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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=26-Nov-2021&lang=en&s=18288
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=26-Nov-2021&lang=en&s=18288
26-Nov-2021
Midland Accordion Festival, England – UKby Rob Howard |
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 Picture above: 2021 Festival entertainers.This year’s Midland Accordion Festival took place from November 12th to 14th, at a new venue – The Mercure West Hotel, West Bromwich, in the West Midlands. The organiser was local accordionist Barry Smith, aided and abetted by an efficient back room team who took care of the administrative side of things. On arriving at the Mercure Hotel it was great to meet up with lots of friends I had not seen since before the pandemic began last year. The festival opened in familiar style with the amazing Harry Hussey (picture right), now a sprightly 92 years old, taking requests and entertaining as only he can. Then Helen Rich performed an impressive set of mainly accordion classics including pieces by Pietro Frosini. The evening concert featured the varied talents of Jovan Rnjak, Nigel Pasby & Helen Newton, Anne-Marie Devine & Sean O’Neill (Northern Ireland), local duet Anne & Stewart Towe, the humorous and very talented David Vernon (Scotland), and festival stalwart Rosemary Wright. The all-important job of sound and lighting throughout the festival was quietly and efficiently handled by Edward Young of Eternion Productions. On Saturday and Sunday there were workshops: Elementary Orchestra – Jean Hanger, Scottish – Angie Lukins, Vintage – Jean Hanger, and Intermediate Orchestra – Nigel Pasby. These were all very well attended, and on Sunday afternoon all were featured in short concert that showcased the four workshops’ impressive progress to date. On Saturday afternoon there was a ‘Play Your Party Piece’ concert, which had lots of players taking turns to play short spots before a large audience. I played a selection from the John Wayne film ‘The Quiet Man’ followed by the ‘Sakkijarven Polka’. Others doing spots included Carlo Pesticcio, Julie Best & Jean Corrighan, John Jones, Susanna Brooking & Alan Shute, and Colette & Gennaro Fiondella, to name but a few. The evening concert featured Helen Rich, Angie & Andrew Lukins, David Vernon, Anne-Marie Devine & Sean O’Neill, Rosemary Wright, concluding with a late night spot from the irrepressible jazz accordionist Harry Hussey. There was a short service on Sunday morning for Remembrance Day, led by old soldier Stan Shakespeare and ex-RAF serviceman Harry Hussey, both wearing their medals. David Vernon in his kilt played ‘Flower of the Forest’ on the bagpipes, Stan read the address, and a 2 minute silence followed at 11am. It was a very moving occasion. (See picture below). An interesting workshop on Sunday afternoon was led by Steve Hughes and Tony Britton, from the North Staffs Accordion Club, explaining how the MuseScore programme works. The festival Trade Show included impressive displays of accordions by Squeeze Box UK and the Birmingham Accordion Centre, accordion books by Robaccord Publications (that was me!), Roy Hendrie and Limex Midi, and Reg Rawlings’ Theatre Organ Sampler. The Sunday evening concert was introduced by the Black Country Accordion Band (MD Barry Smith), who performed some rousing music for half an hour. The band was followed by Nigel Pasby & Helen Newton, Anne-Marie Devine & Sean O’Neill, Jovan Rnjak, David Vernon, Sue Bennett, and the festival concluded with all the guests led by Barry Smith playing ‘Now is the Hour’ to create a lasting final memory. Barry Smith wrote: “I would also like to thank everyone that donated prizes for our raffle and all the very generous donations that people gave towards our charity fund raising. This year our charity was The Birmingham Children’s Hospital and thanks to you all we raised £1170”. Barry Smith informed all present that he intends to run the festival again over the same weekend in November next year. |
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