Our January Concert

Our January concert started with Bernard Belshaw playing True Love, Moon River, Let’s Face The Music and Dance, Time After Time, How Wonderful To Know, Blaze Away and Thank You For The Music. Our next player was Rebecca Parker who played Home On The Range and My Wild Irish Rose for us. Ann Parker was next on the stage. Ann played Yodelling Polka, Black Mask Waltz and Bel Viso. It was now time for our guest artist Harry Hussey to start his first spot, Harry first asked us what we wanted to hear, then he started playing our requests. This is the normal format when Harry is a guest artist. His first request from the audience was Polka Dots and Moon Beams. People soon got the hang of shouting out tunes when asked and the requests then came thick and fast. Harry continued with Moonlight Serenade, Long Ago and Far Away, Lady Be Good, Shine, Souvenir D’Italy, Natasrella – Che la la, Deep Purple, Edelweiss, Poste Cartale, La Vie En Rose, April In Portugal, April Showers, Blue Skies, Here’s That Rainy Day, Rainbow Round My Shoulder, Whistling Rufus, But Beautiful, Chatenooga Choo Choo, Whispering, Butterflies In The Rain, Embraceable You, Take The A Train, Stairway To The Stars, Tico Tico, The Harry Lime Theme and The Dambusters March. After playing 28 pieces for us it was then time for the break.We had the usual chat during the break before we settled down to the second half of the evening. We started the second half with Colin Ensor playing Maigret, I Wont Tell A Soul and Domino. Graham Driver was our next player, playing Vannitaise and Weasel’s Revenge. I then gave quick renditions of Black Mask Waltz and Sailors Hornpipe before welcoming Harry Hussey back to the stage. Harry started his second spot with Begin The Beguine and White Cliffs Of Dover. These were suggestions made to him during the break. Harry continued to ask the audience what was next and then proceeded to play the tunes, the night continued with Always, Fields Of Athenry, Danny Boy, What Are You Doing The Rest Of You Life, I Will Love You, Windmills Of Your Mind, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, South Rampart St Parade, Donkey Serenade, Laura and Tea For Two. Shortly before the end, Alan Venn switched on his keyboard and joined Harry, they played Moon River, Santa Lucia and How High The Moon. Alan then left the stage and Harry continued on his own, playing Autumn Leaves, Skyliner, The Entertainer, Sweet Georgia Brown, Chicago, Nola, 12th Street Rag, After You’ve Gone, Now Is The Hour and, to finish, Sailing by.

David Batty

 

This Wednesday

This Wednesday is one of our local players concerts featuring some great local performers. If you have not played at the club or are nervous about doing so then please still bring your accordion along and maybe give us a tune, we look forward to hearing all players, not just those that have practiced religously. Knowing that you might play at the club can help inspire you to practice more because you know that people will be listening to you. For the non players, you have an equally important job, that of providing a great audience for our local talent, a job you always do well. The club is not just about a musical instrument, it is a social club based around a musical instrument, so come along on Wednesday for a great concert and some great socialising. If you see a new visitor to the club, please go along and say hello, I am sure they will be pleased to see you. Doors open at 7.30 See you there… David Batty

Eastbourne Accordion Festival

The forthcoming Eastbourne Accordion Festival programme has been released. The artists playing at the festival include Jack Emblow, Tony Compton, Roman Voloshchuk , Mauro Carra, Alan Young, Romano Viazzanni, Harry Hussey, Angie Lukins, Gennaro Fiondella and John Romero The full programme is as follows.
Friday 19th February – 2.00 Arrival and check in., 3.00 Welcome cup of tea or coffee ,4.00 Harry Hussey , 6.00 Dinner, 8.00 Gennaro Fiondella , 8.30 Interval, 8.45 Jack Emblow and Tony Compton part 1, 9.30 Interval, 9.45 Jack Emblow and Tony Compton part 2, 10.30 Guest Busking session led by Alan Young, 11.15 Late Night with Roman Voloshchuk Saturday 20th February – 8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast, 9.00 Seminar – Gennaro Fiondella – Orchestra , 10.15 Masterclass – Jack Emblow and Tony Compton, 10.15 Seminar – Trevani – Playing by ear, 10.15 Masterclass – Gennaro Fiondella – Bel Viso , 1.00 Lunchtime – Roman Voloshchuk, 2.00 Guests Concert – Hosted by Gennaro Fiondella, 4.00 Complimentary cup of tea or coffee, 6.00 Dinner, 8.00 Alan Young, 8.45 Interval, 9.00 Mauro Carra, 9.45 Interval, 10.00 Romano Viazzanni, 10.45 Party Time – John Romero and guests, 11.30 Late Night with Harry Hussey.
Sunday 21st February – 8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast, 9.00 Seminar – Gennaro Fiondella – Orchestra , 10.15 Seminar – Trevani – Playing by ear, 10.15 Seminar – Harry Hussey – Jazz, 11.30 Seminar – Angie Lukins – Folk and Barn Dance, 11.30 Masterclass – Gennaro Fiondella – Bel Viso, 1.00 Lunchtime – Roman Voloshchuk, 2.00 Orchestra and Seminar Concert – Hosted by Gennaro Fiondella, 3.00 Harry and Guests, 4.00 Complimentary cup of tea or coffee, 5.30 Dinner, 7.45 Romano Viazzanni, 8.15 Mauro Carra , 8.45 Interval, 9.00 Alan Young , 9.45 Interval, 10.00 Charity Raffle , 10.30 Harry Hussey , 10.45 Party time Pro Jam Session , 11.30 Party time Guest Jam Session led by Alan Young. Monday 22nd February, 8.00 – 9.30 Breakfast, 10.00 – 11.00 Farewell Concert and Goodbye (Ballroom Hall) (Telephone John on 01323 733700 to book your place).

Blackpool Accordion Festival

The festival that was to be held at The Norbreck Castle Hotel has now been cancelled. I did a quick search on the Internet to find out more about this, there are a couple of different stories on the Internet about lack of rooms etc., but I did not find any definitive information so I don’t know any more about this other than the festival is not on..

 

Charity Concert in Essex

Harry Hussey played for us this month, this is part of a charity tour that Harry Hussey is doing in his 80th year to raise money for homeless people. This week I got a card from Charlie Watkins who runs a charity for the homeless. He was thanking us for having Harry and for the money donated to the chartity by Harry after appearing at the club. The Harry Hussey “80th Birthday Year Tour” continues with a visit to Harlow Accordion Club with Steve Roxton and The Harlow Accordion Club Band on Thursday 25th February 2010 at The Links Social Club, Parsloe Road, Harlow, Essex, CM19 4RT Admission is £7.00 (on the door) or £6.50 in advance from Jean Hanger 01279-432830.

 

NAO UK Championships 2010

NAO UK Championships & Festival 2010 to be held at The Metropole Hotel, Blackpool on 23rd – 25th April, 2010 £90 per person for 3 nights. You pay for two you & get Sunday night free, bed, buffet breakfast, evening dinner buffet included. Accordion Competitions for Soloists, Duets, Groups and Bands, (Area Championships Are Necessary To Qualify For This Very Special Event) Friday Evening Welcome at The Metropole Hotel, Saturday and Sunday Competitions In The Newly Refurbished Metropole Hotel, The Metropole Concert Lounge, and Other Competition Areas, Saturday Evening Ceilidh with Gary Balir and his band.Sunday Evening is Farewell Showtime. I will put more details of this event in the next newsletter as it is released.

 

Black Country Accordion Club

Last year I told you about the start of a new accordion club called the Black Country Accordion Club. Now the club has just celebrated its first year of existence with a special party. They brought back their first guest artist Steve Roxton and had a few others guests as well. Here is a review of the night by Lou Ambrose:
January 25th was our big night and we had a really good turnout to celebrate our first 12 months ‘trading’. A buffet was provided and drinks were on the house.We had quite a few local visitors who came to see what was going on. No doubt free food and drinks were part of the attraction. At great risk of repeating myself yet again, I admit that accordionists and enthusiasts of the accordion are rather thin on the ground, so if we can entice normal people into the club and then entertain them with accordion music amongst other things, then we stand a chance of slowly educating the general public on the merits of the accordion. Once again, repeating the same old words that the public regard the accordion as pub and street corner entertainment, we must educate them otherwise. I interviewed dear old Charlie Watkins back in 1995 who said those very words. Barry and I know that slowly but surely we are succeeding as we have won over a number of ‘outsiders’. As I organise the raffle, amongst other things, I was very pleased to accept an endless supply of raffle prizes from members and visitors.This made the display a very worthwhile project, atracting much interest. We were helped in our hour of need by the evergreen Steve Roxton who soon won over our visitors with his playing and singing. Steve was our guest on the launch of our new club and returned to celebrate with us. He very quickly had the audience singing along together with arm waving. He always entertains with so much variety in his programme, especially with his songs with vocals in both French and Russian, amongst others. Our compere for the night was our friend and supporter, the hilariously funny Tommy Mundon, local comedian. Tommy brought his friend Marlene, who is a local Black Country comedienne. Some of our visitors needed a translator to help them understand Marlenes anecdotes because she is a true wench from the Black Country, but this did not seem to be of importance because between them they had the audience shrieking with laughter at the jokes. A surprise visitor was Alan Young who came with Rob Beecroft. Alan came without his accordion but he was soon playing with a borrowed instrument. The nights entertainment was summed up by some visitors who were overheard chatting afterwards and the comments were, “two comedians, a singer and accordion player, another player and free food and drink, how do they do it?” There was a slight influx of new members but our target is to double the present number in the coming year. Anyone out there who enjoys a night’s entertainment and would like to join Barry’s Band would be very welcome and should contact Barry right away on 0121 559 4620. The Black Country Accordion & Music Club
Meet on the 4th Monday of every month at:- Rowley Regis Disability Centre, Rowley Regis, B65 9AT Email Barry Smith – bsentmusic@gmx.com Tel: Barry on 0121-559-4620.

 

Excelsior Accordion For Sale

Excelsior Accordion (Black) : 120 Bass, 9 Treble Couplers, 3 Bass couplers. very good condition with the exception of one reed that requires attention. Offers in the region of £550. Contact Brian Lloyd 01695 577153.

 

The Irish Are Coming

THE 13th Northern Ireland open accordion championships held in First Larne Presbyterian Church hall attracted the largest entry for several years. Organised by Clyde Johnston, the event is the largest accordion festival held in Northern Ireland and this year attracted 157 entries. The championships are recognised by the National Accordion Organisation of the United Kingdom as a qualifier for the UK Championships, held later in the year.