We look forward to seeing you all this Tuesday the 21^st January. As usual we will give players chance to play on the stage before opening the floor up to playing anywhere around the room, chatting, catching up with each other, learning new tunes etc. 

Don’t forget to bring your accordion. As usual there will be Tea and Coffee on the go.

See you at 8pm this Tuesday 21st January. Please try and make it if you can. Doors open at 8pm, see you there.
   

David.

Our dates till the end of the year are:  3^rd Tuesdays of the month  8pm – 11pm

Our nights up to the end of the year

21^st January 2025
18^th February 2025
18^th March 2025
15^th April 2025
20^th May 2025
17^th June 2025
15^th July 2025
19^th August 2025
16^th September 2025
21^st October 2025
18^th November 2025
16^th December 2025

The start of 2025  was a sad weeks with firstly Peter Hangar passing away on the 4^th January 2025. You will have met Peter if you have been to an Accordion Festival where Jean (his wife) was teaching or leading an orchestra. We enjoyed chatting to Peter who was a great coin collector.   His funeral is taking place on the 24^th January in Harlow where he lived with his wife Jean. Our condolences go out to Jean and her family.

Barry Graham from Wales passed away on the 6^th January after a battle with cancer. Barry was a retired doctor, was very active in promoting the accordion and running Chester Accordion Club. Barry was also a guest artist for us at Leyland one year. Barry’s Funeral is taking place on the 24^th January
 

Then one day later, on the 7^th of January, Rob Beecroft, the owner of Birmingham Accordion Centre died after a Short Battle with Cancer.   Rob’s Funeral is taking place on the 6^th February in Bimingham. We used to organise car shares to go and visit Rob at Birmingham and stay there in his concert room for a few hours while he worked on our accordions.
 

St Audries Accordion Week is the 4^th – 11^th July, where there will be workshops, orchestra and concerts for the week as well as socialising with like minded people.   For More information email sabaccordionweek@gmail.com.   
 

Halsway Manor is a large Charity Run house supporting folk arts in Crowcombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4BD. They are holding workshops of interest to musicians:

21^st March  - 23^rd March 2025
Concertina Workshop Weekend with West Country Concertina Players. 
Intermediate and advanced level players of all systems. You do not need to be a member of WCCP to come (though you might consider joining them – it’s only £10 annually); the weekend is open to all, though this is a popular weekend and priority will be given to WCCP members through an opportunity to book early.

There will be time to relax in the comfort of Halsway Manor, with evening playing sessions in the bar, plus an informal tutors’ concert on the Saturday evening. There’s also the option to stay an extra night and book for Sunday supper and B&B – the perfect time to relax and unwind after a busy weekend of music and socialising.
Prices for the weekend vary so if you are interested in attending visit the website: https://halswaymanor.org.uk/event/wccp-concertinas-at-halsway-2025/

4^th July – 6^th July 2025
Piano Accordion Workshop (Level 1 – 3)
Our accordion workshop weekend is a chance for Level 1 to Level 3 accordionists to grab a whole bag of pick’n’mix techniques and tips from three brilliant players and tutors.

Course leader Paul Hutchinson will be joined once again by Tamsin Elliot, multi-instrumentalist, composer and film-maker, as well as leading UK folk accordionist and composer Amy Thatcher.

The weekend offers workshops honing technique, repertoire and interpretation of folk tunes and accompaniment, as well as a chance to look at creating your own tunes and playing together. There will also be time for informal evening sessions and tune sharings.
Prices Vary so visit the website if you are interested in attending to get a price relevant to you: https://halswaymanor.org.uk/event/accordion-weekend-levels-1-3/

12^th September – 14^th September 2025
Advanced Piano Accordion Weekend (Level 4)
We’re pleased to be able to repeat our accordion workshop weekend for advanced players working at Level 4. This weekend will offer those players the chance to work at a faster pace or cover trickier repertoire in a more intense way, alongside other players of a similar level.

Halsway favourite Murray Grainger will be leading this course again, bringing with him in-depth sessions on technique, repertoire and interpretation, including a chance to workshop your choice of repertoire in front of the rest of the group. Numbers will be limited to give you maximum contact time, with opportunities for 1:1 support if requested.
Again prices vary so visit the website to get a price relevant to you: https://halswaymanor.org.uk/event/advanced-piano-accordion-weekend-2025/

Chester February Folk Day Saturday 22^nd February 2025
The day features afternoon and evening concerts, a lively ceilidh, dance displays, and sessions catering to a range of abilities.

A real ale bar and home-cooked food will be available throughout the event and the venue is dog friendly.​ 
Afternoon & Evening Concerts with Steve Tilston with Hugh Bradley, Juniper, Vocella, Eskrigg, Fiddlestone, Chris & Debbie Lee, Ceilidh with The Time Bandits & caller Baz Parkes.
Tickets are All Day £30, Afternoon £18, Evening £18, Ceildh Only £10. There are Child and Student prices on the website as well as a full timetable https://www.chesterfolk.org.uk/february-folk-day

Manchester Folk Festival 20^th – 22^nd March 2025
Manchester Folk Festival is an urban multi-venue festival based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The festival brings together a diverse range of artists who represent the broad definition of contemporary folk music.
Our 2025 venues include: Band on the Wall, New Century Hall, Hallé St Peters, Night and Day and Hallé at St Michaels.

The festival is a rolling programme where festival wristband holders will be able to dip in and out of Manchester Northern Quarter’s legendary music venues through the 3 days of the very best in English Folk, Roots and Acoustic music. All of the venues are within a short walk of each other, making it easy to move between concerts, catch up with friends, and just hang around taking in the atmosphere.

Tickets Cost £121 and can be purchased here https://manchesterfolk.com/event/manchester-folk-festival-2025-wristband/
 

The next ONLINE meeting will be 5th February starting at 8pm, we have an online catch up with local members and others from far and wide. This is held on Zoom.

The night starts at 8pm and will be a chance to chat about accordions, find out what others have been up to, or even play a tune for us.  Please share the link below with any accordion folk who might be interested in joining us. If you want to chat about accordion stuff, listen to others play the accordion, or give us a tune then please join us.

I will send out a reminder for anyone who forgets the meeting is on, but the meeting will be on, and here is the main announcement of it.  
 

Simply click this link to Join our Zoom Meeting at 8pm on the 5th February.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82237487230?pwd=LzlLdC9RMCtkb1RMMmVoSXZVR0lMQT09 

Meeting ID: 822 3748 7230 
Passcode: accordion

The link above is the same for every online meeting we have, it doesn’t change from month to month. You can test your computer works with the link at any time. If you get a message saying you are waiting for a host to let you in, or something similar, then your computer is set up correctly to join the meeting on the correct dates/times.