Our May Concert

Our May concert started with Colin Ensor playing The Blacksmirth, Pigalle, Secondary Waltz and Crazy. Our next player, Linda Grant played Autum Dream composed by a piper, Faria’s Jig written by Linda for her niece, Master David Cunningham, Stone Court, Emily A Little Gem also written by Linda, and Canberra Carousel by a member of Jim McLeod Band. Bernard Belshaw then took to the stage as our last local player before the guest artist. Bernard played Malaguena, Blaze Away, Moulin Rouge, Ecstasy, Jealousy and You Make Me Feel So Young. Our guest artists Julie Best and Jean Corrighan then started their first spot with Lolita, Bibbiche and Song Of The Clyde. Jean then played The Dark Island on her own. They then went back to playing duets with Bluebell Polka, Tarantella Avolesa, Piccolo Comino and The Wild Rose Of The Mountain. Jean then gave us another tune on her own; Nocturne in E Flat by Chopin. Julie then played Cuckoo Waltz. It was back to the duets with All I Have To Do Is Dream, Rapide Digitale, Choette Java and Accordion Poka. Julie entertained us with Blaze Away before the pair of them played Jaqueline Waltz to end their first session. When the break was over, I started the second half with Black Mask Waltz and Oslo Waltz. It was Graham Driver who then played Weasels Revenge, A Walk In The Country, Staten Island, Carolines Watlz and Jaqueline Waltz, before handing the stage back to our guest artists. Julie started the second session with Triumph March, The Crock Musette, Les Triolets, 12th Street Rag, Abba Mega Mix I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do – Super Trouper – Thank You For The Music – Money Money – Voulez Vous – I Had A Dream and Mama Mia. The entertainment continued with Twilight Blues, Snow Train Shuffle, Elvira, Luxembourg Polka, The Sailors Hornpipe – Captain Pugwash (aka. the Trumpet Hornpipe), Boum Musette, Pyramid Polka and Pietro’s Return. Jean then Joined Julie on the stage to finish the night with Dantesque, The Leyland Waltz which was written for LAC’s 10th birthday. Their encore tune was Duke Of Perth. It had been another great concert and another great chance to enjoy Julie and Jeans company for an evening. Roll on their next appearance..

David Batty

 

BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award

This competition for 15 – 20 year olds. The closing date is the 1st of September 2009. The winner will get a recording session which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2’s Mike Harding Show. They will also appear at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2010, the Towersey Village Festival in 2010, Fairports Cropredy Convention in 2010 and receive a year’s free membership of the musicians union. Leaflets with application forms will be on the table by the door at this Wednesdays concert.

 

This Wednesday

This Wednesday we have a local players night featuring a wealth of local talent. The doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Please let your friends know about this event if you think they might be interested in having a good social night out. Although the club is based on the Accordion, it is also primarily a social event for like minded folk to enjoy some good music and most importantly some good company. Dont forget to bring your accordion to give us a tune. See you there… David Batty

 

St Audries Bay Summer Accordion Week

This event is not taking any more bookings as it is fully booked but I thought you might want to know about it anyway. Maybe for next year?.. The St Audries Bay Summer Accordion Week takes place from July 18th to 25th in the English county of Somerset. Founded by the late Malcolm Gee in the 1980s, this is the original “Friendly-Fun Summer Accordion Week” is now organised by Mary Randle. There is chalet or caravan accommodation available – half board or self catering. The guest artistes include Harry Hussey, and the activities offered include Accordion Bands (Advanced/ Intermediate/ Beginners), Vintage Workshop, Scottish Workshop, French Accordion Circle, Composers Competition, Scottish Ceilidh Evening, Accordion Repairs, Accordion Tuition, Trade Show, Duets, Groups, Solos, and Busking.

 

Teignmouth Folk Festival

This event, now in its 11th year, helps to keep alive traditional sea songs and tall stories. This runs from June 19-21. This year’s line up will include Tom Lewis, a naval veteran of 24 years who sings and tells stories of the sea, a three-piece folk band who specialise in Irish ditties, drinking songs and acapella folk tunes. Other performers will include the Exmouth Shanty Men, whose shows include lusty deck songs and heart-breaking ballads sung with gusto – they are also known to get up to all manner of tomfoolery; while the New Rope String Band play everything from fiddle and guitar to piano, accordion and mandolin. In addition, around 16 different Morris dancing teams will perform free of charge throughout the town. Proof indeed that this traditional English pastime is very much alive and kicking! Weekend tickets for the Folk Festival, priced from £30 for adults and £15 for under-14s, are available with or without campsite accommodation. To book tickets call 01803 290427 or visit www.teignmouthfolk.co.uk for information. If you are on the Internet then you can get more information from the www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk website.

 

Stockport President’s Night Review

Stockport Accordion Club’s contribution to World Accordion Day on May 6th, was a ‘President’s Night’ concert, which proved to be a non-stop feast of music. With no booked guest, the club members provided most of the music. This included the SAC Band (MD Dennis Pepler), SAC Orchestra (MD Brian Jenkins), SAC Jazz Band (Marj Howard – trumpet, Brian Jenkins – tenor horn, John Nixon – clarinet, Derek Pritchard – tenor sax, Tony Wynroe – keyboard, and Johnny Coleclough – vocals), a quartet: Rachel White, Sarah Hodge, Jason & Justin Ryan (playing a great version of ‘Lord of the Dance’), Dennis Pepler, Chris Green and Betty Molloy, Gillian Curvis (on keyboard), Brennan Wilson and Leo Hickey, Ray Peacock, Marj and Rob Howard ( trumpet and Roland FR7), John Higham, Derek Stubbs, and two short spots by SAC Vice President Pearl Fawcett-Adriano. The concert marked the 75th birthday of SAC President Johnny Coleclough – a marvellous ambassador for the accordion, who revelled in the proceedings from beginning to end.

23rd Clacton Accordion Week

Clacton Summer Accordion Week. 10th – 14th August 2009 Venue: St James Church, Clacton on Sea, Essex Cost: £110 (excluding meals & accomodation.) Come and join around 30 accordionists from all over the country in an intensive and fun week of accordion orchestral playing, leading towards an exciting concert in the beautiful St. James Church on Thursday evening…… Experience a wide repertoire ranging from original works for accordion orchestra to classical and film music. This will be the 23rd year that the course has taken place having been founded in Harwich by the late Graham Romani and now led by Julie North and conducted by Ian Watson. For more information and a booking form, please contact:- Julie North – 0208 5470515 jnorth72@hotmail.com

 

Something You Should Know

I have found out that probably the best way to confuse someone is to

 

Our 2009 Picnic/Concert

For the last two years our Our Annual Picnic and Concert has been absent from our diaries because of the wet weather. The good news is that its back again this year(weather permitting). This years event is to be held on Sunday the 26th of July 2009 at the usual venue of Hollins Farm, Hollins Lane, Leyland. This is a concert held in a field with all the cars parked facing the stage like a drive in movie. We have a curtain sided trailer as our stage, full amplification is provided for the players, and the stage is even carpeted! You bring along yourself, park your car with a view of the stage and bring a chair or blanket to sit and enjoy the concert. Most people bring along a picnic, some drink, cameras, their accordions and, most importantly, something to shade themselves from the sun like a hat. The normal start time is from 12 noon with no formal finish time but we normally play until about 6pm or later, but some people leave after a few hours if they have other engagements. This is a very informal affair, there is no admission charge, simply turn up and enjoy the concert, or, if you are a player who doesn’t feel confident enough to play at the club, then bring along your accordion to play at the picnic, most of the time people are only half listening to the player, they are chatting amongst themselves and it’s a very easy booking. We have had caravans and people on motorbikes at our previous picnics but most people turn up in a car. I have included some photographs taken in previous years to give you an idea of the day. Apart from our first picnic in August 1999 we have had great weather, for every other picnic. That’s one rainy day then six years of good weather, then two years of being rained off. Don’t forget to put this in your diary, bring along family friends, etc. and, if you get lost on the way, then telephone 07943 803816 for directions. I have marked the map on the back page of this newsletter with a big cross showing Hollins Lane. From The Priory Club leave the car park, turn right, take the second right (West Paddock), at the end turn right at the mini roundabout. Turn Left at the next roundabout on to Leyland Lane, at the next roundabout take the first exit continuing on Leyland Lane, Hollins Lane is about 1 minutes drive away on your right. Please bring along family and friends who might enjoy the day and don’t forget to bring your accordion to give us a tune. Remember, Sunday 26th July from 12 Noon onwards. If there is any doubt about the weather then you can check the website at www.accordionclub.co.uk for the latest news, or ring the above number. I will let you know in the next newsletter how the ground is doing, fingers crossed it will be another scorcher of a day like many others we have had in the past. Please tell others about this event..