Well the NESI is less than a month away and I am looking forward to seeing and hearing the buttonbox gang and all the participants. If you have never made the NESI you are missing a great time. There still might be a cabin spot and/or there is always room for camping. Give the Buttonbox a call and see, you will not regret making the trip. All kinds of different instruments and music and a really friendly group. See you soon Doug Barr

I am so terribly sorry to be missing NESI this year. It truly is a highlight of the year for me. Wonderful folks, good food, great music, beautiful surroundings- it's a shame not to be there.
BUT
On Sept. 20, 2008, I am going to get married to my main squeeze! It's his birthday, so it seemed an auspicious date.

But shucks, we'll miss y'all. Maybe we'll celebrate our anniversary at NESI 2009!

Congratulations, Allison!

Yes, I have a friend coming who has never been and the question was, "Do they talk about it on the Forum beforehand?"

I hope so, start talking!

Ken

Getting married to your anglo? That shows real dedication to your instrument.

Many congratulations!

Chris

Fantastic! Many happy years together. The fellow is a wise man indeed.

Aw shucks is right, Alison! We keep missing each other at these events ... Finally I get to go to another NESI, my first since 2004 started it all for me.

Well, I hope your new "squeeze" appreciates your "main squeeze."
And has a good tolerance for chocolate ...
Does he play an instrument? One that goes well with 'tinas? Bring him along next year?

At least you only have to remember to buy cards and gifts once a year.

Congratulations, and see you nextyear!
--Mike K.

Thanks for the good wishes, all. No, Chris, my Main Squeeze is an actual human, who plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle, and loves to play around with me (oops, did that come out the way I meant it to?

And yes, we want to come together to NESI in the future. And now that I have a PA as well, there's all sorts of squeezing I can do!

Congratulations Allison,Wonderful news. See you both at The George? or even at NESI one day.
Al XXXX

Howdy:

1) Allison: Very congratulations. A very good reason to miss any other event. Sorry I won't see you.

2) Doug: Will be there. Long time no see. Look forward to seeing you and everyone (well almost everyone, just kidding) else.

Have fun,
Perry Werner

SHRIEK!!!!!

You're getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How utterly awesome. Couldn't happen to a nicer person!

Alas, no NESI for me this year. New house, new town, gotta finish school.

Sorry to say I'll be missing this year too :-( Will be in Curitiba Brazil that weekend but I'll have you all in mind. Hope this year is a blast.

Still hoping that you might make it to one of our sessions in Vermont...Every Thursday, except Thanksgiving, from now until the end of time.

See you there. Bring both of your squeezes.

fjb

Oh, yes I am planning to attend the Squeeze this year too. I was the bass player last year.

I feel as though I kind of derailed the point of this thread with my little announcement, so I'll try to do my part to keep it on topic.

Things I Will Miss at NESI 2008:

~Waking to the sounds of several different groups of concertinists and accordion players jamming here and there.
~Falling asleep to the sounds of several different groups of concertinists and accordion players jamming here and there.
~ Standing on the porch at registration time and greeting folks I only see at Bucksteep.
~Standing in line at meal time and engaging in conversations with folks I haven't met yet.
~When everyone huddles in the main room and the "bar" on the rainy days.
~ The new tradition for the ladies of "dressing up" for Saturday night dinner and concert (keep it up, ladies!).
~ The magic of the procession to the barn for the Saturday night concert
~ The incredible generosity and kindness of amazingly accomplished musicians towards those of us who can only stand in their shadow and hope that someday....
~ The beauty of the region
~ The deer antlers in the bar
~ The museum of oddities and the private instruments/books/etc. for sale
~ The camaradarie, the warmth, the fun, the group energy, all of it!

Anyone else?

Things I particularly like each year (which I'll never miss I've been there every year and expect to be there every year!):

• The initial "hellos" as everyone arrives - and especially the newbies who are always agog at the goings-on).
• Checking out newly-acquired instruments (especially from the "new" makers).
• The Concertina Band workshop
• The amazing concert! (and phenomenal limericks/haiku!)
• The contradance!
• The tail end of the Saturday night (Sunday morning) session in the main hall when things are down to just a few folks playing "select" tunes in front of the fireplace. It's a particularly nice mix of talk, playing, firegazing, and just plain absorbing.
• The frost on some early mornings makes crunching-in-time-to-the-music noises as I walk from the camp area to the manor house.
• Learning new tunes/techniques, playing in smaller groups....

And then there are things that don't happen *every* year.... Like last year's stellar white chocolate macadamia cookies, or the year of Howie's puppets, Monty's infrequent visits, Jody's limberjacks....

-- Rich --

I both love and dread....

== being tempted to buy things offered for sale...Once it was Ed Delaney's Lachenal treble (still in use). In 1998 it was my very first concertina of traditional construction (Tom Mescal's C/G). Every year CDs and books. And last year, Mr. Morse's fiddle! (doing quite well thank you, I play it quite often.) One year I tried to sell a concertina, but not very hard I suppose (I still have it).
== eating too much

By the way, in case any neophytes are reading this thread, NESI is the North East Squeeze-In, a weekend event held every September in the northeast U.S., in Massachusetts. In the British Isles it sounds as if there are many great events, in North America this is one of the best of our few (but growing) list of the same.

Ken

One thing I liked about the area is that there actually is a waterfall along Falls Road. A nice one, actually. Worth finding.
Sadly, no cash = no NESI. Hopefully next year and a trip up for the workshops in Spring.

I am seriously thinking about driving down for this. Looks like a lot of fun. I just got back from a week-long traditional music camp in Newfoundland, and really enjoyed the opportunity to learn from others and jam along (and play for some dances!) with a very tolerant and encouraging bunch of musicians. From all I've read here and on the NESI web-page, I'm hopeful that the same sort of atmosphere might exist there.

Now for a guilty admission and NESI question:

I really enjoyed learning to play the button accordion in Newfoundland , and was thinking of taking a nice, small piano accordion that I was recently given (having now been designated as the family repository for unwanted oddball instruments) to see if I might swap it for a button accordion. (or maybe a DA or DG anglo- everyone in Nfld plays in D) Does this sort of horse trading go on there?

Looking forward to heading out there, but wouldn't mind taking an extra person out along with me and my wife. So if anyone in the Ohio area wants a ride, send me a pm. Possibly we could take two with judicious packing. Robin has already said she would take a smaller guitar if need be. Last time we picked up a hitchhiker in PA and took him into Massachusetts, and he had a backpack and a guitar and there was room.

Alan

Bill:
I've never encountered horse type trading as NESI, but there is spot to offer instruments for sale, trade, etc.
You make the rules and advertise as you wish.
If there's an interested party or potential trader around, they'll no doubt find you.

Look forward to meeting you.

Have fun,
Perry Werner

Thanx for bringing up the topic, Doug. You were raving about the NESI at a Noel Hill house concert in New Jersey a while ago, but I kept talking myself out of going. Didn't fall for the excuses this year, tho - just booked a campsite.

I'm driving up from Philadelphia Friday morning, if anybody along the way needs a ride (p/u truck; room for 1 +stuff)

Looking forward to meeting everybody, listening & (hopefully) learning something while I'm up there.

Neil Calore
sailen2@juno.com

I had a wonderful time last year, but this year I am afraid I am workbound. I will try again next year. Hope everyone as a great time. Mike

Neil You will have a great time! Lots of interesting people to meet, and music to hear and share. There is always someone willing to help out with music, tunes, ideas etc.... There is really nothing like it.
Perry Glad to hear you are going. Do you have a bawdy song set for the pub sing? lol Doug

P.S. Howie if your going and need a ride shoot me an email

Yup, workshops (interactive learning from others), one-on-ones, jams, playing for the dances... sounds like it's right up your alley!


There's a room in the Manor where that sort of thing is "officially" encouraged with several tables where NESI attendees can display their boxes (and other musical instruments, CD's, etc.) for sale/swap/enjoyment. There is no "charge" or "commission" for this unless you are a "dealer" (for someone who routinely sells instruments there is a flat $25 fee for the weekend and you get your own table).

The Button Box has all it's wares in a separate place to make things easy to keep... separate...

Trading elsewhere is fine though most people find it easier to have all that stuff go on in that one room as it's easier to compare boxes with other boxes (for buyers) and to be able to have all your stuff on display in one place (for sellers).

-- Rich --

Sorry Doug.
The only thing that is bawdy that I will be bringing is myself.
Maybe we can get together and do one.
If not this year then next.
I'll be working on a haiku or limerick, so I can retain my haiku crown!
Look forward to seeing you in a few weeks.
Best,
Perry

I'd love to go to NESI this year and I've been waiting to see if it would work out, but, it's not possible for me to go. My husband has been in and out of the hospital, and I wouldn't be able to leave him alone without worrying too much -- and, even if he were to be in the hospital and thus being cared for, I'd have to be here at home to take care of the dogs, etc..

One of our dogs is a pitbull, and no one on earth except my husband or me can successfully approach this dog, or feed her! She's actually a sweetie, but... requires some know-how in handling. I'm glad to be a pitbull mom, though, all things considered.

Anyway, hope you NESI attendees have a great time.

Note on the directions to NESI:

Belden Tavern (landmark for the turn onto Beckett Rd) is no longer. The sign now says "LUJOHN'S AUCTION HOUSE." I wrote to the guys at the Button Box about it when I noticed it earlier this summer, but in the printed directions that arrived in the mail this week it came out as "Long John's Auction House."

In any case, don't count on looking for the Belden Tavern.

See ya there.

Sorry about that! When I was doing this year's aterations to the confirmation sheet I was told (over the phone) to change the Belden Tavern to - what I thought I'd heard. Oh well. Thanks for letting us all know about the mistake!

See you there (at NESI that is)!

-- Rich --

Shame it would have been easy to recognise on one stilt and a parrot on the roof.
No imagination some people.
Al

Hey Alan:

I've been meaning to write.
It was wonderful to have finally met you at Mark's in Bradfield a few weeks ago.
That English session was a gas!!!!!

Any chance you'll be at NESI?
I hope if you are not, the CD's will be!!!!!

Have fun,
Perry Werner

PS: In all the four or five years I've been attending NESI, I've NEVER seen that Belden Tavern sign.
The first year I attended, I missed the cut off and went at least 30 miles out of my way in a driving rain.
It was kind of spooky and things get pretty desolate out there in north central Mass., but I now have very "fond" memories of that trip.
See y'all soon!!

It was also great to see you there ,sadly we did not have time to talk much together ,I was expecting to meet you on the Saturday evening or on the Sunday, but you were out for a meal on Saturday night and then left to continue your tour on the Sunday.As for NESI ,I will try and get there one day,perhaps to give a talk on the three Internationals,so about three years time.
Al

Still willing to offer a ride to someone from Ohio, or for that matter to someone farther west or south, as they could park their car in the church lot here.
Or for that matter, could even pick someone up farther to the east. I have a Honda Element, so there is room.

Alan

Woooooo......... NESI is almost HERE! Just a few more days! So much to do yet though things are really shaping up well.

Besides the usuals, there'll be a couple of new instruments to show this year.... a Wim Wakker A4 model (the Eir) will be on hand and the Button Box's new tenor English hybrid (pre-production model).

The weather also looks to be great: nights in the 40's and clear bright days in the 70's.

A reminder to all who're planning on coming and haven't registered yet: please register BEFORE the event if you'd like to partake of the meals! It really does help us as we have to have the chow count in to the caterer before the weekend begins.

Also - a reminder to bring your limericks and haiku to enter into the contest... any interesting squeezeboxes and paraphernalia you'd like to display amongst the other oddities... ideas for giving workshops or requests for such... instruments........

And - it turns out that our helper can't make it this year so we're looking for someone (a scholarship position!) to help at the registration table and do some Button Box errands. Please call or e-mail us if you're interested!

See you soon!

-- Rich --

Maybe a Wakker Hayden again? Tho ISTR Bonie said he wasn't coming, but maybe someone else has one.

I'm bringing my flannel PJs for those crisp nites in the cabin ...

I'll bring my Bastari Hayden 67 bandoneon of course, my prototype Hayden button clavichord, printouts of Rachel Hall's arrangements for the orchestra -- plsu any limericks or haikus that pop into my head during the logn drive.

You bet! --Mike K.

Well this is it till I get back, we will leave early in the morning, and maybe this year we will make supper. If I don't see you at NESI, we'll see you all Monday.

Alan

Greetings from the Squeeze-In. I took a period off to hike the cross-country ski trails here and now I'm in the lobby of the manor checking in to the internet (there's a wifi router on the wall behind the desk a few yards from here). I don't think I've figured out who Alan is yet, but we're all having a great time.

Edited to add:

Just found Alan. He came up behind me as I was typing. BTW, Ragtimer's my roommate this year. I just bought my copy of "English International." I don't know when I'll have a chance to listen to it.

Hello to you all!

I am so sorry to miss meeting Alan. Maybe next year!

Couldn't do it this year, a small pile of multi-crisises, etc., and so on. But, nonetheless, playing some music -- my foot bass and my accordion, lately, even more than my concertina. Have concertina plans, too, though.

Well, good, NESI has beautiful weather this time around, I guess! I think you are getting the same that we are (in east-central Mass.).

Hi David. You were an ideal roommate -- didn't snore, came in quietly after I went to bed, got up after I'd showered, etc. Of course the weather was so fine, and so many good activities going on, neither of us spent much time in our room!

At the concert I showed why I'm called Ragtimer -- played a snippet of one of my ragtime compositions.

I didn't buy the ENglish Int'l CD -- instead, I bought an English! OK, a Jack, but I want to try my hands at the EC.

Played in the Orchestra, got some experience playing melody with my left hand on my Hayden Duet. I need to work on that a lot more.

Took a very informative workshop on playing old-timey tunes, from Jody Kruskal, and got re-acquainted with him.

Received some nice comments on my Bastari Hayden Duet 67-key bandoneon, and my home-built Hayden clavichord, which I exhibited in the barroom with hte other oddities. Oh yes, I sold a couple small accordions too.

Re-learned to contradance, met some great ladies. All in all, a fine NESI. Next year for sure!
--Mike K.