the same time building a folk session to be proud of, with a long and storied history. It's lovely to be able to make the journey back to where I first started playing folk and going to sessions, and find that it's still every bit as good under Andrew Metcalfe's stewardship.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Thanks for inviting me along. The music was great and I enjoyed playing.

!LUV

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Heyyy steevc since how many years are u playing guitar? I am also learning this instrument

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

I've played for many years, but am still learning.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

I think getting young people involved in traditional music is important for keeping it alive and relevant in today's culture.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

You just can't beat a live session. Looked like a good time was had!

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

It's a nice way to forget the crap that's going on in the world. It's just people making music. A lot of tunes were new to me.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Looks like you people had fun there.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

They did. It's such an organic form of entertainment. Nobody is getting paid and people play whatever they want.

!BEER

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

That sounds so awesome! Hope @alessandrawhite and I can make it to one of your gigs.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

It would be great to jam with you guys.

!BEER

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Hi @steevc!! 👋
I’m LOVING this post SO much!!!
Hello to @daniellemurray & Bob, too!!

But really, how I wish I could’ve been there for you & the trio to “throw tips in your jar and say, ‘Man, what are you doing here?”

Now, about how you made your post…
Did you begin on google docs or something?
Did you need to take your phone video and convert to .mp4, then upload to 3S?
Did you create the entire post start to finish on your phone?

I’m asking for my own SOP’s sake and because CWH is gearing up a 30 days of post on Hive initiative. Lots of rookies.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

There was no money involved in this gig. I took video from Bob plus some of my own to edit together on the PC before making a post on 3speak. I am sure there are tools to do that on the move, but I am old-school. I do compose some posts on my phone and there is a 3speak app that I have used.

!LUV

0
0
0.000
Reply