Our March Concert
Our March concert started with David Rigby playing In The Good Old Summertime, Irish Eyes, Daisy Bell, Loveliest Night Of The Year, Wild Rover, Whispering Hope, Dark Island, Spinning Wheel and Highland Cathedral. Our next player was Ann Parker playing Cuckoo Waltz, Dancing Fingers and Beautiful Days. Sara Daly was next on to the stage playing Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron, Hot Digetty, Yes Sir That’s My Baby Now, Bobby Shaftoe, Red Wing, Let Him Go Let Him Tarry and Wonderful Copenhagen. It was now time for our guest artist Walter Perrie to take to the stage, Walter started his first set playing Bonny Dundee, Andrew Rankine, Westering Home, The Old Mountain Thyme, Dark Eyes, Cuckoo Waltz, O Sole Mio, Funiculi Funicula, Santa Lucia, Poppa Piccolino, Fleur De Paris, La vie En Rose, Under Paris Skies, If You Love Me, Le Denicheur, A Paris, Scottish Jigs, Blue Danube, Amapola, and La Paloma. It was now time for our break which we had to keep short to ensure we managed to fit all the players in and still have time for Walter to play. We started the second half with Bernard Belshaw playing Just The Way You Look Tonight, Nessun Dorma and Blaze Away. Bernard Bamber played The Boys from Blue Hill, Cork Hornpipe and Music Box Dancer. John Higham then played Amazing Grace, No Regrets Dorothy (vocal) and I’ll Try To Remember. I made a token appearance playing Triste Sourire, if we are short of time I always make sure I play one tune, because I have never missed playing a tune at the club on any night since we started 174 months ago. Our guest artist Walter Perrie finished the night playing Irish Washerwoman, Sabre Dance, Return To Sorrento, Arrivaderci Roma, Ama Pola, Hungarian Dance, You’re Breaking My Heart, Vienna City of My Dreams, Brindisi, Thank Heaven For Little Girls, Pigalle, I Will Wait For You, Carte Postale, Merry Widow Medley, Gold and Silver Waltz, Match Of The Day, Figaro’s Aria, The Blue Bells Of Scotland, Tobermoray Wedding, and Scotland The Brave. After thanking us for attending the concert, Walter finished with A Long Long Trail A winding and Lilli Marlene. This had been a great night of entertainment from Walter. Many people were thanking him for playing for us, I know the night went down well and it was great to see Walter again. One of the tunes Walter played reminded me that I used to play that tune, but had not played it since we held our nights at The Highfield (which was a long time ago), hearing Walter play it inspired me to see if I can pick it up again for one of the forthcoming nights.
David Batty
This Wednesday
This Wednesday is a local players night featuring a concert with our very talented local players. Please bring your accordions along and give us a tune, we look forward to hearing players of all levels. If you haven’t played at the club for a while (or at all) then dust your accordion off and give us a tune. Playing in a relaxed environment like the club is good for your personal development. If you don’t play the accordion then I hope you can come along and be a great audience member and do your best clapping 🙂 Please Remember to bring any friends or family to this entertaining night. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Make sure you get there early for a good seat and a good chat. See you there.
Looking For Accordionists
We often get calls and emails from people looking for accordionists to play for events, parties, weddings, funerals and other kinds of events. We can’t always help them in finding an accordionist because we only have a short list of people that we know that will play for these kinds of events. We are want to expand our list so that when we do get calls asking for an accordionist we can find someone for them. If you would like to be on a list of possibles for these kinds of jobs then send us an email, or when you next come to the club give us your contact details and types of music/jobs you like to take on. The pay for these kinds of events varies, some just cover cost of travel and some pay a good amount, almost all the enquiries we get are for jobs are in the Lancashire area.
Accordion Forum
On our website we have a forum (a place for people to talk about accordions), I created a second one and recently publicised it to members of the first forum, as a result we had a good increase in the numbers of people looking in there. Over 20 people a day are looking in there, but far fewer than that are posting messages. If you have something to sell, want to talk to other accordionists online or are looking for something accordion related then visit www.accordionworld.co.uk and join in the chat. People are talking about midi expanders, accordions for sale and a lot more.
New Hohner Accordions
In January Hohner announced a new line of premium accordions, in March they Launched a new website to showcase the new accordions, The new Range of Accordion have been called Anacleto Collection, they have a range of Piano and Diatonic Accordions they have hand made reeds. To find out more about the new accordions and to see pictures visit www.anacletoaccordions.com
TV Apperance
The TV show that we were filmed for in January went out on the 28th March, We got a call the week before to let us know when it was being aired. This was too late to be in the newsletter but we announced it at the guest artist night and sent an email out a few days before it was due to air. We were on the show for 2.5 minutes, This is the 3rd time the club has been on TV, We were very pleased with the show and lets hope we see a few more people coming to the club because of the show.
Accordion Band From Germany
Crewe Brass Band are accommodating HHS Bischofshiem an accordion band from the town of Bischofshiem in Germany which is twinned with Crewe. They are holding a special concert on 5th May at St Michaels Church, Ford Lane, Coppenhall, Crewe, CW1 3TN. Tickets are £5 and are available from Merben Music telephone 01270 582728. Also on Sunday 6th May Crewe Brass Band and HHS Bishofsheim will be doing another concert in the Bandstand in Queens Park, Crewe, CW2 7SE, from 2pm. Last year Crewe Brass Band visited Bischofshiem as part of an exchange with the Accordion Band.
Accordion Forum Messages
Here are a couple of message that have been posted in our forum this month, If you wish to reply to any of them just head over to the forum at www.accordionworld.co.uk and join in.
Asked by Billyo:
“hello all, new here so hope this has not being ask before, I want to go to the folk festival at shrewsbury this year and would like to know if any of you good people out there had been to it in the past, me and the better half want to bring our camper van but like a few tips from anybody who has been and know what to expect, you know the kind of thing, best place to park which stage has the class acts , price of the hard stuff, plus food standard anything that will be of interest,”
Asked by Stvnsn48:
“Hi , just wondered if anyone had had the opportunity to try out musitech master midiplay (the one with 400 inbuilt sounds), expander is mounted on grill of accordion. would be interested to hear from anyone that has used this system, as I think there are 2 problems,with system, and need to find out if it is my system at fault, or, if other users have same problems. I have tried speaking to musictech,but as I dont speak Italian a lot seems lost it translation. Any help welcomed, bill stevenson “
Leyland Festival
Leyland Festival is on again this year. The festival will be held over the 7th and 8th July 2012 on Worden Park and in Leyland town centre. The festival will provide a weekend of family fun with a wide choice of activities. It will all start with the grand parade through Leyland on the Saturday and entertainment is planned to include craft and community stalls, ‘Paws in the Park’ fun dog show, classic vehicle displays, the Leyland Showtrekker, local pop/folk/indie bands and much more. Park entry will be £5 per person TBC (£3 in advance), 16 years and under free. For more information visit www.visitleyland.co.uk
Tornado Visits Preston
Tornado (Completed in 2008) was the first such steam locomotive built in the United Kingdom since Evening Star (the last steam locomotive built by British Railways, in 1960). The Tornado is visiting Preston as part of the Guild 2012 celebrations. The last of the renowned Peppercorn ‘A1’ steam locomotives was scrapped in 1966, but now a brand new ‘A1’, No. 60163 Tornado, has been brought to life. The ‘Tornado’ will visit The Ribble Steam Railway during Spring Bank Holiday 2012. The Tornado will be blowing into Preston from Saturday 26th to Tuesday 29th May. For more information, visit www.ribblesteam.org.uk or telephone 01772 728800
Postage Increase
Last Month we told you that Royal Mail were going to be putting their prices up but at the time had not yet announced by how much. We can now tell you that first class stamps will cost 60p up from 46p and second class will cost 50p up from 36p. The increase is effective from 30th April, You have plenty of time to stock up on stamps before the price increase comes in because stamps bought at the old price will still be valid to use after 30th April.
Accordion File
Gama go have taken the name Accordion File for the organizational folder literally and have designed one with an accordion on both sides of the file. The file measures 10″x13″ and can be used with all letter sized documents. The files can be bought from www.store.gama-go.com/Accordion-File-p/ea1209.htm for $10 which is roughly £7 I’m not sure if they deliver to the uk, if you do want to buy it, I would contact them first to enquire about postage to the UK.
Button Box Workshop Weekend
From Friday 25th to Sunday the 27th May, John Kirkpatrick’s is running a residential workshop weekend for players of the three-row button accordion – the instrument was popularised by Jimmy Shand. The weekend is not be suitable for melodeons, or for players of the two-row Irish style of accordion. But there will be sessions on the accordion’s left hand, so players of other accordions can be included. John will be starting out from his firm base in traditional English folk music, covering Morris tunes, country dance tunes and folk songs, while also looking at the complexities of playing in all the keys available on this compact instrument, and exploring swathes of repertoire that may not be immediately associated with the push-pull squeeze-box! Full board / en-suite single £200, sharing £180. Non en-suite single £170, sharing £160. There are also options for non –residential (workshops only) and camping and camper vans. Telephone 01984 618274 for more information and to book your place.