Irish/Trad Music Jams in Chiang Mai?

[properjob]

A couple of years ago I asked about music get-togethers where people bring their instruments and jam. At the time I was pointed to one regular gathering, but it was mostly people playing and singing pop and country like the Beatles and John Denver, so it wasn't Irish/Traditional.

For the uninformed, Irish/Trad jam sessions happen a lot in other countries (especially the USA, UK and Ireland), where people take along their instrument - guitar, banjo, mandolin, bodhran, penny whistle, flute - and play mostly Scots/Irish folk tunes, with maybe some bluegrass thrown in.

I'd be interested to hear if any such gatherings happen in or near Chiang Mai.

Edited July 20, 2016 by properjob

[properjob]

Hmmm, maybe that's a 'no' then

[CMKiwi]

Although I am not from the motherland.... I do like listening to an Irish session or seisun.

Reminds me of a great night in a place called Pilgrims Rest in Hong Kong. That was back in the mid eighties.

It was a Brit serviceman's watering hole and people would just get together and have a jolly good jam session, complete with lagerphone.

Unfortunately never seen a get together like that in Chiang Mai.

[properjob]

Although I am not from the motherland.... I do like listening to an Irish session or seisun.

Reminds me of a great night in a place called Pilgrims Rest in Hong Kong. That was back in the mid eighties.

It was a Brit serviceman's watering hole and people would just get together and have a jolly good jam session, complete with lagerphone.

Unfortunately never seen a get together like that in Chiang Mai.

I was in Hongkong from '88 to '98, but I don't recall a Pilgrims Rest bar. Just about the only bar I remember British army guys dropping into was Ned Kelly's Last Stand, in Tsim Tsa Tsui. Jeez I had some good nights in there.

Maybe someone on the forum will be able to point us to any Irish sessions, if they do exist in these parts.

rm

[Shoeless Joe]

Pulling this thread back from circa 30 years ago in Hong Kong tothe present day in Chiang Mai -

Why not ask the owner(s) at one of the "Irish" pubs (O'Malleys or the UN Irish bar)? I'm pretty sure they don't have any traditional Irish music but you never know, it might be something to think about starting.

Good luck,

Joe

[cooked]

There have been postings about jammers in Chiang Mai being fined for working without a permit.

Good luck with that, I went from giving dance courses, leading a dance group, animating children to dance and playing music to a definite zero stop of such activities when I moved here.

[CMKiwi]

Although I am not from the motherland.... I do like listening to an Irish session or seisun.

Reminds me of a great night in a place called Pilgrims Rest in Hong Kong. That was back in the mid eighties.

It was a Brit serviceman's watering hole and people would just get together and have a jolly good jam session, complete with lagerphone.

Unfortunately never seen a get together like that in Chiang Mai.

I was in Hongkong from '88 to '98, but I don't recall a Pilgrims Rest bar. Just about the only bar I remember British army guys dropping into was Ned Kelly's Last Stand, in Tsim Tsa Tsui. Jeez I had some good nights in there.

Maybe someone on the forum will be able to point us to any Irish sessions, if they do exist in these parts.

rm

Pilgrims Rest or "Pilly's" as it was known was in the residential area where the married servicemen/women lived. Kowloon Tong Ping Fong or somewhere near there. Blackdown or Blacktown barracks were just around the corner.

Got horribly drunk there one night and my hosts had to carry me back to their apartment block. They were on the 12 floor if I remember correctly and in direct line of Kaitak airport. Their kids and I use to have great delight watching planes coming into land and having to re-adjust their flight line.

There was always rumours about being tyre marks on some buildings as the planes did get rather close to buildings on final approach. Grand old airport....it sure tested ones nerve coming into land but technology and time stands still for nought. Havent been to the new airport yet.

I remember NK, it was the stat of a rather long pub crawl of TTT more seedy side. Those Brit soldiers were a funny mob, but great to get on the gas with.

Id like to see an Irish jam session again...great music and always very lively. Gets the feet taping and lifts morale (Well IMO).

[properjob]

There have been postings about jammers in Chiang Mai being fined for working without a permit.

Good luck with that, I went from giving dance courses, leading a dance group, animating children to dance and playing music to a definite zero stop of such activities when I moved here.

It's understandable that teaching of any sort is dodgy without the correct visa. Yes, a few years ago there was a scare over jammers in live music venues falling foul of Immigration. But after that, the Thai owner of one bar spoke with Immigration and established that people sitting in for a few songs for fun (and without payment) was perfectly alright. He has big jam nights every week that have never drawn any difficulties with the authorities. I'm pretty certain a pub Irish/Trad session would be OK.

[anto]

I like an old Irish music session .Any time i go back to Dublin ,my first port of call is the Cobble stone pub in the Smithfield area .Live traditional music sessions every night ,where musicians just turn up ,and play .Often as much as 10 playing at the same time .

The closest i got to that in Chiang mai ,is the music session at the UN Irish bar every St.Patricks day/night.