“Twitch is stupid,” I declared, and then I heard what I said. Trial and error shows when I think something’s stupid I’m probably wrong. So I jumped in and investigated this world of live-streaming, designed for video gamers but endorsed by practicing classical musicians, artists, hippies, and tarot readers.

I signed up as @MadredelaGuarida and went looking for folk music. There they were, Lauzeta, performing solid Irish classics like Whiskey in the Jar from their home in Catalunya, Spain. They also cover some of my favorite Latin pop hits: Cuando Los Angeles Lloran by Maná, and Gimme Tha Power by Molotov.  It’s from Lauzeta I learned about Christy Moore’s beautiful ballad Viva la Quinta Brigada (just for fun, here’s Auld Corn Brigade smashing it.) You should hear Lauzeta perform it.

Lauzeta are interactive with their online audience: They taught us Garrotín, a Catalonian tradition. It’s a form of flamenco, maybe? I don’t know how it goes in a live setting, but on Twitch, it goes like this: We, the audience, type verses into chat. Guitarist Joan Baró sings them in real time while lovely Nuria Garcia accompanies with fiddle & harmony. This is how the duo came to remember me: stringing my verses to make a narrative in mixed English and Spanish. I even picked up 3 or 4 words in Catalán (¡moltes gracies, Lauzeta – ets Brutal!)

Joan designs emotes for the duo’s Twitch channel, and also their album covers. Classically-trained violinist Nuria does not consider herself an artist, but I’ve noticed an emotive painting on the wall behind them when they stream from home. She told me a painting on another wall was done by her mother.

But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here because, despite the time difference between Annandale, Virginia, and Lleida, Spain, I happened to be around when Lauzeta streamed live from Antares, a Catalonian blues and jazz club. Joan i Nuria were not onstage, but sitting at tables to play music, with beer and peanuts. A couple other musicians were sitting with them, and then a couple more. And then I could hear a trumpet or two. And an accordion, and I think I heard a flute. Nuria picked up her phone and turned the camera to show us about a dozen musicians all pulling up chairs to play along. I could see people pointing and smiling from nearby tables; others standing, dancing, taking pictures.

me: I think you arranged with the venue ahead of time, yes? What details were agreed upon at first? Did you know so many people would come?

LF: We arranged with the venue that we would be in charge of the session, but neither of us knew how many people (musicians or clients) would show up. We were about 15!

me: I think that there’s something more normal in your culture about a gathering like this. There are too many rules about live performance in America, and I just don’t think the musicians would be willing to try something new.

LF: Actually, it is not that common here anymore… We learnt from the Irish sessions and started doing it here! But normally in a venue you would find regular concerts or maybe jazz jam sessions, but still, it is different…

Lauzeta & Antares will keep doing this – every first Sunday of the month. To catch it for yourself without going to Spain, follow them at twitch.tv/lauzetafolk, on Twitter as @LauzetaFolk, @NuriaGarsal, and @rodamusic, on Facebook, and on Instagram. Tell them Debora sent you!

You can own a piece of this world by purchasing Lauzeta’s latest studio recording, El llibre vermell, on Bandcamp (warning: Filomena is a bit of a naughty song!) Please also check out Joan’s wonderful album, Sol. I love it, and I hope you will, too.