Musicians from all over the UK and Ireland will converge on the island’s pubs for a festival, celebrating the classic pub music session.

The Traditional Irish Music Weekend takes place over three days, from Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 1, and will see musicians of all age and ability take part.

The focus of the weekend is simply to play Gaelic music in pubs, and to mix with and learn from other like minded musicians.

The first session will take place at the Railway, on North Quay, Douglas, from 7.30pm, and the big session of the weekend takes place on Saturday, starting from midday at Brendan O’Donnells, in Castle Street, Douglas. This all-day session will carry on until closing time.

Sunday’s session will take place at the Prospect, on Prospect Hill, Douglas, beginning at midday and finishing at 8pm.

The organisers say that the idea of the weekend is to create informal gatherings of people in an environment where people are free to come and go as they please, and are welcome to join in whenever they feel like it.

’It’s a great event. It’s a chance to get local musicians together, and they get the chance to learn a whole range of Irish music and share tunes both Manx, Irish and Scottish.

’The sessions are open to anyone to come along, join in and play if they want to. Or they are just welcome to come down for a listen.

’Anyone can come down, regardless of ability, and they are welcome to join in.

’We will be having some top class musicians travel to the island for this. Over the years we have had a great number of people travelling over to the island. I think there are people coming from every county in Ireland, and from the UK.

’Last year we hadmusicians from America come over.

’Sessions are about encompassing everybody and spreading tunes. The ethos about the session weekend is about welcoming people, and being very friendly. It is very informal, and we want people to feel they can come along and just join in.’

There is to be another session venue in Laxey, which will be announced closer to the time. More information can be found on the Isle of Man Traditional Music Facebook page.

by Mike Wade

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