Seasons greetings everyone and a very warm welcome to our December Newsletter.
My goodness, we have so many exciting items on our Newsdesk website that I admit to struggling when I tried to pick a few to mention! Our Patron Roger Trobridge sent in a piece of interest with information on a documentary made about James Cotton. Joe powers of course has his festive concert on the 21st of December, and there is great stuff as always from Liam Ward, offering us playing tips and how to learn the tune Lean on Me! Check out the Ed Hopwood Harmonica Barge interview, gigs from Aidan Sheehan, and all sorts of interesting videos from our Annual Festival including our ambassadors. Take a good look at Newsdesk for the above mentioned, plus lots more.
Let’s not forget our very own Open Mic! The first Saturday of the month at 5pm, your very own opportunity to come along and enjoy a really friendly and supportive atmosphere. Lots of fun to be had whether you are a complete beginner, experienced player, or just want to sit back and enjoy, all are very welcome. Festive tunes, hats, reindeer antlers and other such adornments are also welcome!
Just a quick mention of our ongoing Friday morning coffee and chat. Every Friday at 11 am come along to meet up with others and chat about all sorts, sometimes even the harmonica!!!😉
Let me finish by mentioning the Harpin' By The Sea festival, 3-5 February 2023. Another really exciting event not to miss. Organised by Richard Taylor (HarmonicaUK Outreach) and his gang at the Brunswick Pub in Hove, near Brighton! Hope to see you there.
Well, this is the last newsletter for this year, the whole of the communications team and myself would like to wish you all happy holidays and may all your dreams come true in 2023! ☃️
Until the next time,
Suzy
Suzy Colclough, Communications Manager
Welcome to our December Newsletter - winter has definitely arrived! The temperature has just dropped down here in Cornwall, lights are being put up and turned on, and I'm finding out all the lead sheets and dots for seasonal songs and music ready for December gigs! On the subject of seasonal music, make sure you dust off all those seasonal songs ready for the HarmonicaUK Open Mic on Saturday! Don't forget to wear a festive hat if you have one!
Following our AGM in October at our annual festival, the new committee members are settling in, and we are busy planning for the year ahead. It's full steam ahead with the planning of our live events for 2023; we are already approaching artists, and it's looking like another fantastic lineup for our Chromatic Weekend. Please note that the Chromatic Weekend is earlier this year, it's happening on 28-30th April 2023, so make a note of the date in your diary! We hope to have tickets available much earlier for both our events this coming year, keep an eye out in future issues of the Newsletter and Magazine for details.
That's it from me for this time. I wish you all a happy and restful holiday this season, and I hope to see some of you at a coffee morning or event soon!
Happy harping,
Barry
Barry Elms
Chair, HarmonicaUK
Newsdesk brings you a selection of items from the HarmonicaUK Newsdesk this month. Click "Read more..." to read the full news item.
Learn to play a Bill Withers Classic
Another free lesson from Liam Ward teaching 1972 blues classic “Lean on Me” complete with tabs and backing track. Just bring your C harp. Read more…
Harpin’ By The Sea is back
After their 2021 virtual festival and a break in 2022, Harpin’ By The Sea is live again in 2023. The festival will be taking place at The Brunswick pub in Hove from 3-5 February 2023. Read more…
Easier access to “Harmonica Barge” free lessons
Ed Hopwood of YouTube channel the Harmonica Barge has made his channel easier to use by making his free lessons more accessible. If you want to take your learning further the free lessons link easily to his premium lessons. Read more…
October festival stars playing in bar sessions
Recordings of three of the stars from the October festival are available. You can see Cy Leo, Rachelle Plas and Antonio Serrano playing in the bar of the Hillscourt Hotel near Birmingham. Read more…
Other News
Adam Glasser’s Toots Thielemans tribute at the 606 club.
Toots Thielemans concert tribute now streamed live
15 steps for playing for beginners
James Cotton film premieres in London
Sailing and wailing on the Harmonica Barge
Read about these items and more...
Events this month - Read more and Zoom links on our Events Page
Friday Coffee Morning – 2nd December 11am
Join us on Zoom for a chat about harmonicas, music and more!
Meeting ID: 999 3719 8697 and Passcode: 178801
HarmonicaUK's Open Mic – 3rd December 5pm
All levels, all styles, and a friendly atmosphere. You can also come and just listen in too.
https://zoom.us/j/93517709842?pwd=VHpuTThRM2RoeGtCN2lzdXFZZTU4Zz09
Meeting ID: 935 1770 9842 and Passcode: 123666
Friday Coffee Morning – 9th December 11am
Join us on Zoom for a chat about harmonicas, music and more!
Meeting ID: 999 3719 8697 and Passcode: 178801
Friday Coffee Morning – 16th December 11am
Join us on Zoom for a chat about harmonicas, music and more!
Meeting ID: 999 3719 8697 and Passcode: 178801
Ben Hewlett’s Open Mic – 17th December 5pm
Everybody is welcome – all abilities, all styles, all types of harmonica.
https://playharmonica.teachable.com/p/workshops
Friday Coffee Morning – 23rd December 11am
Join us on Zoom for a chat about harmonicas, music and more!
Meeting ID: 999 3719 8697 and Passcode: 178801
Friday Coffee Morning – 30th December 11am
Join us on Zoom for a chat about harmonicas, music and more!
Meeting ID: 999 3719 8697 and Passcode: 178801
Have you got a harmonica story? Upcoming gigs? Single or album release?
Newsdesk can help spread the word for you with our members
Please contact us at [email protected]
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