After managing the Covid crisis so well, the disease is now raging all over the country. Over the past ten days, the total number of deaths has equalled or even surpassed the total number of deaths that occurred between March and October. Even more depressing is that the average age is decreasing with the result... Continue Reading →

This time the practice was in town. Age, illness and Covid are slowing us down, so only three of us managed to turn up. This meant a practice that focused almost entirely on instrumentals. We also took the opportunity to measure the length of some instrumental sets. Not out of nerdiness, I must add. Depending... Continue Reading →

On Tuesday (15/9/20) I took the Thessaloniki Water Bus from Nei Epivates to the Port of Thessaloniki. The €5 single fare was well worth it. It’s a pleasant walk from my home to the harbour wall and, at the end of the trip, the walk from the boat to the port gates is also very... Continue Reading →

Last night’s and last week’s practices were limited to three people, two old-hands and a new guitarist. So, they were technical get-togethers to see how the guitarist was coping with unfamiliar material as he is new to Irish music. I’m pleased to say he’s coping very well. The last two practices have concentrated solely on... Continue Reading →

It’s been nearly three months since I posted anything. The unFamous Five finally got together in a garden on Saturday, July 25th. Even our tin whistle player made it. He’s on holiday from his workplace in Bulgaria.  We have more or less agreed on a playlist which has now – with sheet music, chord frames... Continue Reading →

Maybe I should coin a new word - “unepisode” - because nothing is happening. Could "απεισόδιο" exist in Greek as the opposite of επεισόδιο?? Moreover, virus or no virus, it seems that the idea of establishing a session in the Thessaloniki area is going to be a non-starter for the foreseeable future.  One other setback... Continue Reading →

Covid 19 and the general shutdown of daily life have put my blogging on hold. I continue to practise almost daily, but I prefer to practise with a goal. I’m trying to learn reels that I ought to know and ought to have known for decades but never got round to learning them. I’m too... Continue Reading →

The music is at a standstill. Covid 19 has seen to that. The Grevena St. Patrick’s Festival was cancelled – or postponed till May – and our St. Patrick’s mini event in Riley's Bar in Peraia is also cancelled as all bars have been closed. I have received my personal belongings from Saudi Arabia among... Continue Reading →

On the plus side, we have been practising and, hopefully, improving. Unfortunately, we have failed so far to attract more interest from other musicians. The session will go ahead as planned on 29th February in Riley's Irish Bar, Peraia, but it looks as if it will be limited to my three comrades and me as... Continue Reading →

Now with a playlist put together and two practices done, we are beginning to shape up. As we were previously together in a band, the real challenge is to try to create an open session where other musicians can join in rather than sticking to our old repertoire. I have sent another message out to... Continue Reading →

Slowly getting it together. The two Greek-based contacts still have not got in touch, but my old friends haven't let me down. Three have rallied to the cause, a fourth is based in Bulgaria, and we are encouraging a fifth! We have also found a venue, Riley's Irish Bar in Perea. The first session will... Continue Reading →

There is a good band locally called Tir Fada. The members are Greek and they play Irish and Scottish music to a very high standard. However, there is no session scene so my target is to 1) find a venue and 2) find a viable number of musicians. I am on two websites, www.tradconnect.com and... Continue Reading →