Long live concertina.net!

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

If you are like me. And have few opportunities to share intellectual persuits wthi other likeminded people (or maybe you been a 'closet performer')..or: never played in front of others...then I have to say that this C.net is a great place to share the joy of playing these unique free reed instruments.

Generally, most people know less about concertinas than we do, and have little knowledge of the potential and versatility of concertina family.

For myself, as I said earlier here, there's little interest in my own creative efforts generally,where I reside.. ( a cultural desert!)..When I found the site, ( a while back now).. I was happily surprised at what a large population of other people also plays the instruments...

So I just say thanks for C.net and all who partake in the free reed world, for now and into the future.

( A toast follows.  With the clinking glasses and a hearty cheer!)🌝😊

 

Edited July 27 by SIMON GABRIELOW

[David Lay]

Remember to support the site with a monetary contribution if you have not.  I am behind in doing so, myself.

[Matthew Erasmus]

I only joined a few days ago and was also really surprised by how many people are here, but even more pleasantly surprised by how open and helpful everyone is. It’s great to see so many people sharing the same passion for Concertinas! 

[Roger Hare]

On 7/28/2025 at 12:10 AM, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

 ...there's little interest in my own creative efforts generally,where I reside.. ( a cultural desert!)... (my emphasis)

 

I don't normally read Mr. Gabrielow's posts, but I read this one because I was mildly interested by the title.

 

It's all very well saying nice things about concertina.net, but when you do, perhaps you should consider carefully whether making sweeping generalisations like the one above is a good idea?

 

The city of York is not 'a cultural desert'! York hosts (for example) the National Centre For Early Music which has an astonishingly wide-ranging and diverse programme of musical activities/events. York is also a member city of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

 

There are at least two theatres, an opera house, and many other venues which offer cultural activities and events of all kinds for both local residents and visitors. I won't labour the point.

 

If there is 'little interest' in your own 'creative efforts', that is no reason to take an ill-informed and irrelevant side-swipe at a whole city. That is an extraordinarily offensive remark to make about a whole city.

 

I have thought long and hard before making this post, and I'm sorry to be doing so, but this made me very cross (I remain so!), and I feel I couldn't let this pass without commenting.

Edited July 29 by Roger Hare

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Just to say as someone born in the City of York I speak from experience, and in fact I know a lot of other York born individuals who think the same!  [they just don't say so!] York was once a really inclusive City, where there were several cultural events regularly took place throughout the year; York Mystery Plays [ spectacular theatrical  centre piece the St. Mary's Abbey ruin, of which I took part , with my  late mother [ who was the greatest ambassador for the city, at that time ]- there was a Medieval themed spectacular  - inside York Minster,. of which I took part - dressed up as  'MONK' - just 2 examples].. from my early childhood I was taken about by my mother [who loved the city] evrywhere to love the place [as it was then] festooned  in its riches of history.  The York Waits [ medieval musicians in costume] once performed inside Tempest Anderson Hall [ I went to see them].

In those days - It was all about Roman York  [ Eboracum] then later on  - Viking theme came along later on [when Coppergate was dscovered].

 

From a very eary ageI I  was taken round local churches, inside to sketch the details when it was quieter]- I took part in historic properties around the minster for many years; [ National Trust] - we actually used to get invited at that time to show work by the manager of Treaurers house [ behnd the minster]. 

 

 I have seen the city gradually become less inclusive ever over the years since.  This is a fact, and like many historic places, here, and elsewhere, [and abroad for that matter ] York also has become less accessible to residents as once publicly accessible properties are sold off as 'penthouse' flats for the wealthy, of which the locals could never afford to buy. Every corner had increased in its volume [ not only of visitors] but also amplified noise! And -  increased 'Council tax!

 

I actually know of the lady who runs the Early music festival, and often [I often raise the venue as being one of the few remaining cultural places left, from the old days, my mother knew her also  [I refer to D. Tomlin [ They have one of my pieces of music somewhere stored away there] .  We should have more of the cultural stuff happening, however the City is now increasinlgy becoming a noisy, and overly exploited place, where the few make the money and all the rest of us have to cope with it all. Few will say this [but many think the same].

 

So as you can see, I make no negative remarks for the sake of it -I make no apology for my general remarks therefore, I think I speak also for many other York born people who feel exactly the same; as I do [ but they will not say so I can  tell you] .

 

As for UNESCO? I think all the authorities will want it for is to further exploit the city for more commercial gain. [at expense of we local Yorkies [ not just myself actually] who have to wade through the masses just to do our daily duties!].

 

Admin - sorry - Nothing to do with concertinas [ apology] but I feel I must respond, as a York born individual, and explain the reason for what was intended to be only a general remark, on a forum, it does not come from sour grapes - but from the actual experience of living near the place all of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 29 by SIMON GABRIELOW

[Bill N]

I won't comment on the many social and urban planning issues mentioned above, but as a recent visiting Canadian concertinist, York was a highlight of my trip.  Lots of wonderful museums and architecture, and for a Colonial boy, an almost incomprehensible depth of history, which is interpreted very well.  And as a player I enjoyed the Black Swan Folk Club (I was staying in the pub, and was asked to open for the feature act!) and was directed to a very welcoming trad session.  As a travelling musician with an interest in traditional music I would recommend it.

Edited July 29 by Bill N

[Pianist]

We moved to the York area six years ago. My wife grew up in York and we've visited regularly over the years. We stayed just off Bootham for six months till we found a place to buy. Yes, it's more trafficy and touristy. It's alot more gentrified than when my wife grew up there and went to Queen Annes. That's why we moved out to Easingwold.

 

Tthere is, however, lots of music. We went to the York U3A folk group and found that the guy who ran it then played a duet. We also went over to Ripon and there are two other concertina players there - one Anglo and the other English (like me).

 

There's also a flourishing Scottish Country Dance scene and there was a Ceilidh club up at Tang Hall.

Edited July 30 by Pianist

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Just to clarify my post here a few days back - my argument is with the larger scale general ethos of the City as it has become - not actuallly the individual organisations [ such as small folk clubs] or for that matter individual craftsmen, people, or creative indivdual small venues.  [ many of them I knew of by association] many now long departed to the great art world in the heavens above! These have always flourished well before the 'mass tourism' took off [in the 1980's]. I often saw the master of stained glass [ P. Gibson] about York [ he helped save the Rose window after the 1984 fire devastated the south Transept].. actually my late mother rememebred him gonig to the local art school when he was a private student!

I always said [ in all the arts] the skills are still there - but in this city  [as a  York born citizen of it] I have see it become progressively [ and agressively more concerned with  purely money at the expense of many of the locals].  And there are [ I can tell you] many local folk finidng it very trying to get on with their daily routine as things have overly developed].

 

So as you hopefully will read, I am fond of the York I knew, and concerned about it now. indeed, my article [ intended to quite rightly praise C.net] initially, raises little concerns of the environment where we creative artists [ in all art forms] have to try and live togeher - and by showing concern it also must mean I do still care about the City, despite the developments or recent, to make a reference to it at all.  I could quite easily have been completely unbothered by how things are now - and that would be a sign of a total lack of interest altogether.  

Edited August 5 by SIMON GABRIELOW