One main reason why I like the Irish Whistle and Irish "Sessions" is that its a way to play music with your neighbors.

There is a low barrier of entry to getting a fipple flute (many can be 3D printed as folks have noted) and mass produced ones are $10 to $20 USD for entry-level ones. Other folk instruments can be approachable as well and many can be passed down, gifted, or sold "used".

Learning to play is straight forward with plenty of free or low cost ways to learn - either online or even better from each other locally.

But the big thing is that finding local "jam sessions" is straight forward. And organizing ones where they dont exist yet is easy as well. Folks play in a pub for heavens' sake. Folk music exists in every culture and has existed since humans (and their ancestors) could bang a stick for blow air over a fipple or an embouchure while sitting around a fire.

You don't need to pay for a concert.

You don't need to form a band.

You don't need to buy an album, be fed from an algorithm, or get everything from a corporation.

You just get together and play with each other.

It's the community theater of music. The old ways still exist and folks are still coming together to take care of each other. Corporations have had a good run isolating us and leaching our money, but we aren't limited to that.

(Also if you dont want to play, you can sing. Even if your singing voice is terrible! 😅 Or you can tap your feet, slap your thigh, whistle, or hum. Orrrr.... you can just drink a coke or a beer and listen to your neighbors play and sing! Clapping and cheering go far!)

You can find local Irish trad sessions that you can play with or listen to here: https://thesession.org/sessions

What sorts of folk music do you have in your area? What instruments are played? What songs are sung?

#solarPunk #music #tradMusic #irishSession