Editors Note

Today our News coordinator Christine Adams leaves for a concert tour of China with the North Shore Musicale Ensemble (conducted by Lionel Reekie). Our USA representative Kevin Friedrich will also travel and perform with the group.

It is great to see such important contributors to the success of Accordions Worldwide, enjoying the benefits of travel, making new friends in China as well as performing a number of concerts. Christine returns home on August 26th, so our next Weekly News will be online August 30th.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Heather Smith

The Pakefield Accordion Festival will be held at the Pontins Holiday Centre in Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk from September 12th to 16th. The event will include international guest artists who will perform each evening such as Alexander Dmitriev (Russia), Giancarlo Caporilli (Italy) and Djordje Gajic (Yugoslavia) plus artists appearing by special request - David Lukins, Gary Blair, Norvic Concordia and Charlie Watkins.

A wide variety of workshops which will take place during the day tutored by Gary Blair (Scottish), Bert Santilly (Jazz), Johnny Coleclough (Buskers), Heather Smith (vintage accordions and adult beginners), Brian Jenkins (intermediate orchestra) and Peter Whiteley (elementary orchestra). Adrienne Sharpe will organise "Free & Easy" sessions and also the "Songs of Praise" on Sunday morning.

An auction will be conducted by Johnny Coleclough and Frank Swindell. There will also be a trade stand area with displays by WEM and "Electronic Accordions". Concerts and dancing will take place each evening, followed by "After Hours" jazz. For further details email: heather@accordions.karoo.co.uk

Contributed by Sonia Pedriza

"Anaki", which includes Indonesian pianist Ananda Sukarlan and Spanish accordionist Iñaki Alberdi will perform at the closing celebrations of the Quincena Musical de San Sebastian International Festival in San Sebastian on August 31st. The duo will perform a variety of world premieres by Gabriel Erkoreka, Iain Matheson, Antonio Lauzurika and Luca Mosca, as well as the Spanish premieres by three exciting Spanish composers of today, Luis de Pablo, David del Puerto and Jesus Torres. For further details email: anaki_spain@yahoo.es

The "Cat & Fiddle Band" entertain every Tuesday at the Cat & Fiddle licensed restaurant in Sanur, Bali. The group, which includes Mark Wilson (accordion), Greg (accordion and vocals), Phil (accordion, concertina, double bass, guitar and vocals), Yon (violin), Pino (guitar and vocals) and Bill (flute) provide a Celtic jam session. For details email: catnfiddle@dps.centrin.net.id

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

The 2002 International Accordion Festival (IAF) will be held at the Maverick & Juarez Plazas, & Arneson River Theatre, La Villita, San Antonio, Texas on October 19th and 20th. The event will include a variety of tango, cajun, merengue, Irish, conjunto and Basque music entertainment on three stages, plus workshops, dancers and instrument makers.

Performers include Del Valle (with Vallenato accordionist Gustavo Castellón Nieto), Eva Ybarra (button accordion), Flaco Jimenez, Joaquin Diaz, Mary Rafferty Band, Raynald Ouellet Ensemble, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Texavia (includes accordionist Mark Halata) and the Tito Castro Quartet. For further details email: staff@internationalaccordionfestival.org

5th Bandoneon Festival - Germany

Contributed by Jürgen Eichendorf

The 5th Bandoneon Festival will be held in Krefeld from October 5th to November 9th, organised by the Kulturbüro Krefeld. The event will include eight concerts, a meeting of bandoneon players, a lecture on the bandoneon and its history and a workshop at the Krefeld Music School tutored by bandoneonist Guillermo Destaillats (Argentina). The opening concert on October 5th will include a performance by Alfredo Marcucci (bandoneon) and the Trio Veritango (Buenos Aires) at the Studiobühne der Fabrik Heeder.

Other performers include Orquesta Típica Silencio, Juanjo Mosalini (bandoneon) & Vicente Bögeholz (guitar), Luis di Matteo (Uruguay), Joaquín Amenábar (bandoneon), Ensemble 81, Per Arne Glorvigen (bandoneon), Tango for 3 and Quintett "Poco Loco".

For further details phone: +49 2151 583611

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordion Times & News will host their 19th International Autumn Accordion Festival from October 17th to 20th at the Spa Complex in Bridlington. This event will be (as always) the No 1 Autumn Accordion Festival and a total indulgence in accordions.

The weekend includes workshops and evening concerts, which will continue throughout the weekend. The festival is sponsored by Rolston Accordions and Borsini Accordions. For further details email: LorettaRolston@aol.com

The Tianjin International Accordion Festival will be held in Tianjin from August 25th to 29th presented by the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. The event will feature a competition for ensembles and groups comprising of classes for children, teenagers and adults. Well known artist Friedrich Lips (Russia) will adjudicate at the competition. For further details phone: +86 22-24160033

Contributed by Jenny Findeis

Popular group "HISS" which includes accordionist Stefan Hiss will perform pieces from their CD "Tränen, Tabak and Tequila" during a tour of Germany. Beginning on August 15th the group performed at the Schönherrfabrik Festival in Chemitz. This will be followed by concerts in Langenhagen, Giessen, Tanna, Neckarsulm, Beckum, Kulmbach, Rathenow, Annaberg, Rudolstadt, Freyburg and Metzingen-Glems during August and September.

For details email: jenny.findeis@t-online.de

California Concerts - USA

Performing for the Bay Area Accordion Club at the Colma Moose Lodge. Photo by Bob Berta

Henry Doktorski performed four solo accordion recitals in Northern California at the end of July, sponsored by the Major Accordion Performers (MAP). Successful performances were given in Petaluma, San Jose and Escalon.

In addition to these scheduled concerts Henry also gave three other concerts. These included a performance of the avant garde accordion solo "Meteor Shower" (by Stanley and David Darrow for a movie about the accordion written and directed by independent film producer Steve Mobia), a house concert sponsored by Doktorski's hosts John and Valerie Kieser of Oakland, and a mini-recital for the Bay Area Accordion Club meeting at Colma Moose Lodge.

Contributed by Carlo Fortunato

On September 1st Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi will hold a concert at the Ethnographic Museum in Alessandria, as part of the FisAlMuseo (Accordion at the Museum) event. This young and accomplished accordionist will present a programme of classical and variety pieces alongside special guest, jazz musician Emilio Cervetto.

Jyderup Festival - Denmark

The Paris Moscou Duo (Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine) will perform at the Jyderup Festival in Jyderup, held from August 16th to 18th. This annual 3 day event attracts accordionists from all over the world. The duo will perform a variety of traditional Russian folklore pieces, plus a new French accordion work by Franck Angelis entitled "Paris-Moscou" which was composed especially for the duo. For further details email: domi.emorine@libertysurf.fr

The Gary Blair Ceilidh Band recently played for over 700 foreign students who were in the City of Glasgow, Scotland for the ''Mathematic Olympics''. Teams from almost every country in the world had to complete mathematic equations that would leave all but the most Academic minds in a "stew"!

After the finals the students were allowed to "let their hair down" at the Barony Hall, where a Ceilidh was organised on their behalf. This was warmly received by the students, many of whom couldn't even speak English, and had no idea how to dance Scottish style. The high Octane night was captured on Camera by the BBC for a documentary on talented children to be shown later in the year. The Gary Blair band were also invited to play the following night due to the warm reception they received, but unfortunately they had to decline due to a previous booking.

Contributed by Toru Katou

The Accordion Fellows in West Japan will hold their annual workshop at the Kibou-ga-oka Youth Hostel, Shiga Prefecture on August 24th and 25th. For workshop information phone: +81 72 272 7600

Accordionist Jon Hammond will entertain with Bill Warfield (trumpet) and Heather Hardy (violin) at a wedding in the Central Park Conservatory this week. The wedding party have requested some unusual selections for their procession. The bridesmaids will enter to J.S. Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". The Bride will enter to "Trumpet Voluntary" and exit to Handel's "Hornpipe Water Music". The wedding reception will take place at the famous Boat House of Central Park, where Jon and his trio will play acoustically.

Contributed by Angel Russo

The Asociacion Internacional de Acordeonistas (A.I.D.A.) will hold concerts on the first Sunday of each month in a new venue in Boedo 787, Capital Federal and on the third Sunday of each month in a nearby hall in Carlos Calvo 3741, Capital Federal. For further details email: maquinapastarusso@fullzero.com.ar

"Concertinas at Witney" will be held at the Henry Box School in Witney, September 28th and 29th, directed by Dave Townsend and Jenny Cox. The event will include a number of concerts and workshops for all concertina systems - English, Anglo and Duet.

Courses include "Looking After the Song" and "Harmonising" both for Duet and English concertina (Chris Coe), "Concertina Band for All" (Jenny Cox), "The Irish Tradition on the Anglo Concertina" and "Introduction to Irish Music" (Luke Daniels), "Playing the Whole Instrument" (Rob Harbron), "Classical Music and the English Concertina" and "Concertina Band for Experienced Players" (Douglas Rogers), "World/Dance" for all concertina systems, and "Anglos and Harmony" for Anglo players (Harry Scurfield), "Playing Together" (Rob Harbron & John Dipper), and "Introduction to the English Instrumental Tradition" (Dave Townsend).

For further details email: Homweekend@aol.com

www.internationalaccordionfestival.org Information on the International Accordion Festival (IAF) being held in San Antonio, Texas on October 19th and 20th.

www.accordions.com/ivanopescari/program.htm Updated information on the concert schedule of accordion entertainer Ivano Pescari (Italy)

www.accordions.com/bernadette Updated contact information for Australian accordionist Bernadette Conlon

Jean Claude Gapin Frehel (France) would like some information on the pictured accordion, made in Neuenrade (Westphalia, Germany) with the words "Robert Husberg Neuenrade Westfalen Accordeon Fabrik". He is also interested in contacting a collector or museum about the instrument. Email: gapinfrehel@wanadoo.fr