Birmingham bluegrass sessions?

by **Paulos** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:49 pm

Birmingham bluegrass jam every 2nd and 4th tuesday of the month,old moseley arms,Tindall st,Moseley.All players welcome be you a beginer or experienced player,or if you want to sit and listen while drinking fine ale then feel free.

by **Guy** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:12 am

Hi Paulos,

Katherine informed me of your post, We have a monthly session in Leicestershire which is not a million miles away, please check out our website, www.salmagundi.me.uk

We call it an Acoustic Pickin' Session and we currently have a mix of styles but I am trying to raise awareness to bluegrass music in the area so any pickers are more than welcome.

Probably closer to home, The Toy Hearts play virtually every Sunday night at the Roadhouse in Stirchley. They are an excellent band to go and see. I have known Stewart for about 30 years from when I lived in Brum and he is very approachable friendly guy and may well be able to help you in your quest for a session.

Dan and I are planning to get over ourselves in the not too distant future so who knows you might see us there.

This is The Toy Hearts website www.toyhearts.co.uk

Guy

by **Paulos** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:00 pm

Thanks Guy,
Will check out your site,i have been lucky enough to catch the toy hearts,you are right they are a fantastic band and make for a great sunday evening,cheers for replying,may well be up your neck of the woods soon,best get the fingers loosened up.
Paul

by **Guy** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:27 pm

Hi Paul

No problem, you just reminded me that a visit to Stirchley is long overdue. If you can make it up our way it'd be great to see you.

Incidentally, if you do hear of a good session locally or you manage to get one started, keep us posted. Maybe Tamworth would be a good idea?

Best regards

Guy

by **Paulos** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:41 pm

just txt my mate to see if he wants to come on 26th feb,found you on the map and providing nothing comes up in meantime i will be over,let me know when you are in stirchley and i will try and make that also,really need to meet more bluegrass heads(the mrs just does not get it!)
Paul

by **Griffindude** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:34 pm

Hey Paul, I know it's a bit of a stretch for you, but I run a session in Hereford ('bout 60miles away from N B'ham - M6>M5 Worcester South >A4103 to Hereford, quickest way, I reckon) on the 1st Wed of the month. You'd be very welcome there...

Details can be found in another thread in this category.

Cheers, Martin

by **millajuk** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:34 pm

Hey,
Well I'm in Birmingham and getting pretty frustrated with the lack of bluegrass appreciation out there. I play mandolin and been playing about a year, so I'm up for any playing/sessions anyone wants to do. Just been to sore fingers and now spring seems like a long time away before all the festivals!!! so if anyone is interested, could really do with some regular playing.

by **Paulos** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:57 pm

Where are you in birmingham?I am in great Barr,seems the north of the city is a bluegrass desert,go to see the toy hearts on the other side every now and again but would be keen to get a regular jam going in the city,surely there are more than two grassers in Birmingham?

by **millajuk** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:14 pm

I'm edgbaston/selly oak way. I'm a friend of the toy hearts so I've seen them a few times which is really good but doesn't mean i can play!! I can't believe in such a big city there's no bluegrass going on. i thought about going to the session in Leamington which is a trek but probably about 40 mins i guess. I don't really know how to go about starting one up - approach a suitable pub i suppose and advertise ?!!

by **Jonathan** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:43 pm

I occasionally go to the one in Leamington (assuming you're on about the one at the Somerville Arms?) and I was going to go tonight but I just had a call from a friend who needs me to help move a washing machine!

It's at a nice pub and it's mostly at a level where beginners wouldn't feel intimidated.

by **Jonathan** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:52 pm

On the subject of starting one up, it's a case of going and asking in the pub if they'd be up for it, then getting the musos in. If you can find a landlord/lady who is ok with the idea of it, then it's worth making sure you've got a good crowd of competent players that you know are definitely coming on the first night(s) you do it. If you don't already know a bunch of local-ish players who you can pester or bribe into coming then, yes, you've just got to rely on advertising and platforms such as this so you also need to allow enough time for word to get around.

by **katherine** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:53 pm

My experience of starting a new jam is that the one thing you need more than anything else is patience.

We did it by putting notices up in music shops and on various message boards on the web. It took several months before we had enough contacts to actually start something, and probably 50% of the people who expressed an interest still haven't shown up to a jam more than 2 years on. You will probably find there are plenty of bluegrass musicians (or wannabes) near you, you just need to hunt them down!

Good luck.

by **Paulos** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:51 am

I have a pub in mind,the Barton arms in Newtown,lovely victorian pub with great ale and thai food so even if nobody turns up we can be fed and watered in a fine fashion,they have plenty of sunday afternoon music allready going on and i notice the toy hearts are playing on Jan 6th,get yourself down there.I will have a word with the gaffer and see what he thinks about a once a month pick.By chance i spoke to Mark from Hobgoblin yesterday and he mentioned putting a sign up in the shop and seeing what response comes from that.As for attending local jams the only one i have been to is the session in Heather run by Guy and Dan from Salmangundi,it is the last monday of the month and not far from Measham,i have not been for a while as i am all over the place during the summer(festival season!) and have just moved house but if you can make it there i found it made me more determined to practice my mandolin and i think it bought my playing on leaps and bounds.I wil put wheels in motion and see what happens.
Paul

by **Griffindude** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:04 am

The Barton Arms is a great pub (I lived in Brum for a while and remember it well) - go for it! Best of luck!

by **Guy** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:16 am

Hi Paul

Thanks for the plug. Needless to say, we are always happy to welcome people to Heather, whether they are there to listen or play, if we happen to have helped your playing as well, well that's a bonus. It'd be great to see you again as well if you can make it.

We had a fantastic night last month, great atmosphere and some great music. People who want to know more can click the link below.

http://ukbluegrass.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38

Can you give us some info about the Barton Arms, Newton?

Guy