HarmonicaUK Newsletter - April 2025

Hello and welcome to the HarmonicaUK April 2025 Newsletter

Hi all.

I’m really settling into my new role as Communications Manager at Harmonica UK, and I’m so glad I volunteered to help. This month I’ve been given the role of updating you all, as we step into Spring, in what is our exciting 90th anniversary year.  

So, here’s the latest……

Upcoming HarmonicaUK Events

I’d personally like to encourage you all to give these regular events a try. I’ve been to a few coffee mornings and last months Open Mic, as I took up my new role, and they were both a lot of fun and very informative.

You will get a real sense of community and a chance to chat all things harmonica, plus, if you want to, have a go at playing to an audience – something I’ve realised is so important on our harmonica journey. The attendees invited me to play a little tune, and although I was just there to observe, I soon felt I wanted to play a simple 12 bar blues, which was well received. I felt really welcomed.

So, see you at some of our regular online sessions this month:

 - Friday Coffee Morning: every Friday at 11am GMT

 - Open Mic: first Saturday of each month (TODAY! 5 April this month) at 5pm GMT. 

-  Saturday Session member’s workshop: a bi-monthly event on Saturdays at 5pm GMT. 

 This month our Saturday Session falls on April 12 at 5pm and we are delighted to be joined by Konstantin Reinfeld, one of the world’s most sought-after harmonica virtuosos, renowned for his profound musicality and mastery transcending genre boundaries. From Bach, to Bartôk to Chick Corea, his repertoire spans classical, jazz, film, and world music. Please join us for this very special Saturday Session.  A link for the session will be available in the member's area a few days before the event. Please do not share this link; it's a members-only event.

And don’t forget…. We’ve got the amazing Annie Raines at the June Saturday Session, so more on that next month.

Initial results of our surveys

We’re grateful to all of you who completed the recent surveys we issued in the last few Newsletter editions. We’ve got lots of great actions to take, from your responses, and want to ensure that you know we are listening to you. We will provide more on the changes we are making as a result, over the coming months, but can tell you we’ve already put in place improvements to the HUK Facebook Group. Based on your preferences, we are beginning to allow more frequent posts and posts from a wider audience.

New Event Manager at HarmonicaUK

I’m delighted to inform you that we have a new Events Manager joining us this month. Iain Buik is joining the team to shape this year's Festival and Saturday Session. Iain is a long-standing member of HarmonicaUK, and plays chromatic and diatonic harmonicas 'for the fun of it', enjoys learning, and aspires for the tone of Larry Adler and Toots Thielemans.

Iain has a strong background in managing events and music festivals, and we look forward to his help and enthusiasm. With Iain on board, Gene's first challenge as chairman, to restaff the open roles at HarmonicaUK, is complete. Now, he can get back to focusing on the magazine.

HarmonicaUK Festival

We reminded you last month that the date of our 90th year HUK festival is 17 – 19 October, a week earlier than usual, so don’t forget to add this to your diary.

We will be announcing the full line-up and booking details next month, once Iain Buik is fully on-board and we've confirmed our fourth guest artist.

 We cannot wait to see you there this year, for what will be a very special celebration.

For me, it’s a highlight of my year. As well as being an amazing, fun event and learning session, all sorts of things can happen at the festival. For me, that included jamming with Will Wilde in the bar last year and chatting over breakfast with Filip Jers! I won’t ever forget it!

New at the HarmonicaUK Festival and in celebration of our 90th year, we’re happy to announce an annual HarmonicaUK Awards Ceremony to recognise and engage with those who contribute value and expertise to the harmonica community in the UK. More details will be ready with the full festival announcement. 

Thanks everyone! Keep on harping!

Lise

Lisa Presland – Communications Manager