What Is An Irish Session?

March 1, 2016 by Jeff Ksiazek

Irish sessions are fun gatherings of musicians sharing tunes and conversations in a relaxed setting. They can be an important part of an area’s Irish music community, passing along tunes and the tradition. An Irish session’s focus is on the instrumental tunes (and sometimes songs) found within the Irish tradition – reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slip jigs, and the like.

For those who have been learning Irish music and are looking to play with others, what should you expect to find at a session?