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The temperatures are low and falling here on the Texas Gulf Coast, with snow arriving this morning. So, it is time to start thinking about spring wildflowers, dogwoods, and the concertina workshops at the Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival! It takes place on March 27-29; here is the main festival site: https://oldpalmusic.com/. There is activity aplenty this year: Gary Coover, Honolulu's finest (and probably only!) concertina player, will be back. He has published a new book of English session tunes recently, and will hold a tune-playing slow session for these great tunes, for both English and Anglo concertinas. He will also teach a workshop on beginning to play in a harmonic style for Anglo. Steve Schulteis, from Iowa, published a new book this year of sacred music for concertina, and will hold two workshops on how to play these tunes in a harmonic style. Jarrett Branch and Dan Worrall just published a new book on the concertina music of William Kimber, one of the leaders of the English Morris dance revival from 125 years ago. They will hold a workshop on his particular way of approaching the Anglo concertina. Jarrett and Dan will also lead an Irish tunes slow session, like last year, for all instruments. We will be joined there by Maria Terres (fiddle) and Amy McFarland (piano). Many of you were there last year and saw their dazzling playing; the festival folks have asked them back this year as headliners. Luck for us, they are both budding concertina players in addition to being wizards on their main instruments, and will be hanging out with us off and on. On Thursday, we concertinas usually get together for initial socializing and an early dinner at the Pint and Barrel pub at 5pm, well before the evening concert at 7. After that evening concert, we may get together for a few tunes, or just blend into the numerous old time sessions. Ditto Friday and Saturday. Lots of fun to be had playing with folks! As always, there are festival concerts each lunchtime and evening, workshops galore on other old time instruments, shape note singing, old time sessions at all hours, and of course, Shep's BBQ. For the workshops, if you confirm your attendance via a PM on this forum site, we will send you pdfs in advance of the workshop music, along with a list of workshop times. Gary will of course also have copies of the above-mentioned new books plus others from the vault of Rollston Press for sale at a festival reduced price. Festival fees are listed on the main festival site (link above). There is no extra fee for the concertina workshops. We look forward to seeing you! Dan Worrall and Gary Coover

Swaledale Squeeze meets at Grinton Youth Hostel for the weekend of 15-17th May 2020 Friendly and great workshops for all systems (Duet, Anglo, English) - All levels of skills will find things to learn and participate in. Guest tutors are:- Aisling Lyons (Anglo) Andy Parr (English) Matt Quinn (Duet). Other regular tutors and trade stands. More information on www.swaledalesqueeze.org.uk

Come join the fun at Cascadia Irish Music Week, August 5-11, 2018, in Olympia, WA. We're thrilled to welcome 2017's TG4 Young Musician of the Year, concertina player Liam O'Brien, to the beautiful Pacific Northwest this summer. Hailing from Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Liam has taught at the Willie Clancy Summer School and travels extensively giving workshops and lessons. About his debut album The Lane, Maurice Lennon said, "His playing here is simply sublime. It is by no means simple, but Liam has been blessed with the rare gift of making it sound as though it is." Visit our website at www.cascadiairish.org to learn more. Hope to see you there!

Mill Fest is coming up and I hope you will attend this year in Kenard Texas, USA: http://www.oldmillmusicfestival.com/, November 3 and 4, 2017, the festival presents exceptional old time and traditional acoustic music. I will be presenting two concertina workshops for all systems and perform a concert at this amazing event. Lots of opportunities to join sessions and play the music on your preferred instruments. Concertina players welcome.

Padraig Rynne will be teaching this summer (June 30 - July 4) at Acadia Trad School in Bar Harbor Maine http://acadiatradschool.com/. Padraig is a 5-time All-Ireland Concertina Champion. If two people sign up together for concertina class and tell us that you heard about this offer at concertina.net, we'll give both people 1/2 off the price admission (regular price for the week is $480). Email info@acadiatradschool.com and tell us that you heard about it here to request the discount.