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The first North West International Accordion Festival, Blackpool -
UK
Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The
first North West International Accordion Festival takes places from
October 14th to 17th, at Pontins Holiday Centre, Lytham St Anne's,
Blackpool, England. This new festival replaces the accordion festivals
held at Bridlington in previous years.
The guest list includes Jack Emblow and Tony Compton, Daniele
Ravaglia (Italy), The Flores Brothers (France), Nelson Lebre (Portugal),
Gina Brannelli, Harry Hussey, David Vernon, Amaryllis, William Langton,
Andrew Figg, Stefan Bodell, the Petulengos, and the 2Js. There is
a wide range of workshops planned, and leaders include John Leslie,
Alistair Cameron, Jean Hanger and Brenda Webster.
The festival features an extensive trade show, including Accordion
Exchange & Music World, Rolston
Accordions, Accordion
Times, The
Accordion Shop, Geoff Holter Accordions, Accordions of London,
The Music Room, and Charnwood
Music. Other features include an Accordion Auction, Scottish and
Ballroom Dancing, and a trip to the world famous Blackpool Illuminations.
For further
information email Info@AccordionFestivals.co.uk
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All-Ireland Flead Cheol, Letterkenny -
Irish Republic
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
The
2005 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheol held in the beautiful town of Letterkenny
in County Donegal from August 22nd to 28th. This large-scale competitive
festival includes various classes for piano and button accordions,
melodeons, concertinas and harmonicas.
The All-Ireland Fleadh Cheol began in 1951, and caters for various
instruments, singers, bands and dancers. Originally a weekend festival,
the Flead Cheol now lasts for a week, and the overall entries total
averages 20,000 participants.
 The
first non-Irish winner amongst the accordion sections was the American-born
James Early, winner of the Senior Piano Accordion Championship in
1976, and since then entries regularly come from many countries.
Button accordionist Joe Burke was one of the leading Irish musicians
performing in concert during the festival.
For further
information email info@fleadh2005.com
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Castano
and Marroni Seminar, Serre Eyraud - France
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
 From
July 31st to 7 August 7th, Angel Luis Castaño and Jean Marc
Marroni, were the professors in a seminar for classical accordionists
held in Serre Eyraud in Les Alpes in France. Angel
Luis Castaño is Professor of Accordion at the Zaragoza
Conservatory of Music and also a concert accordionist. Jean Marc Marroni
is a concert accordionist and Professor at the Conservatoire of Aix
en Provence in France. Both were CIA
Coupe Mondiale champions, Jean Marc Marroni in Paris in 1985 and
Angel Luis Castaño in 1990 in Trossingen.
Music by
composers such as Camarero, Gubaidulina, Busseuil, Bach, Banchikow,
Kusyakow, Abbott and others were practised and played in the final
concert. A total of 16 students from France and Spain attended this
seminar, and participants Eduardo Vallejo and Toño Jaques (Spain)
and Damien Paradisi (France) offered solo concerts in the town church.
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Accordionist in Shakespeare Play, London
- UK
Contributed by Rob
Howard
 Accordionist
Lisa-Lee Leslie is appearing on stage nightly in a production of William
Shakespeare's 'As You like it', at the Wyndhams Theatre in London.
The setting is changed from the Forest of Arden in 16th Century England
to a Parisian-style café in France in the late 1940s. Actor
musicians perform ballad-style songs specially composed by Tim Sutton,
and accompanied by Lisa-Lee Leslie on accordion. The songs have been
written in a 1940s era style, relating to the moods of the plot and
characters.
The production
runs until September 25th, and for further information email Lisasaccordion@hotmail.com
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'La plus Grande Ginguette du Monde', Paris - France
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
A
concert of traditional musette music took place at Le Zenith, Paris,
on May 18th, featuring several leading French accordionists. The show
was titled 'The Largest Ginguette in the World', and performing were
Michel Pruvot, Louis Ledrich, Maurice Larcange, Louis Corchia (accordion
and bandoneon) and Andre Verchuren.
The compere
was Michel Varenne, and present in the audience were accordionists
Harry Williams (the son of Andre Verchuren) and Roberto Milesi, journalist
Caroline Linart (from the magazine 'Accordeon et Accordeonistes')
and the composer Marc Provance. The show followed an accordion competition
that had taken place in the same venue earlier in the day.
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'Organ
and Accordion in Harmony' Concert, Takapuna - New Zealand
Contributed by Harley
Jones
The
following report was written by Wayne Knights: "North
Shore residents and fans of great keyboard music will be treated to
a special fundraising concert on September 4th. Talented young North
Shore accordionists Campbell Hill and Grayson Masefield are to represent
New Zealand at the Coupe
Mondiale World Accordion Championships in Portugal this October.
Proceeds from this concert will assist them with their travel costs,
and will also go towards the Eric Winstone Memorial Organ Trust, which
provides scholarships for organist education.
The concert will also feature organist Stephen Vincent, accordion
ensemble Caprice, and three-times NZ champion accordionist Campbell
Bettridge. Music on the program ranges from Scarlatti to Queen and
includes composers from New Zealand to Russia! The concert starts
at 2.30pm at St George's Presbyterian Church, 2 The Terrace, Takapuna.
Entry is by donation and includes afternoon tea".
For further
information email wayne@nzinternet.co.nz
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Eastbourne Accordion Festival, Sussex -
UK
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The
next Eastbourne Accordion Festival takes place from February 17th
to 20th 2006, at The Cumberland Hotel, Eastbourne. Organised by
former All-Britain accordion champion, John Romero, the program
includes concerts by leading musicians such as Andy Anderson, Gary
Blair, Paul Chamberlain, Sue Coppard, Gennaro Fiondella, Harry Hussey,
Lisa Lee Leslie, John Romero, Romano Viazzani and Charlie Watkins.
The trade show includes Trevani Studios, The Accordion Shop (Electronic
Accordions Ltd) and WEM. In addition, leading accordion technician
Stan Mayhew will be on hand for advice with accordion tuning. There
will also be a full range of workshops and dancing.
For further
information email jr@carillonstudios.co.uk
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The
Finnish accordion trio Fratres in Rock! are to perform in a rock-concert
at the Venetsialaiset Festival in Kokkola on August 26th, at 10pm.
An average of 25000 people attend this end of summer festival each
year.
John
Kirkpatrick at Maritime Festival, Guernsey - Channel Islands
The
Autumn Accordion and Folk Week takes place at the St Audrie's Bay
Holiday Centre, in Somerset, England, from September 3rd to 10th.
This venue has been a regular and very popular base for accordion
festivals for many years, and the next event features John Leslie
and Harry Hussey.
The
2006 San Francisco Accordion Festival will be held on June 4th at
the Cannery at Fisherman's Wharf. Tom Torriglia writes:
"I am very pleased to announce
that the 16th annual San Francisco Accordion Festival, a free event
celebrating National Accordion Awareness Month as well as highlighting
San Francisco's official musical instrument, will be held on Sunday
June 4th 2006 in the Del Monte Square at the Cannery at Fisherman's
Wharf. This event goes from Noon to 6pm, features a wide variety
of accordion-based bands and will include the San Francisco's Main
Squeeze Pageant".
Contributed
by 
A
new