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Last Month
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At our last meeting of 2025 we had our annual Christmas Jacobs Join, this is where we all bring some item of food along and put it together in to a feast. This was also our one month of the year where any instrument, monologue or other skill is welcome at the club. We started the night with Harvey on Trumpet and Bernard Belshaw on Keyboard playing a selection of tunes. I was up next playing the
accordion before giving up the stage to Ann Parker playing the Ukelele. Harvey then played his Accordion with Bernard Belshaw on Keyboard. At our December night we don’t have any specific running order, we just leave the stage open to whoever wants to get up next, and seeing a gap on the stage Ann Parker on Ukelele and Bernard Belshaw on Keyboard played together while Ann sang. Young Andrew was up next, he played Twinkle Twinkle from memory, last time he played it he needed his tune book but not
now for this tune. Harvey was up next on the Trumpet with Bernard on Keyboard. Steve Fox then set up his Keyboard with his son George on Guitar and played a nice selection of tunes.
The night ended at the usual 11pm. Thanks go to all who attended, all who brought food, and to those who entertained us.
David
Batty
David Batty |
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Our Next Meeting - Jacobs Join
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We look forward to seeing you all this Tuesday the 20th
January. If you know someone who might be interested in attending the club then please let them know about us. I am sure that are a lot of people who would attend if only they knew we existed and how laid back and friendly the club is. They don’t have to be players, we know that many people have enjoyed visiting us just for the chat and the company. I have always looked at the club as a friendship club based
around a musical instrument.
See you at 8pm this Tuesday 20th January. Please try and make it if you can. Doors open at 8pm, see you there. David. |
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Forthcoming Dates
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Our dates
till the end of the year are: 3rd Tuesdays of the month 8pm – 11pm
Our nights up to the end of the year:
20th January 2026
17th February 2026
17th March 2026
21st April 2026
19th May 2026
16th June 2026
21st July 2026
18th August 2026
15th September 2026
20th October 2026
17th November 2026
15th December 2026 |
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Germany's Instrument of the Year
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Each year Germany’s State Music Council
select an instrument of the year and have been doing so since 2008. In recent years it has been the Human Voice, Mandolin and Tuba. For 2026 the instrument of the year is the Accordion. Breaking away from its outdated image Renowned performers showcase the accordion's versatility through captivating live performances. Social media is full of clips featuring accordionists performing feats you wouldn't
normally associate with the instrument.
Camilo Rivera from Chile plays the accordion while inline skating. Martynas Levickis from Lithuania floats in the clouds and plays his instrument in a hot air balloon. "At one point, the connection with the audience was lost due to the Wi-Fi being cut off. That was the highlight: Music vanished into the sky," Levickis told DW.
Accordionist Andreea Gheorghita (#Balkandreea) is setting viewing records on TikTok by performing pop songs with Balkan rhythms for her over 500,000 followers and playing at techno festivals.
Matzke also captivates audiences with his band Vangardion, showcasing the accordion's versatility beyond traditional folk music. "In
Germany, the accordion often carries the cliche of being played in a very traditional way, so it surprises many when I do something different with it." Matzke is particularly enthusiastic about digital accordions, which also work well in rock music. "For example, I have an electric piano sound and can create new and fascinating soundscapes," he added. Article taken from https://www.dw.com/en/accordion-history-music-genres-germany-top-instrument-2026/a-75189059
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UK West Coast Folk Festival
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This runs from the 23rd to the 25th of January at Blackpool Winter Gardens. This is 3 days with 3 stages and 36 acts. The UK West Coast Folk Festival
2026 acts including Seth Lakeman, Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, The Webb Sisters, Nick Harper, Honey and the Bear, Baskery, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Tradarrr, Louise and Chris Rogan, Katie Spencer, Gilmore and Roberts, Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh and many more. Day Tickets cost £59 or a 3 Day Early bird ticket costs £159. To book visit https://www.solidentertainments.com/folk/west-coast/tickets.html
To see a full list of Acts and running order for the 3 days visit https://www.solidentertainments.com/folk/west-coast/acts.html
To read a review about a previous festival visit https://www.folknorthwest.co.uk/live-uk-westcoast-folk-festival.html |
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Online Chat/Playing Wednesday
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The next ONLINE meeting will be 4th 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 4th Februrary. 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. |
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