Our February Concert started with Carol Wareing (Pictured) making her debut at the club playing Lassie From Lancashire and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. I then played Triste Sourire, American Patrol and Whispering Hope. Our next player was David Rigby playing Loveliest Night Of The Year, Spinning Wheel, The Mountain Of Mourne, Highland Cathedral and Snow Waltz. John Robinson then took to the stage, he started with The Calico Printers Clerk and continued with Open Up Them Pearly Gates, The Gambler and Greensleeves. To take us up to the break Ann Parker played Frog Chorus, Chopsticks, Snow Waltz and Beer Barrel Polka. We had plenty of chat at the break and the usual swapping of tips and occasional playing  as people were showing each other a tune or helping each other out. After the break we started the second half with Rebecca playing Home On The Range, Moon River and Valse Continental. Our next player was Colin Ensor playing Try A Little Tenderness, I'll String Along With You,   Freight Train, Folsom Prison Blues, Dream At The Balalaika,  The Linden Tree and Who's Taking You Home Tonight. It was now time for Bernard Bamber to show us what he had been working on, he started with Loch Lomond and then continued with Maggie, Skye Boat Song, Lizzie Lindsey, Go Lassie Go, Mull Of Kintyre and Amazing Grace. Andrew Baker was our next player, he gave us Return To Sorrento, Wild Rover, Oh What A Beautiful Morning. Andrew was then joined by myself, Colin Ensor and Ann Parker playing If Your Irish, Danny Boy, Living Doll, Snow Waltz, When Irish Eyes, I Belong To Glasgow, Bull and Bush, Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Roll Out The Barrel, Cuckoo Waltz, Goodnight Irene and Show Me The Way To Go Home.  We had a good ending to the evening with all those tunes and it was suggested that we have a singalong join in type ending more often if time permits. 

David Batty

The next meeting of the Wyre Club is on Wednesday 27th March 2013 at The North Euston Hotel on the Esplanade at Fleetwood, FY7 6BN. Further details are on tel. 01772 864887.

This club is on every Tuesday at The Place In The Park, 109 Liscard Road, Wallasey CH44 9AE. The night starts at 7pm. The format of this club is a playaround circle where people sit in a circle and play in order round the circle.

This Wednesday is a guest Artist night with Helen Rich who is making her Debut as a Guest Artist in the Club Scene, Helen is a very accomplished player and this promises to be a nice evening of entertainment. I hope you can make it to support Helen at her debut.   Remember to bring any friends or family  who might like a night out.  Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Make sure you get there early for a good seat and a good chat before the concert starts. See you there. 

Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain are in concert on Saturday the 6th April at The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. You can telephone the box office on 01695-584480 or you can buy tickets online at www.edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre

Leyland Festival will be held on Saturday 15th June 2013, for more information telephone 01772 625441, or email kshaw@southribble.gov.uk

Red Guerrini 120 Bass Accordion for sale, this accordion did have midi in the past but half of the midi system is missing so is only sold as a standard accordion. We are looking for offers in the region of £500 to £600.  See David at the club.

Performing at The Guild Hall on the 7th April at 7:30pm.  An evening of music with a line-up of Peter Knight (Steeleye Span), Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Tom Leary (Little Johnny England and many more), Brian McNeill (ex Battlefield Band), Garry Blakeley (Caliburn, Shanty Man), Dave Mattacks (ex Fairport Convention), Hugh Crabtree (Band leader & founder), Alan Whetton (multi-instrumentalist), John Underwood (Rhythm guitar), Martin Vincent (Hank Marvin devotee!), Dave Harding (Bass with style!) Tickets cost £19.50  Telephone: 08448447710 or email tourism@preston.gov.uk

There is a new accordion festival being organised in Birmingham from Friday 8th to Monday of 11th November 2013.  Steve Roxton is the only player that I know of that has been booked for this festival so far. Details of the other players will be announced when the lineup is complete. The only details I have of this Accordion Festival in Birmingham's black country is that it is in a quality hotel with fantastic guest artists and is said to be A full, fun packed week-end... I will let you have more details when I know them but at least you know the dates and location should you be interested.

The well known and respected accordionist Marcosignori died on the 9th March 2013 aged 85. Marcosignori was a great player and composer, he learned to played the Accordion from an early age, taught by his father. Marcosignori won his first music competition when he was 15. He has played for famous figures such as Sandro Pertini, Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth. His funeral took place on the 12th March. Marcosignori is the person who created the nice arrangement of Air On A G String you may have heard me play at the club.

YourTV Blackpool & Preston has won the new local TV licence for the area, UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has announced. The news comes less than a month after YourTV was also awarded the local TV licence for Manchester. Welcoming the decision YourTV Chairman Sir Michael Lyons said he was glad that YourTV's "ambitious plans and strong local roots were being recognised" by Ofcom. The former BBC Trust chairman added: "With the award of Manchester and now the Blackpool / Preston licence to YourTV, we believe our offerings in both areas will be even stronger. "A second licence, particularly one within such geographic proximity, gives us a fantastic opportunity for each station to share knowledge and reduce back room and other administration costs, ensuring an even greater investment in content and quality programming." YourTV Blackpool & Preston Chairman Tony Carr also gave his reaction, praising not only the hard work of his team but also "the support for YourTV Blackpool & Preston shown by so many local organisations across business, education and sport."

The Chester Accordion Club's next meeting is on Tuesday, 26th February 2013. The venue is The Groves Club, Chester Road (A5032), Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. For further details, telephone Lynn McCallum on 0151 339 9850.

This group of Accordionists play rather unusual Accordions that I have not seen anywhere else. The word Timbre translates to English as Tone Colour/Tone Quality. You can watch this group performing on YouTube at

www.youtube.com/ViacheslavKuzminskiy

I think you will be surprised at the shape of their accordions, I have no idea why they are that shape, maybe someone can enlighten me.

'Victoria Duo Artiste' (Black) 120 Bass Accordion - Acoustic and Electronic, Genuine Hand Made Reeds, Bassoon and Bass have lovely rich depth quality, 9 Treble, 7 Bass Couplers, 18 Electronic Switches for Treble and Bass, Can be used with or without electronics or both together to give some very interesting sounds and combinations. Has been recently overhauled and is in good condition. Only £450 (amplifier included)

' Hohner Virtuola III' (Black) 120 Bass Accordion, 3 voice, 3 Bass, 5 Treble and a Wrist Coupler, Good Condition, Only £350

'Hohner Verdi III' (Pearlised Grey) Vintage 120 Bass Accordion, 3 voice, Wrist Coupler 2/ 3 selection, Fully Restored in good working order Only £250.

Contact Ann Parker Telephone: 01772 864887
Email: anncordion.parker@btinternet.com

I am pleased that we normally find players who are not known for playing as a guest artist anywhere, or who have never played as a guest artist. We have Helen Rich making her debut as a guest artist at Leyland this week, and although no stranger to playing professional pieces, when I asked her if she played as a guest artist she said it was not something she did.  So I asked her if she would play as our guest artist, and now, a year later, she will be playing for us this Wednesday.  I am sure that many other clubs will be interested in Helen when they know she has played at Leyland and I hope you can make it on Wednesday to support her.  I worked out that at Leyland we have booked six 'unknows' (I mean that in the nicest possible way) or new players over the years as guest artists and all have gone on to do well.  Some clubs only book big names and many festivals give special treatment to any player who is from 'abroad'. I don't understand why our own home grown talent is not developed more or given a chance to 'star'. At Leyland we have always promoted development of players from absolute beginners walking through the door who end up confident enough to play on the stage to new guest artists, some of which were not going to put themselves forward as a guest artist until I asked them. I will keep on looking for new talent but will not forget the others when making bookings in future.

I have previously told you about Andre Rieu concerts being broadcast on sky, I recently bought one of his box sets and find that they are great if you like classical music.  There are many of his CD's and DVD's available on amazon at http://amzn.to/13XgWup

I am sure that some artist is probably charging a lot for this furniture but I don't think it will catch on.  Its not difficult to see which instrument they got their inspiration from.

Thanks to all who paid their 2013 membership, we only had two people who did not renew this year but we also get a few new members.

Leyland Accordion Club is a club based in Leyland Lancashire England.

We have our concerts at

The Priory Club
Broadfield Drive
Leyland
Lancashire
England
PR25 1QN

Our postal address is  

39 Wray Crescent
Ulnes Walton
Leyland
Lancashire
England
PR26 8NH

You can find our website at www.accordionclub.co.uk  

Buy CD's from our shop at www.accordionshop.com  

Find out about UK festivals at www.accordionfestival.co.uk

Join out Accordionist Forum www.accordionworld.co.uk

Listen to accordion music at www.accordionradio.co.uk  

Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/accordionclub

Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/accordionclub

All the best...

  David Batty

Leyland Accordion Club