Concertina + Storyteller query

Subject: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 26 - 08:38 PM

A question was posted on the Facebook events page that belongs over here, so this is a start for that conversation.

Hi, Folks… The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress received this reference question, and (even though I play the concertina myself), I don’t know of storytellers who use the instrument. Can you help, Folk Hive Mind? Here’s the question:

“Can you locate names, videos, etc of individuals that tell stories with the accompaniment of a Concertina? Thank you for any information or names of performers.”

The answers posted on FB will be lost soon, that's why they should be shared here.

So far, a link was shared to a site by Tom Kastle and another shared

John Roberts and Tony Barrand did many songs with John playing concertina and singing. Sadly, both are now deceased. They released several recordings of English traditional and music hall songs.

Another name suggested (to answer this question) is Judy Cook.

Subject: RE: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 28 Mar 26 - 10:42 PM

David Parry, who was part of the Toronto and Ottawa folk music communities, played a concertina, sang, and told stories, though I can't remember whether he ever told stories with concertina. There's a Wikipedia page about him here with links to some other web sites.

Subject: RE: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 03:05 AM

Many people use concertinas to accompany songs, but I can't recall anyone accompanying a story.

Subject: RE: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 01:21 PM

Tim Laycock
"The stories often have a musical element"
www.timlaycock.co.uk/page3/page3.html

Nick Hennessey
"storytelling with song and live music on the harp, concertina and wind instruments."
www.skiddle.com/artists/nick-hennessey-123557462/

melodeon any good?-
Guto Dafis; Welsh storyteller
Sure I've seen him incorporating his melodeon in a story.
https://gutodafisstoryteller.weebly.com/pictures.html

Maybe
Richard York
"currently developing more stories with music played during the telling, rather as many ancient storytellers did."
though the concertina is featured towards the bottom of the page.
www.taleteller.co.uk/insts.html

Maybe
Clare Goodall - Storyteller and Concertina Player
https://talksandtales.com/shows-talks--workshops.html


No evidence but I can't help thinking that I've seen John Kirkpatrick telling a yarn while he plays his concertina??
www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/

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Also ask on storytelling forums where the word 'concertina' might trigger more recollections.
Monty Storyteller
www.facebook.com/monty.storyteller/

Society for Storytelling
www.facebook.com/groups/14430125460/

Festival at the Edge
www.facebook.com/fatestorytelling

Subject: RE: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 02:06 PM

FreddyHeadey wrote: "No evidence but I can't help thinking that I've seen John Kirkpatrick telling a yarn while he plays his concertina??"

I seem to recall Michael Cooney doing it, too, but that was probably more than forty years ago, so I can't be sure.

Subject: RE: Concertina + Storyteller query
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 05:39 PM

I've sent the query to a few Australian concertina players.