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Alistair Anderson's Diamond Dazzler


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I don't know if it has already had a mention here in the forum but English concertina virtuoso Alistair Anderson celebrated his 60th birthday on March 18th this year. And, in recognition of this milestone, The Sage, Gateshead held a concert in his honour on wednesday 14th of May last week. Called Alistair Anderson's Diamond Dazzler, it featured Alistair himself plus special guests including Richard Thompson, Martin Simpson, Katie Doherty and more. Below is an excert from the programme.

 

World renowned folk musician and Folkworks Artistic Director Alistair Anderson is turning sixty. An inspiration himself, Alistair has collaborated with – and been inspired by – an extraordinarily diverse range of amazing musicians, some of whom join him tonight: already confirmed are the great singer/songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson; award-winning folk guitarist Martin Simpson; jazz trombonist Annie Whithead plus guitarist Jennifer Maidman; members of Northern Sinfonia including leader, Bradley Creswick; 422, The Farne Islands Band, Katie Doherty, Newcastle Kingsmen Rapper, plus star clog dancers and special surprise guests. This unmissable event gives audiences a chance to celebrate the contribution Alistair has made to the musical life of the region and beyond.

 

My partner Rosie, who now lives in Newcastle, went to it and told me afterwards that it was an absolutely superb evening. Congratulations Alistair. You have been an inspiration to many aspiring concertina players, including myself. Long may you continue.

 

Chris

Edited by Chris Drinkwater
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I don't know if it has already had a mention here in the forum but English concertina virtuoso Alistair Anderson celebrated his 60th birthday on March 18th this year. And, in recognition of this milestone, The Sage, Gateshead held a concert in his honour on wednesday 14th of May last week. Called Alistair Anderson's Diamond Dazzler, it featured Alistair himself plus special guests including Richard Thompson, Martin Simpson, Katie Doherty and more. Below is an excert from the programme.

 

World renowned folk musician and Folkworks Artistic Director Alistair Anderson is turning sixty. An inspiration himself, Alistair has collaborated with – and been inspired by – an extraordinarily diverse range of amazing musicians, some of whom join him tonight: already confirmed are the great singer/songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson; award-winning folk guitarist Martin Simpson; jazz trombonist Annie Whithead plus guitarist Jennifer Maidman; members of Northern Sinfonia including leader, Bradley Creswick; 422, The Farne Islands Band, Katie Doherty, Newcastle Kingsmen Rapper, plus star clog dancers and special surprise guests. This unmissable event gives audiences a chance to celebrate the contribution Alistair has made to the musical life of the region and beyond.

 

My partner Rosie, who now lives in Newcastle, went to it and told me afterwards that it was an absolutely superb evening. Congratulations Alistair. You have been an inspiration to many aspiring concertina players, including myself. Long may you continue.

 

Chris

 

If only geography permitted - it would have been great to be there. Congratulations to Alistair. Do you think he might come to my 60th next year?? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

-John Wild

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I don't know if it has already had a mention here in the forum but English concertina virtuoso Alistair Anderson celebrated his 60th birthday on March 18th this year. And, in recognition of this milestone, The Sage, Gateshead held a concert in his honour on wednesday 14th of May last week. Called Alistair Anderson's Diamond Dazzler, it featured Alistair himself plus special guests including Richard Thompson, Martin Simpson, Katie Doherty and more. Below is an excert from the programme.

 

World renowned folk musician and Folkworks Artistic Director Alistair Anderson is turning sixty. An inspiration himself, Alistair has collaborated with – and been inspired by – an extraordinarily diverse range of amazing musicians, some of whom join him tonight: already confirmed are the great singer/songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson; award-winning folk guitarist Martin Simpson; jazz trombonist Annie Whithead plus guitarist Jennifer Maidman; members of Northern Sinfonia including leader, Bradley Creswick; 422, The Farne Islands Band, Katie Doherty, Newcastle Kingsmen Rapper, plus star clog dancers and special surprise guests. This unmissable event gives audiences a chance to celebrate the contribution Alistair has made to the musical life of the region and beyond.

 

My partner Rosie, who now lives in Newcastle, went to it and told me afterwards that it was an absolutely superb evening. Congratulations Alistair. You have been an inspiration to many aspiring concertina players, including myself. Long may you continue.

 

Chris

 

If only geography permitted - it would have been great to be there. Congratulations to Alistair. Do you think he might come to my 60th next year?? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

-John Wild

 

 

I dunno about that, but I had my 60th last week, and guess what - Theo from these forums performed with his Ceilidh band!

 

We had a great time! :lol:

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I dunno about that, but I had my 60th last week, and guess what - Theo from these forums performed with his Ceilidh band!

 

We had a great time! :lol:

 

Alright, alright. Hands up those forum members who admit to being 60, or nearly 60, or 60 plus. I was 60 last year. Okay, I know I don't look it and still feel as if I am 59 going on 21 (perhaps it's playing the concertina that keeps me young) but I am nevertheless pround to be a diamond geezer! The venerable John Kirkpatrick was 60 himself last year, too. Ooh, these aging folkies! Sadly, a concertina playing friend of mine of similar vintage, has now unfortunately got arthritis in both her thumbs, making it painful to play the concertina for any length of time, even with the help of wrist straps and another friend of mine has had to give up morris dancing because of arthritic knees. It just goes to show that old age is not for wimps. :(

 

Chris

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Alright, alright. Hands up those forum members who admit to being 60, or nearly 60, or 60 plus. I was 60 last year. Okay, I know I don't look it and still feel as if I am 59 going on 21 (perhaps it's playing the concertina that keeps me young) but I am nevertheless pround to be a diamond geezer!

Huh? :huh:

I've always understood that the diamond anniversary/jubilee is the 75th!

And it's still a few years yet before I reach
that
milestone.
;)

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Alright, alright. Hands up those forum members who admit to being 60, or nearly 60, or 60 plus. I was 60 last year. Okay, I know I don't look it and still feel as if I am 59 going on 21 (perhaps it's playing the concertina that keeps me young) but I am nevertheless pround to be a diamond geezer!

Huh? :huh:

I've always understood that the diamond anniversary/jubilee is the 75th!

And it's still a few years yet before I reach
that
milestone.
;)

 

Huh? :huh:

Well, you are correct, Jim. Actually, both 60 year and 75 year anniversaries/jubilees are traditionally commemorated with diamonds, though 60 is the more common, as I guess not many people celebrate being married for 75 years, or for reigning that long! Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Victoria, celebrated reigning for 60 years in 1897, having ascended the throne in 1837. This is always referred to as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

 

Chris

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I've always understood that the diamond anniversary/jubilee is the 75th!

Well, you are correct, Jim. Actually, both 60 year and 75 year anniversaries/jubilees are traditionally commemorated with diamonds, though 60 is the more common, as I guess not many people celebrate being married for 75 years, or for reigning that long! Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Victoria, celebrated reigning for 60 years in 1897, having ascended the throne in 1837. This is always referred to as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

I guess this is an example of how ignorant we colonists (or at least this one USer) can be of British historical detail. Queen Victoria is, of course, known for the sexually repressed Victorian Era, and I did know that she had an unusually long reign. I even knew that she had celebrated a "Diamond Jubilee", but since I had never encountered an association between "diamond" and any number other than 75, I simply presumed it was that. Reign or birthday, I didn't really know.

Well, live and learn.
:)

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