Winter at Old Plank Farm is moving along slow and steady. Tis the season for learning things, and that's what I've been doing a lot of, although not so much related to farming, these days. I've spent many of this winter's cold, dark evenings learning new tunes on the violin. Nothing brightens a winter's night like lively music. And getting to share that music with other talented musicians...well! Nothing beats that.
The Fig and The Pheasant (previously called 52 Stafford) in Plymouth is gracious enough to host an Irish music session where I and other folk musicians can gather and play together every week in an informal setting. We aren't a band, we don't rehearse together, and we don't decide on a tune list ahead of time. We just take turns swapping tunes and enjoying each others' musical company. As the beginner in the group, I'm humbled by the other fiddle players vast song banks and skills, and I'm so grateful they've let me tag along with them. In addition to learning new music on the violin, I’m learning to keep my hands clean, and that’s a feat for this farmer! Though I am eagerly waiting to have my hands in the soil again, for now I am content to wait a little more.
If you enjoy live music, I hope you'll stop by The Fig and The Pheasant on a Wednesday evening this winter. We play every week starting around 7:30pm.
