Traditional music and song sessions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland.

Aberdeen and the North East has a rich and diverse musical and cultural heritage. You can experience this for yourself by coming along to a traditional music / song session. Music can be found most nights of the week in a number of venues around Aberdeen and in Aberdeenshire.

A pub session is a very informal gathering of musicians and singers. Drop in and listen, or bring an instrument or a song and join in.

Adapted from Wikipedia:

“The general session scheme is that someone starts a tune, and those who know it join in. Anyone who is able to play traditional music is welcome.

Sometimes there are more-or-less recognized session leaders; sometimes there are no leaders. At times a song will be sung or a slow air played by a single musician between sets.

The objective in a session is not to provide music for an audience of passive listeners; although the punters (non-playing attendees) often come for the express purpose of listening, the music is most of all for the musicians themselves. The session is an experience that is shared, not a performance that is bought and sold.

The sessions are a key aspect of traditional music; some say it is the main sphere in which the music is formulated and innovated. Further, the sessions enable less advanced musicians to practice in a group”.

Maintained by Iain Richardson (Yousdancin Ceilidh Band).