Sessions in and around Redditch

Updated 2nd August 2009

I have listed the sessions I currently know of. Most of them I have played in, some more than others. Sessions by nature are transitory and vary in styles and quality according to who turns up on the night. Most of them have a hard core of regulars with other players dropping in from time to time. This creates the variety that can make a good session - or can explain why a 'good' one last time is 'not the same' the next time. All the comments represent my personal opinions of the sessions below - you will gather that my taste is for music sessions rather than singarounds.

I try to keep the info. as up to date as possible - but as stated above, sessions do come and go. It's always worth checking before making a special journey. Or you can always e-mail me at tbinnie@blueyonder.co.uk

Let me know if you have of a session I should include (or delete if it is no longer going).

LATEST NEWS

Lord Nelson in Alcester now has an extra "Celtic Session" on the third Wednesday from around 8.30pm - as the name says, the music is expected to be Celtic

Worcestershire Folk Players have asked me to let you know about them - not a session as such, but to quote from their website

We are a group of amateur musicians who meet in Bromsgrove to play traditional English, American, Irish and Scottish dance music. The main purpose of the group is simply to enjoy the music (and each other's company); occasionally we get invited by other organisations to entertain them with background music, or to run a barn dance or ceilidh for them.

You can find out more about them at

  http://www.orangecat.talktalk.net/PlayersClub/

 The Lord Nelson - Alcester - Meg's Friday sessions from 8.15ish

Dates 2009

3RD FRIDAY EACH MONTH

We have now moved out of the Hollybush completely to the bar of the Lord Nelson, just by the Library. A relatively small room but the atmosphere is a lot better. Drawback is space as the room fills up very quickly and gets extremely cosy!!. Moral is get there EARLY if you want a seat ( usually kicks off 8.15 - 8.30). Please be aware this was a session originally designed for musicians to get their fix of tunes and is not a normal singaround.

The pub also does an excellent rang of home cooked food for those who fancy going a bit earlier and eating first

 The Hollybush - Alcester - Phil's Tuesday sessions 8.30 - 9ish start

Held in the front room usually but usually a lot quieter than the Friday session and generally starts a bit later - nearer 9 pm. Geared towards musicians rather than singers with tunes to suit all tastes and abilities.

Dates for 2009

 FIRST TUESDAY EACH MONTH

The Bowling Green at Stoke Works...............................(Last Sunday) 

 Not to be confused with the Cross and Bowling Green at Hadley. This pub is at the back of Wychbold - not far from the Boat and Railway and the Harris brush works.

This has taken over from the old session at the Park Gate in Bromsgrove. Is usually very busy and seats difficult to find and very cramped in a small area. Tends to be a mix of songs and tunes of all flavours, though to my taste there is too much singing and not enough music - can also be too heavy with box players. A lot of background noise as well makes things hard to hear

The Fleece at Bretforton.....................(Thursday)

Now back in its usual room after the fire -  have not been along yet, but am told it is a complete mix of styles -  dependant on who turns up

The Fox at Monkwood Green - nr Hallow, Worcester .................... ( Last Friday)

Once you can find the place this is usually a pretty good session - Turn off at the old Black and White garage in Hallow, follow the lanes to Monkwood Green and the pub suddenly appears in the middle of nowhere! Very popular session and usually gets very busy by 9pm. Everything from English, Irish tunes and songs to Buddy Holly and Blues but can get noisy and not always easy to hear what is being played. Pub serves the best rough cider for miles.