White Hart Inn entertainment with a traditional English and French tunes musicians bash and joining in session

Last night, for entertainment, I enjoyed a fantastic live music session at an English West Country pub in Somerton, Somerset called the White Hart Inn hosted by the affable Martin Hughes, which takes place on the fourth Thursday of the month (photo by kind permission of Martin).

The music was mainly traditional English dance music but traditional French tunes are also encouraged at this entertaining musicians joining in session.

I have to confess that the standard of musicianship was very high as it was at Martins other Somerset folk musicians session at the Wheatsheaf Inn, South Petherton.

The White Hart Inn, Somerton is a pleasant pub which seems to have a regular dining clientele and it wasn't long before there were ripples of applause coming from the dining room next door to the back bar where we were playing.

One of the admiring audience explained that he was running a Cider festival locally and was looking for musicians to provide some entertainment. I'm sure with the high quality of the musicians there that they get many such requests.

If you are looking for free entertainment on a Thursday evening dining out or having a drink with friends and enjoy live music and traditional English and French dance tunes, the White Hart at Somerton (the 'Ancient Royal Town of Wessex') is worth checking out on the fourth Thursday of the month. (Always previously check the session is taking place with the landlord to avoid any disappointment).

If you are a local musician and enjoy playing traditional English or French dance or folk dance music, why not pop along and see if you would like to join in. It's so much more fun than just playing at home by yourself :-)

It was a fine evening of live music making and I'm looking forward to returning to play with these excellent musicians again.

In the final stretch of my drive home, after midnight, I picked up a hitch-hiker who turned out to be very much the worse for drink. He was pleasant enough to talk to but left a lingering smell of booze in my campervan. He offered me a contribution towards the fuel but I said for him to do someone else a good turn instead. If we all put a little bit of goodwill into the world, perhaps it will be a much better place. I think Martin Hughes would very much agree with this sentiment.

Talking about people who are making the world a better place through free public entertainment, the Wessex Folk Festival will be happening soon and I am very much looking forward to it. This substantial Weymouth and Portland, South Dorset live music festival is run by a dedicated and courageous group of people on a non-profit making basis.

I heard they are looking for stewards to help with the running of the festival and also sponsors. Full details of this entertainment event are on the Wessex Folk Festival web site.

I attended their fine folk festival last year. It has lots of pub joining in sessions for musicians and singers plus some marvellous main stage entertainments. Hope Square last year had a wonderful continental ambience with the boats going by in Weymouth harbour and crowds of people sunning and enjoying themselves on the quayside as they listened to the music.

The local folkies have a regular Wednesday singaround and musicians playing session too at the Sailors Return, Weymouth, South Dorset which is worth checking out if you are in the Weymouth, Portland or South Dorset area (always check with the landlord the session is taking place before attending to avoid disappointment).

Have you a West Country folk musician joining in session you think is worth a visit which is accessible to an itinerant Somerset flute and soprano sax player who likes playing traditional folk tunes and is willing to travel. I'd love to hear about it through the comments section below.

I'm also interested in identifying a low cost camp site where I could stop off after sessioning at the Wheatsheaf, South Petherton and at the White Hart, Somerton. Any suggestions would be appreciated again in the comments section below.

Bye for now

Rob Hopcott
(online author and itinerant folk musician)