Greenshoots

Welcome to Greenshoots Music Group

What Are We?

We are a small, amateur, music practice group, with origins and focus in the folk tradition, but sometimes playing a wider range of music.

Who Are We?

It varies week to week, but usually between 5 and 12 people of all ages. There is a core group who have been coming (on and off) for years that gives continuity and stability, and then newcomers join every few months - some stay for a few months, and others stay for years (or leave and come back again later).


At a collaboration concert in October 2010 (concentrating too hard - normally happier!)

Where, When and How?

After many years at the Red Lion at Whittleford, a major refurbishment removed our practice room, so we have moved to another pub nearby. This is the Black Horse at Melbourn, near Cambridge (UK!). The address is 63 Orchard Rd, Melbourn, Royston, SG8 6BP. For location information and a map see here.

We meet on alternate Monday evenings, from 8pm to 10:30. In 2011, the first sessions were 3rd and 17th Jan, then strictly every other week (so 4th and 18th July, 7th and 21st November, etc.).

New players are always welcomed! Cost is zero! Contact details are at the bottom of the page.

What Instruments Do We Play?

Currently the group wields (mainly) two concertinas (one Anglo and one English), one accordion, three fiddles, two guitars, one bass guitar, one mandolin, two flutes, recorder, etc.

What Music Do We Play?

Over the years we have built up a large list of tunes to which we have the music. Most are folk music, particularly folk dance tunes. However there are many exceptions ranging from Nellie the Elephant and Lily Marlene, to American Patrol and Ashokan farewell. Here is a list of some tunes we have played. The majority are single line melodies with chord accompaniement, but we are increasing our use of harmony settings (mainly 2-part). Many of the tunes are now available in Paul Hardy's session tunebook, which is free as PDF to download and print, and also in abc format to play and manipulate.

What Is The Standard?

Variable! We are a mix of abilities and experience, but are all better than when we joined. We start new tunes slowly, and then speed up gradually. We are not afraid of stopping and practicing difficult bits several times.

How Is It Organised?

We are a self-help group, with no single boss (a benevolent oligarchy?). Paul is the usual leader when he's there, predominantly because his concertina can be heard! Chris is the musical director. Mike handles the finances and Rose holds the master copies of our music.

Do We Perform in Public?

Rarely! We exist to play for our own pleasure, and to improve our playing. However, we normally do a carol session for charity each year before Christmas, and have been known to do half hour spots at local folk events during the year.

Performing at the Red Lion folk day in July 2002

What do we sound like?

There are some MP3 recordings of some of us playing a set at a local collaboration concert. The melody section was a bit depleted that day, but you should get the idea.

Current Music Session Contents

Sessions in 2011 are currently letting people choose tunes to practice on the evening, by going round the room to give everyone a chance to choose one they like (or dislike but want to practice!), mainly from Paul Hardy's Session Tunebook.

Previous Music Session Content

In previous years, we have worked through the alphabet:

Before that we used to plan sessions more formally, and some previous programmes are available:

Other Info

Contacts

Webmaster: Paul Hardy, 15 Kentings, Comberton, CAMBRIDGE, CB23 7DT.
email paul at paulhardy dot net.
Secretary: Mike Rawlings  

Go up to Hardy home page