Michael Hebbert at Frittenden 24th February

[Gavin Atkin]

Jeffries duet concertina maestro Michael Hebbert appears at Frittenden, 24th February 2013

 

We're delighted to be able to welcome our friend Michael Hebbert as our featured visitor at the February session at Frittenden - we've been hoping to bring Michael here for quite a while. As some will know, it was MH's playing that first inspired me to take up the instrument.

 

Here's what Michael he has to say about himself:

 

Concertinas are uncommon enough instruments and Jeffries duets are the most uncommon type of concertina - but Gavin Atkin plays one of these oddities, and so does this evening's guest Michael Hebbert.

 

Michael was born in Glasgow, grew up in Blackburn, Lancashire, and began his performing career in Wallingford, Oxfordshire as a pub musician at a pub locally known as The Rampin' Cat, and as a dance band leader.

 

He went on to contribute to Ashley Hutchings's album Kicking Up the Sawdust (Harvest SHSP4073) and releases his own LP, The Rampin' Cat (Free Reed FRR 009).

 

On the folk circuit he has a long-standing double act with singer Andrew Frank and his concertina classes and workshops have featured at Kilve, Witney, Swaledale, Bradfield and the English Country Music Weekend.

 

With a huge repertoire of tunes from many traditions, Michael shows the tremendous versatility of the Jeffries Brothers's duet concertinas. A triumph of late Victorian craftsmanship measuring only 6in across, Jeffries squeezeboxes pack the essence of the music whether they're blazing away like a fairground organ, punching a tango rhythm, or unfurling the long melody of an Irish slow air fit to break your heart.

 

We couldn't put it better. This will be a smashing evening at Frittenden, so don't miss out!

 

For information about the Frittenden sessions and the other events we run locally, see http://singdanceandplay.net