| Leyland Accordion Club - 19th March 2008
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Our March Concert
We had a good turnout in our recently refurbished concert room at the Priory Club, where we welcomed the return of the ever popular Steve Roxton as our guest artist. As the crowd settled down, a few of us did our party pieces in the warm up spots. Colin Ensor opened with Please, Domino, Secondary Waltz and Why Did You Make Me Care? This was followed by Ann Parker playing Frog Chorus and My Florence. Then it was time for our guest artist, Steve Roxton, to start the first half of his musical journey. After opening with En Avant, we had a Russian medley: Volga Boatman, Castachok and Kalinka then on to a musette medley of Un Gamin A Paris, Le Denicheur and Reine de Musette. The evocative Fields of Athenry was Steve’s next song then a change of tempo with Telstar, Whistling Rufus, La Vie-En-Rose and two accordion standards, March des Accordeonistes Lyonnaise and Luci E Ombre. Ireland was our next port of call with McNamara’s Band, If You’re Irish, Irish Washerwoman and Danny Boy. Brazil was followed by another popular French piece Pigalle, before Steve finished his first half with a bang - literally - with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. After the break for refreshments, the raffle and much socialising, Rebecca Parker played Moon River, David Batty then played Black Mask Waltz and was joined on the stage by Rebecca to play a delightful duet arrangement of Plaisir D’Amour. It was time for our guest artist Steve Roxton’s second half of entertainment and variety, and he got us on our way with Fleur de Paris, Wonderful Copenhagen, Tulips from Amsterdam, Bridges of Paris, Mocking Bird Hill and The Cuckoo Waltz. We had an Italian family visiting us and, as they came from Sorrento, they will have enjoyed Steve’s next song - Return to Sorrento. After Peter Street, Steve sang two Jim Reeves numbers; I Love You Because and Distant Drums, and he then took us back to his Bier Keller days with a set from In Munchen Stet Ein Hofbrauhaus to Beer Barrel Polka with clapping and swaying from the audience. Complementing his effortless keyboard style, Steve does very watchable runs and counter-melodies on the left and these were vividly demonstrated in Bach’s Minuet in G. After a few more songs we heard Retour des Hirondelles, a lilting Lara’s Theme and Monti’s Czardas. Scotland was next with Scotland The Brave, Scots Blue Bell Road To The Isles and Bluebell Polka followed by the Harry Belafonte song Island in the Sun . The very catchy Petit Bal Du Samedi Soir came next and after Parade of the Tin Soldiers was Steve’s unmistakable arrangement of Under Paris Skies. We were past our normal finishing time but there was more to come as Steve gave us a rousing finish with Jerusalem, Blaze Away (don’t tell you-know-who) and Goodbye from the White Horse Inn. He then came back and played us out with a Singalong medley - Who Were You With Last Night, Margie, Waiting For The Robert E Lee, Yes Sir That’s My Baby and Swannee. What a great night’s entertainment - here’s to the next time! Colin Ensor
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No Practise Night on 30th April
I had previously announced a 30th of April date for our extra practice night, but was contacted by the Priory Club this month to say that we can't use the room on that day, As a result, I have had to cancel that practice night. This was the fifth Wednesday in the month so it was an extra practice night and we still have a practice night one week later on the 7th of May.
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Our Website
Our Internet website has had 116,142 visitors as at the 12th April 2008, that's 925 visitors since last month. I am currently writing code to go behind our www.accordionfestival.com and www.accordionfestival.co.uk websites so that festival organisers can log in and add their festivals to the site. This would free me up to do other things while the festival organisers are responsible for writing their own adverts on the sites. I will then use the same technique to allow other accordion clubs to edit a directory entry about their own club. As you know, I advertise other clubs nights and their contact details on the websites and in this newsletter, with the one rule that, if they are a local club, then I only advertise them as long as their event doesn't compete with a Leyland Accordion Club night.
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This Wednesday
This Wednesday we have another great local players night. Please come down and support all our local players who give us a great deal of entertainment. If you are a player then please bring along your accordion (dont' forget it) as you have fans who look forward to hearing you playing and seeing your progress (or lack of it in my case). Local players nights are always entertaining. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Please bring your family and friends. I will See you on Wednesday. David Batty
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Guest Writer
As you probably noticed, Colin Ensor wrote the review of our last meeting on the front of this newsletter. I now wait to find out if I am out of a job! I am wondering how many of you noticed the different writing style before you read Colins name at the end of the article. Colin originally wrote this review and sent it to the accordion magazines who ask for reviews of local clubs nights, so I thought why not use it for the newsletter? I have written reviews of our nights so far, so I can't be accused of being lazy by taking Colins review and reusing it. I am wondering now how many words Colin read before he realised I had nicked it for the newsletter !
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NAO Festival At Blackpool
This event was always held in Scarborough, but this year it has moved to Blackpool, so I hope you can pay a visit even if for a couple of hours to give it support and ensure it stays here.....The NAO has received a record of over 450 entries for the 2008 UK Championships, to be held in Blackpool from April 25th to 27th. A feature of the 2008 UK Accordion Championships is the newly established International Category, which has an own choice only programme and is very suitable for international amateur competitors with a programme requirement aligned with the Coupe Mondiale Piano Accordion category. Several international entries have already been received, with international members of the Jury including CIA President, Kevin Friedrich (USA), CMA President Frédéric Deschamps (France), Mirco Patarini (Italy), Gunther Zeilinger (Germany - DHV International Representative), and four times world champion Julien 'Speedy' Gonzales (France). The event also features the traditional Trade display in the Metropole hotel, the opening gala concert, competition throughout the Saturday and on Sunday morning, including over 50 ensemble entries, the International Category as well as the Traditional Ceilidh on Saturday evening. For further information email the Secretary: naouk@btinternet.com.
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Guest Artist Booked
I have booked Barry Graham as our guest artist in November. Barry made his debut at Leyland in July 2007 where his wide variety of music went down very well. When I booked Barry to return to Leyland, he said he has been practcing hard and has improved since last time we heard him. It will be 16 months since we saw Barrys debut but I know many of you have asked when he is returning, so I know this booking will be a popular choice. Barry has visited China and other countries where he picks up pieces of music or adds to his style repertoire, he has visited Ireland to attend workshop weeks where he was learning Irish jigs and reels etc. Make sure this and our other dates are in your diary.
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New Local Radio Station
We have a new local radio station starting at Leyland later this year. The station which is going to be run by UTV will serve Leyland, Preston and Chorley areas. I don't have further details of the station yet, but they are in the process of assembling a team to run the radio station. This will be a good way to get details of our nights out to a lot of people as adverts on smaller stations are affordable, while the catchment area means that all the listeners will be within 20 minutes drive from the club. Depending on the format of the station, I am sure that their will be no problem in me getting an interview on the station, this will get word out about our concerts to the closet accordionists we havent found yet. The station will be called Central Radio, and will broadcast on 106.5 on FM. I will let you have more details when I have them.
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Irish Folk Music Scene
RTÉ Europe broadcast on channel 0142 on Sky Satellite. On Wednesday 23rd April 2008 they are broadcasting a programme called The Rolling Wave. This is 50 minutes long, starting at 21:02 through to 21:52. The programme is described as "A sharp ear and a close eye on the world of traditional and folk music in Ireland."
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Folk Club Programme
Folk Club is a radio programme on BBC Radio Ulster (Sky Channel 0118). This starts on Saturday 19th April 2008 at 20:03 through to 22:00. In this 1 hour and 57 minutes long programme Colum Sands presents a weekly feast of the best traditional and contemporary folk music and song. Live studio guests, concert performances, the latest on CD and vintage vinyl from the vaults, plus news from music venues around the country.
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Accordion Items For Sale
If you have any accordion items for sale then please bring them along to the club on any of our nights. If you have accordions then you can leave them on the front of the stage with a for sale sign on them. Sheet music or music books, CD's etc. can be sold from your table, I will announce it so your items can be browsed during the breaks. We have sold many accordions this way as people can have a play with the accordion during the break or at the end of the evening if its still on sale. I was wondering whether to ask the Second Hand Sheet Music woman to return to the club sometime to set her stall up. This would be on a concert night. What do you think? |
New Accordion Museum
The highlights of a collection of 200 antique accordions are now on display at Bogbain Farm and Heritage Centre, near Inverness, Founder Caroline Hunt was originally inspired to set up an accordion museum in Scotland after visiting the Museo della Fisarmonica museum in Castelfidardo in Italy. After launching an appeal for help in 2006, she has finally found a home for her collection thanks to the generosity of Bruce MacGregor, of Blazin’ Fiddles. She said: “I’ve been collecting accordions for 14 years, and when I went to Italy and saw how wonderful the museum was, I just thought, why not?
“My partner at the time told me it would never happen. But already we have about 60 on display, and by the end of the year we will have a barn restored allowing us to have many more.” Her collection, which spans 1840 to 1960, has previously been scattered among friends because it was too large to store in her own home. |
New Fintan Stanley DVD & CD
I am putting the finishing touches to a fintan Stanley DVD and also to a CD version of the soundtrack which was filmed and recorded for resale with Fintans permission. These will be ready in the very near future, and hopefully willl be well received as the material on them is excellent. They include tracks like Wine Women And Song played in Fintans unique style. If you are interested in purchasing a copy then please let me know at the club or email david@accordionclub.co.uk or visit www.accordionshop.com
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