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Highlights |
Video: Aidar Gainullin Busks for Russia's Biggest Newspaper "MK" - USA & Russia
7th Strumenti & Musica Festival Underway, Spoleto - Italy
Video: Petra Mayer Wins First Round, TV Show "Die Große Chance" - Austria
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: Alexander Selivanov and Denis Chefanov Performing in Castelfidardo - Italy
Video: Xu Xiaonan Performing at the 2014 Castelfidardo Festival - Italy
Irina Grigoryeva new CD ‘Women's Musical Portrait’, St Petersburg – Russia
Kosmos Concert Report, Scotland – UK
‘14 Years Ago’: Bandoneon Festival held in Germany in October 2000
Future events |
Video: Marc Pircher, October Performances - Austria
World War One Commemorative Show, Québec – Canada
Festival of Saltarello, Paliaroli - Italy
Erika plays for dancing, Rochefort – Belgium
Motion Trio Concert, Krakow – Poland
Mario Tacca in Concert in New York - USA
Mary Tokarski and Nathan Chapeton at Brooklyn Accordion Club - USA
Declan Aungier plays for dancing – Irish Republic
Vincent LHermet ‘L'Harmonie selon Rameau’ Recitals, Lille, Puteaux – France
Fundraising Event for Coupe Mondiale Competitor Alexandra Reekie - New Zealand
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society’s Oktoberfest, Virginia - USA
Soraya Ravenle and Libertango Concert, Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
John Conolly @ Midway Folk Club, Stockport – UK
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Highlights |
Mika Väyrynen Records with the Helsinki Philharmonic - Finlandby Kevin Friedrich |
 Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen is celebrating the release of a new CD under the Ondine record label No. ODE 1234-2 featuring ‘Prophecy for Accordion and Orchestra’, by Erkki-Sen Tüür, with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Olari Elts. In addition to his recording work, in a recent acclaimed concert in Castelfidardo, Italy, Mika premiered the accordion version of Aulis Sallinen's ‘Adagio No. 1, Op. 102’. Originally composed for organ, Sallinen endorsed the transcription to accordion. In November Mika will premiere the accordion version of his ‘Adagio No. 2’. While in Castelfidardo, Mika Väyrynen was presented the 'Voce d´Oro' award. Joining recipients such as Frank Marocco, Richard Galliano and Art Van Damme and Astor Piazzolla, the award from the Cagnoni company acknowledges those who make extraordinary and significant contributions to enhancing and promoting the image of the accordion to the world. Over the coming months, Mika will be the guest Professor of Accordion at University of Pula, Faculty of Music (Croatia) where he will conduct regular seminars to the University students. This will compliment his current teaching work at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. For information on Mika's current recordings and premieres, please visit www.accordions.com/mika |
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Video: Aidar Gainullin Busks for Russia's Biggest Newspaper "MK" - USA & Russiaby Harley Jones |
| In 2007, Washington Post reporter Gene Weingarten organised a social experiment with famous violinist Joshua Bell. Would one of the nation's greatest violinists in street clothes be noticed in a D.C. Metro (underground) during rush hour? The result - almost no people stopping to listen and financially very poor - income for 43 minutes playing was $32.17. Jump to 2014. Video published 4th October 2014. An experiment by the biggest newspaper of Russia "MK" has renowned accordionist Aidar Gainullin performing at a Moscow subway entrance. We are pleased to report that the accordion in Moscow gathered a small audience, some making videos with their phones and slightly better financially - income 2,178 rubles ($55.13). It appears that master musicians are definitely better off on the concert stage! Enjoy the video of Aidar Gainullin's music and the MK newspaper subway experiment! |
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7th Strumenti & Musica Festival Underway, Spoleto - Italyby Ilaria Bellini |
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 The 7th Strumenti & Musica Festival continues with the fast pace typical of music competitions. Wednesday nights concert featured Trio Contemp (picture above) from the Ukraine, with a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary to folk music. Musicians in the audience of high-level competitors including jurors and guests from various parts of the world, enjoyed very much the Trio Contemp of Vitalii Kozytskyi (accordion), Tetiana Kozytska (domra) and Natalia Geri (domra bass) and their program which included works by Beloshinski, Zubitsky, Runchac, Terim Quartet. Piano results for the "Alfonso Rendano" award were: 1st Kulagin Maxim (Russia), 2nd Fiumara Antonino (Italy), 3rd Yu Mi Hyang (Japan). "The Strumenti & Musica Festival is now a well-established among the artistic festivals of our city" said the Mayor of Spoleto, Fabrizio Cardarelli. "What's new in 2014 is the award in memory of Maestro Gian Carlo Menotti that we welcome with great satisfaction and pleasure." This award will be presented on Saturday at 6 pm at a concert where the piano and ensemble winners will perform. The competitions take place at the Palazzo Leti Sansi until Sunday 12th October with the accordion categories on Saturday and Sunday. The festival will end on Sunday night with the piano and accordion winners performing with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Calabria, 9pm at the Teatro Nuovo G. Menotti. You can pre-purchase tickets for the concerts at the Palazzo Leti Sansi during the day. Information and reservations: +39.338.7692369, +39.334868180. Picture below: Artistic Director Mirco Patarini being interviewed on TV. |
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Video: Petra Mayer Wins First Round, TV Show "Die Große Chance" - Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 Petra Mayer (24) from Bad St. Leonhard recently won the first round of the TV ORF-Show "Die große Chance" (Big Chance) with the song "Wilds Wasser" (Wild Water)" in which she accompanied herself with the Müller Styrian. Petra Mayer now competes in the second round of the competition on 24th October, "Die Große Chance", ORF1, 20.15 hours. Petra Mayer lives on a farm with her husband and her two children. The video shows the family and her TV appearance. The jury was most complimentary - Fantastic! by one judge - the accordion has a rising star. Picture below: Petra Mayer is congratulated by Edith Müller, the owner of Müller Harmonikas, Austria. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Flo Brannigan (1920-2014), Lancashire – UKby Rob Howard |
 Florence ‘Flo’ Brannigan, the mother of accordionist Gina Brannelli, passed away peacefully on October 5th in Blackpool, Lancashire. Gina’s father Jack also died recently, on June 23rd. They had been married for 73 years. Flo, like Jack, was a professional accordionist, and they worked as duo for many years, from the 1930s. They performed many times at The Band on the Wall, a pub in Manchester, still a well-known performance venue for many types of music. Picture below: A very young Flo and Jack Brannigan |
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Video: Alexander Selivanov and Denis Chefanov Performing in Castelfidardo - Italyby Harley Jones |
| On the 19th September, Alexander Selivanov and Denis Chefanov performed a concert as part of the 2014 Castelfidardo Festival. Enjoy the music of these two highly acclaimed soloists / Moscow university tutors, Video 1: Variations on a Theme of Paganini W. Lutoslawski Video 2: Night Flowers by T. Sergeeva The concert was sponsored by Scandalli Accordions. Download program: Selivanov-Chefanov.pdf Last week, we published from their concert, the work 'Frescos', a concerto for accordion and symphony orchestra composed by Viatcheslav Semionov that Selivanov and Chefanov have arranged for accordion and piano. |
Video: Xu Xiaonan Performing at the 2014 Castelfidardo Festival - Italyby Harley Jones |
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| Xu Xiaonan, 2012 Coupe Mondiale winner and 2012 Castelfidardo Premio winner performed a concert at the recent 2014 Castelfidardo Festival. Above are three videos, announced by the performer, from that concert. The concert was sponsored by Pigini srl. Other works from this concert were publisher last week. |
Irina Grigoryeva new CD ‘Women's Musical Portrait’, St Petersburg – Russiaby Rob Howard |
  Russian accordionist Irina Grigoryeva has released a new CD, ‘Women's musical portrait’, which includes compositions of composers of the French harpsichord school of the 17th and 18th centuries, and pieces by Claude Debussy and Fritz Kreisler. The recording is dedicated to Irina’s mother, Nadezda Grigoryeva. A graduate of the St Petersburg Conservatory, Irina has performed in concert halls in Russia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Germany and China. For further information email: info@irinalukina.ru |
Kosmos Concert Report, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 Video above: Kosmos Ensemble performs Libertango by Astor Piazzolla. Kosmos were filmed at House Concerts, Edinburgh, Scotland. Published 21 March 2013. Concert Report: On October 3rd, the Trio Kosmos performed at the Old Well Theatre, Moffat, Scotland. The report, from the District Diary, Moffat, reads: Kosmos’ concert at the Old Well Theatre on October 3rd was superb; there was wonderful music-making, excellent rapport, great enjoyment and new horizons opened. From the moment they took the stage we were caught up in a dynamic web of sound, often vaguely alien but related to the sounds with which we are familiar. The ensemble, Harriet Mackenzie (violin) and Meg Hamilton (viola), Miloš Milivojevic (accordion), introduced themselves with a wild gypsy dance. It was followed immediately by a less frenetic piece hinting strongly at Jewish Klezmer music, with its ‘sobs’, sliding notes and intricate decoration, originally played at weddings and other celebrations. Before the latter ended we had been sucked into a musical world that was emotionally compelling, strongly rhythmic even when very quiet and slow and, above all, hypnotically enchanting. There followed a succession of fascinating arrangements of, and improvisations on Eastern European folk music together with some of their own compositions. I could write reams, but the words of Richard Morrison, chief music critic of The Times, on a concert Kosmos gave some years ago, sum up this concert perfectly: telepathic rapport, dazzling virtuosity, serious scholarship, intellectual curiosity and impeccable musicianship. Introductions to the music played were helpfully informative and often humorous. In response to the audience’s enthusiastic applause, we were treated to a lively encore. Thus, we left with the magic of their music-making lingering in our heads whilst wondering where their apparently inexhaustible energy came from. Kosmos perform on Thursday October 23rd, 8pm, at The Band on the Wall, 25 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ. |
‘14 Years Ago’: Bandoneon Festival held in Germany in October 2000by Rob Howard |
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| The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending October 13th 2000 included an article about the forthcoming 4th Bandoneon Festival. Invented in Germany in 1834 by Heinrich Band, the bandoneon – a first cousin of the accordion – was adopted by tango musicians in South America, particularly Argentina. There are some accordionists worldwide who also play the bandoneon. 4th Bandoneon Festival – Germany Contributed by Jürgen Eichendorf The 4th Bandoneon Festival, organized by the Krefeld Office for Cultural Affairs, will take place in the Cultural Centre ‘Fabrik Heeder’, from October 21st to November 10th featuring South American tango music. Events include a photo exhibition by Cologne photographer Simone Szymanski, a free lesson by the ‘La Cumparasita’ Tango School and a variety of concerts. Performers include ‘Trio Pantango’ (with Guillermo Destaillats - bandoneon), who will play tango dance music, ‘Tipica Veritango Sextet’ (with bandoneon player Alfredo Marcucci) performing ‘Epoqua de Oro’ - Tango Argentino music with its strong rhythm and warm melancholic sound, ‘Quinteto Locura Tanguera’ (Rotterdam Conservatory) playing Astor Piazzolla works and who also intertwine elements from jazz and classical music with new compositions. This group won the ‘Erasmus Jazz Award 1999’. On the final day the ‘Grupo Porteno’ quartet (headed by Argentinean bandoneon player Miguel Fernandez) will play original music from the 1920s, traditional milongas and waltzes, with lots of rhythm and feeling. |
Future events |
Feliksas Bajoras Celebration Concert, Vilnius – Lithuaniaby Rob Howard |
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 Picture above: Raimondas Sviackevicius and the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.On Friday October 10th, 7pm, there will be a symphonic concert at the Lithuanian National Philarmonic Hall, Vilnius, which will be a celebration of the music of the composer Feliksas Bajoras (picture right), in his 80th year. The concert involves Rusne Mataityte, Raimondas Sviackevicius, Asta Krikšciunaite, Nora Petrocenko, Tomas Pavilionis, Tadas Girininkas, LNSO, choir Aidija, the choir of the National M. K. Ciurlionis School of Arts, and maestro Robertas Šervenikas, the promoter of Lithuanian music. Among other important symphonic works, the program includes a performance of ‘Promise’, a concerto for accordion and symphony orchestra commissioned and premiered by accordionist Raimondas Sviackevicius in 2007. This will be performed by Raimondas Sviackevicius with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robertas Servenikas. |
Video: Marc Pircher, October Performances - Austriaby Harley Jones |
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 Video 1: 2014 concert performance, Die Musi und du 2014.Video 2: Published on Mar 3, 2012 1) Marc Pircher: Hit-Medley - Hey Diandl Spürst Es So Wie I - Ich Schwör - Lady Unbekannt - Sieben Sünden 2) Zellberg Buam: He Nachbarin 3) Marc Pircher, Zellberg Buam & Andy Borg : Heut' Kommen D'Engerln Auf Urlaub Nach Wien The very popular Austrian entertainer Marc Pircher even has his own festival. The annual Marc Pircher festival takes place from 9th to 17th June 2015 in the holiday region of Mayrhofen-Hippach im Zillertal, Tirol statt, with the main dates being 12th to 14th June. In addition to the concerts of Marc Pircher & Band in the Festhalle Berghof in Mayrhofen, other groups are performing including: Stargäste Kastelruther Spatzen, Zellberg Buam, Die fidelen Mölltaler, Claudia Jung, Die Amigos, Stefan Roos, Pfundskerle. October performances by Marc Pircher: Sa, 11. Oktober 2014 - 11:00 Uhr, A-1160 Wien - Ottakring, Interspar - Sandleiten - Center, Weiters mit dabei: Orig. Zillertaler "Oktoberfest 2014" (Solo). Sa, 11. Oktober 2014 20:00 Uhr, A-3341 Ybbsitz (NÖ), GH "Zum goldenen Hirschen" mit Stargast: Francine Jordi, "Volkstümlicher Abend mit Marc Pircher 2014" (Duo). Mo, 13. Oktober 2014 -20:00 Uhr, Kastelruth (Südtirol), Riesen-Festzelt, "Musik-Gala für Stoll-Reisen" (Solo + Moderation). Mi, 15. Oktober 2014 - 12:30 Uhr, A-6271 Uderns (Zillertal), Hotel Pachmair, "Marc Pircher - Stimmungsauftritt" (Solo). Fr, 17. Oktober 2014 - 21:15 Uhr, CH-7243 Pany i. Prättigau (Schweiz), Festhalle "MZH", "4. Hitschi's Musikanten Strauss" (Solo). Sa, 18. Oktober 2014 - 20:00 Uhr, B-8370 Blankenberge (Belgien), Casino, "Schlagerparade 2014" (mit Orchester). Mi, 22. Oktober 2014 -12:30 Uhr, A-6271 Uderns (Zillertal), Hotel Pachmair, "Marc Pircher - Stimmungsauftritt" (Solo). Fr, 24. Oktober 2014 - 20:00 Uhr, D-66386 St. Ingbert, Stadthalle, Infos u. Karten bei Knut Schubert - Tel.: +49(0)170/307 40 27, "Benefizveranstaltung für die Lebenshilfe St. Ingbert e.V." (Duo). Sa, 25. Oktober 2014 - 22:00 Uhr, NL-6442 PB Brunssum (Niederlande), Festzelt, "Brunssumse Oktoberfest 2014" (Solo). Mi, 29. Oktober 2014 - 12:30 Uhr, A-6271 Uderns (Zillertal), Hotel Pachmair, "Marc Pircher - Stimmungsauftritt" (Solo). Fr, 31. Oktober 2014 - 20:00 Uhr, A-6290 Mayrhofen (Zillertal), Europahaus, "Ball der Lebenshilfe Ramsau im Zillertal" (Duo). |
World War One Commemorative Show, Québec – Canadaby Rob Howard |
 On Saturday October 11th, 8pm, at the salle D'Youville, Palais Montcalm, Québec, the trio Steve Normandin (accordion and vocals), Maxim Bernard (piano), and Éric Leblanc (narrator), will perform songs and literary extracts from the 1914-18 First World War years.For further information email: info@palaismontcalm.ca |
Festival of Saltarello, Paliaroli - Italyby Harley Jones |
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| Festival of Saltarello, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October, Paliaroli. |
Erika plays for dancing, Rochefort – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 Erika – “the princess of the accordion” – and Jean-Marie on keyboard, play for dancing on Sunday October 12th, 3pm, at the Salle Le Velodrome, Rochefort, Belgium. |
Motion Trio Concert, Krakow – Polandby Rob Howard |
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| The Motion Trio perform on Sunday October 12th, 7pm, at Kijow Centrum (a cinema), Krakow, Poland. This concert is part of the Grechuta Festival. Formed in 1996, the highly successful Motion Trio are Janusz Wojtarowicz, Pawel Baranek, and Marcin Galazyn. They continually explore the new possibilities of the accordion in their performances and recordings, changing the way that it is perceived. Their concerts are musical performances that contain action and drama. For further information email: kijow@kijowcentrum.pl |
Mario Tacca in Concert in New York - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 Popular accordionist Mario Tacca, and his wife, acclaimed vocalist Mary Mancini, will perform all styles of music from Broadway, standards, pop to opera with guitarist Mike Caruso and drummer Ricci Saracino on Friday, 10th October, 8 to 10:30 PM.The concert takes place at the Bean Runner Cafe on 201 South Division Street, Peekskill, New York. Admission is $15.00. Enjoy the intimate setting and have a little dinner while you are lavishly entertained. For reservations: 914-737-1701 For further information: marytmancini@msn.com |
Mary Tokarski and Nathan Chapeton at Brooklyn Accordion Club - USAby Harley Jones |
 The Brooklyn Accordion Club write: Save the date for this October meeting! We will have two special guests: Concert accordionist Mary Tokarski and her student Nathan Chapeton (14 years old), who will be representing the U.S. and competing in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment category at the 2014 Coupe Mondiale late October, in Austria. Sunday, October 12th, 2-4pm at 61 Local (61 Bergen Street, Brooklyn) Suggested donation: 1-3 dollars (pay what you can!) Mary Tokarski will provide us a workshop "Technic - Your Style, Your Way", and Nathan will perform his program for the competition. If you are interested in performing a piece or two at the meeting, please email us! Beginners and first timers are also welcome. |
Declan Aungier plays for dancing – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist Declan Aungier plays for dancing this weekend, as follows:Friday October 10th - Ballykelly Community Centre, New Ross, County Wexford Saturday October 11th - Old Brog Bar, Killimer, County Clare Sunday October 25th, 3.30pm until 6pm - Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal, County Cork Sunday October 26th, 9pm until 12pm – Premier Ballroom, Thurles, County Tipperary Declan Aungier became All-Ireland Under 18 Piano Accordion Champion in 1987. He then switched to the 5-row Continental button accordion, and works as a solo entertainer, with many recordings to his credit, providing music ranging from Country and Irish, Irish traditional music, and music from the present day, including some jazz. Also skilled on keyboards, piano and guitar, Declan is church organist in his home village of Rathangen, County Kildare. For further information email: declan@declanaungier.com |
Vincent LHermet ‘L'Harmonie selon Rameau’ Recitals, Lille, Puteaux – Franceby Rob Howard |
 French accordionist Vincent LHermet performs two recitals in mid-October to honour the 250th anniversary of the death of the composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. The details are:October 15th, 6pm - world premiere of 5 new works for solo accordion by Tomas Bordalejo, Philippe Hersant, Martin Iddon, Florent Motsch and Mikel Urquiza; works by Jean-Philippe Rameau (e minor suite, g minor suite, Pièces de clavecin en concert), Opera Lille, 2 Rue des Bons Enfants, Lille October 16th, 12.15pm until 1.15pm – Tours Société Générale, Auditorium, 17 cours Valmy, La Défense, Puteaux, same programme as above Vincent LHermet (born 1987) graduated from the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, Finland, and is the first ever accordionist to be admitted to the Doctorate of Music Performance (PhD) at the Conservatoire at Sorbonne University, Paris. He has many competition successes to his credit, regularly performs worldwide as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles, and is currently teaching accordion at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatoire and the Pôle Supérieur d’Enseignements Artistiques in Lille. For further information email: lhermet.vincent@gmail.com |
Fundraising Event for Coupe Mondiale Competitor Alexandra Reekie - New Zealandby Heather Masefield |
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| Video above of 2014 South Pacific Junior Accordion Champion Alexandra Reekie (13 years) performing Basso Ostinato by Viktor Vlasov. Fundraiser on the 18th October 2014. These are a great fun night, so have a good time in support of a worthy cause. |
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society’s Oktoberfest, Virginia - USAby Joan Grauman Morse |
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 On October 19th the WMAS will host its 10th annual Oktoberfest in Falls Church, Virginia. This year’s celebration should be a real delight with the German/Austrian dance group ‘Bayrisch and Steirisch’ performing for us, our members playing Bavarian waltzes and polkas, playing together with music from our club’s Oktoberfest Music Book, and enjoying our special guest artist, eleven-year-old Cody McSherry.Cody plays the Austrian diatonic accordion, the ‘Steirische Harmonika’, and the piano accordion beautifully, plus he is an accomplished Bavarian folk dancer. If you are in the Washington, DC area, please join us for good food, great music and dancing! For further information email: joangrauman@verizon.net |
Soraya Ravenle and Libertango Concert, Rio de Janeiro – Brazilby Rob Howard |
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| Brazilian singer and actress Soraya Ravenle and her band Libertango perform a concert of Argentine tango songs and music on October 20th, 9pm, at the Theatre NET Rio, Rua Siqueira Campos, Rio de Janeiro. The band Libertango group, formed by Argentinean pianist Estela Caldi and two of his sons, Alexander Caldi (saxophones and flutes) and Marcelo Caldi (accordion), both Brazilian and renowned instrumentalists and arrangers in Rio de Janeiro. Libertango have recently released their 4th album, ‘Tangos hermanos’. |
John Conolly @ Midway Folk Club, Stockport – UKby Rob Howard |
| John Conolly, singer, songwriter, button accordionist and guitarist, is the guest at the Midway Folk Club on Monday October 20th, 8.30pm. The venue is The Midway public house, 263 New Bridge Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 2NX. Conolly’s best known song is 'Fiddlers Green', written in 1966. Since then he has been a stalwart of the Grimsby, Lincolnshire and UK folk scenes, contributing many more classics to the folk repertoire; songs such as 'The Grimsby Lads', 'The Trawling Trade', 'Punch and Judy Man' and 'Send Us A Postcard'. His well-crafted songs and his easy-going charm and sense of humour, make him a firm favourite with audiences. |
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