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Hi squeezers - anybody in the west country over the next couple of days? I have two solo gigs at cracking venues over the next two nights- very different vibes but please c'mon down if you want to hear blues/folk/jazz on a 90 yr-old duet concertina and a 67 yr-old voice. Tonight, Thursday, April 16 I'm at The legendary Blues Bar , in Plymouth's historic/pretty Elizebthan Barbican quarter, from about 9pm. (It's next to the Old Custom House on the cobbled quay). I'll be emphasising the blues. jazz vibe with stuff from Fats Waller, Louise Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers, The Louvin Brothers, Hoagy Carmichael, Bessie Smith & Ma Rainey etc..and my favourite, Randy Newman// but I'll throw in a few more folksy songs and tunes as well. FRIDAY, April 17, follow me about 15 miles inland, up the River Tamar, to the umbelievably quaint riverside village of Calstock( which is just inside the Cornish border) where I'll be performing at the converted Chapel Arts Centre - rapdily becoming on of the gems on the west country acoustic music scene.Sensational views behind the stage of the River Tamar and Brunel's famous railway viaduct...some people still come to the gig by train from Plymouth ! You can just about catch the last train back to the city.. and the trip is unique. I'll be doing a more folky set here, including Cornish mining stuff, some of my own songs, talking about the history/systems of concertina and getting people generally to have a jolly good Friday evening sing-song.Wolf - if you are reading this ( Old Blue Sailor) this is the same little riverside village where you heard my jazz trio in the pub. The Chapel Arts Centre is on the hill as you come on up out of the valley. Wish you could be here !

I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I am a Yankee using the English Concertina in country music and blues. Lately, I have been using an English Concertina to play parts the fiddle would normally play. http://curbsidejimmy.com/radio/Isle%20of%20Hope.mp3 I have a lot of work to do in this instrument. I plan on using it with music I know first. Why the English System? I have owned one for years.