This is an interesting thread and has given me quite a bit to think about and has also encouraged me to try some things out.

I'm not sure that I entirely agree with the Artful Codger when he says The songs you already know are not necessarily the best choices for concertina accompaniment. Either they are songs that sound perfectly complete unaccompanied, or they're songs that probably better suit the other instruments you already play them on.

Just because you know and perform a song in a particular way does not mean it cannot be interpreted just as effectively in some other way. I would have thought that the number of songs that can be reinterpreted effectively using a different accompaniment far exceeds those that can not.

I have used my recorders to play introductions and also to play the tune through between two of the verses. This provides some variety in a song and works well with short songs. I must try this with my anglo as it should get round some of the "Patting your head while rubbing your tummy" problem. Also playing short linking passages between the verses might also work, especially for an essentially melody player like I am.

Something to work on over the next few days - providing I can avoid the "Dad you're out of tune, you can't sing" chant from certain quarters :-)