Stockport Accordion Club Newsletter January/February 2020 President: Pearl Fawcett-Adriano Past President: Johnny Coleclough Vice President: Walter Perrie

Stockport Accordion Club meets on Wednesday evenings, 7.30 pm/9.30pm, at Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel

St, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1NF (Junction 25 on the M60). New members or visitors are always welcome.

Website: www.stockportaccordionclub.org; Stockport Accordion Club now also has a Facebook page

Broken Cross 2019 – another great success!! On Friday December 6

th the Stockport Accordion Club ‘roadshow’ invaded Macclesfield for our

annual squeezing shindig at the Broken Cross Club, for a near

full house audience filled with lots of friendly faces. This was

our 19th

consecutive year at the Broken Cross Club, and the

20th

year of these charity concerts as the first one was held at

Fallibroome High School in 1999.

The Stockport Accordion Band got the concert off to

a bright start with March Along (Jerry Mayes), Calinerie

(Andre Verchuren), My Way (Paul Anka), Waltzes from the

North, In the Bleak Midwinter, and The Big Parade (J.Reilly).

The first three pieces were conducted by Marj Howard

(right), and the second three by Adrienne Sharpe. Accordion

Spice followed with stirring performances of Death or Glory,

Waltz No 2 (Shostakovich), and Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber).

After the first interval Helen Rich (left), in her solo spot, played the Washington Post (Sousa), La

Mariposita (Pietro Frosini), and I Want To Hold Your Hand

(Lennon/McCartney), exhibiting impressive skills and dynamics. Next

were the Scottish Quartet, who transported us north of the border with

Macdonald of the Isles/Loch Lomond (strathspey), Battle of the

Somme/Heights of Cassino (retreat marches), and the Kelso Polka. Our

club President Pearl Fawcett-Adriano

(right) then took centre stage, and

mesmerised us all with superb

performances of Dance of the

Comedians, Caravan, Sleepy Blues, La

Vie Parisienne, finishing with a superb

selection from Bizet’s opera Carmen.

Her cousin Phil Watson joined Pearl

for a couple of entertaining duets, My

Heart & I and Que Sera.

After the second interval and

raffle, the Stockport Accordion Band, this time conducted by Brennan

Wilson (right), played When I’m 64

(Lennon/McCartney), What A Wonderful

World, and the theme from Bonanza,

reprised for an encore. Walter Perrie and Helen

Rich (left) were next, playing Pigalle, Luci e

Ombre, Sharpshooters March, and a Scotland the

Brave medley. Their lively spot was fun and

musicality in equal measures. To round off an

excellent evening, the Stockport Accordion

Band plus Pearl, Phil and Helen, played some

Christmas carols and songs, joined by much

enthusiastic audience singing, sending everybody

home in a happy seasonal mood. The organiser

John Jones MBE announced that the concert had

raised over £1000 for the East Cheshire Hospice. Next year’s concert will be on December 4th

2020.

Going out gigging in Salford Brennan Wilson writes about a gig he played in December: “Yesterday

(Sunday) I sang with Monton Voices Community Choir at Broughton

House in Salford. It’s a nursing home for ex-servicemen with which one

of our choir members has a connection. Several of the choristers play

instruments, and I accompanied our version of The Pogues’ Fairytale of

New York. I was relieved to get through it without mishap – it’s played

at 200 beats per minute and is the most challenging piece I’ve played in

public for some time! Anyway, the elderly residents seemed to enjoy it

and sang along with all the old favourites: It’s a long Way to Tipperary,

Keep the Home Fires Burning, and so on. It’s a great chance to put on a

dicky-bow and have some fun!”

John & Rob in the Stockport Air Raid Shelters John Jones & I had a top time in the Stockport Air Raid Shelters this year.

The first gig was okay though quiet, but on the second we had them

rolling the aisles (almost!) with Wish Me Luck, Tipperary, Lilli Marlene,

Bless Em All, Run Rabbit Run, Lambeth Walk, Jerusalem, Land of Hope

and Glory, Rule Britannia, etc, and finishing with a rousing chorus of

Delilah! My curved keyboard sounded great in there and John & I thought

we'd had one of the best gigs in there for quite a while.

Brian Jenkins Brian Jenkins, our former Musical Director, is now

living in a care home. He would love to receive visits

from any of us. John Jones & I went to visit Brian

before Christmas and we spent an hour chatting

amiably about past times. We took our accordions and

did some playing, which Brian appreciated. He is at

Dryclough Manor Care Home, 20 Shaw Rd, Royton, Oldham OL2 6DA; tel 0161 626 7454.

Helen Rich and Walter Perrie @ North Staffs AC, Tuesday 19th

November North Staffs AC President Mike Richards writes: Our concert started at 7.30pm with the ‘members’

play-a-long’. There was an abundance of players, approximately 20, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves

for about 25 minutes by playing music from our ‘play-a-long’ book.

Our guest artists, Helen and Walter, were on next and during their first

spot we were thoroughly entertained by the following selection of music:

Sharpshooters March, Bel Fiore, Italian Medley, Czardas (Fugazza),

Dantesque, Russian/Ukrainian Medley, Golden Slippers, Dancing Fingers, El

Cabellero, Dark Eyes, Bourrasque, Autumn Leaves, Beautiful Days, and the

Trieste Overture.

After the interval we were in for a pleasant surprise – one of Walter’s

old university friends, Stan Anders, was present and he’d volunteered to play a

few numbers. His selection included The Dark Island, The Leaving of Liverpool,

Scotland the Brave and Old Lang Syne. Well done Stan, we enjoyed your

playing and hopefully you’ll be ‘joining our happy throng’ in the near future.

Helen and Walter’s final spot included the following selection of music:

Under The Double Eagle, Pigalle, Tico Tico, Luce e Ombre, La Vie En Rose

and Sous Le Ciel, Lambeth Polka, Reine de Musette, Amapola, La Paloma, Czardas (V. Monti), and a Polish

Medley. Helen and Walter finished the evening with a Scottish medley, with Helen playing her violin and

Walter playing his accordion. What a wonderful to way finish a lovely evening!

£1260 raised at Dudley for Cancer Research UK Barry Smith writes; “The Midland Accordion Festival 2019. Our charity this year was for Cancer Research

UK. Thanks to all you generous people with raffle prizes, auction items, and very generous

donations. The final sum given to Cancer Research UK was £1260.00. Thank you for your help”.

Accordion Magic for all Repairs, Restorations, etc For any kind of acoustic accordion, melodeon or concertina repairs or restorations (including electronic and

MIDI), tunings, conversions, etc., telephone Cheshire-based Roy Whiteley on 0751 906 4196 or email

roywhiteley@gmail.com; website: www.accordionmagic.com

Accordions for sale Chris Green is selling her Vignoni accordion. The specifications are: 120 bass, four voice musette, 11

treble/7 bass couplers, very good condition, midi installed by Geoff Holter, accordion maintained by Roy

Whiteley; price £1,750 - contact Chris on 07538933331 or email christagreen@hotmail.co.uk

Andy Morris is selling his Duo Artiste (made in Castelfidardo, Italy, by Victoria). The specifications are:

120 bass, four voice musette, 9 treble/6 bass couplers, very good condition - price £500. Contact Andy on

07990745682 or email amsmorris56@gmail.com

Accordion Anthology 2 Accordion Anthology 2, published in October 2019, is a book

aimed at accordion enthusiasts. Included are articles, such as

Accordion Family Members; Accordions in the eras of

Music Hall and Variety; Looking After Your Accordion;

Castelfidardo; Diatonic Accordion Musings; No 1 Ladies

Accordion Orchestra; The Serious Performer; Learning the

accordion – a work in progress; Using the Accordion for

Vocal Accompaniment; Tales & Trivia; London Accordion

Orchestra; Accordion Clubs; Accordion Festivals; Midland

Accordion Festival; Scotland’s Accordion Heritage;

Ireland’s Accordion Heritage; Overseas accordionists who

have performed in the UK; 1829…and more milestones in

the accordion’s history. The biographies (many are

autobiographical) include Gina Brannelli, Julie Best, Jean

Corrighan, Gary Blair, Mario Conway, Dave Cormack,

Jean Hanger, Harry Hussey, Yvette Horner, Roy Hendrie,

Jonny Kerry, Owen Murray, Bert Santilly, Sharon

Shannon, Gordon Shand, George Syrett, Karen Street,

Karen Tweed, Nigel Pasby, Seamus O’Sullivan, Douglas

Ward, Charlie Watkins, Robert Whitehead, and the late,

great Dermot O’Brien. This is a near A4 sized high quality

hardback, and has 375 colour photographs. The book costs £15

+ £3p/p, from me at 42 Avondale Rd, Edgeley, Stockport,

Cheshire SK3 9NY. (Overseas prices including p/p are: EU –

24 Euro, USA/Canada/Australia/NZ - $31); cheques or postal

orders payable to Rob Howard. Paypal or bank transfer are

other options. Quick service is a speciality! For further info give me a call on (0161) 480 8858 or email me for full

details at robaccord5@hotmail.com. The ideal present for just about any accordion enthusiast!!

CD - David Vernon ‘On the Level’ David Vernon’s latest CD, On the Level, is an entertaining recording, which demonstrates not only his

outstanding ability as an accordionist, but also his talent for composition and his renowned sense of humour. The CD

begins in lively style with a country flavoured polka Terminal 3, written during a ten hour wait at Heathrow, hence the

title! Track 2, Waltz for Irene, also composed by David, is a melodic

waltz dedicated to a lady in New Zealand. Other David Vernon

compositions include the plaintive Celtic air The Braid View, the quirky

and catchy Frolickin’ Phil, and the lively Samba Samsara. The Roulette

Wheel is one of my favourite tracks, involving lots of triplet runs up and

down the keyboard, conjuring up an image of a roulette wheel in motion

– a very quirky tune indeed. Also very impressive is David’s version of

the tricky High Level Hornpipe, which has a graduating tempo,

beginning with moderato and ending up with a speed approaching Warp

Factor 1 – a real finger buster! There are some typically Scottish dance

numbers, including the popular two step The Ornithologist (composed

by Freeland Barbour), sets of Gay Gordons and 6/8 Pipe Marches tunes,

High Level Hornpipe, the melodic waltz Jimmy and Mickie (composed

by Andrew Fitchet, and dedicated to Jimmy Blue and Mickie

Ainsworth), and a bouncy Iain MacPhail composition, The Grace

Renwick Polka. Of special interest to me as I used to be an accompanist

to the Polish dance team in Manchester is the Polish Medley, containing four lively dance tunes in different tempos.

Other tracks are the Irish tune O’Kanes March and a lively musette waltz La Valse Vernon, dedicated to David and

composed by Scottish accordionist George Burns.

There’s plenty of great playing and variety on this recording, plus there is sympathetic backing from some top

players that never overpowers the lead accordion: Alex Ross – 2nd

accordion, Duncan Black – keyboard, Brian

Nicholson – guitar, Kenneth Ross – drums, and Bob Miller – bass, plus Bruce Davies – guitar, keyboards on track 3.

Tracks: Terminal 3, Waltz for Irene, The Ornithologist, The Braid View, Gay Gordons, The Roulette Wheel,

6/8 Pipe Marches, Frolickin’ Phil, Jimmy and Mickie, The High Level Hornpipe, The Grace Renwick Polka, Polish

Medley, La Valse Vernon, O’Kanes March, Samba Samsara

The CD On the Level costs £11 including p/p from me at 42 Avondale Rd, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire SK3

9NY or via David’s website: www.davidvernon.co.uk or phone 07752 482 537.

Diary Dates * January 8

th, 7.30pm – Stockport Accordion Band practice resumes at Woodley Methodist Church

* February 5th

– Transatlantic Sessions, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, featuring Phil Cunningham

* February 7th

-10th

– Eastbourne Accordion Festival, Queens Hotel, Eastbourne

* February 14th

– singer/accordionist Nathan Carter, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

* February 22nd

– Northern Ireland Open Accord ion Championships (incorporating an NAO Area

Festival), organised by Clyde Johnston, at the Loughshore Hotel, Carrickfergus. Helen Rich will be one of

many accordionists performing at the informal pre-festival concert on Friday February 21st, 8pm.

* March 17th

– Harry Hussey & Lily’s Weepers @ North Staffs AC, Wolstanton Golf Club

* March 27th

, 7.30pm – Nigel Ogden @ Woodley Methodist Church; tickets £9 from Phil on 0161 430 8518

* April 4th

, 7.30pm – Foster & Allen are at the Plaza, Stockport

* April 21st – Bert Santilly @ North Staffs AC, Wolstanton Golf Club

* May 17th

– Accordion Orchestra Workshop and Concert (open to all) at Marthall Village Hall, near

Knutsford, led by Nigel Pasby

* July 22nd

, 7.30pm - the Classic Kyiv Duo return once again as our Club Night guests

* November 6th

– 9th

– Midland Accordion Festival, Quality Hotel, Dudley

* December 4th

– Stockport Accordion Club ‘roadshow’ @ Broken Cross Club, Macclesfield

Final thoughts… A New Year beckons, and there is plenty of good squeezing ahead for us all. If you look at the Diary

Dates above there are events spread out through the year worthy of your support. Never let it be said that

nobody ever organizes anything for accordion enthusiasts!

Our club ended 2019 on a high with yet another very successful charity concert at the Broken Cross

Club in Macclesfield, presenting a top evening of squeezing. Well done everybody!!

Rob (0161) 480 8858; email: robaccord5@hotmail.com