Irish session this Sunday, September 26!

Join us this Sunday at the Senior Center for an Irish session.

The sessions are the fourth Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm. 24 South Linn Street in Iowa City. All are welcome!

Fiddlers Showcase

I'm very honored to be in such good company tomorrow night. Here are the details from Marc Janssen:

Fiddlers Showcase, a preview of the Fiddlers Picnic

Confirmed performers will be Al Murphy, Guy Drollinger, Deb Hunemuller, Dave Hicks, Norbert Sarsfield, David Mehaffey, and Tara Dutcher. Keith Reins and I (Marc Janssen) will be on hand to provide some guitar backing.

Each player will have roughly 15 minutes to discuss their fiddling background, key influences, and play a few tunes. The time should allow each player to play 3-4 tunes to showcase that player's style and influences.

Saturday, September 18 at 7 pm
Uptown Bill's
NEW LOCATION: 730 South Dubuque Street in Iowa City

Hootenanny 2010

Once a year, we have a hootenanny potluck where all my students, friends, and fellow musicians come together to play music, dance, share food, watch the kids scramble around on the rocks near the pond, and generally have a great time.

Several of my students attended and played in a traditional session. I was really proud of all of them.







I didn't get a picture of the food this year, nor did I get to eat very much of it due to all my flitting about. This is a real pity because these folks can cook.

The kids had a great time running around together and playing.







I think even the ducks enjoyed the music, don't you? Isn't the one on the left there tapping his little webbed foot?



I took a terribly shaky and low quality video of some excellent and high quality music and dancing. It's a lot of work putting the hootenanny together but these twenty four seconds will show you what made it all worthwhile.

2 September Sessions to make up for missing August

You didn't receive a session reminder last week because I had it in my head that the session was this coming Sunday, April 29, when in reality April 22 was the fourth Sunday of the month. Joe was out of town last weekend so I wouldn't have been able to come anyway because our boys only do well at the session when both of us are there.

We missed our August session! I am so sorry. I can make it up to you, though! September will have two session opportunities: the Hootenanny Potluck on Saturday, September 11 and the regular session on Sunday, September 26.

Details:

3rd Annual Hootenanny Potluck
Saturday, September 11 beginning at 5 pm
North Ridge Pavilion
2250 Holiday Rd.
Coralville, Iowa

Bring a dish to pass and your instrument/s and dancing shoes. All ages are welcome. There is a wonderful park on site for the kids and plenty of covered space in case of rain.

We're trying to be as green as possible, so please bring tableware if you have some. Compostable plates and forks will be provided also. We did purchase the temporary alcohol permit and are now accepting keg requests!

Kids' Irish session begins at 6, Open session begins at 7.

All are welcome, please feel free to bring your friends!

Link to 2009 Hootenanny Pictures
Link to 2008 Hootenanny Pictures

September Session
Sunday, September 26 from 2 to 4 pm
Iowa City Senior Center

24 South Linn Street

Hope to see you there!!!

Busy weekend!

This morning (July 24), you can catch the Beggarmen at the Iowa City Farmer's Market (Chauncy Swan parking structure on Washington Street) from 9 to 11 am.

Then tonight, please come out and help us celebrate the release of our third CD A Soft Day, made possible by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. This event will be tonight (July 24) at the Mill (120 E Burlington in Iowa City) beginning at 7 pm. The concert will be immediately followed by a traditional Irish session so please bring your instruments!

Finally, Join us this Sunday (July 25) at the Senior Center for an Irish session.

The sessions are the fourth Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm. 24 South Linn Street. All are welcome!

Irish session this Sunday, June 27th

Join us this Sunday at the Senior Center for an Irish session.

The sessions are the fourth Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm. 24 South Linn Street. All are welcome!

Irish session this Sunday, May 23!

Join us this Sunday at the Senior Center for an Irish session.

The sessions are the fourth (not always the last!) Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm. 24 South Linn Street. All are welcome!