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Highlights |
Amazing Veikko Ahvenainen Career of Over 1,000 Recordings - Finland4th Syros Accordion Festival, Syros Island - GreeceTrio AkordioM American Debut in New York - USAJoanna Arnold Darrow Performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra - USA
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Gary Daverne Book 'From the Podium' Now Released - New ZealandVideo: Daniele Donadelli Performing in Soragna - ItalyAccord Orchestra Potsdam Tour – MaltaUnpublished Videos: Frank Marocco Conducting Two Original Works for Accordion Orchestra - ItalyJim Halcrow (1934-2015), Shetland - UKVideo: Miloš Milivojević Records With Craig Ogden on latest CD - UKVideo: De Rose, De Viole e Gerzomino, Marche Region - ItalyVideo: Alicia Baker at the 2015 NAMM Show - USA
Future events |
Duo Folksongs Concert, Palermo - ItalyPascal Contet Concerts – France, AustriaStanislav Angelov Concerts, Stellenbosch, Cape Town – South AfricaPaul Chamberlain Concert, Scotland - UKErika Plays for Dancing, Onhaye, Pondrome – BelgiumMarko Kassl July Diary Dates - GermanyVideo: Concertino Accordion Band at ‘Les Nuits du Mont Rome’ – ItalyBellowhead Call Time, Final Tour - UK
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: New Version of Just Because Polka - USA
CD Reviews |
CD Review: L'armonica a mantice di Giuseppe GreggiatiHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
by Kimmo Mattila
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| Video above: International Medley - from the Veikko Ahvenainen 85th Jubilee Concert DVD recorded in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, 20th September 2014. International Medley Veikko Ahvenainen (born 1929) made his first recording 60 years ago in 1955. In June, his latest CD was released in Helsinki and with that release, the total number of his recordings was an incredible 1,014 pieces. This CD makes Veikko Ahvenainen the most recorded artist in Finland ever. His latest ”Täysikuu” (The Full Moon) CD includes famous Finnish evergreens composed by Toivo Kärki. Veikko was only 9 years old, when he began his career as an accordionist. He has been professionally active in all sectors of accordion music for almost almost 70 years. Veikko has also composed and arranged more than 1000 pieces for the accordion. He still regularly plays concerts with his wife Carina Nordlund and runs a marathon each year! A simply amazing career by an amazing musician. Picture below: The President of Finland presents the prestigious Pro Finlandia medal to Veikko Ahvenainen. The Pro Finlandia medal is the highest award for a Finnish artist and this was the first time the medal was awarded to an accordionist. |
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by Rob Howard
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 The annual Syros Accordion Festival takes place from July 13th to 18th on the Greek island of Syros, and this year includes 5 concerts at different island venues, 4 accordion seminars (all at the Saint Paul Mansion), an Open stage Exhibition and Workshop, and Children’s Day.Each day of the festival, at the Villa Tsiropina, there will be an: Exhibition of Musical Instruments and Art Exhibition by the artists of Open Art Studios Repair and maintenance workshop, 10am – 2pm and 6pm – 8pm This year’s festival artists are the Duo Goliardi (picture left) of Konstantinos Raptis (accordion) and Dimitris Kountouras (recorder), SaZmaN Orkestar, Stamatis Pasopoulos, Thanos Stavridis, George Tsiatsoulis, and Elpida Rigoutsou. There is also an evening concert of students from music schools of Greece and two open stage evenings where every musician is welcome to participate. Konstantinos Raptis has studied at the State Academy of Music in Hannover, Germany, with Professor Elsbeth Moser. He has performed in many European countries as a soloist as well as with chamber music ensembles and also performed with orchestras. Since 2005 he has been teaching accordion classes at the Department of Music Science and Art, at the University of Macedonia in Greece. The annual Syros Accordion Festival is organised by the Syros Accordion Group, a combination of professional and amateur musicians, united by their love for the accordion. For further information email: accordeon.syros@gmail.com |
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by Kevin Friedrich
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| New Yorkers were offered a rare musical experience when the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia presented the acclaimed Macedonian accordion Trio AkordioM in a free concert at their Gallery MC in the heart of New York City. Each a virtuoso in their own right, the dynamic and skillful ensemble on their American debut in New York, comprises Zorica Karakutovska, Bojan Volchevski and Filip Stamevski, all from Skopje, Macedonia. The trio began performing together a few years ago, but each has previously been part of various other performing ensembles. Trio AkordioM members Bojan Volchevski and Filip Stamevski are both Karakutovska’s former students and now perform together as musical colleagues. Their concert appearances are considerable, with performances in Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Portugal, Luxembourg, Italy, and now the USA. In addition to heading the accordion program on the Faculty of Music in Skopje, leader of the group, Professor Zorica Karakutovska, is also the President of Ljubiteli na Klasicnata Muzika in Skopje, the Association of Accordionists - Macedonia, a Premiere Voting member of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). Trio AkordioM performed a variety of repertoire including transcriptions of works from other instruments, trio arrangements of accordion works as well as original music written specifically written for the group. The concert included three works by resident composer Bete Ilin, a Professor at the State Music and Ballet School Center “Ilija Nikolovski - Luj” in Skopje. With more than 50 works in her Opus, in addition to numerous accordion works for solo, chamber music (for multiple accordions and also accordion with other instruments) and an accordion concerto, Bete has written vocal works, ensembles pieces, as well as compositions for violin, clarinet, piano and bassoon. The trio presented three of Bete's works including her ‘Macedonian Paraphrase No. 1’, ‘No. 2’, and ‘No. 3’. These captivating compositions composed in a contemporary style, showcased the complex rhythmic structures of Macedonian folklore (5/8, 7/8, 9/8) while eluding to the inspiration from traditional Macedonian songs. In 2014, Bete Ilin was the most frequently performed Macedonian composer in Cultural Centres throughout the Republic of Macedonia. Bete was in attendance at the concert, along with her parents who traveled to New York to attend the concert. Trio AkordioM, performing completely by memory, engaged the audience in a captivating musical journey as they delivered their concert with technical prowess and engaging charisma. From the delicate transparency of Mozart to the magnificent orchestral grandeur of Elmer Bernstein's ‘Magnificent Seven’, from Piazzolla's intricate ‘Fuga Y Misterio’, to the entertaining arrangement of Strauss's ‘Radetzky March’, the trio awed the audience with their musicality and elegantly presented interpretations. Each performance drew extended applause, culminating in several standing ovations as they presented a series of encores including ‘Tango for Claude’, by Richard Galliano. The program was as follows: ‘Macedonian Paraphrase No.1’, by Bete Ilin, ‘Divertimento D Major’, (1st mov.) by Mozart, ‘Semenovna’, by E. Derbenko, ‘Fuga Y Misterio’ and ‘Libertango’, by Astor Piazzolla, ‘Macedonian Paraphrase No. 2’, by Bete Ilin, ‘The Magnificent Seven’, by Elmer Bernstein, ‘Spanish Dance’, by E. Derbenko, ‘Macedonian Paraphrase No. 3’, by Bete Ilin, ‘Radetzky March’ by J. Strauss. |
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by Harley Jones
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 On June 25, 2015, Joanna Arnold Darrow performed the important accordion parts with the Philadelphia Orchestra in "The Godfather" Live. This was a presentation of the film The Godfather with the Philadelphia Orchestra performing the sound track live. Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Godfather came to life on the big screen with Nino Rota’s iconic and haunting score. Ranked as one of the best movies of all time by the American Film Institute, The Godfather music with a live orchestra makes an amazing impact. Joanna Arnold Darrow has brought the accordion to the attention of local professional musicians and to members of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, for which she now serves as staff accordionist. On Saturday, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra performs with Andrea Bocelli and Juanes at the Festival of Families for Pope Francis and on Sunday at the Papal Mass in PA. In 2000, Joanna performed the Tango of David Argento with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam with the Kennett Square Symphony. Joanna Arnold Darrow has performed many concerts in the USA and Europe, is a tutor at Acme Accordion School and is a long time Board member of the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG). |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Harley Jones
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 Prominent New Zealand conductor, composer and arranger Gary Daverne has written a book titled "From the Podium (Musical Moments of Mystery, Madness, Mayhem and Magic) While Conducting Orchestras".Gary Daverne has strong links with accordion, with many compositions for accordion, CD's, as well as many performances with solo accordionists conducting symphony and accordion orchestras. Gary Daverne has been honored by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) for his "outstanding contributions to the accordion movement" and so, with this background, it is no surprise, that several chapters of the book relate to his many performances with accordionists in Europe, UK, North America, China, New Zealand, Australia and even Turkey. Gary Daverne has received many other honors for his music, including the New Zealand Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth. The book has many pictures of accordion related events. Its a fun read for anyone with a musical interest and especially interesting for those who conduct or play in orchestras. Books cost NZ$30 plus $12 for international post orders. Book purchase information at: Gary Daverne Sheet Music, CD's and eTracks mp3 albums at: Gary Daverne |
by Harley Jones
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| Daniele Donadelli performing a 'Mix of Gigi Stok', Published on Dec 7, 2014. |
by Rob Howard
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| The Accord Orchestra Potsdam (MD Guido Roß), from Germany, toured Malta recently. Their concerts were shared with the Santa Maria Accordion Band (MD Marthese Busuttil Cassar, L.B.C.A), and it was a great experience for the Maltese band to play with the visitors. The two bands’ members exchanged experiences and learned from each other the art of accordion playing, and the concerts were a great advert for this instrument. The bands performed certain numbers alone, and some together. The German orchestra had an under 14 years section band, and an over 14 years senior band, which performed separately, but when all bands played all together in one big orchestra there were around 75 members. This was possibly the greatest accordion event in Malta since the CIA Coupe Mondiale of 1965, which was organised by the late renowned accordionist Charles Camilleri. See Charles Camilleri Memorial. The pieces performed included: ‘Medallion Calls’ (from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’), ‘La Cumparsita’, ‘Somewhere My Love’ (from ‘Dr. Zhivago’), ‘Funiculi, Funicula’, ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ (Offenbach), ‘Prelude’ (Marc-Antoine Charpentier), ‘1492 Conquest of Paradise’, ‘Hallelujah’ (Leonard Cohen), ‘Il-Maltija’ (Popular Maltese 18th Century Court Dance), ‘Phantom of the Opera’ (Lloyd-Webber), ‘William Tell’ (Rossini, ‘Brick in The Wall’ (Pink Floyd), and ‘Danza Kudura’. |
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by Harley Jones
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2. Juntos composed by Amy Jo Sawyer
| Another two previously unpublished videos from the June 2011 Frank Marocco Accordion Orchestra Camp in Castelfidardo, Italy. Thank you very much to Joan and Dan Grauman for providing these two videos of Frank Marocco conducting the accordion orchestra. 1. Frank's Samba composed by Wolfgang Russ-Plötz conducted by Frank Marocco 2. Juntos composed by Amy Jo Sawyer conducted by Frank Marocco |
by Rob Howard
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 Jim Halcrow, from Scalloway, Shetland, began playing the accordion in 1951, when he bought a second hand Alvari 80 bass from Forbes of Dundee for £22. Self-taught and unable to read music, Jim Halcrow nonetheless developed into one of Scotland’s finest accordionists. Jim was soon playing in ‘The New Players’, Shetland’s top band of the 1950s and 60s, after which he formed his own band, which became resident at the newly opened Lerwick Hotel. He also began playing with a local jazz band. After working in the construction and fishing industries, Jim had a career move and trained between 1972 and 1974 at a college in Newark as a piano tuner. Jim became a leading exponent of Scandinavian accordion music, and visited Norway on several occasions, leading his Hamefarers Band on a most successful tour of West Norway in 1978. His guru over the past 40 years has been Norwegian virtuoso, Arnstein Johansen, who he first met in November 1991, when Arnstein was a guest at the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Club. Another hero Jim was to meet at the Club was Jack Emblow, but confesses to being so tongue-tied at the occasion that he didn’t make the best of it! Jim Halcrow did not often play outside Shetland, but some of his favourite memories included playing at the Mull Festival, where he met accordionist Bobby MacLeod, the trip to the Lorient Festival in Brittany with Alistair Hunter and the Lorne Band, the London Accordion Festival in 2001, and the Caister festival in 2006 where, with son David and accordionist Alan Nicolson, they met Art Van Damme, and also Jack Emblow. Some years ago with his band Jim appeared at the ‘Shetland Night’ concert at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival, where he went down a storm with the audience. A dedicated family man, married to Doreen, he was proud to hand over his daughter Hazel’s right hand in marriage to bandleader Craig McCallum in July of this year and looks forward to spending Christmas with them in their new home in Aberdeen. In 2012 he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, regarded by some as the Scottish ‘Oscars’ of the genre. His wife Doreen accompanied him at the ceremony in Fort William, which was televised live on BBC Alba. In recent times Jim played in his son David’s band, while his daughter Hazel is married to Scottish dance band leader Craig McCallum. Jim Halcrow passed away on June 18th. |
by Harley Jones
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  Miloš Milivojevic and favourite classical guitarist Craig Ogden are performing, 8th July, at Hoylake, Chapel Road, CH47 4AA. Poster left.This performance is part of the Wirral Festival of Firsts, International Community Arts Festival with a difference! Below is an excerpt from Britic, the British Serb Magazine: "Miloš Milivojevic, one of our most accomplished musicians in Britain, performs on the CD of best-selling classical artist Craig Ogden (guitar). Picture right of Miloš and Craig at the recording session last month. Classical accordionist Miloš has delighted audiences as a soloist with heart and as part of Balkan band Paprika, the London Tango Quintet. Craig Ogden is an Australian-born classical guitarist whose albums have topped the UK classical music charts." Last month, Miloš performed as a guest on Craig Ogden’s latest CD by Classic FM titled 'Craig Ogden and friends'. They recorded Libertango composed by Astor Piazzolla. The CD is due for release on the 22nd of June. |
by Harley Jones
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| Video: released 11 June 2015. Performers: Roberto Lucanero, diatonic, accordion, vocal; Oberdan Cesanelli, vocal, reciter; Marco Meo, vocal, tambourine, dancer; Sara Piatanesi, dancer. Songs, dances, stories and legends of the folk tradition of the Marche, between spring and summer. A storyteller, diatonic player, folk singer and a saltarello dancer create this event, that is somewhere between a concert and a theatrical reading, as the performers guide the audience into the magical world of popular Marche region tradition. The extensive catalog of songs, dances, poems and narrative is directly from the traditional culture of Marche or indirectly, from the works of some important masters of the past who have dedicated themselves to studying Marche tradition, most notably Giovanni Ginobili, Luigi Mannocchi and Antonio Gianandrea. |
by Harley Jones
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| Video: Alicia Baker, Roland Corp, performs 'After You Have Gone' at the 2015 NAMM Show, Los Angeles. |
Future events |
by Harley Jones
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 Video: Giorgio Vacchi, Fa la nana Duo Folksongs of Tiziana Portoghese and Francesco Palazzo live, 5 October 2014, Amici della Musica Monte Sant’Angelo (FG)Duo Folksongs, Francesco Palazzo (accordion) and Tiziana Portoghese (vocal) Friday 26th June at the Conservatorio di Palermo - Sala Scarlatti, 9.00 pm PROGRAM: A. Marena (Genova, 1960) Cultivo una rosa blanca (da Tre Liriche di Josè Martì) G. Rossini (1792 -1868) Canzonetta Spagnuola F. J. Obradors (1897–1945) El Vito V. Ullmann (1898 – 1944 ) Margheritchelach I. Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Histoire pour enfants: Tilim Bom - Gusi liebiedi - Scripi noga G. Vacchi (1932 – 2008) Fa la nana T. Dallis ( 16° sec.) The willow's song M. Chiotis (1920-1970) Ta Petalakia Trad. Irish The pretty girl milking her cow A. S. Spinelli (1964) Romanó bravalipé L- Morleo (1970) Malachianta (trad.Salento) Tarantella (da Suite calabra) Trad. Giapponese Sakura F. Palazzo T. Portoghese Arirang - Ederlezi (da: Tre canti popolari) L. Berio (1925/2003) Azerbaijan love song F. Palazzo (1969) A sunny day A. Piazzolla (1921-1992) Milonga de la Annunciation Accordion solo and quartet CD's at: Francesco Palazzo |
by Rob Howard
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 French accordionist Pascal Contet performs, as follows below. At the end of August he releases a new solo CD ‘Utopian Wind’.June 27th, 4pm – Festival des Forêts, Prieuré de St Pierre en Chastres (60), France July 3rd – with Joëlle Léandre (bass), Musée de St Briac sur mer (35) July 5th – Festival Montforter Zwischentöne , Arbogast, Austria July 12th, 6pm – soloist with the Orchestre de Picardie (conducted by Arie Van Beek), performing the concerto ‘Blaze’, composed by Benjamin Ellin, Festival des Forêts, Abbatiale de St Jean aux Bois (60), France July 18th, 7pm - ‘L’Etincelle de l’Ombre’, composed by Jean-Pierre Drouet, with Amélie Silittano – piano, Célia Hérard – harp, Raphaël Simon – percussion, Les concerts du Hameau Fleuri, Villers sur Mer (14) July 23rd, 8pm – solo concert, Festival Arsterra en Baie de Somme, Eglise de Nampont St Martin (80) July 25th, 7pm – ‘Schubert versus Cavanna’, with Marion Tassou – soprano, Fanny Robillard – violin, Louis Rodde – cello, Les concerts du Hameau Fleuri, Villers sur Mer (14) August 19th, 9pm – ‘Une histoire infinie’, (chamber music), with Eric Lacrouts – violin, Aurélien Pascal – cello, Festival Les rencontres de Calenzana, Chapelle de la Restitude à Calenzana (20) August 22nd, 9pm – ‘Au fil de Buenos Aires’, with Isa Lagarde – soprano, Catherine Jacquet – violin, Isabelle Veyrier – cello, Festival Les Nuits Romanes Musique et Cirque, Trizay (17) August 31st – release of new solo CD of his compositions, ‘Utopian Wind’; tracks – Mother, Dances and songs, Will, Play, Over the mountains, And will sing, For Bernard C, For Bruno M, With joy and light, Like a lonely song, In the Sky, Surrounded with stars, A deeply mother’s love! For further information email: pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Stanislav Angelov performs in a concert on Sunday June 28th, 5pm, at Spier Shed, Santa Road, off Annadale Road, Stellenbosch.On Thursday July 2nd, 7pm-10pm, the CT Tango Ensemble performs at The Crypt Jazz Restaurant, Cape Town. The line-up for this concert is Stanislav Angelov – accordion, Petrus de Beer – violin, Willie van Zyl – saxophones & clarinet, Dave Ledbetter – guitar, Charles Lazar – double bass, and Frank Paco – drums. For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Paul Chamberlain will be playing with Michael Haywood - fiddle, sax, clarinet & whistle - this Sunday June 28th in the Bandstand at Wilton Park, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders region. The concert is free and begins at 2pm. The music will include an eclectic mix of Balkan, Tango, Russian and Scottish traditional music (with a touch of Mozart and Brahms for good measure).In a fortnight they also will be recording their first CD together as Chamberlain & Haywood at Maybank Studios in Glasgow. They will also be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August where Paul will also give two solo recitals at the Royal Overseas League. For further information email: paul@theaccordionist.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The popular musician Erika, known as ‘The Princess of the Accordion’, plays for dancing this weekend. On Saturday June 27th, 4pm, Erika plays at Kermesse, Onhaye, and on Sunday June 28th, 3pm, at la salle Esperance, Pondrome, Belgium. |
by Rob Howard
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 Austrian accordionist Marko Kassl has the following forthcoming dates in the first week of July:July 1st, 8pm – ART Ensemble NRW, Klangraume, Berger Str.18b, D-40213 Düsseldorf July 3rd, 8pm – Tangosphere "Der Atem des Tango", Steipeler Kultursommer 2015, Dorfkirche Bochum-Stiepel, Brockhauser Straße 72, D-44797 Bochum July 4th, 8pm – ART Ensemble NRW, Klangraume, Berger Str.18b, D-40213 Düsseldorf July 5th, 5pm – Duo Mares, St Michael’s Church, Hochstraße 23, D-64367 Mühltal For further information email: info@marko-kassl.de |
by Rob Howard
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| Video: December 2nd, 2014. Concertino performing in concert in Istanbul, Turkey. The Concertino Accordion Band, from Moldova, perform on Saturday July 25th, 7.30pm, in the final concert at the festival ‘Les Nuits du Mont Rome’. Formed in 2003, the Concertino Accordion Band have competed successfully many times in competitions at festivals, winning many international prizes. |
by Harley Jones
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 Video: Official video of Alabama by Bellowhead.Bellowhead are an English contemporary folk band formed in 2004. The eleven-piece band plays traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide diversity of musical styles and influences. Albums: Revival, Broadside, Hedonism Live, Hedonism, Umbrellowhead, Matachin, Burlesque The lead singer is Jon Boden and John Spiers is the Concertina and Melodeon player. Some excerpts from the Bellowhead Newsletter: "After 11 amazing years we've decided to call it a day. It's been an incredible journey for us all and we've loved every minute of being Bellowhead but Jon has decided the time has come for him to stand down as lead singer and the rest of us don’t feel that we wish to continue without him. We have therefore decided that we should give Bellowhead the send off it deserves and go out with a bang. So we will be performing a two-part farewell tour (in November 2015 and April 2016) finishing as we started all those years back, with an intimate gig at Oxford Town Hall (on May Day 2016) - the very first venue we ever played as a band. We are all looking forward to the remaining gigs and intend to make them our best shows yet so we hope you can come along for the party. Of course Bellowhead would have been nothing without the support of our amazing fans over the last decade. We are all incredibly grateful to you for coming with us on this journey and want to thank you all for being part of the Bellowhead story." |
New and Updated Sites |
by Gary Dahl
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 A new version of 'Just Because Polka' is now available. Catalog: DH0037The polka made famous my Frankie Yankovic...sold millions of recordings . This arrangement is very complete with added harmony for more impact. eSheet music can be purchased online on the secure server and emailed to you. No postage delays or postage costs. |
CD Reviews |
by Alessandro Mugnoz
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 CD Reviews Index for the Review of L'armonica a mantice di Giuseppe Greggiati, in English and Italian languages. Performer Corrado Rojac, reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz. |
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