6
votes
What music have you been playing recently?
Do you play a musical instrument? However well or badly, here's a place to talk about what you've been practicing or performing.
Do you play a musical instrument? However well or badly, here's a place to talk about what you've been practicing or performing.
I put together a small set list for Mum's 80th birthday. Mostly English and Irish folk tunes with me on Guitar and singing.
One of the things Dad used to say to me was that he wished I'd learned the guitar - now I have young child photos of me playing hammond organ aged 4 or 5 in the 70s, and I got quite proficient at electric piano, and later more modern keyboards. And learned the Clarsach too.
Anyway, I had been learning a guitar / vocal set to play for Dad at Christmas 2025 but he passed away in November of that year before I could perform it for him. (dad was a musician - played in folk clubs in the 60s , and we had a duo together in the 80s and 90s).
That was my biggest regret so I went for it at Mum's 80th lol. Could only manage to croak my way through 'Go Down' from Steeleye Span due to the emotions - the updated version with the new perspective on the narrator from the re-release in the 2000s is much more powerful, and her Irish favourites too, like Black Velvet Band, Fields Of Athenrye, but you get in to your stride with Star Of The County Down - accelerating the tempo through 'onward sped'. American readers may be interested to know I added Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald to my set too. Marvellous song
It's way more terrifying playing for a family audience IMO. Dad was always the front man in our gigging days and took a lot of the performance anxiety from me.
I've decided to learn the transverse concert flute next, if I can. Grabbed one of the Nuvo models, and I'm looking for an online video teacher, because there's no IRL teachers around here.
My 'Go Down' was pretty raw as it was a late addition to the set, so I'm refining that right now. Usual play the song on loop until it's nailed.
I'm motivated enough to try and find a local folk club now. I think I would have the confidence to play and sing a tune or two without too much anxiety. Last time I went to Ireland I tried to join in in all the pubs. Folk song variations do be biting you though.
I don't really play keys much any more. It's all guitar and harp and my guitar is kinda awful. It's really just a rhythmic device for me to sing to.
I think this ended up longer than I might have intended, sorry.