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Gavin Atkin

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  1. First Sunday Tunes Session at Horsmonden this Sunday This is a mainly English tunes session that runs from October through to the spring, to be held at the Gun & Spitroast pub, Horsmonden (TN12 8HT), starting at 8pm or so on the first Sunday of the month. The idea is to play a good mix of mainly English tunes, including whatever people bring along, as well as our own favourites and a good helping of the tunes folks have been been looking at during the Wednesday night classes (see the http://www.frittendenfestival.com site for details).
  2. Jeffries duets are centred on a single key: many I've come across were in Bb old pitch (presumably for playing with brass and so on) and so can be tuned up to C relatively easily. Other keys can be found however. From C, I find I can play reasonably easily up to two keys upwards, and one key down, but further than that becomes a tad more difficult, or maybe just unfamiliar. So I'm reasonably happy in F, C, G and D, but Bb isn't so bad, and A is certainly manageable. Gavin
  3. For those who missed Jody's illuminating and impressive show at Whitstable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s9Y9twvwdU
  4. Just a little reminder if I may - Jody will appear at Whitstable Labour Club on Tuesday evening. He's just as good a player as they say, and a great performer and speaker, so this is not one to miss. It's also supported by the ICA. Here's a quotation from someone in the USA: I hope to see some of you there. Details are in the previous post and at http://www.singdanceandplay.net Gavin
  5. If anyone would like to come to the Whitstable event, I now have a limited number of tickets for sale in advance (they're limited so that there will still be space on the night!). Email gmatkin@gmail.com or call 07985 522734. Gavin
  6. First Sunday tunes sessions at the Gun I'd like to announce our latest venture: a mainly English tunes session to be held at the Gun & Spitroast pub, Horsemonden (TN12 8HT), starting at 8pm or so on the first Sunday of the month. The first one takes place on Sunday the 7th October. The idea is to playing a good mix of tunes, including whatever people bring along, as well as our own favourites and a good helping of the tunes folks have been been looking at during the Wednesday night classes (see the http://www.frittendenfestival.com site for details). I look forward to seeing some of you on the night! Gavin
  7. Free trad music class with Gavin Atkin, starts 8pm Read all about it: http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/
  8. Free trad music class with Gavin Atkin, starts 8pm Read about them: http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/
  9. alk and concert by the brilliant American concertinist, singer and teacher Jody Kruskal, who is an Old Time and Contra music specialist. The event titled 'American Old-Time styles and the Concertina' takes place at Whitstable Labour Club on the 9th October from 8pm. See http://frittendenfestival.com . This event is supported by the International Concertina Association.
  10. We're promoting a talk and concert by the brilliant American concertinist, singer and teacher Jody Kruskal, who is an Old Time and Contra music specialist. The event titled 'American Old-Time styles and the Concertina' takes place at Whitstable Labour Club on the 9th October from 8pm. See the ad attached for info - or go to http://frittendenfestival.com . This event is supported by the International Concertina Association. Jody Kruskal ad.pdf
  11. We're promoting a talk and concert by the brilliant American concertinist, singer and teacher Jody Kruskal, who is an Old Time and Contra music specialist. The event titled 'American Old-Time styles and the Concertina' takes place at Whitstable Labour Club on the 9th October from 8pm. See the ad attached for info - or go to http://frittendenfestival.com . This event is supported by the International Concertina Association. Also, for those who enjoy old fashioned and trad music often involving concertinas, the Frittenden sessions start again at 8pm on the last Sunday in September (the 30th) and we'll be re-starting the trad music classes at the Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, on Wednesday the 12th September. Please note there will be a special Harvest Hop barndance with the class band and friends - and no doubt a few surprise entertainments at the Bell Jorrocks on the 24th November. Cheers, Gavin Jody Kruskal ad.pdf
  12. Come to Frittenden in Kent this weekend for more great music! Invited performers include Andy Turner (songs with anglo), Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison (songs with melodeon and mouthorgan etc), Rosie Davis (caller, singer, dancer), Chris Roche (sea songs) and Taz Tarry (fiddler), organisers Julie and Gavin Atkin (melodeon, duet concertina, piano, fiddle etc.) Saturday afternoon, from 12 noon Tunes and songs at 12 noon at the Bell & Jorrocks (free entry) Sea, ships and sailors session at the Bell & Jorrocks starting at 2pm including sea shanties, other sea songs, songs about sailors, fishermen’s songs and the famous Sailor’s Hornpipe (free entry) Learn old fashioned dances (eg, Veleta, St Bernard’s Waltz, Heel & Toe Polka) from 4.30 to 6.00pm at the Bell & Jorrocks function room, entry £2.50/£1.50 Saturday evening dance, from 8pm An atmospheric old fashioned dance in the Bell & Jorrocks function room led by Rosie Davis (she’ll explain what to do!). Music from the Horsmonden Traditional Music Class and friends, with songs from our guests, and party games for all ages. Black tie (in a light-hearted sense) is encouraged but not essential. Kids welcome. Entry £7/£4 Food will be available at the pub all day from 12 noon, including evening meals. For information, see http://frittendenfestival.com or email gmatkin@gmail.com and tel 07985 522734
  13. The next Gun & Spitroast traditional music class is on Wednesday the 8th February. The tunes - The Tip Top Polka, AM Shinnie and Hare's Waltz - are on the website now. They've each been asked for by class members. We'll likely play a couple of tunes from earlier classes to warm up, but the real work of the evening will be to concentrate on the new tunes, which we'll play steadily and slowly, only moving on to the next one when it seems right to do so. We'll also spend some time thinking about how we can tackle the tunes and make them lively, danceable and interesting. Towards the end of the evening, we may retire to the bar for some rather more informal sessioning! We meet at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden at 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The classes are free and all are welcome. If this email doesn't really apply to you, please don't throw it away - please pass it to someone who might find it useful! Download pdfs, abcs and access YouTubes of the tunes we're working with at: http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden Gavin
  14. We're running another Frittenden Old Fashioned Night Out on the 31st March. Come and join the sessions - and if you like wearing a DJ (they always look good with a 'tina), there's a chance to wear it in the evening! See the calendar and http://frittendenfestival.com for information. Gavin
  15. Old Fashioned Night Out and Saturday sessions The Frittenden Old Fashioned Night Out will again take place this year – and the date is the 31st March 2012. This follows a tremendous evening of old-fashioned dancing, songs and party games last year. The formula for 2012 is largely unchanged: the evening will have the same mixture of entertainments as last time, with the multi-talented Rosie Davis calling to music provided by the Horsmonden Traditional Music Class and friends (concertina.net members and others are welcome to join the band - the tunes will be on the class website), and songs from a variety of invited guests. The only real difference is that this time we’re holding it in the Bell & Jorrocks function room, which we think will be cosier… As last year, formal attire is encouraged (but optional). Earlier in the day we’ll have the usual Frittenden-style traditional, old fashioned and entertaining session in the bar, followed by a mixed session and concert on the theme of Sea, Ships and Sailors with weekend guests, who include Frittenden regulars Andy Turner, Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison, and sea-song specialist Chris Roche. Rosie has kindly promised to chip in with a Sailor’s Hornpipe! In the late morning and early we’ll also have a workshop in which Rosie will teach some of the old fashioned dances she’ll be calling in the evening. We’ll post more details and a timetable as they become available.
  16. For info see: http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/
  17. The next Gun & Spitroast traditional music class is on Wednesday the 11th January. Dots and abcs for the tunes - The New Rigged Ship and Marthy (by special request) - are on the website now. We'll likely play a couple of tunes from earlier classes to warm up, but the real work of the evening will be to concentrate on the new tunes, which we'll play steadily and slowly, only moving on to the next one when it seems right to do so. We'll also spend some time thinking about how we can tackle the tunes and make them lively, danceable and interesting. Towards the end of the evening, we may retire to the bar for some rather more informal sessioning! We meet at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden at 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The classes are free and all are welcome. If this email doesn't really apply to you, please don't throw it away - please pass it to someone who might find it useful! Download pdfs, abcs and access YouTubes of the tunes we're working with at: http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden Gavin
  18. It's all on the calendar, and it starts at 8pm, 29th December. Many of you should be raring to go by the Thursday after Crimble, so why not come over and find out what you're missing!
  19. We're looking forward to a lovely night with guests favourite local singer Peter Collins and the wonderful Udimore hand bell ringers at the Bell & Jorrocks, Frittenden on Thursday the 29th December, starting at 8pm. (NB - this is the THURSDAY, not our usual Sunday night.) After having had a rest and some time at home over Christmas, we're hoping you'll all be ready for another jolly evening of singing and music down at the B&J - I know we will be. Peter will be giving his tremendous voice some exercise and of course we'll as the bellringers to chime in with their performances - but the format we follow at Frittenden is designed to make sure there's time for the rest of us to play tunes, sing, dance and tell stories - or anything else that's entertaining and legal that you might have to give us. The Frittenden sessions are an entertaining old fashioned and traditional pub evening with songs and tunes, and plenty of variety and good humour. If you’ve got a song, a tune, a stepdance or story, enjoy joining in with a chorus or just like listening in the bar, please come along. We go on until it’s time to close with Nellie Dean the old way – just as people used to before the telly and the computer. We look forward to seeing you on the night! Gavin and Julie Atkin For information see http://frittendenfestival.com/sessions/ or ring us on 07985 522734.
  20. English traditional music classes - Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent The next class is on the evening of Wednesday 23rd November, starting at 8pm. We'll be practising a list of tunes ahead of playing for a barn dance at Horsmonden Village Hall on Friday the 25th November - that's this Friday at 8pm, so don't forget folks! Please pass this message on to anyone who might like to spend an evening dancing and playing a few party games. If they'd like to play that's ok too - anyone who would like to be involved can join in with any tune they wish, and there's no obligation to play every tune. Here's the list of tunes: The Hundred Pipers (march) Cock of the North (jig) Soldier's Joy/Little Brown Jug (48-bar march suitable for some versions of the Virginia Reel) Strike the Bell (32-bar step hop) Off to California (32-bar step hop) Haste to the Wedding (jig) Rig a Jig Jig (jig, natch) Albert Farmer's (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Sloe (polka) The Heel and Toe Polka (polka, natch) Oh Joe the Boat is Going Over (polka) Rosalie the Prarie Flower (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Gypsy Waltz (waltz) The South Wind (waltz) Astley's Ride (polka) Donkey Riding (polka) Speed the Plough (polka/march kind of thing, though it's technically a hornpipe...) My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (waltz) Shave the Donkey All these tunes can be found on the class website at http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/ Here's the usual blurb about these classes: Learn to play traditional tunes for music sessions and dancing in the company of other beginners. Play slowly and practice whatever's causing difficulty for you. Join fiddler, concertina, melodeon and guitar player Gavin Atkin at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden, Kent (TN12 8HT) on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of each month at 8pm until the summer. Please feel free to join us at any point through the year - we do play our tunes very slowly to begin with, and play only a two or three over and over again on any given evening! Admission is free. Typical instruments might be melodeon, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, harmonica, whistle or banjo, but we'll be just as happy if you pitch up with percussion (say, a triangle, tambourine, cajon, or snare and hi-hat) or a saxophone or electronic piano. Reading music isn't necessary, though it definitely helps! Contact Gavin at gmatkin@gmail.com or 07985 522734
  21. English traditional music classes - Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent The next class is on the evening of Wednesday 9th November; the plan once again is to practise an established list of tunes ahead of playing for a barn dance at Horsmonden Village Hall on Friday the 25th November. Please pass this message on to anyone who might like to know about these events - it's quite ok for anyone who would like to be involved to join us now or at any time, including during the run up to the dance. At the barn dance itself, there will be no obligation to play every tune. Here's the (slightly amended) list of tunes: The Hundred Pipers (march) Cock of the North (jig) Soldier's Joy/Little Brown Jug (48-bar march suitable for some versions of the Virginia Reel) Strike the Bell (32-bar step hop) Off to California (32-bar step hop) Haste to the Wedding (jig) Rig a Jig Jig (jig, natch) Albert Farmer's (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Sloe (polka) The Heel and Toe Polka (polka, natch) Oh Joe the Boat is Going Over (polka) Rosalie the Prarie Flower (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Gypsy Waltz (waltz) The South Wind (waltz) Astley's Ride (polka) Donkey Riding (polka) Speed the Plough (polka/march kind of thing, though it's technically a hornpipe...) My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (waltz) Shave the Donkey All these tunes can be found on the class website at http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/ Here's the usual blurb about these classes: Learn to play traditional tunes for music sessions and dancing in the company of other beginners. Play slowly and practice whatever's causing difficulty for you. Join fiddler, concertina, melodeon and guitar player Gavin Atkin at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden, Kent (TN12 8HT) on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of each month at 8pm until the summer. Please feel free to join us at any point through the year - we do play our tunes very slowly to begin with, and play only a two or three over and over again on any given evening! Admission is free. Typical instruments might be melodeon, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, harmonica, whistle or banjo, but we'll be just as happy if you pitch up with percussion (say, a triangle, tambourine, cajon, or snare and hi-hat) or a saxophone or electronic piano. Reading music isn't necessary, though it definitely helps! Contact Gavin at gmatkin@gmail.com or 07985 522734
  22. We have another free trad music class at Horsmonden this week. See the calendar for details! Gav
  23. We're looking forward to another great night at the Bell & Jorrocks, Frittenden this Sunday starting at 8pm. This time we're very lucky to have as a guest talented demon anglo concertina player and singer Jody Kruskal, who's currently over here from the from the USA on a tour. Jody will sing some songs, play a few tunes and no doubt chat a while, but the format we follow at Frittenden will ensure plenty of time for the rest of us to play tunes, dance and tell stories - or anything else that's entertaining and legal that you might have to give us. I've even heard we might have someone who recites poetry... Gosh, how cultural! The Frittenden sessions take place at the Bell & Jorrocks pub at Frittenden, Kent, and start at 8pm and continue until it's time to sing Nellie Dean and say goodnight. They're informal and free, with lots of old fashioned and traditional songs and tunes, and a big emphasis on variety, humour and entertainment generally. As we like to say, if you liked your pub the way it was before the telly and the computer came, this is the event for you. We look forward to seeing you on the night! Gavin and Julie Atkin For information see http://frittendenfestival.com/sessions/ or ring us on 07985 522734.
  24. English traditional music classes - Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent The next class is on the evening of Wednesday 26th October; the plan for the evening is to practise an established list of tunes ahead of playing for a barn dance at Horsmonden Village Hall on Friday the 25th November. Please pass this message on to anyone who might like to know about these events - it's quite ok for anyone who would like to be involved to join us now or at any time, including during the run up to the dance. At the barn dance itself, there will be no obligation to play every tune. Here's the list of tunes: The Hundred Pipers (march) Cock of the North (jig) The Rose Tree (polka) Soldier's Joy/Little Brown Jug (48-bar march suitable for some versions of the Virginia Reel) Strike the Bell (32-bar step hop) Off to California (32-bar step hop) Haste to the Wedding (jig) Rig a Jig Jig (jig, natch) Albert Farmer's (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Sloe (polka) The Heel and Toe Polka (polka, natch) Oh Joe the Boat is Going Over (polka) Rosalie the Prarie Flower (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing) The Gypsy Waltz (waltz) The South Wind (waltz) Astley's Ride (polka) Donkey Riding (polka) Speed the Plough (polka/march kind of thing, though it's technically a hornpipe...) My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (waltz) All these tunes can be found on the class website at http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/ Here's the usual blurb about these classes: Learn to play traditional tunes for music sessions and dancing in the company of other beginners. Play slowly and practice whatever's causing difficulty for you. Join fiddler, concertina and melodeon player Gavin Atkin at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden, Kent (TN12 8HT) on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of each month at 8pm until the summer. Please feel free to join us at any point through the year - we do play our tunes very slowly to begin with, and play only a two or three over and over again on any given evening! Admission is free. Typical instruments might be melodeon, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, harmonica, whistle or banjo, but we'll be just as happy if you pitch up with percussion (say, a triangle, tambourine, cajon, or snare and hi-hat) or a saxophone or electronic piano. Reading music isn't necessary, though it definitely helps! Contact Gavin at gmatkin@gmail.com or 07985 522734
  25. I've just added this to the calendar - the next trad music class is this coming Wednesday, and the music is on the website. Gavin
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