Maria C - Posted - 05/21/2013:  17:25:54

Do I have to up and  move to America to find banjo players to learn and play with ?

Maria x

wizofos - Posted - 05/21/2013:  17:58:10

Check the groups to see if there are any groups that interest you, there are some clawhammer groups.

Also check members and search by location UK.  If you find someone close drop them a line and make a new friend.

YWGbanjo - Posted - 05/21/2013:  19:02:57

Or move to Winnipeg. We still celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday!

Paul R - Posted - 05/21/2013:  21:00:20

Welcome to BHO, Maria.

A quick look shows that there are 461 BHO members in England. Surely there is one (or more) near you. Good luck!

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 05/21/2013:  21:42:46

We'd be honored to have you join us, but it could be an expensive way of learning banjo. And you could get here to find yourself stuck with a nut like me for a picking partner. Check the members list first, you can always pull up stakes and move later if necessary. Heck, most of our ancestors came from somewhere on other continents! I don't think it was banjo that brought my Grand Parents here, though.
Paul

mbuk06 - Posted - 05/21/2013:  23:28:11

I don't know what the teaching and jamming is like where you are but I suggest you bookmark the FOAOTMAD and UK Bluegrass websites below as they will keep you informed about gigs, jams, festivals and teachers in your area plus a whole bunch else of social stuff. 

foaotmad.org.uk/

ukbluegrass.com/

These days I believe US immigration operates a strict quota policy on accepting banjo players. 1500 of theirs have to emigrate before they'll let one in. Some half-baked idea about social engineering and the sustainability of the gene pool. Reasoning that we're too poor to fly part of their policy is that their eastern seaboard is now protected by a continuous 'torpedo' net to prevent illegal entry. It's become such a problem that endangered wildlife groups have suggested extending the mesh laws that now apply to Dolphins to European banjo players. Shocking. 

Edited by - mbuk06 on 05/21/2013 23:30:49

grumpsie - Posted - 05/22/2013:  00:58:49

Get yourself to this as soon as you can:

sorefingers.co.uk/

You'll learn truckloads, make lots of new friends and hear lots of great music. Heaven on earth if you ask me, and well worth every penny.

Maria C - Posted - 05/22/2013:  01:14:08

Many thanks for all the advice and links you have given me . I will do some clicking later. What a frirndly place this is :o)

Blimey ! I didn't think there would be such harsh Banjo immigration laws! Thanks for letting me know ;o)

..... Paul when I saw your message I thought it was Bedford England, which is half an hour up the road from me!

Maria x

Maria C - Posted - 05/22/2013:  01:14:29

Many thanks for all the advice and links you have given me . I will do some clicking later. What a frirndly place this is :o)

Blimey ! I didn't think there would be such harsh Banjo immigration laws! Thanks for letting me know ;o)

..... Paul when I saw your message I thought it was Bedford England, which is half an hour up the road from me!

Maria x

mbuk06 - Posted - 05/22/2013:  01:56:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by grumpsie

 

Get yourself to this as soon as you can:

sorefingers.co.uk/

You'll learn truckloads, make lots of new friends and hear lots of great music. Heaven on earth if you ask me, and well worth every penny.

 

---

...and you'll need to allow about two weeks to recover 

bublnsqueak - Posted - 05/22/2013:  22:19:41

I am going to my first FOAOTMAD camp this weekend 24 to 27 of May.

Its near Peterborough just up the A1 from you. Weather looks reasonable for sat & sun.

Not sure what the score is but they seem friendly enough.

Might see you there. (I don't look much like my avatar)

Paul

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 05/22/2013:  23:17:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by Maria C

 

What a friendly place this is :o)

---

Ahh!

I can tell you haven't explored the "Off-Topic" section as yet!  

~Pete

Cappers - Posted - 05/23/2013:  01:25:17

I can second Grumpsie's comment about Sorefingers week (There's a weekend in the Autumn as well). I went to Sorefingers for the first time this year, met loads of fellow banjo fanatics (Grumpsie included). I can also confirm it took a while to recover.
Unfortunately, it does seem to be the case there's a lack of fellow banjo players where i live, in Southampton. So, for the moment i'll have to be satisfied with the kind of events like sorefingers and FOAOTMAD camps (which is no bad thing)

countryman99 - Posted - 05/23/2013:  02:42:13

Hi! Maria, and welcome to B H O, I also live in UK, just  half an hours ride north of Bedford, and still in the early stages of learning CH banjo. But if I can be of any help?

Also there is a group here on B H O for UK 5 string banjo players.

Mac.

Maria C - Posted - 05/23/2013:  03:10:26

Thanks for that Mac.How do you find the BHO UK group ?
Maria

Maria C - Posted - 05/23/2013:  03:12:07

The Banjo camps look great . Thanks for all the ideas.
Maria x

countryman99 - Posted - 05/23/2013:  07:11:21

If you check on my home page Maria, you will see a list of groups that I have entered, including UK 5. just click on that. Also try the 2 Finger style group,

its a great eye-opener...........Have fun.

Mac.