Gavin Atkin

I hope you'll all forgive me for this reminder. The bare details are below, but I should point out there will of course be concertinas including my own, and my good friend Mike Acott has also said he's coming. It would be great to see some more members of the 'tina community on the night! Gav

This is just a quick announcement to say we're having another of our regular sessions at the Bell+Jorrocks pub at Frittenden, Kent on the 29th November. The sessions take place at the Bell & Jorrocks pub at Frittenden, Kent, start at 8pm, and continue until it's time to sing Nellie Dean and say goodnight. Expect lots of play-along country dance tunes, and sing-along choruses from regulars who often include singers, stepdancers, and fiddle, melodeon and concertina players, including ourselves. The sessions are informal and free, with lots of old fashioned and traditional songs and tunes, and a big emphasis on variety, humour and entertainment generally - if you liked your pub the way it was before the telly and the computer came, this event is for you. Gavin and Julie Atkin - for information see http://frittendenfestival.com/sessions/ or ring 07985 522734

The regular Bell+Jorrocks old fashioned and traditional music sessions continue on Sunday the 25th October - and once again we'd love to see lots of concertinists from this forum on the night! The sessions are held 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 are informal and free, with lots of old fashioned and traditional songs and tunes, and a big emphasis on variety, humour and entertainment generally - if you liked your pub the way it was before the telly and the computer came, this is the event for you. Once again we've decided to feature a good friend, on this occasion it's Sussex anglo concertina player Tony Dunn, powerhouse behind countless sessions in his own county - so expect a good night for concertina enthusiasts. But there's no need to worry that other interests will be left out - there will be plenty of play-along country dance tunes, and sing-along choruses from regulars who often include singers, stepdancers, and fiddle, melodeon and concertina players, including ourselves. Gavin and Julie Atkin

The concertina curious, duet enthusiasts and in particular Jeffries duet concertina fans in the London area may be interested to know that Julie and I are doing a rare London gig at the Islington Folk Club on the 1st October. If you need to whet your appetite, you might like to hear the song we've learned most recently - Frank Loesser's wonderful if finger-busting Slow boat to China. I hope I can be forgiven for posting about two events on this board in such short order! There's more about this splendid London club including its programme and how to find your way there at the club's website maintained by fellow concertinist Martin Nail: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/martin.nail/Islington/IFCintro.htm

Good man Peter! See you on the night! Gav

Good man Alan. Please do what you can to put the word around won't you! Gav

Session, Bell+Jorrocks, Frittenden 27th Sept, starting at 8pm The regular Bell+Jorrocks old fashioned and traditional music sessions start again on the 27th September and we'd love to see you all there! The sessions will continue to be informal and free, with lots of old fashioned and traditional songs and tunes, and a big emphasis on variety, humour and entertainment generally. Following the success of the Jody Kruskal night back in August, we're going to repeat the experiment by featuring a couple of (almost local) stars once again - a duo of anglo concertina wizard Alan Day along with his ace guitar playing accomplice Mike Ainscough. So expect a good night for both concertina and guitar enthusiasts but don't worry that other interests will be left out - there will be plenty of play-along country dance tunes, and sing-along choruses from regulars who often include singers, stepdancers, and fiddle, melodeon and concertina players. Gavin and Julie Atkin (see www.julieandhersqueeze.com for more on what we do!)

Chuckle - sadly no! I don't have Firefox or Chrome, so can't speak for those there fandangles ... lousy old IE me! And please don't go mountaineering with that bad ankle of yours ... I'm sure I can cope Well I should have heeded your advice. I went upstairs, fired up the old 'puter as oft times before and it started, then made a noise like a dismayed hungarian frog (we get them round here and very noisy they are) and then stopped. Well, it was an antique but of course this means yet another investment in technology... G

Really? Not even in Firefox or Chrome? I'm surprised. I hope you'll forgive me for not climbing the stairs on my hands and knees to check on our old XP machine. Hey ho... I thought I had the answer there. G

Gee ta Gav! I've had a look at it, and spent the last 10 minutes sight reading, trying a few bits and pieces .... when I really should have been going to bed... I can see that I'm going to have a go at this one later. It'll be good practice (when I really should be working on other stuff ... but I'm intrigued by it) One minor point though ... I felt it would have been more helpful (to me at any rate) to have had the dots showing during the playing of the various riffs, rather than just plain black screen. I was also mildly confused at the outset by the treble clef being used for both right and left hand endeavours until I realised, of course, that it was intended more for massed concertinas (?) rather than principally a single duet, in which case the use of the treble clef for both staves made more sense. Fun though! I don't disagree, but what time would I have got to bed? In the modern age, one can easily have this thing open in multiple windows so you can remind yourself how it goes. I would add that it's all absurdly simple for something that sounds so good, which should help. And I didn't use any bass clefs because I think that most self taught members of this group are unlikely to be bass-clef savvy. And it really doesn't matter too much whether one's playing in in the bass range or not. Just do what sounds good to you. Go to it Irene! Gav

I promised attendees at this year's Towersey Festival that I'd make a little video to remind them how to play the various components of my version of Davey Graham's big hit Anji. It includes a little explanation, the dots and a sample of it being played, so I hope it's useful. This tune can be played by massed concertinas or a duet, and is a fine example of how applying a little touch can bring written music to life - for example, there are many pairs of notes in Anji, and they often benefit from the first note being played short and followed by a brief rest and the second a little more legato - but all in time of course. I've written to this group partly because I hope this is a way to reach at least some of those who went to the workshop, but also because I think it might provide some entertainment for some of you who weren't there! Here's the link: Gav

I question whether the Concertina is an appropriate instrument to consider for any sort of electronic amplification or modification. God forbid that it should begin to follow the example of electric guitars, which now bear so little comparison to their infinitely superior accoustic cousins. Duh? I love my Stratocaster! I'm with Alan on micing tinas btw. Gav

The next Frittenden session features anglo player, Concertina International brains and 'tina.net forum stalwart Alan Day along with his able musical co-pilot guitarist Mike Ainscough. It's scheduled for Sunday the 27th September, starting at 8pm and is due to finish swith a chorus of Nellie Dean at around 10.30pm. Alan hardly needs any introduction on this forum, but those of us who know him will expect quite a few musical surprises. I do hope a good group of you will manage to get along for a jolly evening and to give him hour support. It should be a good night - who can forget Jody's enthusiasm following the last Frittenden sesh? If you need any information, please contact me on 07985 522734 or gmatkin@gmail.com.

You joust, of course! Chris Neigh, lad! G

I guess we should call that a success. Anyone for Donkey Riding? Gav

Here's another Youtube item from the August Bell & Jorrocks session - Julie and myself performing Doggie, together with a chorus of chaps whose Bach may be worse than their bite... Our thanks to Brian Hawes for letting us use his recording! Gav

Do take a moment to see the vid of Jody folks - it's a most entertaining performance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpgwVl7uc5s Gav

Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpgwVl7uc5s Gav

Thanks to Jody and to everyone else who came. Among others, they included Tony Dunn and his pal Eamon, Brian Hawes and of course Jody K himself. The prize for second furthest travelled would have to go to Geoff Crabb and Jean. While Jody wasn't in his best singing voice, his playing was unaffected and his contribution to the evening was as entertaining as we've come to expect. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening, and even the sometimes laconic locals said so. Let's do it all again! I'd remind you all that we have regular sessions at the Bell & Jorrocks at Frittenden in the evening of the last Sunday of the month from September through to May, so we'll be starting again soon! And yes Peter T - I have a couple of bits of video that seem to me to be well worth having. What's the etiquette on this? I guess I'd better get Jody's say-so before making them publicly available, and when I do make them available where should they go? The concertina department of YouTube? Gav

This is a reminder to concertinists and the wider community interested in old fashioned and traditional music in Kent. The session with Jody at the Bell & Jorrocks, Frittenden, Kent this Sunday starts at 8pm! There's no charge, naturally. Call me for info on 07985 522734 or email gmatkin@gmail.com. Gav

Hi Gavin, I see that the fingers are still working! Sorry to hear your news; all the best for a speedy recovery. Regards, Peter. The fingers are indeed in working order. I'll be at the session, though probably in a wheelchair! Gav

If Jody is in agreement, any chance of one or two video clips for those of us unable to venture into deepest Kent? Regards, Peter. I guess that may be a possibility, with Jody's permission of course. Gav

I didn't know Jody will be on a European tour in August. He usually announces his itinery. Perhaps I have missed it. Jody is great and a must see/hear. Sadly, it's a bit far for me to come from North London. Chris Yup, anglo fans should hear him if they can - he's seriously good and this is an opportunity to do so in a small room and an informal atmosphere. Gav

Will it be lunchtime or evening? regards, John Wild Evening! It'll be in the EVENING folks. Arrive at lunchtime and you'll have a while to wait ;-) Gav

I've read and re-read my email and there seems to be no doubt: I am now permitted to tell the concertinists of Kent that we're planning a session at the Bell & Jorrocks pub, Frittenden, Kent on Sunday the 16th August 2009, featuring visiting American concertinist Jody Kruskal! Email me or if necessary ring me on 07985 522734 if you have any queries that can't be answered using Google! Cheers, Gav