Leyland Accordion Club, Leyland, Lancashire, England.

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Leyland Accordion Club - 20th September 2006

 

Our September Concert

September was a guest artist night, so, as usual, it started with one of our local players, Ann Parker, playing Yodelling Polka, Hungarian Rhapsody and Beautiful Days. Our next player, Colin Ensor, then continued the music with More Than You Know, Autumn Leaves, Seth Davey, Rare Auld Times, I'm Sure Of Everything But You and I Won't Tell A Soul. Our final players before our guest artist were David Rigby playing Loveliest Night Of The Year, Daisy Bell, Highland Cathederal and Now Is The Hour and myself playing Blackpool Belle. It was now time for our guest artist Callum McKinnon to make his return to the club. Callum, who sings and plays a MIDI accordion, started his first session with a Scottish medley followed by You Made Me Love You, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, You Are My Sunshine, Heart Of My Heart, It Doesn't Matter Anymore and Walk Right Back. After introducing himself he continued with The Power Of Love, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Deep In The Heart Of Texas, My Old Mans A Dustman, California Here I Come, Baby Face, Ma She's Making Eyes At Me, Knees Up Mother Brown, Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down, Black Velvet Band, Wild Rover, Dark Island, Diana, The Clap Clap Song, Que Sera Sera, I'll Be Your Sweetheart, The Old Bull And Bush, Tulips From Amsterdam, Delilah, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, Spanish Eyes, Arrividerci Roma, Lady Of Spain, O Sole Mio, Is This The Way To Amarillo, Scotland The Brave, I Love A Lassie, A Wee Dockin Doris, Donald Where's Your Trousers, Roamin' In The Gloamin and finally, to take us in to the break, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road. After the break, we settled down to listen to Colin Ensor playing The Maigret Theme. It was now time for Callum McKinnon to start his second half with Take These Chains, Only You, Your Cheating Heart, Singing The Blues, Lambada, The Music Man, She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain, Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr. Hitler, Doh A Deer, When The Saints Go Marching In, Match Of The Day Theme, Here We Go, It's A Long Way To Tipperary, Pack Up Your Troubles, Don't Dilly Dally, Oh Boy, Heartbeat, In The Mood, Bonny Banks Of Loch Lomond, Northern Lights Of Old Aberdeen, These Are My Mountains, A Gordon For Me, I Belong To Glasgow, Little Old Wine Drinker Me, It's Raining In My Heart, Telstar, Any Dream Will Do, Side By Side, What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For, Beautiful Doll, By The Light Of The Silvery Moon, Carolina In The Morning, Country Roads, Jambalaya, Crystal Chandelier, Country Roads, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Show Me The Way To Go Home and finally, to finish a great night, Auld Lang Syne. After a massive round of applause for a great evening of hard work and entertainment, Callum did an encore in the dark with all the lights flashing on his accordion. Once the lights went up at the end of his session, Callum was doing a roaring trade in CD sales. When he counted up, he had sold one to 50% of the room! It had been a great evening's entertainment, our voices were rough with singing along to the 75 songs Callum had played during the evening. The Priory Club asked to see Callum before he left and they offered him a booking to entertain their own members. We look forward to having Callum back at the club in future David Batty

Alan Venns Weekends


Alan Venn is holding another of his popular accordion and keyboard weekends from the 6th to the 8th of November at Blackpool. These feature lessons from Harry Hussey, performances, concerts and a chance to relax in a nice family hotel in Blackpool. Telephone Alan on 01204 840279 for details of these great events.

This Wednesday


This Wednesday is another of our Local Players concerts, featuring a great variety night of entertainment from our own performers doing ten minute spots. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Players, don't forget your accordions, audiencees (have I invented a word?) you can practice being an audience! As usual, we will have the usual good company, music, raffle prizes, coffee, tea and good humour. Please tell your friends and maybe bring them along. If you have an accordion, or related item, for sale then bring that along too. Accordions can be left on the front of the stage with a price tag on them and you can do deals during the breaks.
I look forward to seeing you there. David Batty

 

Eastbourne Accordion Festival

The Eastbourne Accordion Festival was held this weekend featuring Pearl Adriano, Alastair Cameron, Angie Lukins, David Lukins, Gennaro Fiondella, Harry Hussey, John Romero, Trevani, Romano Viazzani, Charlie Watkins and Alan Young. The next festival is to be held 16th - 19th February 2007. Ring John on 01323 733700 or visit www.carillonstudios.me.uk for details of this popular Accordion Festival.

 

Caister Accordion Festival


The Caister Accordion Festival takes place from the 2nd to the 6th of November. Guest Artists booked are Art Van Damme (USA), Giancarlo Caporilli (Italy), Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Gary Blair, Jack Emblow & Tony Compton, Romano Viazzani and Norvic Concordia. Telephone 01482 805 387 for further details.

 

 

Our Website


Our Internet website has had 98182 visitors as at 11th of October 2006. That's 877 visitors to the main page of our website since last month. So far this year we have had 159 messages or adverts posted on our site by visitors. These are adverts selling accordions, asking for information or otherwise of interest to other accordionists. If you have an accordion for sale then why not post your own advert. The club website address is www.accordionclub.co.uk, the radio station is at www.accordionradio.co.uk and the festival site is at www.accordionfestival.co.uk.


NAO North West Area Championship


The NAO North West Area Championship 2006 is to be held at The Marine Hall, Fleetwood, on December 3rd. Contact Gina Branelli on 01253 778764 or 01253 822046 for further details, or to obtain an entry form if you feel like taking part instead of just watching. This is a good chance to have a day out at Fleetwood.

 

The D'Arcy Family


Eric and Thelma Dabrowski, who were professional entertainers and are members of the Leyland Accordion Club. Well, here is a little history of their musical family.
Eric, who was in the Polish Commandos, came to England at the end of the Second World War, on the Queen Bermuda - the ship that brought the troops home after the war.
It docked in Liverpool, and he then went on to Brighouse in Yorkshire and worked in a factory. He was already playing the accordion, juggling, and made himself a unicycle. Hughie Green was looking for variety acts for his show and, on seeing Eric's talent, took him touring in the show.
When that show finished, Eric joined another show called "Continental Tit Bits" and that is where he me Thelma who was a dancer. Thelma started dancing when she was about 4 years old. When she was 12 years old she was chosen to appear professionally touring in Pantomime every year. Then, on leaving school, she went straight into show business, and later joined the show where she met Eric.
Eric always practiced his act every morning on stage, and Thelma was always there watching him. One day, Eric threw one of the juggling-rings to her and she threw it back to him, and that's how it all began. She soon learnt to juggle and ride the unicycle, so they teamed up together; and, between them, they rode unicycles from 4ft to 8ft high, and even a half-wheel unicycle that Eric designed and made himself. They toured all over the UK, working in Variety, and were known as Eric D'Arcy & Diana. Thelma also learned to play the xylophone and guitar. Two years after they met, while working at the Tivoli Theatre, New Brighton, Merseyside, they were married on the morning of 15th August, 1953, at St. John's Church, Tuebrook, Liverpool and, later that day, they travelled across the River Mersey for the evening show at the Theatre. They were asked to come down last for the final. As Eric held Thelma's hand, he led her down the steps at the back of the stage. The band played the wedding march and confetti came down from above, and the stage was covered. They had bouquets handed to them, and also good luck greetings. It was a fairytale wedding day.
A year after they were married, in August 1954, their daughter Pauline was born, and, in October 1960, they had their son Gregory.
When theatres started closing down, they went on the Club circuit. Eric and Thelma have been on Hughie Green's television show "Opportunity Knocks".
Pauline learnt piano and the accordion, and joined her mum and dad in the act when she was 13 years old. Gregory learnt the drums and joined them when he was 7 years old. They were known as the D'Arcy Family. Eric and Pauline playing accordions, Gregory on the drums, and Thelma playing xylophone, guitar, and also doing the vocals - singing songs in both English and Polish.
Gregory and Pauline have also appeared on television in "Junior Showtime". Unfortunately, Eric took seriously ill in 1977, and they had to give up show business. Gregory (who still plays his drums) continued in show business until he got married, but is now a "Funeral Director" with his own business in Darwen, Lancashire. Pauline continued with her music, and is now an accomplished music teacher in Blyth Bridge, near Stoke on Trent. Pauline teaches piano and the accordion, and is a member of the North Staffs Accordion Club.

 

 

 

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