CummingsOnline

July 2007 with Cadbury Wind Band
We played our first gig as guest artists to Cadbury Wind Band in July 2007. We had an interval break to set up our amplifier and speakers but it was a rush to put it all away at the end of our spot for CWB to carry on. Positive comments from many people. A good start.

October 2007 Bleadon Friendship Circle
Our first solo gig to Bleadon Friendship Circle for an hour's entertainment. We decided to try 'Music Through The Decades' as a theme on which to hang the music and it seemed to go down well. They were dancing in the aisles at the end as we performed 'All Shook Up'.

January 2008 Henhayes Centre, Crewkerne
In theory this was a 3 hour gig from 11am to 2pm, but in practise there were breaks, including time for a free lunch. After an hour and a half drive we arrived in plenty of time to set up, which we duly did. At about 10.45 we were informed that we had set up in the wrong room! Panic! We managed to move everything and weren't too late starting. This was our first gig for the PoPP (Partnerships for Older People Project) so our choice of music (through the decades) went down very well, so much so that other people in the Henhayes Centre asked if they could come in and listen, which the PoPP organiser allowed. A success, with some concern about the travelling involved.

April 2008 Minehead
A second gig with PoPP(Partnerships for Older People Project) but this time near Minehead. They wanted a singalong at the end so Paul produced a singalong booklet for everyone with all 'the old favourites' in it such as 'Daisy' and 'Two Lovely Black Eyes' as well as adapted songs with actions such as 'She'll be coming round the mountain'. It seemed to go down very well and it was our first attempt at doing singalongs in this way.

We had a nice meal as well where the cook told us all the good things she had put in to the meal!

We're beginning to see the implications of travelling so far! Petrol costs being one of them, and time the other. A Dot and Dash also have to take a day off work. We tried not to advertise ourselves too much, much as we enjoyed the people and the gig, and hope for more gigs nearer home!

April 2008 Yatton Music Society
We did this concert in the evening of the same day we'd been at Minehead. We were a little tired after 3 hours travelling there and back to Minehead and playing for 3 hours, albeit with breaks. This concert was in Yatton Methodist Church.

This time we were guest artists of Yatton Singers and had a spot in each half. Yatton Singers sounded great and we weren't too bad either! We did instrumentals in the first half whilst each of us sung in the second half. Paul was pleased that he could use his new Alto Sax whilst Michael played the church Clavinova.

June 2008 British Legion, Weston-super-Mare
We were very pleased to have a gig so close to home and with such highly honoured company, including the Mayor of Weston. There were over 200 people and we even managed to get our first press release in the local paper. We'll let you read that. It also appeared on the internet. (We don't know who the lady is in the middle of our press release (Lesley Garrett?)- nothing to do with us)

July 2008 Pipe Dream Project, Cleeve
We had a great time at Cleeve on Sunday afternoon, 20th July. We played at a Garden Party arranged to raise funds for the Pipe Dream project. This is raising funds to drill a bore hole to help the people of Kabwe, Zambia with their water supply.
July 2008 Real Ale Festival, Weston Super Mare
On Saturday 26th July we played at the Real Ale Festival which was held on the Beach Lawns, Weston-super-Mare. This was arranged as a fund raiser by the Lions and it was our longest gig yet, as well as probably the most public. We played from 6pm - 10pm. Paul had recorded himself playing the accordion and we listened to this during the 15 minute breaks we took every so often.

We seemed to down very well and once again we had a group dancing at the end. People really seem to like our rock and roll numbers.

Michael has started using his clarinet in the band lately and enjoyed playing 'Stranger On The Shore', shown in the photograph on the left.

August 2008 Claverham Village Hall
A delight to play somewhere really local this time to a very appreciative audience. Lots of people came up to me in Yatton after this one saying they'd heard we were good!

September 2008 British Legion, Weston-super-Mare
Good to be asked back to play here again. Again a delightful and appreciative audience. We even had someone in a wheelchair jigging around.

December 2008 Ham Green
A good gig at a centre for various people with health problems that is likely to close. We'd been busy practising various Christmas sing-a-longs and it was good to get the audience joining in.

We're available for a variety of functions and groups and will tailor the music to you. Take a look at our current repertoire.

Contact Paul on 01934 833928 or e-mail accordionmanemail-band@yahoo.com