Our March Concert

Our March Concert started with Gordon Priestley playing Danube Waves, Mariea Jennie Gabrella, La Noyee, and Sharpshooters March. Our next player was David Rigby playing Good Old Summertime, Irish Eyes, Daisy, Spinning Wheel, The Wild Rover, On Top Of Old Smokey, Beautiful Dreamer, Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Highland Cathedral. Bernard Bamber and Patrick Halpin (AKA Little and Large) were our next act, this duo played Green Glens Of Antrim, Goodnight Irene, These Are My Moutains, Black Velvet Band, Galway Bay, McNamaras Band, Whisky In The Jar, 40 Shades of Green, Old Rugged Cross and Fields Of Athenry. Graham Crow played La Paloma, The Echo Told Me (The Echo Waltz), Orange and Blue (Brochan Lom) and Macfarlane O’ The Sprots O’ Burn Booze. Our next player was Colin Ensor who gave us renditions of The Blacksmith, Any Old Time, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Somewhere My Love, Sweetheart Of All My Dreams and Who’s Taking you Home Tonight. Ruben Hickinbotham was our next player, Reuben started with Skye Boat Song, then continued with Time After Time, Softly As In a Morning Sunrise, How Wonderful To Know and Young and Foolish. It was time for Ann Parker to take to the stage, Ann gave us My Treasure, Under Paris Skies, Chopsticks, Frog Chorus, Second Waltz, Shine On Harvest Moon, Tulips From Amsterdam, Wonderful Copenhagen, Bridges Of Paris and Cruising Down The River. Our last solo player was Sara Daly who played Grandfather’s Clock, Grand Daughters Dream and McCafferty’s Motor Car. We ended the night with a Buskers Session playing a medley of Ma, If You Knew Suzie, ChinaTown, Oh Johnny and All Of Me. It was great getting the buskers playing together again and those I spoke to said they enjoyed it. One problem we had was that some of the players sat too far from the stage or other players to be heard by those far away from them, next time it would be better for everyone to be on the dance floor in front of the stage or on the stage itself so players can hear each other. If anyone needs music for the above buskers tunes then ask at the club for a free copy. Once we have played this medley a couple of times I will print out copies of the next medley to build up our repertoire.

David Batty

 

This Wednesday

This Wednesday is a guest artist night featuring John Romero. John runs Eastbourne Accordion Festival and has spent many years entertaining guests in hotels in Eastbourne. He will be playing a mixture of accordion classics, singalong, instrumental and also electronic music on his acoustic/midi accordion. I hope you can make it to support the club and our guest artist. Being from Eastbourne, John has not played at the club before (or any nearby clubs) so I am sure this is the first time most of you will have seen John play. The doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Brass Band Concert in Morecambe

From 03/05/2015 – 30/08/2015 Open air entertainment with brass bands from around the Northwest. Enjoy live music, ice cream and the park’s numerous attractions each Sunday afternoon from 2.30pm. Happy Mount Park, Marine Road East, Bare, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA4 6AB Tel: 01524 582808

 

Accordions For Sale

Scandalli (Red), Compact 96 Bass, Custom Built, Handmade Reeds, 37 Treble Keys – 3 Voice, 7 Treble & 2 Bass Couplers, £900 ono. Galotta (Red), 72 Bass, 34 Treble Keys – 3 Voice, 5 Treble & 3 Bass Couplers, £650 ono. Settimo Soprani (Black) 120 Bass 41 Treble Keys – 4 Voice, Straight Tuned, 13 Treble & 6 Bass Couplers (with Wrist & Chin master) Quality instrument in original leather case, Now only £950 ono (was £1,100). If you are interested in any of these accordions contact Ann Tel: 01772 864887 Email: anncordion.parker@btinternet.com

 

World Accordion Day

World Accordion Day is held on 6th May every year and this year it coincides with our First Practice Night of May, there will be celebrations and special events going on all over the world. World Accordion Day has been celebrated since 2009

 

Wirral Festival Of Firsts

Classical Guitarists Craig Ogden and Serbian born Accordionist Miloš Milivojevic are in Concert at Hoylake Chapel, Station Road, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside CH47 4AA on the 8th July 2015, the concert starts at 7:30pm with tickets costing £12. visit www.festivaloffirsts.com for more information about the festival and to buy tickets.

 

Accordions Of London Re-Opening

Accordions of London’ was opened by John Leslie in the 80’s, they have now moved to a new floor in their premises at 92 Loveridge Rd, Kilburn, London NW6 2DT. They held a Re-opening on 5th April between 11am and 4pm and had several top Accordionists entertaining during the day to celebrate their re-opening.

 

League of Super Evil

Children’s Animation programme, on CBBC Channel (Freeview Channel 120, Sky Channel 613, Virgin Media Channel 701) Thursday 16th April on from 7:25am to 7:40am Series 1, Episode 25: Not Accordion to Plan: Animation series following the exploits of four bumbling super-villains. Red Menace discovers he is an accordion savant. Voltar uses this annoying skill to his advantage but, when Red is nearly catapulted to polka stardom, he is forced to choose between his art and his family.

 

The Russian Way Of Playing Accordion

This Youtube video was uploaded back in January 2013 and has since had 1,350,000+ views, This video is not like you standard accordion videos, We believe it is a clip from a Russian Talent TV Programme. We won’t tell you any more about the video as we don’t want to spoil the surprise, you can watch the video at http://youtu.be/V3-diqR41yo

 

Sad News

On Thursday morning, Mitch, who many of you know as an accordion tuner, and who many of you have met at accordion festivals, died after being hit by a train near Birmingham. The police issued a statement “The death is currently being treated as non-suspicious and officers will assist in the compilation of a report for the coroner.”

 

How Stuff Is Made – Accordion

Tuesday 21st April on Quest from 10:00pm to 10:30pm. On Quest Freeview Channel 37, Sky Channel 167, Virgin Media Channel 172) Series 4, Episode 17 Documentary series showing the manufacturing processes that go into everyday objects. Can a metal clip save a life? Why do you need a racecar driver to make a racecar seat? What goes in an accordion to make its sound? Can you make a sock from one strand of yarn? Repeated at 3:00am Wednesday 22nd April.

 

Accordion For Sale

Fantini (Sonatina), Compact 96 Bass, Full Diamanti Decoration in Black, 34 Treble Keys – 4 Voice, Full Musette, 7 Treble & 3 Bass Couplers, 1 careful owner from new, reluctant sale due to ill health, Now only £1,900 (was £2,200) Contact:- Brian on Tel: 01253 790908 or Via: Ann. Tel: 01772 864887 Email: anncordion.parker@btinternet.com

 

Shelia Lee Accordion Blog

Shelia is an American Accordionist who has been playing the accordion since the age of 5. She has run two music schools and has been a professional accordionist since the age of 16. Shelia has an Accordion Blog at shelialee.wordpress.com Where she publishes her own arrangements of music. Shelia describes her blog as “designed for the Beginner to Advanced Intermediate Accordionist whom desire to embellish their current accordion performance level. Shelia does not profess to be a teacher of International Award Winning Students – she is simply a good teacher for playing good accordion and having fun while you learn!” Shelia publishes new sheet music every month, and access to her sheet music is free with a password. You can send Shelia an email and she will reply with the password to access her wide range of sheet music. All Shelia asks is for optional donations for the free service. You can email Shelia on slee@shelialee.com If you contact Shelia please let her know where you found out about her website. You can find her website at shelialee.wordpress.com

Local’ish Festivals – Dates For Your Diary

Its getting warmer now, so I thought I would list some local music events so you can put a date or two in your diary.
22 – 23 May Ireby Festival Location Ireby, nr Wigton, Cumbria Details www.irebyfestival.co.uk
22 – 25 May Chester Folk Festival Location Kelsall, Nr Chester Details www.chesterfolk.org.uk
4-7 Jun Wirral Folk On The Coast Festival Location Ellesmere Port, Cheshire Details www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com
12-13 Jun Stepping Stones Festival Location Kirklinton Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria Details www.steppingstonesfestival.co.uk
19 – 21 June Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival Location Middlewich, Cheshire Details www.midfest.org.uk
26 – 28 June Dentdale Music And Beer Festival Location Dent, Cumbria Details www.dentmusicandbeer.com
18 – 28 June Lymm Festival Location Lymm, Cheshire Details www.lymmfestival.org.uk
10 – 12 July Furness Tradition Festival Location Ulverston, Cumbria Details www.furnesstradition.org.uk