Leyland Accordion Club, Leyland, Lancashire, England.

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Leyland Accordion Club - 16th February 2005

 

Our February Concert

What a good night we had at our February local players concert. There was variety galore starting with Gordon Priestley playing My Treasure, Vienna Forever, Du Du Leigst Mir Im Hirsten and Julida Polka. With a total of 16 acts to get through, I aimed to keep everyone ready for their spot, keeping the gaps between players to a minimum. Steve Heap was soon on the stage playing Sproats Of Bernie Boozle (that's what he said it's called!) I'll Tell Me Ma, A Bunch Of Thyme and The Black Velvet Band. Basil then slowed things down with his excellent versions of Lady Be Good, Fascinatin' Rhythm, Red Sails In The Sunset, Harbour Lights and Summertime from the Porgy And Bess Opera. Derek Corlett was our next player, Derek played Bless This House and Hernandos Hideaway. Rebecca Parker then gave us Bianca Capanna and Her Very First Valse, both of which went down well because Rebecca has improved so much in recent months. As Rebecca returned to her seat to cheers from the crowd, Tom Bennett was taking his place on stage to play a selection of tunes, followed by Happy Birthday for Ann Parker who was celebrating her birthday that night. A card had gone round the club for signing and, as Tom announced that it was Ann's birthday, a party popper went off behind her covering her with streamers while the crowd sang happy birthday to her. After the first break of the night the buskers set themselves up for a selection of medleys which went down well. Colin Ensor then took to the stage with his new curved keyboard Scandalli accordion that was pictured and mentioned in the last newsletter. Colin played Return To Me, You'll Never Know and May You Always. David Rigby was next to entertain us with WhenYou Are In Love and Loveliest Night Of The Year as he was about to leave the stage the shouts of 'More' from the crowd prompted him to play Highland Cathedral and Spinning Wheel. Leading us up to the second break of the night, Bill Agnew produced a small two row button accordion and gave us all a nice surprise as he proceeded to play a selection of tunes as though he had always played a two row accordion. Bill played Bobby Shafto, Rowan Tree, Oh Suzanna, John Peel, Cuckoo Waltz, Keel Row and Poor Ole Joe before we stopped for the second break of the evening. During the break Jay and Jean played a selection of tunes on the keyboard and accordion, something they said they will do in future. I'm they offered to do that for us because I do like to make sure we have music in the breaks, but it's usually on CD, and live is much better. After the break Ann Parker thanked everyone for signing her birthday card, then proceeded to play Rosa and Beautiful Days. Jean Southern was next on to the stage with Tyrolean Accordion, Style Musette and My Florence before Sylvia and Jay played a selection of tunes on accordion and keyboard leaving just enough time for me to play Bless Em All while the buskers set up on the floor in front of me and Bob Seed accompanied me on the drums. It was time for our last act of the night, the assembled buskers (with Jay on the keyboard and Bob Seed on the drums) playing a great selection of tunes for the last 20 minutes of the night. It was amazing that we had packed so much in such a short time, thanks go to all the above people who did such a great job of providing the entertainment. David Batty

 

ArtsLive Newsletter


This quarters edition of the ArtsLive newsletter which goes out to clubs, libraries and various information points around the area, has a feature on Leyland Accordion Club in it. The article is about who we are, when and how we started, what we get up to. It tells about our website, radio station, newsletter, concerts, picnic and more. Hopefully it will find us some new closet accordionists when it's printed.

 

This Wednesday

Once again we have the welcome return of Harry Hussey to the club. In January, Harry was awarded his Gold Membership Card by the Musicians Union for his 40 years continuous membership. This honour means that Harry will not have to pay any more subs! “In addition” - Harry said after the presentation - “I hope this means I don’t have to pay for any more drinks anywhere, and no ladies can refuse me!” Apart from when he dropped in to see us at the Romano Viazzani night, Harry last played for us 20 months ago, in July 2003.
We know this will be a good concert, bring your friends, and, between now and Wednesday, try to remember all those tunes from before 1960 when the accumulator in Harry's wireless failed. Harry will be asking you to shout out the tunes you want him to play, so you now have chance for a little preparation by making a note of long forgotten tunes you would like to hear. Doors open at 7.30pm so make sure you turn up early for a good seat. I will see you there .
David Batty

 

Derian House Childrens Hospice Concert

Two years ago I was booked to play a concert in aid of Derian House Childrens Hospice after I played in a similar concert for them in 2002, I was asked to play in 2004 but I was not available so I agreed to do 2005 instead. As the night of the concert approached I came down with a cold/flu/something which made me think that I wouldn't be fit to play. I spent almost two weeks with various cold remedies, tablets and rest trying to get well. I turned up for the dress rehearsal last Wednesday with tired and aching arms and legs and little will to play the accordion but I was on the mend. By Friday my health had improved, I had got some practice done and I turned up for the door opening at 6.30pm; the audience were due to be let in from 6.45pm for a 7.30 start. After a quick sound check, I got my chair set up backstage behind the backdrop curtain where I was sat for the rest of the concert. The backdrop curtain was thin enough for me to watch the show from the rear because of the bright stage lights but the crowd of 210 people couldn't see me sat there facing them. The show opened with the national anthem followed by a group of about 10 girls dancing. The next act was soloist Karen Thompson, followed by a Flanagan and Allen set and a comedy routine. It was now time for my spot, as the curtain closed I rushed out to the middle of the stage with my seat dragging my accordion microphone cable behind me. Three or four feet in front of me, in front of the curtain was the compere announcing me as the sound man placed the microphone stand in front of me and I strapped my accordion on hurriedly. Just as I grabbed the microphone to move it towards me, the curtain opened to reveal the audience below me as I was on a stage about shoulder height from the floor. As I got to my second piece I was feeling comfortable as I then played a medley for them to sing along to. My next piece was probably the most difficult part of the night, they wanted me to sing and play I'm My Own Grandpa which I had performed in 2002. This went down very well and the crowd seemed to be having a great time. A few tunes, a couple of jokes later and it was almost time to finish, just time to give them a song they hadn't heard from me before Murphy And The Bricks. I could see some people with tears in their eyes from laughing (I'm assuming it wasn't because of my playing). After 31 minutes I finished my spot with Now Is The Hour as the lights came up for the break. After the break there were girls dancing again, an Albert And The Lion monologue, a soprano singer and a comedy/banjo/ukelele act. The night ended with the dancers dancing in a semicircle while the other acts came on stage in front of them for the finale and curtain down. I had again enjoyed the night, it would have been easier if I hadn't been so ill prior to the event but as they say the show must go on and I'm glad I managed to get my voice working just in time. The night raised over £2000 for Derian House Childrens Hospice so it was time well spent and it was good experience. During the show the acts were not allowed to mix with the audience, meaning that you didn't see the crowd until the curtain opened. It seems a bit strange to be kept hidden backstage when your used to sitting in our concerts until it's your turn to play, but that's how a big show usually works. I now have to plan 30 minutes of new stuff in case they ask me back again in two years time. Only two years to master 30 minutes of new, good material, I better start practicing now! David Batty

 

Accordions For Sale

"Brandoni Super Musette 96 bass piano accordion black/gold, 11/3 couplers, hard carry case, immaculate cond., weight 22lbs £1400.

Brandoni Kingline Musette (handmade reeds) 96 bass 5 row button accordion, black/silver, 11/7 couplers, soft carry case, weight 22.8lbs, immaculate, £1700.

Guerrini Watkins "Regent" 96 bass 5 row button accordion, double cassotto, "Q" link Musictech MIDI, beautiful decoration, weight 25.8lbs, carry case with wheels, immaculate, £1800.

Cavagnolo professional classic style 4 row button accordion, metallic gold, 6 treble couplers (hidden) 3 bass, weight 27.4lbs,with hard case, £1600.
Telephone Martin or Eileen 01759-371383. (York area)

 

Cake With Jelly Bean Mystery

In the last newsletters I asked if anyone knew where the cake with jelly beans on top of it came from. I even issued an email address jellybeanenquiry@accordionclub.co.uk in the hope of finding the source of the mysterious cake. At our last meeting Tom Bennett cracked and owned up that it was he who bought the cake from Tesco in Leyland. Here at Leyland Accordion Club Headquarters the JellyBeanEnquiry was about to be scaled up to the status of JellyBeanInvestigation prior to this information coming to light. Now Mike Ellis can happily buy and eat as many of these cakes as he wants. I'm glad this sad saga had a happy ending.

 

Our Website


Our internet website has had 77,576 vistors as at 13th of March 2005, that's 1078 visitors to the main page of our website since last month. The new wrap around photograph of the club brought in four new visitors to our last practice night and I'm expecting a further three new visitors on Wednesday that I know of. The photograph shows people what it's like to be at the club prior to them walking through the door, it all looks safe and respectable apart from where Mike and Tom are wrestling with Harold in the photograph! Our radio station has had over 950 listening hours this month, that's almost 3000 people listening for an average of 20 minutes a time. I can't tell you how many of those 3000 visitors were repeat listeners so it might really be 1000 individuals turning up three times during the month and listening for 20 minutes each time. No matter how the figures work out, it's a good listenership, enough for me to start thinking about putting some adverts in between some of the tracks of music to offset the cost of running the station.

 

Roland Demo On The Internet

We had a demo of the roland accordion from Romano Viazzani, but if you have a broadband connection and you want to see a demo by another Roland Demonstrator then go to the following Internet Web Page. If you don't have broadband you can still listen to the demo but the TV picture will be poor quality..
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details.asp?CatID=17&SubCatID=0&ProdID=FR-7&PageMode=15

Wyre International Accordion Festival

Dont' forget that this festival is being held at The Marine Hall, Fleetwood on Saturday the 26th of March from 9am to 7.30pm. Contact Gina at 01253 822046 or 778764 for more details. You can enter or watch the competitions, browse the trade stalls, have a bite to eat in the cafe and visit Fleetwood shops and market, all in one day. There will be people from Leyland Accordion Club there who you will know, so why not put it in your diary for a day out at Fleetwood. It will be nice for us to meet outside of the club and the time constraints of a normal club night.

 

 

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