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| Leyland Accordion Club - 19th May 2004
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Our May ConcertOur May concert started with Dugald McCallum playing a couple of tunes starting with Fordlands Two Step, Dugald was followed by Colin Ensor as the final player before our guest artist. After the crowd had been warmed up by Dugald and Colin, Tom Alexander took to the floor for his first appearance at leyland for almost five years! Tom started his first set with Happy Hours and a set of Shetland reels before slowing slightly for Oslo Waltz. The accordion standard Whistling Rufus led to a contrasting slow piece Tristise by Chopin. After that nice classical piece it was over to Ireland for some Irish pieces including March Hare. The Beer Barrel Polka included a nice bit of bellows shaking in perfect time. Tom likes trains and tunes based on trains so it was no surprise that Alpine Express was next on his playlist. The slow A Shokan Farewell led nicely up to a medley of beatles songs to finish Toms first half. These were She Loves Me, Penny Lane, Hard Days Night and Hey Jude. After the break John Higham gave us some playing and singing while the audience joined in with the supplied song sheets. Anne Parker was next on the stage with Sonatina No1 in G. Linda Grant played one of her own pieces Faria before moving on to play Master David Cunningham, Stone Court and Moray Rant. Our next player Aileen Hindley didn't have an accordion with her so she borrowed mine. Aileen played Roxbrough Castle, Soldiers Joy, Caddam Woods and The Can Can. I then played Can't Help Falling In Love, Sally and Sailors Hornpipe medley before bringing Tom back on for his second spot of the evening. Toms first two pieces La Menege and The Flying Scotsman were pieces featured in the music book Tom was selling during the break. Many of those who bought his book could be seen following the sheet music as he played these two tunes. The next piece Pistonette required a remarkable level of fingerwork and is not a piece for the faint hearted to attempt to play. Things slowed down next with Swiss Polka which was an Archie Alexander tune. Slowing down further the next piece Tom played was Kate Martins Waltz by Blair Douglas. A few more Scottish tunes followed with High Level Hornpipe, a Gordon Patullo tune The Furrows End and another unnamed tune arranged by Phil Cunningham. The next piece Rambango was a Jack Emblow arrangement. I missed the titles of the next few pieces but I was back for The Jacquline Waltz made famous by Will Star. Toms final piece was Savoy American Medley but after calls for more, he finally finished with The Hills Of Mull and Jeans Reel. Although it had been five years since we last had Tom at the club, it had been well worth the wait, expect it to be only a year or so before we see his return. David Batty |
Bank HallDon’t forget that all through summer, Bank Hall have an open day on the last Sunday of each month. This is an ideal place to play your accordion, relax in the sun and see any displays or bands that they have booked. Bank Hall is on your left as you drive along the main road from Preston to Tarleton (just before the sharp 90 degree right hand bend that crosses the canal) |
Harry Hussey MasterclassI have arranged with Harry Hussey to have a masterclass at Leyland in the near future. This will be a day of workshop tuition similar to the four or five we have had with other players such as Steve Roxton, George Syrett, Walter Perrie etc. Let me know if you are interested in taking part. Further details will be published in forthcoming newsletters but expect this to be a Saturday from 10am to 5pm with lunch thrown in. This won't be a 'what is an accordion' workshop but will instead be aimed at average players, ie those who can already play.
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Jersey Accordion FestivalA new accordion festival is being run in Jersey from the 10th to the 14th of March 2005. The festival is being run by Gina Branelli who is arranging special deals with the ferry and air companies for cut price travel for those attending the show. Travel by air from Blackpool, the Midlands or Scotland is expected to be around £50 per person return. Travel by Seacat or Ferry £20 per person return while the cost of taking your car to Jersey is a very affordable £50 return. The festival is being held in The Mayfair Hotel in St Helier. The daily workshops include ‘How To Play Scottish Music’, ‘How To Teach’, ‘Musette workshop’ and ‘How To Perform’ amongst others.To get you to The Mayfair Hotel, complimentary transport will collect you from the ferry or airport and take you to the door. The rate for the festival which includes the entertainment, hotel, meals and workshops is just £169 per person. This makes March next year a great chance to see Jersey, have a mini holiday somewhere much warmer than Lancashire and to have an accordion festival thrown in as well. I will give you more details as they are finalised but at least you can get these dates in your diary. |
LAC Picnic 2004Our annual picnic/concert is going to be held on Sunday the 4th of July. We are to hold this at the usual venue of Hollins Farm, Hollins Lane (off Leyland Lane), Leyland, Lancashire. We normally run this from 12 noon to 6pm or later, playing often finishes about 7 or 8pm. There is no charge for entry, simply turn up from 12 noon and park your car with a view of the stage and enjoy six hours or more of music while you relax in the sun. You can sit in the car and watch the music but if you have a garden chair, recliner, or blanket then bring that along. It is normal for us to have a glorious sunny day for these events so don’t forget sun screen oil and a hat if you want protection from the sun. Most people bring along a picnic, some sandwiches, cold drinks and their cameras/video cameras. Although the event continues until teatime or later, you can just come along for a few hours if you have other engagements to attend. This is an ideal family day out, why not bring along your non accordion playing family or friends and bring along a picnic to keep them happy. Who knows, they may like the social aspects of the accordion scene and might become a convert! If you get lost on the way then don’t forget to take my mobile phone number with you (07803 665403) so that you can be guided in. If you look at the map on the back of this newsletter you will see the picnic site marked with a big X. I look forward to seeing you there. If for any reason we end up with storms or gales instead of the weather we are used to, then our bad weather plan is to move the picnic date to the 25th of July. This is a last resort and will only be used if the weather is against us, if in doubt you can always ring me on 01772 454328 or check our website www.accordionclub.co.uk for last minute news.
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Musicians ChannelThe new television channel I told you about a couple of months ago has now started, it's called the MChannel and it's dedicated to musicians. You can find it on Sky Digital even if you haven't got a Sky Digital subscription because it's unencrypted. Take a look at channel 475 from 6pm to 9pm. During those times there are half hour music lesson programs teaching all sorts of instruments. The earlier lessons are on Drums, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals etc. but the channel is expanding to include lots of other instruments including the accordion. In between the music lessons there are hints and tips on things like performance nerves and other performance issues. You can find further details of the channel or register on their mailing list to be informed of news by going to www.mchannel.tv on the Internet. |
Andrew Seddon Organ ConcertI mentioned Andrew Seddon was playing at Alan Venns weekend do at Blackpool (see another story). If you would like a chance to see Andrew, and I thoroughly recommend it, he is playing at Blackburn Home Organ and Keyboard Club on the 3rd of August. Telephone Pauline on 01254 55947 after 6pm or at weekends for details.
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Accordionists On TVIn the last but one newsletter I said that we should get the accordion on TV more. Although not as a result of the last newsletter but as a coincidence, this last month I have seen two of our players on the news. On St. Georges Day, George Syrett was singing and playing Swing Low Sweet Chariot in a full screen closeup as part of a piece about St Georges Day celebrations. The next week I saw Johnny Coleclough playing the accordion to a crowd in Bernard Mannings club in Manchester. Well done to both players for their appearances. Have you seen any more of our members on TV? Let me know if you do and I'll give them a mention here. |
Roland FR7 At Leyland This WeekThis Wednesday we can look forward to a demonstration of the FR5 and FR7 accordions from Roland. I thought it was just going to be a chap from Roland turning up and demonstrating for about an hour but I was surprised to hear that Roland want to get in to the club about 5pm to set up. When questioned why they need three hours to set up, I was told it was for the stand, cameras, projector, lights, sound! I explained that we already have a stage with lights and sound system so they might have less to set up than they think. They are still hoping to get in at 5pm to set up the cameras, projector, screen etc. This will allow the demonstrator to have his actions displayed on a big screen for all to see. I am looking forward to this demonstration by Romano Viazzani. The format for the night will be a normal local players night from 8pm to the break at 9pm, then between 9pm and 10pm we will have the Roland demonstration and what promises to be some fine playing from Romano, this will be followed by a small question and answer session. After the break at 10pm we will have a normal local players concert until 11pm. After 11pm Roland will be there for questions and further demonstration of their accordions for those who don’t want to leave straight away. Please tell your friends and any keyboard/organ players about this event, and bring them along for what promises to be a very interesting evening, one which I am sure will seem to go very quickly. Make sure you turn up early for a good seat. |
Our WebsiteOur internet website has had 68482 visitors as at the 13th of June 2004, that’s 763 visitors since last month. |
Alan Venn's Weekend BreakA great time was had by all at Alan Venns accordion and organ weekend break at The Mount Hotel Blackpool this weekend. There were many people from Leyland Accordion Club in attendance, Harry Hussey was giving workshops and performances during the day. The evenings entertainment consisted of a nice mixture of accordion and organ entertanment from Harry Hussey, Ken Astin Alan Venn and Andrew Seddon. If you ever meet Andrew, then don't tell him that the stuff he plays on an organ can't be done, I don't think he knows that it's not possible. Those of you who haven't heard him, see the Andrew Seddon item elsewhere in this newsletter. Friday nights entertainment was Andrew on organ followed by Harry playing requests as usual. On Saturday night, following a day of workshops, entertainment and chat, the guests were treated to Alan Ven and Andrew on keyboard, Harry Hussey and Ken Astin on accordions. On Sunday night Rebecca Parker celebrated her 14th birthday with a surprise birthday cake presentation. The Mount Hotel were welcoming as usual and everyone had a great time. There are no other guests allowed to book at this time so everyone is there for the organ and accordion entertainment. To book your room and place at this excellent event in future, telephone Alan Venn on 01204 840279. |
Recycling Of This NewsletterMany thanks to those of you who saved your newsletters from the bin as requested in the last newsletter. If you are a person who doesn't save the newsletters after you have read them, or pass them on to someone else, then please drop them off at the club so that we can recycle them. All the newsletters collected last month have gone to new homes and are with their new owners, living on a farm with other newsletters. I have passed them round to organ clubs, sent them out in the post to people asking about the club and given older ones to new members who can catch up on what they missed before they joined the club. I would be grateful if you could always save newsletter from the bin in future and instead leave them on the table near to the door for others to read or for me to hand out to other groups or societies in the area. |
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