Roger Gawley

Folkworks summer school returns to Durham! After a gap because of covid and a reduced Youth Summer School in deepest Northumberland last year, this year's summer school will be held in Durham School in Durham City. It will be a wonderful experience for any folk-minded player between the ages of 14 and 17. The summer school is rather expensive at £500 inclusive this year. The ICA has for a number of years offered a bursary (£250 this year) towards the cost for a suitable concertina player. To qualify, they would need to be an appropriate age and to play concertina to a reasonable standard (above beginner). They would need an interest in folk music but do not need previous folk experience. The 2024 Summer School will mainly involve working in mixed instrument groups, but the course will be tailored to the young musicians so there will be opportunity for instrument specific focus during the week. Sam Partridge (one of this year’s tutors) is a concertina player and will be able to support with this. They will be expected to write a short piece about the experience for Concertina World, the ICA magazine. We could offer help with drafting this if needed. We would also like a photograph taken during the summer school. Folkworks should be able to arrange this. If you are interested or would like to know more, contact Roger Gawley at bursary@concertina.org More on the summer school at https://theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/folkworks-summer-school-application-2024/ Applications close on May 10

Folkworks summer school returns to Durham! After a gap because of covid and a reduced Youth Summer School in deepest Northumberland last year, this year's summer school will be held in Durham School in Durham City. It will be a wonderful experience for any folk-minded player between the ages of 14 and 17. The summer school is rather expensive at £500 inclusive this year. The ICA has for a number of years offered a bursary (£250 this year) towards the cost for a suitable concertina player. To qualify, they would need to be an appropriate age and to play concertina to a reasonable standard (above beginner). They would need an interest in folk music but do not need previous folk experience. The 2024 Summer School will mainly involve working in mixed instrument groups, but the course will be tailored to the young musicians so there will be opportunity for instrument specific focus during the week. Sam Partridge (one of this year’s tutors) is a concertina player and will be able to support with this. They will be expected to write a short piece about the experience for Concertina World, the ICA magazine. We could offer help with drafting this if needed. We would also like a photograph taken during the summer school. Folkworks should be able to arrange this. If you are interested or would like to know more, contact Roger Gawley at bursary@concertina.org More on the summer school at https://theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/folkworks-summer-school-application-2024/ Applications close on May 10

The Folkworks Youth Summer School is coming back to Durham! Youth means ages 14 to 17. No sign of the adult summer school yet but we have hopes. This event will be held in Durham School in Durham City from August 19 to 23 and will be a wonderful experience for any folk-minded player. The International Concertina Association is offering a bursary of £250 towards the fully residential price of £500 this year. To qualify for this you need to be the right age and play concertina to a reasonable standard (above beginner). An interest in folk music is needed but not necessarily previous experience. The 2024 Summer School will mainly involve working in mixed instrument groups, but the course will be tailored to the young musicians so there will be opportunity for instrument specific focus during the week. Sam Partridge (one of this year’s tutors) is a concertina player and will be able to support with this. They will be expected to write a short piece about the experience for Concertina World, the ICA magazine. We could offer help with drafting this if needed. We would also like a photograph taken during the summer school. Folkworks should be able to arrange this. If you are interested or would like to know more, contact Roger Gawley at bursary@concertina.org

Colin Whyles gave a pointer to the tangible benefits of ICA membership above. He did not mention the warm, fuzzy feeling that you get from belonging to the global band of concertina enthusiasts.

It is a class for English concertina. If an Anglo concertina player who understands the difference wanted to come, they would be welcome but would not get much detailed fingering guidance.

Are you a young concertina player between 14 and 20 years old? Do you know one? Would you/they like to spend a week from July 24 to 29th in the surroundings of Durham School in the historic city of Durham? The Folkworks Durham Youth Summer School has a concertina class for the first time in thirteen years. Even better, the tutor is Alex Wade. If you do not know Alex, you can see her at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2weghwmeXY as well as the video of her performance with Alistair Anderson and Star and Shadow Rapper at last year's ICA AGM on the International Concertina Association group on facebook. Details and booking information are at http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/folkworks-youth-summer-school-2017/ Anything you would like to know about Durham or the Summer School, just ask.

I wish you the best of luck with your new venture. It should be good. There were some interesting articles in PICA and I have enjoyed Dan's books. Best wishes, Roger [ what are you going to call it? ]

Roger, I think that you misrepresent the ICA position. There have certainly been some problems, many of them my fault, but moving forward the International Concertina Association would be happy to host "son of PICA" on its website. Will send you an address to reach the committee. Best wishes, Roger (until recently secretary to the ICA)

There was an interesting slip up in the way the prices came out in Concertina World. It may have been my fault.

Whoops! Forgot to say that the concert is in St Silas Church, Newcastle, NE6 1PG just up the hill from Ouseburn Farm and just behind KFC. If the meeting finishes early, it is quiet likely that we will spend some time in the Cumberland Arms on our way from farm to church. It is about half way and has some attraction.

Our annual general meeting will be held on April 16th at the Ouseburn Farm, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PA. Meeting starts at 2pm. All members are entitled to attend without notice but please let us know you are coming so we can set enough chairs. Starting 10:30, Alistair Anderson, international star of the concertina and President of the ICA will give a workshop on Northumbrian tunes. This is free to members, £2.50 to non-members (whatever you may have read in Concertina World). From 7:30pm, Alistair will lead a concert featuring Star and Shadow ladies rapper team with Alex Wade. Price now reduced to £5 for members, £4 for non-members. Tickets on the door but please tell us that you are coming. See ICA website or International Concertina Association facebook group for more but please email secretary (at) concertina.org to say that you will be there. It is going to be good.

Looks great because it is great. Thanks for posting this. More details on ICA website and on International Concertina Association facebook group. See you there, Roger

You get the newsletter, Concertina World. That should be a benefit. And a sense of belonging. Funny-looking concertina you are playing in your picture.

You need to buy Dave's Maintenance Manual for the illustrations. I suppose that ICA could put them on the website but we would need permission first.

If you are going to Swaledale, you must have booked by now, so see you there. If you go to Witney, I will see you there. The general descriptions of both events are pretty accurate. You will find all kinds of concertina and all standards of playing at both places.

It has all been said. The Horniman is worth visiting but you will not see three hundred concertinas there. It is the only museum I know with the word FREE bulit in as part of the brickwork.

The Swaledale Squeeze is the weekend May 16 to 18 Concertinas at Witney should be September 26 to 28 (need to check that) All systems will be represented at both of these.

To the best of my limited knowledge Michael Hebbert doesn't sing either (I stand to be corrected on that one) , although there is, of course, a recording of him playing solo and accompanying Andrew Frank's singing available through Free Reed Records. That's IreneS above; I seem to have messed up the quote thing. He does! (well you did ask, Roger)

Thanks Marcus. The concrete benefits of ICA membership are the newsletter and access to the library. The intangible benefit is a sense of belonging. You can belong to the global community of concertina players without joing the ICA but it helps! Happy New Year to all our readers, Roger, Secretary to International Concertina Association

It is a bad start to the year. I cannot claim to have known Ralph well but all my recollections are positive. We will miss him.

Dan Worrall has pretty much said it all: thanks Dan. The International Concertina Association is very much still in business and sending out Concertina World three times a year and PICA once a year to its members. The idea was to make PICA available on the website about a year behind paper publication. We have fallen behind on this for a combination of technical and personal reasons but we will catch up. It is true to say that the ICA have something of a bias towards the Engish concertina at present although we have many members playing Anglo and duet concertinas. If you would like to alter the balance, join us and publicise your favourite instrument! Submission dates and details can be found at http://www.concertina.org/concertina-world-magazine/ The dates are the same each year. Roger Gawley, Secretary, International Concertina Association

This is a response from a current member of the ICA committee (the secretary in fact). Not sure that it counts as a reply. The simple answer is that I don't know. Thanks to John Wild, we are now aware and will find out. And thanks to Pete for his prompt and proper response. Roger Gawley ps I have a copy of Concertina Two. It says it is copyright 1983 to Frank Butler so probably not available to reproduce unless we have clearance.

Now, there's an idea. Reality is more boring: NECP were ranting about the evils of Goodall and I said that the man was not all bad (he also wrote the Red Dwarf theme which makes him a hero in my son's book). And South Shields think highly of him. Many thanks to spindizzy for locating this image.

Some time ago there was a photograph of Howard Goodall holding an English concertina. He was part of a group at a Folkworks Durham Summer School. Anyone else remember this photograph? Anyone have any idea where to find it now?

You should not be astounded: it is very well written. It would make a good model of how to do documentation even for people with no interest in ABC.