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Club Accord (West Midlands) - News
Mar., 14, 2011
 . CLUB ACCORD (WEST MIDLANDS) Club Accord is one of the oldest accordion clubs in the West Midlands, dating back to 1976. It was founded by the late Malcolm Gee and has had a rich and varied past including releasing an LP record in the 1980s. There are at least four great accordion clubs in and around Birmingham and the Black Country (the Black Country Accordion and Music Club, Rob’s club, the Shirley Accordion Club and Club Accord), and each one has its own flavour. I would recommend any of them. Club Accord meets monthly and alternates between nights with guest artists and club nights where we make our own entertainment. We round each year off with a Christmas party. Recently we’ve had some new members joining and old attenders returning, all playing good quality music with the result that right now we can put on very entertaining club nights that would please most accordion lovers. Poppy Middleton, who books our guest artist, has a keen eye for a new name and over the past year we have been visited by Eddie Jay, Declan Gaynor, the Men from Madrid, Ken Astin and Steve Pacitto with the Europa Trio (a brilliant performance). All were well worth hearing and gave us top entertainment. Well it’s time to bring the club into the digital age through the excellent UKAO website. We would love to bring in new members, passing trade, or anyone who is curious about the accordion or wants a night of informal musical entertainment in relaxing surroundings. If you’d like to come along and play, even better! We have a short spot on guest nights for club members to play, and on club nights, of course, the more the merrier… Although the club focuses on accordion playing, we have had harmonicas, violins, clarinets, even the bagpipes… We meet on THE SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH at 7:30pm, at: Catshill Social Club 13a Meadow Road Catshill (near Bromsgrove) B61 0JJ For directions, follow the link to http://catshillsocialclub.com/ and scroll right down to the bottom of the page. For more information, please contact Poppy Middleton, Tel: 0121-743-6637. We had a great club night on Monday January 10th. We had so many people wanting to play good music that we had to limit their time to fit everyone in. It was how a club night should be, The evening started with LYNDON BAINES on his bagpipes (well, it’s a reed instrument…) Lyndon learnt the pipes in South Carolina and he plays medleys of very varied tunes all held together by the atmospheric drone. The tuning and mechanics of the instrument gives even well known tunes a fascinating twist. (Set list: Rocking the Baby/The Rowan Tree/Itchy Fingers/Auld Lang Syne/Flett from Flota/Meeting of the Waters/Johnnie Scobie) From then on it was over to the accordion. Next came RAY IZOD, a regular at the club from before my time. I really hope he’ll be back. The man has a phenomenal memory for music ranging from standards and old time songs to Latin and accordion classics. It seemed that he could have played all night without repeating himself and he played in a fine style with excitement and finesse. (Set list: Tiko Tiko, La Mer, I’m in the Mood for Love, Taking a Chance, Tea for Two, Reine Musette, Yes Sir, Dantesque, Anything Goes, All of Me, Moonlight Serenade and many many more…) With Ingrid in plaster, the King’s Norton faction was represented by young SIMON GARDNER who played some quite intricate music from Scandinavia ranging from confusing Balkan rhythms to comedy to a fanfare and finished with a straightforward beautiful tune. He’s 13 and he plays in a very fresh, confident, natural style with fast fingers. I hope we hear a lot more from him. (Set list: Folkloristica, Toothbrush, Heroes of the Milky Way, Yuri from St Petersburg) Then HARRY LLOYD gave us 5 classic tunes in his lush chord-based style. He plays with a lot of passion and gets it across to the audience. Constantly striving for musical perfection and checking the audience reaction, he clearly puts a lot of work into developing new arrangements between sessions. It’s a pleasure to hear them. (Set list: Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, When I Fall in Love, Smile, When You Wish Upon a Star) Club stalwart and former chairman NEIL LAUDER played one of his unique sets linked together by a story, this time relating to being drafted into the Medical Corps and shipped to Hong Kong. His stories link together the widest range of music (with a bit of a Scottish bias). The tunes were very original choices and Careless Love was very affecting. Neil’s didn’t say how his last two tunes, Careless Love and Bel Viso (= “Beautiful Face”), were linked in with the story, but perhaps he brought back some pleasant memories from the East. (Set list: 3 Scots/Northumbrian border tunes, Mantovani’s Charmaine, Down in the Glen (Robert Wilson), Slow Boat to China, Al Jolson Medley, the Star of Robbie Burns, Careless Love, Bel Viso) MERVIN, has quickly made his mark with some very skilful performances of more classic tunes (including some serious bellows shaking in Lady of Spain). His arrangements, played from memory, have lots of variety and are quite intricate. Tonight he played to his usual high standard and got a great reception. Another relative newcomer who we hope will turn into a regular. (Set list: Espana, I Could Have Danced All Night, Spanish Eyes, Dough a Dear, We’ll Meet Again, Lady of Spain (with the bellows shake!)) ANDY BANKS rounded off the evening, this time sticking to his Shand Morino (he sometimes also plays a very beautiful bit of English Concertina). One of the clubs longest serving supporters and current chairman, Andy gave us only four tunes (as time was running out), all played with his true Scottish style and depth. (Set list: Oslo Waltz, Log Cabin, Liza Jones, Dark Island) NEXT MONTH (14th February) we have a guest artist, DECLAN GAYNOR who gave us a great night last year. He’s a regular on the social club circuit, playing Irish dance music and singing Irish songs (he’s got a great voice). Declan is a very professional entertainer as well as a fast accordion player and comes with a full electronic rig to maximise his sound. It should be great entertainment that everyone can enjoy. I hope you’ll be there.
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News from Accordionist Romano Viazzani
Mar., 13, 2011
 Thank you to all those who came to see Songs From a Hotel Bedroom at Watford Palace Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre and Covent Garden Opera House. Sorry I didn't see all of you but it was lovely to see those I did see. I hope you enjoyed Kurt Weill's lovely music. It's been a busy year and there are one or two further events you should know about. On the 22nd November I will be doing a solo concert at Black Country Accordion Club (Rowley Regis Disability Club, Rowley Regis, Birmingham (Info: 01215594620-Barry) for those in the West Midlands area. Finally, please see the events at the Royal Academy of Music below. I will email soon about my next show The Accordionist very soon. Love Romano ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC – EVENTS 2010 to 2011 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5PT 26 November 2010 6.00pm and 7.30pm On the 75th anniversary of the birth of the late Mogens Ellegaard (1935-1995) there will be a concert of some of the best of the over 100 works dedicated to him by well-known Scandinavian composers. The concert will be at 7.30pm and will be preceded at 6.00pm by an illustrated talk by Owen Murray on the life and work of the Danish accordionist. Tickets £7.00 and £5.00 (concessions) at the door, or in advance at the Box Office. Tel: 020 7873 7373 23 February 2011 7.00pm Showcase Concert Concert programme to be announced. Details will also appear later onwww.ram.ac.uk/events 25 February 2011 Student Masterclass with Professor Friedrich Lips Professor Lips will give a masterclass to Academy Students. 10.00am - 1.00pm and 2.30 - 5.00pm. Admission free. All welcome. Thursday 18 November 20107:30pm @ the Artsdepot, London
London Jazz FestivalHello Everybody You do not want to miss this one. This is our Orient House Ensemble mini jazz festival. We will celebrate ten years of the Orient House Ensemble, with a special three set performance. featuring special guests Asaf Sirkis, Guillermo Rozenthuler, Tali Atzmon, Romano Viazzani and the Sigamos Quartet. Materials from our early albums, will be followed by our acclaimed In Loving Memory of America tribute to Charlie Parker. We will also play some materials from our new collaboration album with Robert Wyatt and Ros Stephen For The Ghost Within. We will conclude with new music from the band’s new release The Tide Has Changed. To read a Guardian 4 stars review of The Tide Has Changed,click here To read a Guardian 5 stars review of For The Ghosts Within, click here Thursday 18 November 20107:30pm
Artsdepot
5 Nether St
London
N12 0GA
020 8369 5454
Tickets£16 (£14 conc.) + bkg
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Accordion Idol: Winner Takes All
Mar., 13, 2011
 With the iPad 2 coming out this week, it seemed like the perfect time to check out the latest iPad accordion apps. Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty active category — we found more than 25 apps for the iPad alone, and even more for the iPhone and iPod Touch.While tapping your iPad is no substitute for playing a real accordion, it can be a handy learning tool. Imagine practicing a few scales while watching TV on the couch, or plugging in headphones and mastering a tune after the family has gone to bed. Plus, all of these apps are around $5 so (even after you factor in the cost of the iPad itself) they’re significantly cheaper than a real accordion. Here are a few we’ve tried: Hohner SqueezeboxWait, thatHohner? Yes, the world’s largest accordion maker now has a line of iPad apps that mimic their Corona Classic diatonic accordions. You can show or hide the names of the notes on the keyboard, tap on the bellows to alternate between “push” and “pull” mode, and even switch between wet and dry tuning. The app is treble only — no bass/chord buttons (although this isn’t a big loss for most diatonic players I know). The app comes in five key combinations — GCF, FB♭E♭, EAD, ADG, and B♭E♭A♭ — and there’s also a “mini” version for iPhone/iPod touch. Michael Eskin, who developed the app for Hohner, has a number of other accordion-related apps available, including one-row Cajun/Zydeco accordion, two-row Melodeon, and Anglo Concertina. Hohner Squeezebox$1.99 Hohner Squeezebox AccordonWe reviewed the first version of Accordon last year when it was one of the only accordion apps available. It offers a piano accordion interface and even includes a handful of bass/chord buttons so you can get a fairly full sound going. My favorite feature, though, is the “Learning Center,” which helps you learn popular songs by following along with highlighted keys. “Jingle Bells” comes for free with the app and you can buy other tunes for 99 cents each. Accordon$3.99 Accordio ProThe chromatic accordion has always intimidated me with its vast, imposing array of buttons. Accordio Pro has helped conquer that fear by simulating a full-featured chromatic accordion, complete with six-row Stradella bass. You can switch between C, G, and B-layouts, scroll and zoom along the keyboard, and even play along to songs in your music library. The developer also makes a version for piano accordion. Accordion Pro$5.99 Have you played “pocket squeezebox” on your iPad or iPhone and have an app to recommend? Leave a comment and let us know!
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North Staffs - February Newsletter
Feb., 14, 2011
 North Staffs Accordion Club Newsletter February 2011 No 403
The North Staffs Accordion Club Welcomes all accordion enthusiasts playing or non-playing.
We hold a ‘Clubnite’ at Holditch Miner’s Welfare Club, Chesterton at 8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month where entertainment is provided by club members or guest artists.
The venue also hosts a band rehearsal all other Tuesdays and a beginners’ class every Monday at 7.30 pm. Phone 01782 823668.
Hi Everyone. Some of you wanted to know about my new addition to the family pictured in your Christmas card. His name is Leni. He’s 5 months now and Jimi’s shadow and apprentice. Of course Jimi’s busy teaching him all of his bad ways.
January Clubnite The January clubnite was a members’ night and also our annual mince pie and sherry evening. The evening began with the playalong with players selecting a song in turn; Geoff Millward on side drum and me forming the rhythm section. After one round of the circle the mince pies, cake and sherry were served. As usual I had struggled to save my Christmas cake and this time I managed to last until clubnite without opening it, so there was enough to go round. Barbara had made some lovely mince pies with three different flavours and they were delicious. After the interval it was time for individual players. Brian Shufflebotham (right) began with The Radedski March and Lamb Skinnett and Don Bebbington followed playing Elvira Madigan and Serenade. Jeff Brundrett played The Theme from The Godfather and The Happy Wanderer. We then had a great lively slot when Steve Hughes, Les Jackson, Norman Brown and Don Bebbington joined Jeff for an impromptu ‘play by ear’ session (pictured below). They played songs like The Saints and Deep in the Heart of Texas. It was amusing to see Jeff Brundrett at one stage playing with one hand while delving into the innards with the other in a vain attempt to repair his accordion. Wilf Bailey continued the individual playing with several numbers including Pirates of the Caribbean and Highland Cathedral followed by Paul Hobbs (above left), playing solo for a change, with I’m in the Mood for Love and Under the Bridges of Paris. Harmonica player Derek Wilton gave us On the Sunny Side of the Street and Phil the Fluter’s Ball (where he was joined by the audience clapping and singing). Richard Millward (pictured right below) then serenaded us with Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend and When Irish Eyes are Smiling, followed by Roy Degg who played O Sole Mio and Dark Island. Finally Mike and Paul rounded off the evening with a few duets including their version of The Theme from the Godfather and a medley which included Northern Lights. It turned out to be a very enjoyable night for everyone and made a good start to the year. February Theme Here’s a suggestion. As the next clubnite falls on the 15th, just one day after Valentine’s Day, how about a theme night – Love? The challenge is that each of the individual players include one (or more) song with ‘love’ in the title. There’s plenty to choose from. Try to get one that no one else will think of and I’m sure you can accommodate the short notice.
New Drummer Joins the Band The band has been at a loss for quite a while since our previous drummer Jack Steele (pictured left at Audley Theatre) was forced to retire due to ill health. He had been with us for a number of years and his invaluable addition to the balance of the band was greatly missed. We have struggled on without a drummer while on the lookout for a replacement. Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of meeting Keith Davies (pictured right), who arrived with his drum kit and from the start of the practice fitted in like a glove. The benefit to the playing was immediate and hopefully he will be playing with us on a regular basis.
Brian – Morris Dancing. Brian Shufflebotham continues to provide the accordion music for The Leek Morris Dance Group. Additional to all other activities, commencing the 28th January and on each subsequent Friday thereafter at 7 30pm, for about an hour, they are to hold a practice session in the rear function room at The Swan Inn, St. Edward Street, Leek. Interested spectators of morris dancing or its music will be welcome to sit in at these informal sessions free of charge. For further information contact Brian, telephone 01538 382610. The Swan Inn is at the junction in Leek of the A523 and A520, opposite St. Edwards Church.
Steve Roxton Returns to Holditch At the March clubnite we are welcoming Steve Roxton as our guest artist at Holditch. He has visited the club before, last time at the Audley Theatre but that was more than ten years ago. Steve is a professional accordionist and the major part of his work is entertaining holiday makers in the top hotels with a three hour one man show. He is billed as an International Accordionist/Vocalist, having played in numerous countries, playing music from around the world, and singing in eight languages. As well as performing for the general public he also appears at accordion festivals and as guest artiste at accordion clubs and societies. Having lived in the Channel Isles, he founded ‘The Jersey Accordion Band’ and ‘Les Amis de l'Accordeon de Jersey’, a social club to promote accordion music and better playing. Visitors are made welcome at the club which still meets at The Priory Hotel, St Mary, in Jersey (on the first Tuesday of every month). Don’t miss out on what promises to be a great evening’s entertainment
Buskers Books By Paul Hobbs In busker’s books or music of the same format you will be given a basic tune on the treble staff (most probably all single notes) - This will be accompanied by chord symbols - The bass rhythm can be worked out from the time signature. If the tune is played like this, it is the simplest style of performance. Think of this as a starting point! Just as an artist draws an outline sketch and then adds colours to the picture to show up light, dark and depth - then the musician must do the same when interpreting the music.
How do chords affect the melody of a tune? They can be used as tools that can create mood, colour and emotional pull. Each chord used in a tune does not exist in a vacuum, it should fit in with the other chords, sounds and notes so that the whole feeling of the song is created. Notes can be appreciably altered by the chord used with them, but they still retain their individuality and cannot sound exactly like any other note. When playing do not harmonize every note as the accompaniment may be too heavy and overpower the tune. Using chords and harmonizing when playing a tune is all down to making the sounds fit together so that the piece of music is enhanced. When playing accompaniments to melodies the best instrument for checking whether the sound is right is the human ear, so listen carefully to what you play! Consider yourself to be an artist and colour in your own interpretation of the tune. Because other musicians may interpret the same basic tune differently, you will hear many different versions of well known tunes. As a result of playing personal interpretations of many tunes (as opposed to playing other people's arrangements) a person will, in time, develop their own style.
Celebrations at Denis’s Fundraiser. th Band member Denis Moors celebrated his sixtieth birthday at the Winking Man on Saturday February 5 asking guests to donate to the Chernobyl Children’s Project that he supports instead of bringing presents. There was music and a buffet and Denis’s daughter Lizzie sang a few numbers with the band. Denis said that at least £2100 had been raised from the donations and that it would go towards the building of an extension to a Belarusian children’s home. During his speech Denis surprised everyone by announcing that he had, two days earlier, proposed to his girlfriend Irina (pictured right with Denis), and that she had accepted. She stepped forward flashing a beautiful diamond engagement ring. They first met when she came over from Belarus about two years ago with one of the groups of mothers and children that Denis frequently hosts at his farm at Longnor. She was their interpreter. She also works with similar groups in Teesside as well as teaching in a secondary school in Belarus.
Club Publicity Machine Poster We are, once again, having a concentrated effort to boost our membership and to try to make sure that every accordion player in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire knows that we exist and that they are welcome. Two small posters are enclosed with this newsletter and we request that you try to have one placed somewhere in your locality where it will be seen. The second one could be placed in your car. We are tackling libraries separately so concentrate on community, church or club halls or notice boards, local shops etc. – you know your area. If you need any more please contact me. If you are unable to use one for any reason then please let us know.
’Business’ card Meet someone interested in your hobby, then give them your contact details with a business type card. Especially useful for members who play in public or attend festivals - but not exclusively for their use. If you think you could benefit from a few of these cards, customised with your contact details, please let me know.
Radio s Stoke (again!) Last month I wrote about the club being featured in an early morning show on Radio Stoke. A few days later we were there for a second time in a week. Shelagh Mayer and Ann Millward volunteered to give radio presenter Pete Morgan an accordion lesson during The Breakfast Show on Thursday January 13th. This of course was another great opportunity to publicise our club. Following an interview by Peter about the accordion, Shelagh gave him a few minutes’ tuition before he went on to play a few lines of Hey Jude. Those of you with email will have had a copy of the recording.
Spot the mistake’ answer I challenged you to find the mistake on the front of the newsletter last month. The answer is that newsletter no. 402 should have been closer to 312 (12 months times 26 years at the most since the club began). Seems we skipped 70 numbers in 2002 and I’m not sure where the other 20 went astray (Steve kindly says that he was probably producing it at the time). I only noticed it around Christmas. Having been a maths teacher I’m ashamed to say that it still took me 8 years to spot it! No one got it right and the only guesses came from John Higham, from the Stockport club, who had a few attempts (our newsletter gets around!). Inter the Internet
Buying Music Online For musicians the internet provides dozens of ways you can browse, shop and order sheet music for delivery to your doorstep. Some websites now offer instant downloads of sheet music, which means you can be playing the music within minutes. There are free sites but their music is very limited and as buying the music is very cheap (about 2 or 3 pounds – sometimes less), it’s worth paying and getting the best choice. How does this work? First you browse to find your site – Google can help if you key in the piece you require (e.g. ‘The Godfather Theme sheet music’). It will bring up a list of sites. I have used www.musicroom.com but there are others. Preview them first as they have different levels of difficulty, so make sure you order one that suits you. You can order and pay by credit card for the music, and have it delivered or just download it immediately for printing. If you do the latter, the site will ask you to download free software to deal with the sheet music. www.musicroom.co.uk uses Sibelius Scorch. It takes a minute to install, is free, and enables you to see the score, play it, and change the key (if you wish) before you print it. Many internet users are concerned about paying by credit card but musicroom, for one, is a trusted site.
Transportation... When traveling with your accordion in the car, please place it in the boot and not on the back seat. If you find yourself having to break hard, or are unfortunate to be involved in an accident, a loose accordion on the back seat becomes a heavy free flying object. The last thing you need is to be hit from behind by an accordion in its case! If it will not fit in the boot, please let it wear a seat belt! Every Monday 7.30pm Tuesdays other than 3rd Every 3rd Tuesday of month
Diary Beginners’ night at Holditch Band rehearsal at Holditch Clubnite at Holditch 18th/20th February 2011 Eastbourne Accordion Festival, Queens Hotel 15th March 2011 (Clubnite) 28th April 12th-15th May 2011 13th/15th May 2011 31st May 2011 Steve Roxton Band concert, St. Paul’s Church Centre, Leek. Accordions International 2011, Blackpool. NAO UK Championships, Metropole Hotel, Blackpool David Vernon & Dick Lee – Special concert. Possibly Audley 16th/23rd July St Audries Bay, Somerset 18th October (Clubnite). Pauline Hardwick Stefan Andrusyschyn Mike Gibson Oleg Sharov
Members’ Adverts Accordion Tuition. Tel 01782 397248 Accordion and/or piano Tel 07958261024 Accordion and/or piano Tel 01782 660865 Piano For Sale Giulietti Electronic B18 accordion. 5 bass couplers, 5 treble couplers,120 bass, black, manual or midi. Also....G.E.C. MX midi expander with foot controls, both with cases. £600 o.n.o. Ring Geoff Millward 01782 626874 Galotta 48 bass Accordion Red. 3 treble couplers, as new, good case, very good condition. £200. Mrs Dianne Lockett Tel 01260 226286 Barcarole 120 bass accordion. Black, 3 treble couplers, 3 bass couplers, good condition, hard case. £220 Phone Janet 01782 519594 Red Luciano piano accordion, 120 bass, 7 treble couplers. hard case, lovely sound, offers around £250 phone 01782 542208 Two piano accordions, both 120 bass Hohners, one black and one red, £40 each. Phone 01782 784402 or 01782 823668 Yamaha Tyros 3 Digital Workstation complete with user’s manual, CD, foot pedal, fixed stand, portable stand, stool, carrying case and dust cover. £1850 o.n.o. Carlsboro Colt 65w. amp. 2 Channels, 4 Inputs with reverb. Good condition £100 o.n.o. Ring Wilf Bailey at 01270 213643
President Chairman Secretary Treasurer Brian Shufflebotham Mike Richards Shelagh Mayer Ann Millward 01538 382610 01782 642101 01782 783821 01782 638570 Committee Aubrey Lowndes, Steve Hughes, Graham Hughes, Lily Lynch, Graham Butler and Les Jackson
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Harlow Accordion Club Concert - Thursday Feb 17th 2011
Feb., 14, 2011
 HARLOW ACCORDION CLUB CONCERT THE LINKS SOCIAL CLUBPARSLOE ROAD, HARLOW, CM19 4RT. THURSDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2011 - 7.30pm Featuring:- THE HARLOW ACCORDION BAND * STEFAN ANDRUSYSCHYN & DENISE LEIGH* CHRIS LOVELL - THE ACCORDION SHOP*TICKETS £7.00 (In Advance) or £7. 50 at the door. Information:- Jean Hanger Tel: 01279 432830 |
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Stockport Accordion Club - Newsletter - Nov/Dec 2010
Feb., 14, 2011
 Stockport AC meets on Wednesday evenings at Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel St, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1ND; MDs Derek Stubbs (SAC Band, 7 pm/8.30 pm) and Brian Jenkins (SAC Orchestra, 9pm/10.30 pm). New members always welcome.Annual Charity Concert in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice, Friday December 10th,7.45pm Stockport Accordion Club Band & Orchestra Special guest Walter PerrieBroken Cross Institute, Macclesfield As if you needed reminding, Christmas is coming (no, I can’t believe it, either!), and our annual concert in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice at the Broken Cross Institute, Macclesfield, takes place on Friday December 10th, 7.45pm. The SAC Band (MD Derek Stubbs) & SAC Orchestra (MD Brian Jenkins) will entertain in our usual grand style. SAC Vice President Walter Perrie will perform a special guest spot. This is always a great night out, very well supported, and for a worthy cause. Contact John Jones on 01625 618 691 for info/tickets. Jovan Rnjak and Deirdre Adamson were our Club Night guests in September and October, and these proved to be excellent yet contrasting concerts. Jovan’s varied programme, on his Scandalli Super V1, included everything from Frosini to Stevie Wonder, and Take Five to Jealousy, whilst Deirdre’s largely Scottish music on her Classique was always bright and entertaining. The SAC Band (MD Derek Stubbs) played supporting spot at both concerts. On October 20th Stockport AC broke new ground by hosting a master class in which visiting virtuoso Vladimir Fonin, ‘Honoured People’s Artist of Russia’, put Justin Ryan through his paces. This was arranged at short notice via an old friend/colleague of mine, balalaika teacher Brian Hulme (not to be confused with the late accordionist, Brian Hulme). The evening began with a club members’ play around. After a tea break, Vladimir Fonin conducted his master class, with Justin playing Asturias (Isaac Albeniz), a Spanish composition for guitar, arranged for accordion. Justin – and the audience – assimilated Vladimir Fonin’s comments and suggestions aimed at developing musicality and expression, and the master class was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. The evening concluded with Fonin performing some Russian folk dance pieces, ending with the famous Frosini arrangement of the Carnival of Venice. Vladimir commented that he was delighted to visit an accordion club, where players meet socially and to play together, as he said there is nothing comparable in Russia. He was presented with a copy of An A to Z of the Accordion, signed by all present. The following evening some of us from SAC attended a wonderful concert of Russian traditional folk music at the Royal Northern College of Music. Performing were Vladimir Fonin, Mikhail Senchurov - balalaika, Natalya Gorbenko – piano, and singers Anna Voronina and Sergei Kochetov, all from the St Petersburg Conservatory, and the Manchester Schools Music Service’s excellent Kalinka Balalaika Orchestra (MD Brian Hulme). Marj & I became grandparents on September 7th when our Jane gave birth to Daniel in Belfast. We recently had a magic few days over there with Jane & Phil, seeing the little fella for the first time, and doing our first baby sitting. I suspect Marj had ideas about kidnapping him! On September 27th John Jones & I played at the funeral of Frank Swindell in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Also present were Harry & Pat Hussey. Frank’s passing meant the end of an era for me as our families went back generations, and I shall miss seeing him at the festivals, filming and photographing everything. Later the same day, at short notice, I gave a talk/demo on the accordion at the Salvation Army HQ in Cheadle Heath, Stockport. This went down very well indeed, and I enjoyed myself very much. I’d do it again if anybody asks. Many of us are going to ‘Accordions International 2010’, Seacroft, Norfolk, November 12th/15th, for our annual ‘fix’ of squeezing. The guests include Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Gennaro Ruffolo, David Vernon/Dick Lee, Gianni Mirizzi, Wayne Robertson, Harry Hussey, Peter Ayers, Bert Santilly, and Norvic Concordia. There’s workshops, a trade show, and Wayne Robertson plays for Scottish dancing. It’s wall to wall accordionising! This festival always sets me up for the winter, and is very much what the late, lamented original organiser Malcolm Gee once called “A total indulgence in accordions”. To book, tel 01780 782 093 during office hours (Sceptre Productions). The organiser is Heather Smith (01482 805 387). Pearl Fawcett-Adriano (01226 382 976) tells me that at Seacroft she will have for sale a DVD of the Saturday evening variety concert at the 2009 All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Championships. Pearl was the chief guest artiste, and the DVD includes her performance plus spots by accordionists Gary Sutherland, Jimmy Cassidy, John Carmichael, the Bill Wilkie Accordion Orchestra, dancers, singers, musicians and comedians. Pearl also hopes to have two of her cassettes, Les Melodies Continentale and The Two Great Pietros available on CD. Like it or not, soon will come the usual question about choosing Christmas presents. Here’s some ideas. If you want to buy an accordion, the local dealers are The Accordion Shop, 54 Drake St, Rochdale OL16 1NZ; (01706 658 283), and Hobgoblin Music, based at Johnny Roadhouse, 123 Oxford Road, Manchester M1 7DU (0161 273 1111). For accordion CDs, there’s Tommy Scruton’s (TSAR) catalogue of 60 classic albums, featuring Toralf Tollefsen, Charles Magnante, Martin Lukins, Henry Krein, Kramer & Wolmer, Herbie Marks, Art Van Damme, John Molinari, etc; tel 0161 789 3799. For magazines, there’s the monthly Accordion Profile - £22 per annum (cheque payable to Accordion Profile), from Heather Smith, 80 Inglemire Ave, Hull HU6 7TG. Accordion World is a bi-monthly, £15 for 6 issues (cheque p/y to Accordion World Magazine), from Karina Fodden, 64 Church St, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 9NP. There is also the monthly Box & Fiddle, dedicated to the Scottish scene. This costs £31.05p per year (cheque p/y to Box & Fiddle), from Karin Ingram, Filters House, Dodburn, By Hawick, Roxburghshire TD9 0PG, Scotland. Last, but by no means least, there’s An A to Z of the Accordion, a 4-volume series of hardback books, presenting a combined total of nearly 1,000 articles and biographies plus 700+ pictures. Each volume costs £15, but call me on 0161 480 8858 to see what special Christmas deals are on offer. For sale: 40 bass, Hohner Starlet piano accordion, red. Little used, perfect working order. Pictures available. £300. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; tel 07773 126 650. If you fancy an evening of music and laughter, Bernard Wrigley is at Sale Folk Club, United Services Club M33 6HQ, on November 13th, tel: 0161 432 4317, and on December 3rd at Poynton Folk Club, British Legion, tel: Dave: 01625 273163 (www.bernardwrigley.com). The Goblins in the Ginnel folk club at The Globe, Glossop SK3 8HJ, run by Sara Kirkham (www.goblinsintheginnel.co.uk), has the band Blackbeard’s Tea Party performing on Saturday November 20th, 8.15pm. All profits go to the Willow Wood Hospice. John Jones & I will be playing in the Stockport Air Raid Shelters on December 9th (t.b.c.), 13th and 16th; booking info (0161) 474 1940. On Sunday December 5th, 12/4pm, I will be playing Christmas music at the Stockport Hat Works as part of a themed afternoon. The SAC Christmas Party takes place on Wednesday December 22nd (invitation only). I hope you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas, and good health for the New Year. In case you’re wondering, the next Club Night concert takes place on January 26th, and is a President’s Night, which means there’s no guest, but the SAC bands, members and visitors will play. So, get practising, and bring your box on Jan 26th… Rob Howard (0161) 480 8858; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Extras – yes, there’s more…Mike Craig (1935-2010)I was very sorry to learn of the death of Mike Craig last week, at the age of 75. Mike was a charismatic radio presenter and producer, stand up comedian, after dinner speaker, author, an authority on the variety theatre/music hall era, and also a first class TV script writer. He wrote for Ken Dodd, Harry Worth, Roy Castle, Mike Yarwood, Bill Maynard, Jimmy Tarbuck, Des O'Connor, and Morecambe and Wise. All in all, a very talented man who will be sadly missed.About 20 years ago, when we were still known as the Clifford Wood Accordion Orchestra, BBC Radio Manchester invited us on to the Mike Craig Show, 7pm on a Monday evening. We piled into the studio, which was not very large, were greeted cheerily by Mike, and did our best to set up in band formation, and waited for the ‘on air’ red light to come on. Following an interview in which Mike quizzed Cliff about the band and the sort of music we played, we performed an Austrian/Bavarian waltz called ‘Bauernschmaus’ live on air. Cliff could never pronounce the title, and announced is as “Brown Mouse”! There were about 20 accordionists plus music stands, and Ken Rogers with his drum kit, all shoe horned into a room meant for no more than ten people. Any passing ‘health and safety’ official would have had a fit! We were so cramped there was literally not an inch to spare, shoulder-to-shoulder, elbow-to-elbow, and it was really difficult to move one’s bellows. God knows what it sounded like!Local accordion teachers: Tony Marchell (also guitar) - tel 0161 434 1933; Tommy Scruton - tel 0161 789 3799; Craig Bradley – 5-row button, piano accordion or piano, tel 0161 972 0248.Accordion/squeeze box repairs:For any kind of piano or button accordion/melodeon/concertina repairs (acoustic or electronic), restorations, tunings, MIDI conversions, etc, contact Roy Whiteley on 01565 723 080; website: www.accordionmagic.com. Roy is based at Allostock, near Knutsford, Cheshire.Accordion for saleFor sale: Allodi piano accordion - 72 bass, 5 treble couplers and 2 bass couplers; in excellent condition, completely overhauled 3 years ago; comes with a hard case plus a gig bag. Pictures available. Sell for £1,200 (negotiable). Tel Eva Kahan (0161) 720 6425; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Len Johnson and The Colour Bar For the boxing fans out there, I have just had a reprint done of Len Johnson and The Colour Bar, my biography of Len Johnson, Britain’s leading middleweight in the 1920s/30s, whose career was blighted by an official boxing ‘colour bar’, hardback, £10 + £2p/p.Accordion websites: There is nowadays a huge amount of stuff about accordions on the Internet. There’s enough YouTube performances by players from around the world on ‘the Net’ to keep you occupied for hours on end. For constantly updated national and international news about players, concerts, festivals, CDs , DVDs, instruments, useful information, accordion related articles, etc, have a look at the websites Accordions Worldwide (www.accordions.com) and UKAccordions (www.ukaccordions.co.uk). I write the weekly news for Accordions Worldwide, and if you want an announcement made, just get in touch with me, and it’ll go out in 7 languages!An A to Z of the Accordion Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4by Rob Howard These unique books offer almost 1,000 accordion related articles & biographies, and 700+ pictures!!
An A to Z of the Accordion – Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 The perfect present for any accordion enthusiast!!Volume 1: Be a Better Player; Competing at Accordion Festivals, Composing & Arranging; Improve Your Playing; Playing For Others; Scotland’s Accordion Heritage Biographies – Larry Adler, Chiz Bishop, Jimmy Blair, Gary Blair, Louis Cabrelli, Gerald Crossman, Adrian Dante, Guido & Pietro Deiro, Jack Emblow, Pearl Fawcett, Pietro Frosini, John Kirkpatrick, Martin Lukins, Calum MacLean, Bobby MacLeod, Dermot O’Brien, Jimmy Shand, Seamus Shannon, Sharon Shannon, Toralf Tollefsen, Francis Wright, Rosemary Wright, etc…Volume 2: Accordion Lore (Graham Romani), Story of the Accordion Bands; Which Accordion – Button or Piano?; Art of Accompaniment; Bellows Control; British Chromatic Accordion; French Musette Stars; Inside Your Accordion; Ireland’s Accordion Heritage; Looking After Your Accordion; Playing for Scottish Country Dance Classes; Hints On Sight Reading, etc. Biographies: Allodi family, Tom Alexander, Ken Astin, George Barton, Harriet Bartlett, Joe Burke, Paul Chamberlain, Dean Crouch, Bobby Crowe, Matt Cunningham, Shirley Evans, Mick Foster, Conway Graves, Alan Helm, Max Houliston, Jim Johnstone, Lisa-Lee Leslie, Larry Macari, Iain MacLachlan, Roman Mondryk, Andrew Rankine, Paolo Soprani, James Stewart, etcVolume 3: Accordion Festivals Revisited; Art of Busking; Art of Conducting; Bal Musette; Cajun & Zydeco; Irish Ceili Bands; Memorising & Aural Training; Practising (3 articles, by P.Fawcett, T. Tollefsen, K. Hacking); Roland V Accordion; Scottish Dance Bands; Use Those Couplers!; Vocal Accompaniment (by J.Emblow); etc Biographies: Joss Baselli (Jo Basile), Julie Best, Ronald Binge, Bill Black, Mark Boussie, Craig Bradley, Charles Camilleri, John Carmichael, Johnny Coleclugh, Gerry Conlon & Seamus O’Sullivan, Norman English, Graham Geddes, Roya MacLean, Nicol McLaren, Jenny Neal, Fred Hanna, Will Hannah, Kramer & Wolmer, Lindsay Ross, Donald Shaw, etc…Volume 4: Accordion in Retrospect; Accordion Manufacturing Process; The accordion with other instruments; Diatonic Musings; Double Acts; International Stars (by Gary Blair); The Anglo-Italian Connection; The Jazz Accordionists; Memories of Don Destefano (Tony Compton); Playing From Piano Music; Getting to grips with the Roland V Accordion; Shand Morino; Tips for Practising and Playing Solos, etc Biographies: Marcel Azzola, Elaine Beecham, Raymond Chuchuk, James Coutts, Blair Douglas, Don Destefano, Emilio, Richard Galliano, Maireread Green, Derek Hamilton, Ron Hodgson, Maurice Larcange, Bob Liddle, Roy Magna, Norman McKay, Brandon McPhee, Daniel McPhee, Owen Murray, Kenny Nairn, Dermot O’Brien, Máirtín O’Connor, Brendan Power, Bill Powrie, Billy Reid, Donal Ring, Pete Shutler (The Yetties), Will Starr, Emile Vacher, Mika Väyrynen, Romano Viazzani, Douglas Ward, etc… £15 per volume, post free in the UK Can accept Paypal Special offer until Christmas – all 4 volumes ordered together for only £45 (post free, UK)Rob Howard, 42 Avondale Road, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 9NYTel: (0161) 480 8858 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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BOOK NOW 4 Bellows and Waves Accordion Week, Devon - Sunday 29th May - Wed 1st June 2011
Jan., 27, 2011
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Bellows and Waves Accordion Week, DevonSunday 29th May – Wednesday 1st June 2011
Founder: Graham Romani, Hon. FBCA (1917-1993) President: Pearl Watson ABCA (TD) Director of Studies: Ian Watson BMus (Perf.), ARAM, DipRAM, LRAM
Please call/email Julie North for a booking form! Phone 020 8547 0515 - EmailThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dear Accordion Friends,
Following the success of the course this year, we would like to invite you to make your application for the Bellows and Waves Accordion Week 2011. This will take place from Sunday 29th May to Wednesday 1st June 2011. It will be a very special event for us as it is the 25th course since the founding of the event by Graham Romani and Pearl Watson in Harwich in 1987. It is an accordion orchestral course, involving 4 days of intensive rehearsals, leading to a public performance in a long established concert series in Emmanuel Church, Ilfracombeon Wednesday 1st June at 8pm. The programme of music will include original works for accordion orchestra as well as arrangements of popular classics, film music and other well known favourites.
Our rehearsals will take place in The Ariel Centre, Mullacott. This venue, approximately 1.5 miles from Ilfracombe, offers panoramic views over the Devon countryside across to the Bristol Channel. There is ample parking at the centre.
The cost of the course will be £130 per person. This includes tuition, hire of music and tea/coffee/ biscuits /soft drinks at break. The fee also includes a Welcome Meal and party. Once again we are expecting many new faces on the course and this will be the ideal opportunity to socialise, dance and get to know people. We are waiting for confirmation of the venue for the Welcome Meal, as due to circumstances beyond our control we have been unable to acquire the Pavilion again.
Please note that all other meals are not included.
All members of the course will have to find their own accommodation. Ilfracombe is a picturesque coastal town and there are many B&Bs, hotels, holiday parks and camp sites within a short drive of the rehearsal venue.
The Tourist Information Centre telephone number is 01271 863001 and the website www.visitilfracombe.co.uk is also very useful.
The accommodation at Mullacott Park, Mullacott Cross is the closest to the rehearsal venue. If you are interested in booking your accommodation at Mullacott Park please let us know as we have been able to secure some chalets at a discounted rate.
If you are attending the course on your own and would like to be put in touch with others in a similar position in order to share accommodation and transport, please let us know at the time of booking.
Please note – there will be an optional, informal playalong session to finish the week on the morning of Thursday 2nd June.
I enclose a Booking Form (below) and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Early booking is advisable as numbers are limited to 40.
Please ensure the Booking Form is returned by 13th December 2010.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Ian Watson
Booking Form is below:-
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David Vernon & Dennis Alexander - New Zealand Tour - February 2011
Jan., 27, 2011
Hi Accordion Friends, Here are our NZ dates and venues for February coming. Best wishes David Vernon
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SCOTIA'S HARDY SONS “Ambassadors of Scottish Music”
Dennis Alexander [Guitar/Vocals] David Vernon [Accordion/Bagpipes]
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5th NEW ZEALAND TOUR [South Island] February 2011
4th Timaru – RSA Club
5th Nelson - Suburban Club
6th Christchurch - Richmond Club
8th Fairlie - venue tbc
9th Ranfurly - venue tbc
11th Milton - Country Club
13th Ashburton – RSA Club
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The Sultans of Squeeze
Jan., 27, 2011
 JOHN KIRKPATRICK & CHRIS PARKINSONThe Sultans of Squeeze is a new duo that first appeared in 2004 as the brainchild of Warrington Folk Club organiser Geoff Bibby, who put them on at his club in January. The Sultans have since appeared at Sidmouth and Whitby festivals, and at The Electric Theatre, Guildford.. They present a huge variety of music, performed on every possible combination of their various squeeze-boxes - John on one-row and two-row melodeons, three-row button accordion, and treble and bass anglo concertinas, and Chris on various two-row melodeons, piano accordion, and bass piano accordion. As well as the traditional folk songs and tunes that you might expect to hear from these two, they also tackle military marches, French waltzes, nostalgic popular classics and signature tunes, blues, zydeco, jazz, rock & roll, and some pieces of their own making as well.With a combined experience of squeezing just about every kind of music, both within the folk scene and quite outside it, John and Chris fearlessly hurl themselves into whatever genre takes their fancy, knowing that if one of them falls flat on their face, the other one will be able to keep a holding pattern going till a full recovery is possible! It's a rare treat to see two such accomplished old hands enjoy and explore the endless possibilities that their instruments offer, displaying a relaxed confidence and a complete trust in each other's skill and ability.
Fri 22 Oct 2010The Watermark, Erne Court, Leonards Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 0SZ BRASS MONKEYSat 23 Oct 2010The Plough Arts Centre, Fore Street, Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8HQ BRASS MONKEYSat 30 Oct 2010Unison Club, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN1 1EZ. Wed 3 Nov 2010Colston Hall 2, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR. Thu 4 Nov 2010Cuffern Manor, Roch, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6HB Starts 7.30 p.m.Sun 7 Nov 2010The Town Hall, Dursley, Gloucestershire Workshop sessions morning and afternoon, for any instrument, on tunes from the 16th, 17th, & 18th Centuries. Please note times are running later than usual - start 11.00 a.m. and finish 5.00 p.m.Mon 8 Nov 2010Warwick Folk Club, Warwick Arms Hotel, High Street, Warwick, CV34 4AT. Thu 11 Nov 2010Myers Studio Theatre, Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5AL. THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG.Fri 12 Nov 2010The Guildford Institute, Ward Street, off North Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4LH. Mon 15 Nov 2010Tonbridge Folk Club, The Rose & Crown, 125 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1DD. THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG.Tue 16 Nov 2010Amberley Folk Club, The Black Horse Inn, High Street, Amberley, West Sussex, BN18 9NL Fri 19 Nov 2010Methodist Church, Sidmouth, Devon. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show. This evening is a fund raising event - profits go to Folk South West.Sat 20 Nov 2010
to Sun 21 Nov 2010Folk South West's West Country Carols Weekend, Sidmouth, Devon. Fri 26 Nov 2010The Milkmaid Music Club, The Constitutional Club, 12 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1PR This is a solo gig - NOT a two-hander with Roy Bailey as has been advertised.Sat 27 Nov 2010Gala Theatre, Millenium Place, Durham, DH1 1WA Thu 2 Dec 2010Whitstable Folk Club, Whitstable Labour Club, 12 Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1QP. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas ShowFri 3 Dec 2010Chaffcombe Village Hall, Chaffcombe, Nr Chard, Somerset, TA20 4BJ. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.01460 61996 Sat 4 Dec 2010Myers Studio Theatre, Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5AL CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas ShowMon 6 Dec 2010Colchester Folk Club, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1NF CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas ShowFri 10 Dec 2010The Burton Institute, West Bank, Winster, Derbyshire, DE4 2DQ. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.Sat 11 Dec 2010Haydon Bridge Community Centre, Haydon Bridge, Nr Hexham, Northumberland. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.Sun 12 Dec 2010Seaton Sluice Community Centre, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.Mon 13 Dec 2010Not the White Horse Folk Club, The Foresters Arms, Beckside, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 0PR CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas ShowThu 16 Dec 2010Threlkeld Public Rooms, Threkeld, Nr Keswick, Cumbria. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.Fri 17 Dec 2010Barningham Village Hall, Barningham, Nr Barnard Castle, Co Durham. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show.Sat 18 Dec 2010Byfield Village Hall, The Green, Byfield, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 6UT. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show. JK sharing the bill with The Lost Chord Singers.Sun 19 Dec 2010The Village Hall, Lydbury North, Shropshire, SY7 8AU. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show. Starts 8.00 p.m.Mon 17 Jan 2011Nettlebed Folk Club, The Village Club, High Street, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire Tue 18 Jan 2011The Musician, Clyde Street, Leicester, LE1 2DE. Fri 21 Jan 2011The Goose is Out, DHFC, Edgar Kail Way, Dog Kennel Hill, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8BD. Fri 28 Jan 2011Headon cum Upton Village Hall, Church Street, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 0RD THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. Starts 7.30 p.m.01777 248282 Sun 30 Jan 2011Hitchin Folk Club, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Fri 11 Feb 2011The Mill, Spiceball Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5QE. Sat 12 Feb 2011Oxfolk Ceildh, Kennington Village Hall, Kennington Road, Kennington, Oxford, OX1 5PG CEILIDH with MR GUBBINS' BICYCLE. JK calling, with a few dances from guest caller Steph Tait.Sat 19 Feb 2011The Village Hall, Church Road, Farringdon, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3EG. THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. Two shows! Matinee - 2.30 p.m. Evening - 7.30 p.m.Fri 25 Feb 2011Sherfield on Loddon, Hook, Hampshire. THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. Starts 7.30 p.m.Sat 26 Feb 2011Shipton Bellinger Village Centre, Bulford Road, Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, SP9 7TF THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. Starts 7.30 p.m.Sun 27 Feb 2011Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Aikman Lane, West Totton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 8FT THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. Starts 7.30 p.m.Thu 3 Mar 2011The Black Swan Folk Club, The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR. Fri 4 Mar 2011Beehive Folk Club, The Beehive, 16 Union Street, Harthill, Nr Worksop, S26 7YH. Sat 5 Mar 2011The Red Lion, Chulmleigh, North Devon, EX18 7BS. Starts 7.30 p.m. An evening for The Chulmleigh Society.01769 581398 Sun 6 Mar 2011The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Near Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 7JE. Wed 23 Mar 2011Faversham Folk Club, The Chimney Boy, Preston Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8PG Thu 14 Apr 2011English & Welsh Diaspora Conference, Department of English & Drama, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Concert as part of a four-day academic conference. This event may not be open to the public - details to be confirmed.Fri 13 May 2011Norwich Folk Club, Christchurch Centre, Magdelan Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 4LA. THE SULTANS OF SQUEEZE - John Kirkpatrick & Chris ParkinsonSat 11 Jun 2011Lewes Saturday Folk Club, The Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 2DJ. All day workshop on the fab new JK Tunebook - suitable for any instrument. Evening folk club performance.Mon 27 Jun 2011Grand Union Folk Club, The Soar Bridge Inn, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE12 8PN. Mon 11 Jul 2011Tudor Folk Club, White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1AG. Mon 15 Aug 2011The Commandery Museum, Sidbury, Worcester THE VICTORIAN FARMER'S YEAR IN SONG. An early evening one-hour concert - 5.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.Fri 9 Sep 2011The Potteries Folk Club, Foxfield Railway, Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, ST11 9BG Tue 20 Sep 2011Great Knight Folk Club, Old Black Lion, Marefair, Northampton Wed 21 Sep 2011Llantrisant Folk Club, Windsor Hotel, Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun, CF72 9DQ. Fri 2 Dec 2011The Brewtown Folk Club, The Old Cottage Tavern, 36 Byrkley Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2EG CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas ShowFri 9 Dec 2011Brilley Village Hall, Brilley, Herefordshire CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show. Starts 7.30 p.m.Fri 16 Dec 2011The Grange Hall, Coventry Road, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 1QA. CAROLLING & CRUMPETS - Solo Christmas Show
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David Vernon Concert - Report - MIDDLESBROUGH
Jan., 27, 2011
 Fantastic World famed Accordionist at Stainton Village Memorial Hall. Making his fourth visit to The Accordion Workshop Gtoup in Stainton Memorial Hall (Middlesbrough) David Vernon , world famed accordionist who plays at concertsandFestivals allovertheworld,held his audience in the palm of his hand as he gave a master class in accordion dexterity.
A real home spun Scottish Acccordiomst, David, who plays without a note of music, wizzed throughan ever changing repertoire of reels,jigs, ballads, waltzes and Latin American numbers without a moments hesitation, making his specially made 96 Bass accordion almost talk.
Before David took the stage, some talented amateur artiste had been assembled by compere Tom Baines. Firsily young Cornet player Robin Ballantyne, aged twelve, who first played at Stainton last year. A confident and talented young musician from Oldham, who plays Cornet m the school band, and with Dobcross Youth Band, Robin .accompanied on the piano by her father Tony, opened with " Prince of Denmark March" then into "Georgia on my mind", a real crowd pleaser. Lovely mellow tones, confident upper reaches,with a perfect finishing upper octave note, Robin deserved every moment of her applause.
Rob and Margaret Trigg, representing the Accordion Workshop joined for three duets,"Petite Fleur" a workshop favourite,"AutumnLeaves", and"Ballerina"which all require dexterity of fingering which Rob and Margaret blended together, alternating between "first" and "second" accordion as they interpreted the music. DavidVernon reminded us that his roots were in Edinburgh, with a strong Scottish flavour to his music. Reels and Jigs showed fast and furious fingering, feet were tapping, hands were clapping.
His expertise was amazing, Ms control over the instrument, contrasts, single reed to multi voices, and all with the effortless style which we'd come to expect. Tangos reminded him of his film career, brief though it might have been!!
His specially arranged " nobility set" retained the names of Scottish nobility in every tune, but perhaps surpassing mis was "Butterfly" with a smooth ,fast flowing right hand movement Tunes with a strong Jewish flavour, bringing out lots of left hand button control, ted him into '* The Shetland 2 Step" another workshop piece, finishing the first half with the French waltz "Excelsior".
James Ballantyne aged 14, ( Robin's cousin) took the stage with his Alto Sax. A member of the CUtheroe Royal Grammer School SwingBand, James had his own multi instrument backing tape, giving us " do nothing till you hear from me 'V'Oye- como-va", and "sway" which the audience certainly did, his concentration was intense, his timing to perfection, his contrasts in pitch and tone appeared effortless, his entries were absolutely on the beat. The audience loved him.
Tom Baines took the stage as the Workshop's solo accordionist. First a French Number " a man, a woman" played on "musette". Then "Waltz from the Jazz Suite", again a popular workshop numberwith most members following the notes with fingers on their knees.!! And then back to David Vernon, "Gold and Silver Waltzes" known everyoneinthehall,then in to more Scottish reels and jigs, with a numbe rof David's own arrangements of popular tunes all in the key of F . Lots of lightening finger works, lots of intense left hand button runs, all looking effortless, but the accordionists in the audience knowing just how hard they were to execute so cleanly. Tunes from "The Godfather" had a haunting start, then filled u p , changed tempos before coming back to a haunting ending on a single reed, and, judging by the humming along in the hall, pleasing everyone.A "Roulette Wheel" was another of David's favourites, the exacting right hand finger work having to minor the wheels erratic rotations, slowing, speeding rising, falling .until settling, was it a winner? Certainly it was with David's skill.
We heard "Braid View" based on David's own views over Edinburgh, "Sunny Spain" changing the mood, then into some '"popular waltzes" initially with audience participation, but with so many variations that humming was easiest
Changing completely, David introduced a Scaadanavian set, incorporating two waltzesmerging intotwopolkas,alltestinghisdexteritytothelimits.Hepassed!! Finale time brought an "American Medley", mostly well known to the audience, then finally one of
David's own compositions and most certainly one of our favourites. "Flying Scotsman" written to encompass the highs and lows, speeds and crawls, as the Flying Scotsman completes its journey rrom London to Edinburgh. ^
A wonderful accordionist, with one amazing instrument No attachments, no enhancements, no music, just an evening of pure accordion genius, reflected in the prolonged applause as he finally left the stage,
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The Accordionist - New Theatre Production
Jan., 27, 2011
Hi UKAO, Happy New Year. This is the info about the show tour I'm involved with this year. I'm in it both acting and playing and I have written 99% of the music for it too apart from the Classic Piaf songs so there should be plenty in it to interest accordionists. All the best,
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Please, fill in the gaps carefuly. Gaps marked with sign *, obligatory required.
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Announces
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Mar., 26, 2012
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Dear accordionists,
Accordionist.Net online store announces new relieses of well-known scores by Astor Piazzolla and Carlos Gardel. Please visit our website and order sheet music with the “50+” discount.
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Dec., 11, 2011
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Dear accordionist! New sheet music and scores for accordion added featuring F. Marocco, A. Piazzolla and Yann Tiersen. Sheet music is available to order via e-mail.
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