Tom Hall

I realise that this is sort of last minute, but the 11th Annual Maritime Festival (http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/) is this coming weekend. Concertina players to include: Celeste Bernardo,Emery Hutchins, Paul Semprini, Jeff Warner, Chris Maden,Ken Sweeney, Ken Schatz, Liam Robinson, David Coffin, Peter Souza, Joanne Souza, and Bob Webb; me too - Tom

Not very clever of them to run the event the same weekend as Mystic - Tom

What are the words to this song? Thanks - Tom

Thanks, Paul - Tom

For the concertina lovers who missed the PMFF, here's a sample on YouTube: Andy Kenna is a most remarkable singer, tradition bearer, concertina master, and consummate performer. We were most fortunate to be able to introduce him to the USA. We were also fortunate to have a couple of top notch videographers working different venues. More to come - Tom

And for anyone still trying to make a decision or day choice, the schedule is up here: http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/schedule.html Hope to see some of you - Tom

A problem with so many great union songs is that they are set to hymn tunes, making them easier to learn. If you just play the tune, only the most die hard union person will get the connection. Some examples: Solidarity Forever - Battle Hymn of the Republic The Preacher and the Slave - The Sweet Bye and Bye Praise Boss - The Doxology Nearly all of the songs in the anthology, "The Big Red Songbook" are set to known tunes, if not hymns then popular tunes of the past, one notable exception being The Internationale; but it's not a simple tune. Go to mudcat.org, and in the DT (Digital Tradition) do a search for "union." You should get lots of songs, many with tune midis. The Press Room is at 77 Daniel Street in Portsmouth NH. Every Friday, for the past twenty six years, we've had a mixed (songs and tunes) trad session from 4:30 to 9:00 PM. On the third Sat of each month we have a shanty/forebitter/ ballad session from 3:30 to 7:30. PM or email me for more details or help with union songs. Fan the flames - Tom

The Tenth Annual Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival will be taking place in and around the city of Portsmouth New Hampshire on 26 and 27 September 2009, with an unofficial start at the Press Room on 25 Sept. from 4:30 to 9:00. We have eleven concertina players, mostly English (one is really from Liverpool) but also a MacCann Duet and a Dipper baritone. Open sings of Fri. night and Sat. afternoon. All events are FREE. More details at the website here: http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/index.html. It would be swell if some of you might download the poster from the site and print up a couple for your local club, music shop, library, wherever. Hope to see some fellow C-netters there - Tom

Will you be singing, or just playing?

Really swell site, Dick. Many thanks - Tom

If you're really serious about this quest, go to mudcat.org and do a search in the forum for "morris dancing." Then, next year, when you've finished reading those posts, go to the archives of English Dance and Song, and read up on it there. You'll probably need a few months to do this though, Happy questing - Tom

It is back; same seller, same pictures, much lower price

Hi Alden - You don't say where in NH you're from, but if you want to go beyond reading, you need to plan a visit to our weekly music sessions at the Press Room in Portsmouth. There's nearly always two concertina players, and if you are in luck you can get to see, hear, try, both English and Anglo, to include Wheatstone, Lachenal, Jeffries, Dipper, and Morse, trebles, tenor-treble, and baritone. I've PMd you my email and more details - Tom

Is there a purpose for this poll? Just asking - Tom

Recently a friend asked me to act as broker in the sale of his Wheatstone EC. Where one would usually find the number has nothing in it. I then removed the ends to look inside, but found no marks or writing save for a lettr "R" stamped on one reed pan, and two "Ls" handwritten on the other. Where do I go from here? Thanks - Tom

In the event of rain, a most likely event, the "Concertina Jam" and other events scheduled for the Warner House garden, will be moved to the Discovery Center (the old public library) at the corner of Islington and Maplewood - parking across the street. We only had six concertinas at last night's session, but lots more are due today - Tom

There will be at least fourteen concertina playes (and even more concertinas) at the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival in just two short weeks: http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/. and its all free - Tom

Jeff is still a regular at the Friday night sessions, and will be at this years Maritime Fest. If you go to the website: http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/ and go to the performers page, you can scroll down to Jeff and click on his website, get his schedule, bio, etc., and get links to some fine archived radio broadcasts. We miss you Ken - Tom

The schedule for this year's Matime Folk Festival is now available at the website, http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/ The concertina players now number fifteen, and we will be having a "Concertina Event" on saturday. Hope that some of you can make it - Tom

When in Miwaukee, make sure to visit The Concertina Bar. More details here: http://lifeinthegreatmidwest.blogspot.com/...a-bar-part.html

I've been watchinga concertina on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230266342143&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching) which is about to go off without a single bid. I know the opening bid is a bit high, but am I missing something? Thanks - Tom

This year's festival will be happening on 27 and 28 September in Portsmouth New Hampshire. While we've always had concertina players in the ranks of performers, this will be a banner year for our favorite instrument in that fourteen of the scheduled singers are also concertina players, amounting to what John Roberts once called "...an embarassment of concertinas." In addition to the usual run of Wheatstone, Lachenal and Jeffries ECs and Anglos, there will be some more uncommon boxes to include a Dipper baritone, a Dipper McCann duet, and a Crane duet, maybe a Morse or two as well. Late September is the nicest time of year in New Hampshire; foliage is starting, room rates are down, lobster is less dear. Portsmouth is only an hour north of Boston, and the festival is free! Check out the website at: http://www.newenglandfolknetwork.org/pmff/ Questions & queries to: pmff@comcast.net Hope to see some of you fine folks there - Tom

Here's my reply from eBay: Thank you for writing eBay's SafeHarbor Department about a listing or seller you would like us to investigate for fraudulent activity. We are concerned about this type of activity and want to assure you that we will review your report as soon as possible, usually within 72 hours. Of course, the item will have been "sold" before the 72 hours is up -- Tom

I know this is not the ideal place for this post, but under the current circumstances, I can't get to any others. If I am logged in, the blue bar at the bottom of the screen will not resolve: it gets most of the way to the end, but then goes back to try again. As a result, I can't scroll down to get to any other categories. This doesn't happen when I'm not logged in, but then I can't post. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks - Tom

I just sent eBay a link to this thread with a request for them to read it. Don't know if it will help, but worth the effort I hope - Tom