Share
by Rob Howard
|
This year’s Midland Accordion Festival, held at The Quality Hotel, Dudley, November 4th to 7th, was a great success, with large numbers enjoying a weekend of varied accordion entertainment from Jean Dauvin (France), Steve Roxton, Bruno Continenza (Italy), David Lukins, Jovan Rnjak, Helen Rich, Rosemary Wright, Nigel Pasby & Helen Newton, Alan Young, Harry Hussey, Malachy Cairns, The Kennet Accordion Orchestra (MD Nigel Pasby), and the Master Butchers Band. There were many highlights, such as Jean Dauvin’s musette music, David Lukins’ accordion specialities performed in his very individual style, the ever popular Harry Hussey’s jazz, and a superb concert from the Kennet AO, whose performance of ‘Skyfall’, ‘Thunderbirds March’, ‘Field of Gold’, and ‘Intermezzo Sinfonico’ (from the opera ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’), all arranged by Nigel Pasby, were exceptional. The festival workshops included: Rosemary Wright - Intermediate Orchestra, Elementary Orchestra – Jean Hanger, Vintage Orchestra – Jean Hanger, Scottish Orchestra – Angie Lukins, and Sue Bennett - One to One tuition. The weekend orchestras gave excellent performances on Sunday afternoon, all achieving good results from their limited rehearsal time. The trade show includes the Birmingham Accordion Centre, Rob Howard Publications, Alan Shute – accordinas, accordions and extras, Roy Hendrie – MIDI, and Harry Kipling’s accordions and souvenirs. Trade was brisk, and many sales deals were done. The festival was exceedingly well organised by accordionist Barry Smith, whose Master Butchers Band closed the festival on Sunday evening with an hour of joyful lunacy. The dates for next year’s festival are November 3rd to 5th 2017. For further information email: bsentmusic@gmx.com |