Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Pacific.
This is a repeating event, weather permitting — check Event News for changes
Location: Cook Park, Tigard, Oregon – 17005 SW 92nd Avenue, Tigard, OR 97224
Let’s get together to play some tunes outside!
This is a weekly event in the good-weather months. The Butterfly Garden in Cook Park, Tigard, has wide open space where we can gather in shade, sunshine, or shelter. Here’s the link to the park’s website.
Bring a chair and an instrument. The park is a great place to take a walk or have a picnic before or after the session. If you come with companions, there is plenty of room for them to roam among the trees and trails and by the river if they want a break from the tune playing.
Where we are gathering: as you enter the park via SW 92nd Ave, turn left at the open gate and head toward Shelter 4 (the park’s website has a map). We’ll gather on the lawn near Shelter 4, at the entrance to the Butterfly Garden. We’ll pick a shady spot if it’s a warm day, or grab a sunny spot if it’s a cool day. If it’s rainy we’ll get under the roof of Shelter 4.
What we’ll play: Anyone at the session may suggest the next tune (or set) we’ll play. Here’s a link to the list of Irish/Celtic tunes we’ve played at this session in the past. Among the many tunes we’ll play at this session is the TrailJams “Tune of the Week.” While the core of the tunes played at the session come from the Irish traditional repertoire, some tunes may come from other traditions including American old-time and contra.
Not sure what to expect? This session is a gathering of musicians to play traditional tunes. These are often referred to as “fiddle tunes.” No audience is required, but passers by are likely to pause and listen for a while, and some enjoy settling nearby to enjoy the music. The acoustic instruments played typically include fiddle, concertina, guitar, bodhran, tin whistle, flute, and mandolin. The tempo of tune playing at this session tends to be moderate. This is not a sight-reading session — aim to play by ear and from memory (though it is okay to refer to sheet music if you need to).
Afterward: If you want to leave time for evening traffic to ease up after the session, there are some good nearby food and drink venues in or near downtown Tigard. There is no hard stop time to the session, so if the tunes are flowing we may stay longer.