Hanway's Hootenanny: every Tuesday in Longford

by Tom Hanway

I have started a weekly Tuesday night pickin' and grinnin' session, where I play banjo and guitar and sing the good ol' stuff. I put the brakes on the Hootenanny in Dublin and moved it to Longford, where I am now hosting a bluegrass/Americana jam, open to all pickers and singers - the usual suspects and special guests.

'Hanway’s Hootenanny' takes place every Tuesday night at The Stillery, Richmond Street, Longford, 8.30 p.m. It's a fantastic room, acoustically, with semi-circle seating facing the bar and an appreciative audience who clap after songs. With a lovely fireplace and no TV or radio distractions, it's a picker's delight. The staff and customers are into the bluegrass and 'O Brother'-style music.

I've been working up some Scruggs tunes and some old fiddle tunes, e.g. 'Crazy creek' (without a capo). Also 'Caravan' and 'Avalon', 'Limehouse blues', 'Bye, bye blues', et al.