" Tweed's sensibilities straddle classical and traditional modes with the agility of Margot Fonteyn and the fluency of someone bi-lingual since birth. This is a music tethered to neither a time nor a location”. Siobhan Long of the Irish Times.

To arrange bookings and tuition please contact Lorraine Carpenter on:
+44 117 904 1870 / +44 7929 135744 or email: lorraine@differentstrings.co.uk

I'm also on - www.myspace.com/karentweed - where you will find more information and tune clips, and you will find some video clips on - www.youtube.com

Unfortunately the concert on Sunday 7th March Karen Tweed and friends at Belfry Arts Centre, Overstrand, has had to be cancelled due to family health problems.

STOP PRESS! FOR SALE IN A GOOD CAUSE - Click Here

A bit of a natter....

Hello and hope you are having a lazy weekend!

I've been over to Limerick teaching some brilliant MA students my slightly wonky ideas about arranging ensembles and also had a wonderful time at Witney last weekend, surrounded by wall to wall accordions (eek)who came on my first teaching foray into tango and arranging some Astor Piazzola. It was great fun and the Saturday night concert was hilarious; some lovely music from David Oliver, Sam Pirt and Dave Townsend - long may those weekends continue.
For details about all their courses, email: info@handsonmusic.org.uk

I've also been putting finishing touches to 2 Absolute Beginners Piano Accordion Tutorials and in between starting to perform solo; this is proving to be quite inspiring and last Friday's concert at Olive's in Norwich was particularly enjoyable as I heard The Dim Goddess for the first time - delightfully magical songs on the harp - really entrancing.

Meanwhile I'm spending this weekend with my dear friend Muff and we have been planning the next Circa Compania material - very exciting indeed. And. . . . not only am I now a WI member but am joining a knitting circle and a book club. I may never venture out of Norfolk again!!!

Seriously, though, it's fantastic to be here by the sea and there's some great plans afoot - a lot of teaching and courses are coming up as you'll see below; new accordion collaborations with Becky Price and Hannah James; also with Paul Hutchinson and a very exciting project with Sarah Allen.
Hope to see you soon either at a concert, at a dance or discussing knitting needle preferences!

Here's some dates for concerts and workshops for the next few weeks. See the Gig List for more. Have a great time!

MARCH

Wed 3rd : Karen Tweed guesting at the Grada concert, The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RQ. Tel: 01603 626402 All seats £12.50
GRADA
With their infectious modern take on Irish music, their lively performances and several critically acclaimed albums to date, it's no wonder Grada have enjoyed a rapid rise to success. Deeply rooted in the Irish tradition, but with a contemporary edge, their sound is unique and unrivalled. Singer Nicola Joyce's powerful vocals and engaging stage presence mark her out as one Irish music's true emerging stars. Alongside her is an instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity - guitar, double-bass, flute bodhran, cahon and fiddle - who combine exceptional musicianship with exuberant energy. Their fourth album, produced by Tim O'Brien, is due for release in February 2010, continuing to establish Grada as one of the foremost bands in Irish music today.

"Enough steam in its heels to leave most of its peers at the starting blocks" - The Irish Times

And for those of you who are more into dancing, there's a regular dance club, the first Wed of the month:
Wed 3rd March: Pied A Terre – dancing to BOF! At Kier Hardy Hall, St Gregory’s Alley Norwich 9-11pm

Fri 5th : Karen Tweed solo concert
Hibernia Centre, St Andrews Church Hall & Avonmouth Community Centre, Avonmouth Road, Avonmouth Village BS11 9EN
Tel : 01275 847909 email: jillyelliot@gmail.com
www.hiberniacentrebristol.org

Sat 6th : Karen Tweed Accordion workshop - 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.
Hibernia Centre, St Andrews Church Hall & Avonmouth Community Centre, Avonmouth Road, Avonmouth Village BS11 9EN
The workshop is for any instrument, with an emphasis on arranging folk music from the UK and Scandinavia. This workshop is not for beginners. Bring a recording device and notepaper. The music will be taught both by ear and notation. A copy of the melodies on sheet music or CD will be available on request prior to the workshop.
Tel: 01275 847909 email: jillyelliot@gmail.com
www.hiberniacentrebristol.org

Sun 7th : Karen Tweed and friends concert 4.30pm at Belfry Arts Centre, Overstrand featuring 'Hell Said The Duchess' (Karen Tweed, Becky Price, Hannah James)
Hell said the Duchess: This all-female accordion trio formed in 2009 for a one-off gig & enjoyed it so much, they decided to do some more, not least for the chance to wear lovely frocks & prove that the accordion can be a highly expressive instrument, capable of great beauty & subtlety, and not just a large noisy box designed to drown out bagpipes. (Although that can be useful sometimes.)
They present an elegant, eccentric & effervescent concoction of traditional & original music, bringing together their various influences for a Grand Girls’ Night In, featuring dance music & airs from Ireland, France, Scandanavia & 18thC England, plus songs and dances from the Northern English repertoire performed by clog-stepping virtuoso Hannah.
Tickets: Family (2 adults and 2 kids): £10 / £5
Tel: 01263 576437

Some of you accordion lovers may know about the music of Karen Street; - Click here for her tour dates

Fri 19th – Sun 21st : Karen Tweed teaching at Halsway Manor with Paul Hutchinson
Tel: 01984 618274 www.halswaymanor.org.uk

Finally, here are some dates for any dancers from Kerry Fletcher and also some concert dates from my favourite club in Bristol:
Feb 19th – 21st in Youlgreave, Derbyshire… JigJaw have been invited to teach and perform at a wonderful weekend of singing for dancing and dancing for singing with JigJaw, Pat Lindop, Jessica Abrahams, Yannick Minvielle-Debat, Carol Turner & Quercus
Further info from patlindop@hotmail.com 0151 348 4018 / 07967 502354
Saturday 20th March
The Frittenden Festival will be full of fun and frolics!
At the Bell & Jorrocks Pub and Memorial Hall Frittenden, Nr Cranbrook, Kent
http://frittendenfestival.com/

Jazz at Future Inns:
Sat 6th March Dierdre Cartwright’s “Picnic” Jazz £12/£10
Wed 10th March Edwina Hayes Acoustic £10/£8
Fri 12th March An Evening with Kit Morgan Blues £12/£10
Sun 14th March The Christian Brewer Quartet Jazz £12/£10
Tues 16th March Dana & Sue Robinson (USA) Acoustic £10/£8
Sun 21th March LUND Jazz £10/£8
Fri 26th March The Chophouse All-Stars (TBC) Blues £8/£6
Sun 28th March Geoff Gascoyne’s “Pop-Bop” Jazz £12/£10
Ian Storror
Jazz Club Manager/Promoter
Phone: 07766 741 417
e-mail:storror.albertjazz@talk21.com

Jazz at Future Inns
Future Inns Bristol, Cabot Circus Hotel
Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3EN
www.futureinns.co.uk/bristol-travel.htm

And also, a new collaboration that had to happen after Folkworks Summer School last year. . .
Sun 25th April: Karen Tweed and friends concert featuring Kevin Dempsey at 4.30pm at Belfry Arts Centre, Overstrand
Tickets: Family (2 adults and 2 kids): £10 / £5
Tel: 01263 576437


I'm also delighted to announce that this CD with Timo Alakotila
'MAY MONDAY' from 2001 is now available again. If you'd like a copy, please send your address and £12 (includes p&p) made payable to K.Tweed to:
Karen Tweed
c/o Carol Tinkle
44 High Street
Overstrand
Norfolk
NR27 0AB
UK

It's an exciting spring ahead - with the re-release of 'Shhh' (myself and Ian Carr); 'Bootleg Panini' (myself and Adrian Burns from 1985!) and I'm guesting on the new releases of both Brooks Williams and Gordon Giltrap.

I’m still playing nursing homes in various areas of the country and enjoying this immensely; teaching privately (email me : caroltinkle@yahoo.co.uk in case I’m coming near you) and not doing much concert work before May as I’m putting time into developing sides of my music that I’ve been wanting to explore for some time. I’ll keep you posted!

Very best wishes

xK