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 and lyrics – been turned into a 42-page booklet. It was our first practice since February. And it was good to be with friends because most of us musicians are ploughing a lonely Covid furrow at present. I think I am improving on the mandolin, but there is no-one to give me critical feedback.
In the meantime, I put out another call on www.thesession.org asking for musicians in northern Greece. I got one reply from someone saying he passed through Salonika once a year, but nothing from anyone based here. Greece is a desert for Irish music. Fact: there are more Irish music sessions in Reykjavik than there are in the whole of Greece.
Finally, a little treat. I’ve recently come across a bunch of very talented young musicians led (if that’s the correct word) by Josh Turner and Reina del Cid. They do a great cover of “Stuck in the Middle”. They also do Beatles, Beach Boys, Dylan, Buddy Holly, Hank Williams… There is quite a lot on YouTube. Today while looking for Fisher’s Hornpipe, I found this featuring Josh on the mandolin. He’s a brilliant guitarist and bassist too.