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May 8, 2008:
News from Frank Dalton about a Micheal O Raghallaigh & Ivan Goff concert in the Philly area, June 7. Click here for more information.

April 7, 2008:
News from Dan Worrall:
"A new article on the history of our favorite instrument on ships in the days of sail (Concertinas at Sea: A History of a Nautical Icon) is available for free download at http://www.angloconcertina.org. The article presents scores of first hand accounts of concertinas in use by sailors on various types of vessels in the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as numerous photographs of those musical sailors and the ships on which they sailed. Also now available (for free), is the bulk of the 2005 book, The Anglo Concertina Music of William Kimber."

April 2, 2008:
News from Pauline (newsletter editor) from the ICA:
"Newsletter 439 from the International Concertina Association has just been released and contains a.o. interview with Martyn Allen, the Youtube teacher and Dave Elliott, author of the maintenance manual, a Technical Ramble, interesting websites on internet, the chat column, advice how to learn to play by ear, cd and book reviews etc. And again lots of music in the music supplement. For subscriptions mail: treasurer@concertina.org. Now also Paypal payments possible. Go to http://www.concertina.org."

February 16, 2008:
Mike Mullins wrote in with some news: "Please help me get the word out that Micheal O Raghallaigh will be in St.Louis performing and doing a workshop during the weekend of the St.Louis TIONOL [April 4-5-6]. All the details are at www.tionol.org. Any questions, people are welcome to contact me directly."

February 2, 2008:
The North America list of concertina schools (most are in the summer) has been updated for 2008. As in recent years there is a great choice out there, and the variety of styles and systems continues to grow. Squeeze away, and see you there! —Ken

January 5, 2008:
A note from builder Andrew Norman: "Just to let you know, that I am no longer in Nutley, I am now in Shropshire. For the momment the best way to contact me is via e-mail, as I am temporarily renting, until I can start on a new workshop. I have a house and workshop to rebuild, but as there has never been electricity, drains, nor even water to the house, it will take a few months to get organised on site! I am still making concertinas, including (during 2007) a 20 key miniature English, A 20 key double reeded anglo, a 40 key anglo (sent to Nashville) various 30,31,32,and 36 key anglos, and next on the list a 45 key Baritone English. I am also still restoring concertinas. I would be most grateful if you could make a brief mention of this on concertina.net., and please thank all my previous customers. Wishing you a Happy New Year. Andrew Norman. (west of Shrewsbury, Shropshire)"

December 20, 2007: News from Pauline from the ICA:
"Newsletter 438 from the International Concertina Association has just been released and contains a.o. interview with Mark Evans, Ramble 4, interesting websites on internet, the chat column, Witney report, cd and book reviews etc. And lots of music in the music supplement. For subscriptions mail: treasurer@concertina.org. Next time a..o. an interview with Martyn Allen, the "Youtube" teacher. "

November 20, 2007: Frank Edgley has a new instructional DVD for the anglo concertina that looks like it should be real winner!

November 20, 2007: More news from Bob Gaskins:
The Concertina Library has added two new articles, one on the early history of the Anglo concertina in Ireland, the other on performance issues of Victorian music on English concertinas. One article, Notes on the Beginnings of Concertina Playing in Ireland, 1834-1930, by Dan Worrall, is published for the first time. Worrall writes: “Although the Irish are known for their long folk memory, the story of how of concertina playing began there has been largely lost; it is often tagged to a threadbare tale of mariners bringing them up the Shannon estuary to Clare. This paper reconstructs its history by using period accounts from newspapers, books and family histories to document the social gatherings where it was played, and the vendors who sold it. The Anglo-German concertina was enormously popular all across Ireland during its heyday, amongst people of all social and economic groups. Its later concentration in Clare was not a result of how it arrived, but of local cultural and economic factors that aided its barest survival there while it was completely dropped—and all but forgotten—elsewhere in the country.” The other article, The Victorian Concertina: Some Issues Relating to Performance, by Allan W. Atlas, was originally published in Nineteenth-Century Music Review vol. 3/2 (2006). Atlas writes: “Present-day players of the English concertina must make a number of important decisions … Briefly, there are three basic decisions to be made. The first two concern the choice of instrument: (1) modern instrument or period (Victorian) instrument; and (2) if the latter, what kind of instrument in terms of reeds (type of metal), tuning, structure of the bellows and number of buttons. The third decision, on the other hand, has to do with a fundamental question of playing technique: should we use three or four fingers of each hand?”

Sept. 18, 2007:
A big thank-you to Jeff Thomas of Thomas Concertinas for becoming the latest sponsor/advertiser here on Concertina.net! There's always room for another high quality concertina in this world of ours, and so I'm very happy to see that Jeff appears to be dedicated to making very fine instruments in the vintage tradition and yet with an eye towards innovation. Welcome Jeff!

July 13, 2007:
News from Pauline de Snoo: "Newsletter 437 from the International Concertina Association has just been released and contains a.o. an interview with interviews of Jenny Cox, Steve Ellis, reports on Elsecar 2007 and Swaledael 2007, Ramble 3, interesting websites on internet, cd review etc. And lots of music in the Willy Taylor music supplement. For subscriptions mail: treasurer@concertina.org. More interviews, reviews etc in next issue. Amongst others interviews Alistair Anderson and Mark Evans.

May 21:
News from Allan Atlas: Please note that volume 3 of PICA (2006) is now available online. For those who did not see the hardcopy version (and it can be yours each year with a membership in the ICA), the contents include articles on the concertina in Clare (Gearóid O'hAllmhuráin), Giulio Regondi at Oxford (Susan Wollenberg), and Salvation Army bands (Les Branchett). In addition, there is a review of Anglo International by Roger Digby and another of Dan Worral's book by Jody Kruskal. And on top of all that: the customary "Historical Document" and "Picture Gallery," the whole done up with all the TLC in the world. Note that the hardcopy version of volume 4 should be ready in October (with articles on Dutch Daly, the feature articles being: Randy Merris, "Dutch Daly: Comedy and Concertinas on the Variety Stage"; Dan Worral, "David Edward Hughes: Concertinist and Inventor"; and Stephen Chambers, "Joseph Astley, Oldham concertina Band, and the MHJ Shield."

May 5, 2007:
News from Pauline de Snoo: "Newsletter 436 from the International Concertina Association has just been released and contains a.o. an interview with Allan Atlas, suggestions for playing anglo concertina, coming events around the world and review of Hawkwood Band weekend, lots of other info on cd's, playing and players. And 23 pages of music. More interviews with Jenny Cox, Steve Ellis, internet info, playing tips and events in next issue. For subscriptions mail: treasurer@concertina.org "

April 15, 2007:
A note from Bob Gaskins:
     Dan Worrall has written a new survey article, A Brief History of the Anglo Concertina in the United States, which is published on the web at the Concertina Library. In the United States the Anglo-German concertina was very popular during the middle and late 19th century, but by the early twentieth century it had all but vanished from American popular culture. After the revival dating from the 1960s the Anglo has once again had some popularity but without connection to any tradition of its earlier widespread use in America. This paper uses 19th-century tutors, newspaper mentions, family histories, and many archival photographs (some previously unpublished) to reconstruct missing history. Topics include the early use of German concertinas in the Eastern U.S., the use of Anglo concertinas by Mormon and other western pioneers, use during the War Between the States, use by African-Americans, use in nautical contexts, use by immigrant and other ethnic groups, and use by the Salvation Army. The Concertina Library has also added complete scans of four Anglo tutors which Worrall identifies as key: Instructions for the Salvation Army Concertina by Herbert H. Booth (1888), Howe's Eclectic School for the Concertina by Elias Howe, Jr.(1879), Howe's Western German Concertina School by Elias Howe, Jr.(1879), and Sedgwick's Improved and Complete Instructions for the German Concertina by Alfred B. Sedgwick (1893).

April 13, 2007:
News from Nancy Wells:
"I've got some more information about Brian Peters's workshop and concerts in Michigan at the end of April. Brian is doing a Friday night concert in East Lansing at the Ten Pound Fiddle on the 27th. The next day, still in Lansing, he's doing a five-hour intermediate workshop on playing Anglo concertina in English style (lots of chording in the left hand, in contrast to Irish and some other styles) as one of Elderly Instruments' Special Events Series , 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. That evening (still Saturday, April 28th) he will be going to Grand Rapids to play a concert for the Grand River Folk Arts Society. [...] I just think that especially the workshop is going to be a really rare oppotunity for people within a couple of hundred miles even of Lansing. "

April 9, 2007:
See the notice from Rachel Hall about a concertina workshop she's leading next month, she also reports that "I'm going to be performing at Old Songs this year. Last time I was there we had a concertina workshop -- there were about ten concertina players among the performers.  This year's concertina players include me, Rika Rubesaat, Danny Spooner, Michael Cooney, and Ian Robb.  More info at http://www.oldsongs.org/festival/index.html.  I don't know yet if they're planning a concertina workshop but will post the info if so. "

April 4, 2007:
News from Doug Barr:
"Irish Traditional Music Concerts at Glucksman Ireland House at New York University; 1 Washington Mews – entrance on Fifth Avenue just north of Washington Square For more information, call Ireland House at at (212) 998-3950 www.nyu.edu/pages/irelandhouse ALL SHOWS 9:00 P.M. - $15 ADMISSION free to Ireland House members and NYU students with ID. Friday, April 20th: Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin and Tim Collins. The concertina is closely associated with the musical tradition of County Clare, where Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, a professor of music and Irish studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, was born and raised. Tim Collins, a native of West Limerick who crossed the Shannon years ago to play with Clare’s famed Kilfenora Ceili Band is at NYU this semester as a Fulbright Culture Ireland visiting scholar. This is a rare chance to hear two acclaimed masters of the concertina in a duet performance."

April 2, 2007:
Allan Atlas sent in the following news:
"On Wednesday, April 18th, 5:30 - 6:30 P.M., Gearóid O hAllmhuráin and Tim Collins will join Allan Atlas in a very informal presentation about Anglo and English concertinas at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (corner of 34th Street and 5th Avenue, New York City). Admission is free. The presentation coincides with -- but is not officially a part of -- the large-scale Irish Studies conference that begins at The Graduate Center that same evening. Should you wish to attend the presentation, it's best to be in touch directly with Allan Atlas at aatlas@gc.cuny.edu"

March 31, 2007:
Noel Hill will be in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as part of the Winnipeg Irish Springfest May 5 & 6, 2007 at Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury at Grant. Featuring a concert, intensive one-day instructional workshop and more. See the forum posting for full details.

March 23, 2007:
A note from Bob Gaskins:
     The Concertina Library has added a major new article by noted music scholar and historian Allan Atlas dealing with all of the women who can be identified in the Wheatstone factory sales ledgers. The article, Ladies in the Wheatstone Ledgers: the Gendered Concertina in Victorian England, 1835–1870, was originally published in the Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle, vol. 39 (2006), where it occupied all 239 pages of the entire volume. Atlas writes: “… the English concertina played a unique role in Victorian England’s upper- and middle-class amateur music circles … the concertina was the one ‘domestic’ instrument on which husband and wife, father and daughter, and brother and sister could meet on musical common ground … with women and men on perfectly equal footing ….” In a companion note Pat Shipman provides a thumbnail history of Ms Mary ‘Min’ Baker (pictured), one of the women discussed in the article, and apparently the only one for whom we have a photograph showing her playing a concertina. She turns out to come from a family with a colorful role in the exploration of central Africa. This note was originally published in PICA [Papers of the International Concertina Association], Vol. 3 (2006).

February 7, 2007:
The North America list of concertina schools (most are in the summer) has been updated for 2007. Again you'll find some great opportunities, and Irish-on-anglo is finally being joined by some other systems and musical traditions. Squeeze away, and see you there! —Ken

January 29, 2007:
John Nixon wrote in to share news of his next gig on Baritone and MIDI-treble concertina:
As I had some folk in Concertina.net interested in my Jazz Gig last December, can you please give the info for my return gig as follows: Jazz at The Horseshoe in the very small village of Lawton Heath End on Thursday March 1st. This is about 6-miles South-West of Congleton in Cheshire, U.K. Admission is Free and the show starts at 9pm and finishes between 11 and 11.30. Anyone wishing a detailed map of the area can send me their "E" and I will post it.
You can write John through the forum system.

Nov. 29, 2006:
Jeff Meade sent in a reminder about Noel Hill's upcoming concerts in the US. Here's a link to a little interview, and the dates and links to concert info is all on Noel's site.

Nov. 16, 2006
The Noel Hill Irish Concertina schools' (including the Ireland trip) dates have been announced. Click through and reserve your spot today!

Oct 11, 2006
Nancy Wells reports:
I was really excited to learn that Brian Peters is going to be doing some concerts in Michigan next April and even more excited to hear that he'll be doing a 5-hour workshop at Elderly Instruments, Lansing, MI, on April 28th. I don't have complete information about where all he'll be while he's here, but the workshop at Elderly Instruments is on their website .

Oct. 2, 2006
Noel Hill wrote in to note another concert of his, Dec. 1 at Ireland House, NYU.

Sept. 23, 2006
More news from Noel Hill, this time of a concert in Philadelphia, on November 30th. Frank Dalton also notes "a rare upcoming concert by concertina player Claire Keville (also in PA, as is Noel's concert, but at a different venue). The details are here. "

Sept. 9, 2006
News of a Noel Hill house concert in New Jersey in December.

May 15, 2006
Alex Jones kindly sent in this article about packing a concertina for shipping.

May 15, 2006
There are apparently still a couple of spaces left in the New York Noel Hill Irish Concertina School. This is a nice location, and a great way to bring your anglo concertina playing to the next level very quickly, so don't miss out! Instruction is intense but still fun and friendly, and you'll have lots to work on for months after returning home.

April 11, 2006
I'm very pleased to welcome Dana Johnson and his Kensington Concertinas to the site as an official sponsor! I've known Dana for many years, and it's rare to find someone so dedicated and focused on creating the best playing and sounding instruments he can while working even harder to keep the price affordable. And he's a very nice guy on top of it all. Visit his site today! —Paul

April 4, 2006:
Connie Dugan wrote in with news of John Williams' latest CD release:
"There are some fine concertina tunes. Much of the album is new compositions. Some are very new, to my ear, and proove that Irish music is still alive and developing. Some others, while new, sound like they emerged from the rocks. Especially John's reels written for his babies (first track, I think.) I can't imagine them played on anything but the concertina." More info on the John Willams site, and an interview.

April 3, 2006
Dana Johnson has just written us that he now has a web site for his Kensington Concertinas which gives details of construction, ordering, and how Dana arrived at the design he uses. Lots of nice pictures, too.

March 31, 2006
A note from Shay Fogarty: "Lisa Shields has once again kindly used her website to include my report and pics of the Mrs Crotty weekend 2005."

February 3, 2006:
The Fifth Annual edition of the North America Summer Schools list is now posted. Most schools do not have class schedules or teacher names listed yet; we'll add information as we hear it. If you have details on these or other schools/events, drop me an email through the forums system. —Ken

January 25, 2006:
A few new CD announcements:
- Naked concertinist hottie Jody Kruskal wrote in to let us know about his new Naked Concertina CD. See the Forums discussion, and CDbaby to order.
- Graham Bradshaw reminds everyone that Anglo International is now shipping (see Forums discussion).
- Peter Laban and Kitty Hayes have a new CD out called They'll be good yet.(I'm sure it's good).
- Last but not least, don't miss Pádraig Rynne's spiffy new web site and CD.

December 5, 2005:
The Music page has been updated with information and a free sample track from Brian Peters' new CD, Anglophilia.

December 5, 2005:
Morgana Creely sent in links to her new pages featuring concertina CD information and reviews, and the Arran Concertina Event.

December 2, 2005:
The Noel Hill Concertina School, Ireland, 2006 is confirmed: Early March. Email register@noelhill.com for more info (and see Noel's web site for more information). The class, in it’s 3rd year, is held in holiday cottages on Galway Bay. Students of all levels of playing experience welcome.

November 16, 2005:
The new Noel Hill CD is now available for ordering. Europe: The Living Tradition , USA: The Button Box, Canada: PaulsFinest.com

November 15, 2005:
More news from Bob Gaskins about two notable figures in concertina history:
• The first known picture of Charles Jeffries, the genius of Anglo concertina making, has been made available by one of his granddaughters. There is also the first connected account of his life and family in a very long article for the Concertina Library, built up using information from Jeffries descendants over the last couple of years by half a dozen well-known members of Concertina.net. Many documents and maps are reproduced to establish for the first time the basic chronology of the Jeffries family.
• New pictures of Marie Lachenal, who was the eldest daughter of Louis Lachenal and one of the earliest female concertinists that we know much about, with an account of her life and career, are in a new article by Faye Debenham (wife of Marie's grandson, Albert Debenham) and Concertina.net member Randy Merris. Now online at the Concertina Library, with new large color photographs. There is a scan of an announcement card issued by Marie Lachenal offering to give concertina lessons, and the sheet music for Blagrove's Fantasia on English Airs which she was known to play with her sisters.

November 4, 2005:
News from Bob Gaskins: "The Concertina Library website has gone live on the web, though it is still in "Beta" status while final mistakes and omissions are found and corrected (all reports of errors gratefully received!). Its web address is www.concertina.com. This new website covers all kinds of concertinas (English, Anglo, and Duet) and contains several hundred documents.. It is not a catalogue of information available in libraries and books, but contains the information in full (or links to it on other websites) so that it can be used instantly by everyone, everywhere in the world." The site does not host its own discussion forums; instead Bob suggests that discussion about its contents be directed to the Concertina.net forums here.

October 25, 2005:
Dan Worral has posted his collection of transcriptions of William Kimber's tunes on the EFDSS web site. More details here.

October 3, 2005:
With all the ongoing discussion of duet concertina systems, this detailed look at duet systems by Ivan Viehoff is worthy of your attention. Thanks to Ivan for sharing it with us, and his patience with this slow editor! —Ken

September 14, 2005:
A message from Bob Harvey:
"West Country Concertina Players: www.wccp.info
WCCP is a club that aims to promote interest in all types of concertina playing, to provide tuition for beginners and facilities for players to meet regularly. WCCP hold bi monthly meetings at Ruishton, run two residential weekends each year at Kilve Court, featuring tuition for beginners, improvers and advanced players. A lively social scene of, dance, concerts and bar sessions. WCCP also runs workshops at the Sidmouth. If you would like to learn something about this musical instrument why not join us."

June 20, 2005:
A message from Bob Gaskins:
Wheatstone Ledgers on the web: Margaret Birley of the Horniman Museum, London, has announced for Concertina.net members the completion of the project to digitize all of the surviving Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers. Twelve new Ledgers have been added, the famous "red books", covering the 1840s to the 1890s; some of these are sales ledgers containing the names of the famous and titled Londoners who bought early instruments from C. Wheatstone & Co., making it possible to discover who first bought your vintage Wheatstone. All Ledgers are now available for research free online at www.horniman.info, and the same files can be purchased on a single CD-ROM available from the website's online store or at the Horniman Museum gift shop. A discussion in the Concertina.net forums here has more information, see Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers Site Expanded in the Concertina History forum. The public announcement will be made 05 July 2005.

May 9, 2005:
Peter Perkins sent in this note: "Arthur Dulay worked as accompanist with Alf Edwards in a few early 1950's recordings.I know some of your forum members have found them, and commented on how excellent they were! [...] the recordings are available in real player format at present, but I hope to make mp3's and or wma files available soon. www.arthurdulay.co.uk. Alf's stuff is about half way down page. Regards, Peter Perkins."

April 19, 2005:
Don't miss Roger Digby's article on a brand new anglo made by Geoff Crabb -- the first instrument to bear the Crabb name since 1989.

April 18, 2005:
A few new items today: 1. Added information about Sarah Graves' recording "Black Boxes" to the Music page, featuring english concertina. Includes a sound clip. 2. Also, don't miss the recently added Concertina Academy (featuring a DVD by Pauline de Snoo) entry on the Learning page (and check out the Forum Thread.) 3. Pam Berardino sent in an article on The Concertina in Children's Literature. 4. A letter and photos sent in by Louis Adendorff about Koot Brits concertinas in South Africa.

March 26, 2005:
The many revisions to the fourth annual North American Summer School list have been inserted (I think I got them all!). Looks like an exciting year if you are looking for new playing ideas. As before, if you know of revisions or additions contact me through Concertina.net. —Ken

March 26, 2005:
News from Cecilia McDonnell: Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin is touring in Quebec next week. He is giving an evening lecture at Concordia Wednesday March 30 and a concertina concert at McKibbons upstairs room on Thursday March 31st. Musical guests include Laura Risk, Golo Reinhard etc. Also, Gearóid is touring heavily over the next few months with workshops in concerts all over the US... Alaska, California, Detroit, Bowling Green, Minneapolis, Catskills Irish Arts week as well as June concertina workshops in SF. These are just a few of the over 30 dates he has booked through this summer. Interested Concertina.Net members can find his detailed tour schedule at www.IrishTraditionalMusic.US

March 3 & 20, 2005:
Added a few images to the Museum, courtesy of Tony Kell.

• Dan Worrall has posted a forum message about a concertina workshop in Texas.

• Jim Lucas has Scandinavian Squeeze-In news: "Once again, the SSI (Scandinavian Squeeze-In) will be held the last FULL weekend in April (April 22-24) in southern Sweden, near Malmö and just across the bridge from Copenhagen. For the Forum posting and comments, check here and here."

February 4, 2005:
Added info and a sound clip from Jason O'Rourke's new live CD to the Music page.

February 3, 2005:
Rich Morse of The Button Box is hosting a Northeast Concertina Workshop.

January 17, 2005:
Oops, found this Eigse Mrs. Crotty 2004 report hidding in the nooks and crannies of my email in-box. Thanks (and apologies) to Shay! And I also added a note from Chris Milligan to the Concertinas in South Africa page.

January 16, 2005:
I've added a new Carroll Concertinas page to the buyer's guide. Wally's official Carroll Concertinas web site is also now up and running. These look like really fine instruments -- a welcome high-end option! And here's a forum thread with additional info and photos.

January 2, 2005:
The fourth annual North American Summer School list has been posted, and the file name for the page is changed, in case anyone has it bookmarked (the links from the Learning page have been revised). Check the list of concertina classes in North America. If you know of revisions or additions contact me through Concertina.net. —Ken

December 31, 2004:
I've just purchased a full registered version of the forum software I'm using here. This means the forums will soon get a major upgrade to the latest version. I'll be using the company's upgrade/installation service to make sure the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible, so PLEASE be patient and understanding while it's in progress (should be sometime in the next 2 weeks). Once completed, you'll be sure to enjoy some of the many very useful new features, as well as the security of a registered copy with full company support and service. And of course a very happy new year to everyone! —Paul

December 6, 2004:
A draft English concertina buyer's guide, long in the works, is now posted, along with a collection of remarks by folks who play both English and anglo concertina. Also, Paul has made some handy changes in the page headers. Where you see "forums" on the older pages it will now lead you to the current forums, and we also have a link to our helpful sponsors at the top of each forum page. —Ken

November 30, 2004:
Bob Tedrow has announced a 2005 concertina tour. Like his 2003 tour, it is a chance for you to apply to try one of his concertinas. Don't miss this exciting opportunity; you must apply in advance. Read Bob's announcement about the 2005 Tour. —Ken

November 20, 2004:
Lea Nicholson has relaunched his JamRing.com web site, featuring MP3 downloads from his album and more.

October 19, 2004:
We received this interesting and moving account from Concertina.net member Len Rheaume about his time playing concertina for many different people in Iraq. Thanks to Len for sharing such a personal account. —Ken

September 21, 2004:
Would you be interested in attending a Noel Hill concertina course week in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada? Visit the Noel Hill site for more details...

August 25,2004:
Two handy diagrams are now available showing the left end and right end of a 48-key English system concertina. These are courtesy of John Nixon (Thank you!), who patiently waited for them to appear here for us to refer to them during many forum discussions. —Ken

July 16, 2004:
I've added a new high quality full-length music track from Tim Collins' new CD to the Suttner site. It features Tim playing the polkas "Patrick O'Connor's and Tom Billy's" on a Suttner C/G anglo.

July 1, 2004:
• Happy Canada Day!
• Juergen Suttner sent in a note about a new CD just released by his friend and Suttner Concertina player Tim Collins. You can order directly from Tim via his new web site: www.timcollins-concertina.com.
• Juergen also sent a reminder about the Eigse Mrs. Crotty concertina festival in Kilrush, County Clare, 18th - 22th August 2004, with concertina workshops, repair workshop, Ceilis, concerts and many other events.

June 8, 2004:
Two more teachers have been added to the North America summer school list. Brian Peters (English style on anglo) will join Frank Edgley at Goderich, Ontario, and Clodagh Ryan, an All-Ireland winner, will teach concertina at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, both in August.

June 4, 2004:
Paul Keating sent in a reminder about the Catskills Irish Arts Week this summer in East Durham, where Michael Rooney and Fr. Charlie Coen will be teaching concertina. On a related note, Ken Coles has updated the handy-dandy summer school list.

May 25, 2004:
Rich Morse (owner of The Button Box) wrote in to let everyone know that The Button Box is moving this summer. Here is his announcement and photo, along with a request for ideas for the grand re-opening bash.

May 15, 2004:
Bruce McCaskey sent word of his new web site which includes a great report of the 2004 Winter Noel Hill Irish Concertina School (in Ireland).

May 13, 2004:
Kevin Costello sent word that Mary MacNamara and her brother Andrew (button accordion) have a new CD out, called Open Hearth. "Its a celebration of the music they learned as children from local musicians Bill Malley and Joe Bane."

May 13, 2004:
Thanks to Raymond Travers for providing a reprint of his article "Death of the busker: saddest song in town".

• From Paul Jutkiewicz (Southampton, UK): I had my concertina stolen in Dublin (15 February 2008) along with a set of Northumbrian pipes. The concertina was a Dipper Anglo, 32 metal buttons and metal ends plus one or two modifications to the accidentals.
• Stolen on Thursday 11th march, from a van outside the Whitmore Arms public house, Orsett, Essex, UK. Wheatstone Tenor Treble with raised ebony ends, serial no. 29103. If you have any information please contact Roy Nicholls on +44 (0)1621 859446.
• Nov. 6, 2003: Michael Rooney from Monaghan, living in Dublin, has had his Suttner stolen in Galway. The serial number is 131, which is on the side of the concertina. It has metal ends, 30 keys and ebony trim. If anyone hears of a concertina of this description being sold, call Aonghus Rooney on 087-6409105 or call Michael on 086-1755329.
• Please look out for two concertinas stolen from the Music Room, Oxford, UK, branch 23 July 2003. These instruments are brand new, one English treble and one English baritone model, made by Morse of the USA. The serial numbers are 137 and 138. The Music Room is sole British agent for these instruments, so please inform us at +44 (0)1274 879768, or at info@the-music-room.com if you see one of these instruments for sale anywhere else. We will then pass on your information to the police, who have of course been alerted. We know that the concertina fraternity is a close-knit group, and we would be grateful if you could pass the word to all players to keep an eye out for these instruments.
• From Simon Thoumire: "My 56 key Wheatstone tenor treble Aeola (metal ends) was stolen on Sunday 21st January from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The serial no. has fallen off the left side but it is recognisable from the big thumbstraps that are hanging loose from the side and also sweat has tarnished the nickel plate on both sides. Another feature which will tell it apart from any other is that the top 'C' on the right side is an air button. It is the only instrument I have ever played and I miss it badly."
• From Hugh Healy: "My concertina was stolen at the Willie Clancy School this summer (1999). It was a Wheatstone Anglo, Metal end, No 29481, 30 key, 5 fold bellows in C and G pitch. My address was marked in several places on it."
         -- Contact david.evans@pc.aerotech.ie if you have any information.
• Don Nichols' stolen concertinas registry