Regulars to the club will have no need to be reminded what an awesome songwriter and performer Robb Johnson is when he comes to see us.

Obviously he always plays as a solo performer on those occasions but you can see him in action with his band The Irregulars on Friday March 20th in the Plough.

The gig is part of Graham Larkbey and companies Tunnel Vision nights which are moving from Thursdays to Fridays. Robb and the Irregulars will be supported by Graham and his band the Escape Committee who are a fabulous outfit in their own right.

It should be a great night – See you there!

Just a reminder that our next tune session is this Tuesday the 10th March kicking off at around 8:00pm.

Who knows which famous celebrities may turn up this time..?

Steven Cain writes…

Well, this was my first time at the Walthamstow session, and I really enjoyed it. Seventeen or so came along with fiddles, melodeons, concertinas, guitars, a bodhran and miscellaneous other instruments.

We were led gently through 16 or so core tunes by ‘the management’, while others took us into Sheperd’s Hey, Bobby Shaftoe, Hesleyside, the Sportsman’s Hornpipe, Blue Eyed Stranger, Jack of the Green, Rusty Gulley, Enrico, and Buttered Peas. We slipped in Belgian tune Bear Dance, and Shetland fiddle tunes Willafjord and Margaret’s Waltz. A mysterious stranger amazed us with the modern French composition L’Inconnu de Limoise and the older La Cinq-Cent. We played Irish classic Tobin’s Favourite in local Chingford style, Barrack Hill and Dribbles of Brandy.

I’m new to the session thing, but could play along with two or three of the easy tunes, and bits and pieces of other tunes I knew. Sometimes I was happy to pick out odd notes, and otherwise I just relaxed, drank nice beer and soaked up the music. There looked to be a number of beginners like me, some more experienced players, and some very capable indeed. The mysterious stranger turned out to be Dave Shepherd, fiddler from Blowzabella, who popped in after giving someone a lift: I don’t think we can hope for such a stellar attendance every month, but it was lovely to have him along.

Walthamstow tune sessions are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Dates have now been confirmed for 10th March, 14th April, 12th May, 9th June, 14th July. From 8pm we start on tunes suitable for beginners at a relaxed pace. The later part of the evening from about 9.30 will be for everyone including those looking for something a bit more challenging. The focus is on the English repertoire, interpreted widely.