The best of the UK Concertina players

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Les from Darlo
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 08:17 AM

Still haven't found out the name of the lady in the Whitby pub session but she was playing everything from Purcell, Playford, O'Carolan, Ragtime, Tango's, Morris, Music hall to the Bluebell Polka and that beautiful rendition of David of the White Rock (before quietly disappearing)   :) Think she was a local judging by the shopping she had with her but someone on here must know her name. When asked if she knew a particular tune her reply was 'You hum it pet, I'll play it'

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 10:25 AM

Les - Iris Bishop would be capable of running through all those tunes, but she lives down here in Crawley. I do not know of the concertina player that may live in or near to Whitby, she may have been up there on business however.
Do you know what system she was playing Anglo, English or Duet?
Lesley Heneker could manage it, but she plays to dots on her Duet.
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 10:58 AM

Hi Al, she had what looked like an Anglo and played all the tunes from memory. I could kick myself for not asking who she was but it was during folk week and I was with a group of friends, by the time I thought to ask she'd gone and most of the musicians who'd been in the session had changed (rolling session) and they didn't know her either but said she'd mentioned having to get back home to feed a neighbour's cat which combined with the shopping makes me think she lives in Whitby. Didn't look like a business woman, more like someone's Mum or Auntie and wasn't dressed like a 'folkie', just a pleasant middle aged woman but I'd have happily paid to listen to her playing.          Les

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 01:03 PM

could it have been valmay[not goodyear]but a singer, anglo concertina player who lives in Whitby.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 01:55 PM

Interesting Les I have not heard of her and when we were booked for Whitby some years ago I do not remember her in the sessions.I would certainly like to hear her play as well .
Have you come across her Dick, I only know the Valmai at Lewes who plays English, never heard the name Valmay mentioned though.
Sounds an interesting player and not the repertoire from someone that just sits at home and plays for their own enjoyment.
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Les from Darlo
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 02:38 PM

This lady didn't sing, I remember hearing her say that she had the voice of a tone deaf frog and stuck to playing tunes rather than empty the pub :) The range of tunes and styles was interesting, plenty played in minor keys too. Is Valmay plump, just over 5 foot tall with glasses, long hair up in a bun and a yorkshire accent? I'm going to look out for her in Whitby during Folk Week whoever she is.    Les

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Tootler
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 05:12 PM

I think GSS is referring to Valmai Brown. She did live in Whitby but has moved to Filey fairly recently. She is not plump but silver haired and she sings very well, so I don't think it is the lady being referred to in this thread.

Last time I saw Valmai was at the June Black Bull Bender and she was in fine voice then although I gathered she had had some health problems.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Alf
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 03:43 AM

I think I met Les's 'Whitby Lady' a couple of years ago. Sat in the front little bar of the pub near the railway station with a pot of tea, a bag of shopping, playing Playford tunes on an Anglo, only a couple of other people in even though it was Folk Week as it was not long after opening time. I know it was an Anglo (a Dipper) as I asked her, she then gave me an impromptu lesson, explained how to play a simple scale and had me playing 'Frere Jaques' within 10 minutes !! ( Never been able to play any instrument before, it made my week :D )Then she said it there was no limit to the types of tunes that an Anglo could do and played a waltz, a tango, 'I do like to be beside the seaside' and finished with the Bluebell Polka before excusing herself as she had to get home with as her husband was ill and couldn't be left alone for long. She'd taken the concertina with her when she'd gone shopping in the hope of finding an early session for half an hour but as there was no-one about she'd started her own :)   I'll keep an eye out for her this year too, it's going to be 'Spot the Concertina Player' at Whitby            Alf

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Les from Darlo
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 03:51 AM

Thanks Alf, that sounds like her and if she's caring for a sick husband that explains why she wasn't out playing for long. 'Spot the concertina player' it is   Les

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Alf
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 02:53 PM

The concertina case had a Guild of Assassins badge on the front (Discworld) if that's any help in jogging anyone's memory for a name. (She did mention that people rarely complained about the music...... and never twice :D )    Alf

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 03:03 AM

I wonder if the International Concertina Association or the Yorkshire Concertina Club could help identify the lady.

I'll be at Whitby this year with the Spare Parts Concertina Band and would be delighted to meet someone else saddled with a similar name as well as hearing her play. The only other Valmai I've met was my father's sister, whose name I got as a result of my parents' lack of imagination. It's pronounced either 'Val-My' or more usually 'Sorry, what was that?'

Mind you, Edna Everidge's daughter is apparently called Valmay but I haven't heard that she plays any sort of concertina.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Chipple Chapman
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 10:35 AM

Found this thread searching for any mention of Martyn Bradley, a very old and dear friend. When at college, Brads would decide he fancied an instrument, pick it up and learn it! When I met him he was an accomplished folk/blues guitarist and jazz drummer and subsequently learned bluegrass banjo, psaltrey, sitar and dulcimer just as his musical interests took him (could always play better spoons than him though!!) It was many years later I heard him play concertina and guess what - he was v v good!!
Anyone know where he is??

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,oldnickilby
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:35 AM

I suppose we could always ask Colin Dipper if he knows this virtuoso.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:56 AM

Martyn is one of the artists on English International.
He has a new Email address and sadly I have mislaid it, if Warwick Downes reads this perhaps he would be kind enough to pass the number on.
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 06:18 PM

Her nam is Ann & lives on the Railway in Whitby (the area near The First Inn Last Out) . She plays a beautiful Crabbe Anglo & often pops in to Tues night sessions at FILO

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Alf
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 11:05 AM

Hi Jim, do the Tues sessions run in Folk week? We're planning to go again this year & I'd like to hear Ann play again, bumped into her last year when we were doing 'Spot the Whitby concertina player' for Darlo Les but never got to listen to her.

Alf ......    planning for Whitby already :)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 01:52 PM

alf...The session runs every night during folk week