Editors Note
There is an "air" of excitement here in New Zealand this week as we prepare to welcome a visiting accordion orchestra from Germany. Accordions Worldwide Weekly News co-ordinator, Christine Adams has organised a series of concerts and workshops throughout New Zealand for the group. In addition five New Zealand accordion orchestras will play at concerts in Christchurch and Auckland, so accordionists from all over the country will have the opportunity to welcome the visitors. The whole tour has been organised through the internet, which shows how much the internet has brought accordionists throughout the world together.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

The 47th International Sidmouth Folk Festival will be held in Sidmouth, Devon from August 3rd to 10th. The event will include ceilidhs, workshops, concerts, youth festival, children's festival, a melodeon competition, street theatre, global dance parties and a host of entertainment.

Entertainers include Sharon Shannon & The Woodchoppers, "Blowzabella" (includes accordionist Andy Cutting), "Broderick" (includes accordionist Luke Daniels), "K-Passa" and "Mr Gubbins' Bicycle" (includes accordionist John Kirkpatrick).

In addition, Brian Hayden will give daily demonstrations on the prototype of a new, craftsman-made Hayden system concertina at the All Saints Church. This instrument is a result of a unique collaboration between a master reed maker in Russia and Brian himself. For further festival details email: sidmouth@mrscasey.co.uk

By the invitation of the China International Culture Association and the 8th China International Accordion Art Festival, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Professor Sergey Naiko (Krasnoyarsk Academy of Music and Theatre) will tour China from August 6th. During the tour Sergey will give recitals in Harbin and Bejing on August 7th and 12th, performing works by Panitsky, Rubinstein, Tchaikowsky, Zolotaryov, Couperin, Scarlatti, Rameau, Granados, Rodrigo, Albeniz, Falla, Kurmangazi and Gottschalk.

On August 8th he will give a lecture on "New Bayan players' training" and conduct master class for students majoring in the accordion at the music department of Harbin Pedagogical University. For further details email: naiko@krsk.ru

The Falun Festival was held in Sweden during the second week of July and included an array of performances, workshops and music with a Scots theme this year. Performers included Capercaillie (includes accordionist Donald Shaw), Blazin' Fiddles, Deaf Shepherd, Swap (which includes accordionist Karen Tweed) and Riccardo Tesi's Band Italiana (Italy).

There were classes in everything from accordion (tutored by Karen Tweed) to nyckleharp, dance and singing, culminating in a feast of folk music from all over the world! Ale Moller staged a marquee event of over 4 hours every night bringing guests from the festival to join in his band and collaborate. This was a very popular event, which hopefully will be repeated next year.

The long-standing professional relationship between director Paolo Perelli and accordionist Renzo Ruggieri continues with another theatre project, namely the staging of Woody Allen's play "M" by the "Compagnia dei buffoni" based in Ostia, near Rome. The genius and irony of Allen the playwright were channelled by Perelli into a very experimental production which made ample use of video installations. All the young actors proved to be up to the task. As well as pieces by Ray Charles and Miles Davis, the show featured original compositions by Renzo Ruggieri, who performed them together with guitar player Giovanni Finizii. The show opened at the "Teatro Centrale" in Ostia in March.

The accordion duo of Vladimir Ushakov and Svetlana Stavitskaya (soloists of the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble) have just completed a successful tour of Denmark (from June 21st to July 12th). Their first performance was at the International Accordion Festival in Ringe, where they played six times on various stages. Their program included compositions by Astor Piazzolla (Ave Maria, Meditango, Libertango, Oblivion, Ausencias) and jazz music such as "All the Things You Are" and some of his own compositions in new musette style. The duo also enjoyed a final festival performance, where they led a jam-session with Danish musicians Lars Kirkegaard (bass-guitar), Hermann Gehring (accordion), Jens-Erik Larsen (drums) and others.

During the tour the duo also performed concerts at the "Saeby Open-by-Night" festival in Saeby (with other musicians from Norway, Holland, Great Britain, Scotland and Denmark), and in the ancient 13th Century Odden Castle.

Buenos Aires' accordionists took part in a "Farewell Party" concert at the Sociedad Friulana (Friulana Society) of Paraná, Entre Ríos on July 26th. This event was held to farewell Friulano club members who left Argentina on August 1st for a trip to Italy. Accordionist Florencia Herrera entertained with a variety of popular tarantellas, mazurkas, fox trots and other classic pieces.

The Oakland Squeezefest will be held on August 11th and 12th in Oakland, California, organized by Kimric Smythe, Smythe's Accordion Center. The festival will include a variety of accordion entertainment by Alex Yaskin (playing Led Zeppelin to classic tangos), Carol Denny (folk music on the concertina), Queen Macha (tangos and polkas), Schmirndlicious (accordion and vocalist), Mark Growden, Conjunto Romero (Tex-Mex), Ricky Rakin (concertina), Down River (accordion and vocals), Sexfresh, Bassline Dada (jazz/rock), Left Coast Improv, Duckmandu (accordion and double bass) and Lemon Limelight. For further information email: smythek@ix.netcom.com

Accordionist Owen Murray will perform at the Glyndebourne Opera House in Lewes, Sussex with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Elgar Howarth. They will play the music of Sir Harrison Birtwistle's opera "The Last Supper" (directed by Martin Duncan) during its season from August 4th to 27th. For further details email: o.murray@ram.ac.uk

Duo Maimone, which includes Adriana and Daniela Maimone (guitar and accordion) will hold two concerts during the "Estate Novarese" festival of Novara di Sicilia (province of Messina). The first concert will take place on August 5th at the Church of San Francesco and the second on August 13th at the local Social Centre. Their program will include pieces by Diabelli, Mangorè, Paganini, Giuliani, Daquin and Mozart. For further information please email: maimoneg@libero.it

The Klaus Paier Trio will perform concerts at "Streetlife" in Leverkusen on August 3rd and 4th. The trio, which plays a program of jazz & tango nuevo pieces, consists of Klaus Paier (accordion), Stefan Gfrerrer (bass) and Roman Werni (drums). For further details email: klaus.paier@aon.at

"Eclats Musette" CD - France

French accordionist Arnaud Guimard recently released his new CD entitled "Eclats Musette" which includes a variety of tangos, polkas, mazurkas and waltzes. Tracks include "L 'abbevilloise", "Nono Samba" and "Besame Mucho". For further details email: arnaud.guimard@wanadoo.fr

Canadian celtic funk band "Mad Pudding" will perform at the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver, BC on August 10th. The band, which includes Amy Stephen (accordion, vocals and penny whistle) have released four CD's. For concert details email: madpud@istar.ca

Seven accordion graduates (tutored by Dr William Schimmel) received "Order of the Shield" diplomas last month presented by the Neupauer Conservatory of Music. The diplomas are awarded to gifted students who complete all of the conservatory requirements and make a significant contribution to artistic excellence and pluralistic original visions. Graduates Paul Stein, Allyssa Lamb, David First, Will Holshouser, Kathleen Goodman, Lorraine Nelson Wolf and Ray Rue were awarded their diplomas at a graduation ceremony in New York.

Australian accordionist Bernadette Conlon recently released her new CD entitled "Accordionally Yours, from Bernadette" which features a variety of love songs. Tracks include "My Heart Will go On", "And I Love you So" and "Can you Feel the Love Tonight". The CD has proven very popular to date. For further details email: accordionbernadette@bigpond.com

Claudio Jacomucci will perform a concert with the Diego Conti Trio in Asciano, near Siena on August 11th. Their program will includes works by Astor Piazzolla. For further information: hbhiac@tin.it

On July 22nd, "Albireo" performed a popular "Beer Garden" concert at The Crown in Stockport with special guest Holly Burton. The group, which includes Howard Jones (melodeon, anglo concertina and hammered dulcimer), Chris Perry (violin and banjo), Sean Bechhofer (guitar) and Phil Cawsey (bass) plays a variety of English, Irish, Scottish and American tunes, in a lively style, and is named after one of the stars in the constellation Cygnus.

Contributed by Toru Katou

On August 14th, the "Expo Yamaguchi 2001" event will be held in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Entertainment will be provided by members of the Yamaguchi Accordion Club. For further details fax: + 81 839 72 8738

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On July 24th, Giorgio Dellarole performed a well received concert for the "Musical Youth of Italy" in Tonadico. His program included works by Scarlatti, Pozzoli, Scappini, Piazzolla and Würthner. Two days later he played works by Scarlatti, Pozzoli, Piazzolla and Paganini at a concert in Montegrosso d'Asti (AT).

Giorgio's next concert will be held in St. Vincent (AO) on August 10th, where he will play works by Farkas, Fugazza, Piazzolla and Solotariev. For further details email: giorgio.dellarole@libero.it

www.accordions.com/serenata
Updated information on the Serenata Music School including new contact details

www.accordions.com/freire
Updated information on accordionist and composer Aníbal Leão Freire

www.accordions.com/alcobaca
Updated information on the 7th International Accordion Competition in Alcobaca, Portugal, including new contact information

www.accordion.co.uk
Information on Rolston Accordions in Scotland and the Bridlington Accordion Festival.