Okay, so it wasn't the full-bore blast of the overflowing porch-full of players as was typical during the halcyon years of 2010-2019, but a lovely session nonetheless; a perfect combination of players and tunes as well as a full complement of mystery guests in off the street.
We started off with a CD launch celebration/concert with Paudie Walsh - an honor to have him with us, truly, and such a fine melodeon player - and then gathered the rest of the clan for tunes that went well into the evening, stopping at around 9pm out of respect for the neighbors.
It was a festive, high-energy weekend, a fitting tribute to Paudie and his music and to summer's end.
Warming up in the gallery
We always manage to find our way back into the kitchen.
Always fun to light up the little bottle lanterns I bought in Ennistymon and brought home in my suitcase, wrapped up in my socks.
Despite a few challenges, including: pouring rain, a broken melodeon key, and no parade or fireworks, the music and spirit prevailed and we had a grand time.
Thanks, all - players, listeners, and appreciative passersby - for adding to the fun.
Paudie and Maggie
Who could imagine we'd be sitting in front of a fire on July 3?
David and Paudie
Erica
Dear Maggie
Leroy!
Bob, David, and Paudie
Monday morning in the gallery. Bob.
The Silver Spear and The Earl's Chair. Paudie held his own all day despite missing a critical note on his melodeon.
Concertina Reel - the only tune that never needed the missing note. I never play this tune without thinking of Bob Denton, the one who introduced us to this tune right here on this porch many years ago. I love how certain tunes bring to mind different people and places.
Bucks of Oranmore
The Mountain Road and Rolling in the Rye Grass
Concertina Reel, take 2
The Rose in the Heather
Christmas Eve
Doctor O'Neill's
My favorite part of any session is the morning after. Everything has quieted down, but the inspiration from the night before is still flowing and there's usually time for a few intimate after-breakfast tunes before everyone has to head for the ferry. Loved these tunes with Bob.
A weekend Vineyard Trad session often includes a tour up-Island, to Moshup Beach at the Gay Head/Aquinnah Cliffs, one of my favorite swimming/surfing/boogie-boarding beaches; a joy to share a part of my Island world with first-time visitors (and my special weekend music guests) Joey Abarta and Jaclyn O'Riley.
According to Wampanoag legend, Moshup, a benevolent giant, created Martha's Vineyard and the neighboring islands. Moshup's favorite meal was broiled whale and it is said that the clay in the cliffs was colored red by the blood of the whales he threw against the cliffs. These cliffs are embedded with 100 million years of history and are sacred to the Wampanoag tribe.
A little Saturday pre-session warm-up session, a fun afternoon on the porch. The town was cracking with activity on the last official weekend of summer - people and weddings to our left and to our right - a very lively and friendly atmosphere, with folks stopping to listen and occasionally interjecting their own commentary, including the young women who were hot on the trail of "Taylor Swift's best friend's wedding." (we didn't know it at the time, but that was the wedding going on to our left at the Beautiful Old Church of Whaling Days; also, the reception a half a block away to our right at Atria) There was also the gentleman who stumbled by with a loud boom box on his shoulders who stopped and assured us that he, too, was a "celebrity of music."
Later in the evening. It was a cool enough for a coat or a wrap, but not cold enough to send us inside - yet.
Joey and Jackie; lovely together.
Liam
Liam and Nathan
Jackie and Billy O'Callaghan
Lovely, steady, good friend, fine fiddler and concertina player, Wynter.
We finally succumbed to the Vineyard night air, while also not wanting to outstay our welcome with our neighbors, and took the session inside where the music and fun continued on into the wee hours.
We awoke Sunday morning to a bit of a wind and rain storm. Bad luck for Wynter and Liam who had planned on leaving on the morning Pied Piper to Falmouth, but good luck for the rest of us. What do you do on the Vineyard when the ferries are cancelled? You bring the music into the dining room around the piano with your morning coffee and keep playing and dancing. I have many moments of being grateful to have moved back home into this old house and opening it up to friends, family, and music, and the minute I heard my dining room filled with pipes, piano, flute, fiddle, and dance, it confirmed everything I'd hoped for, and despite the storm raging outside, that all was in order and the ancestors all were smiling.
On Sunday afternoon Jackie, Joey, and I headed up to West Tisbury to check out the annual MV Artisan's Fair, in particular, our friend and session mate Billy O'Callaghan's work.
Bill O'Callaghan - magical, mad potter.
We ran into my daughter, Maria, and granddaughter Orion at the fair and we all headed over to the Polly Hill Arboretum for a fairy-tale walk that features Billy's clay figurines, with narration by his wife, Robin Tuck.
Our walk was enhanced by Orion, who helped us see the already-magical story through the playful and innocent eyes of a child.
