The West Riding Concertina Ensemble, which plays a mix of traditional band music with folk and more modern pieces, is to host a concert in Lindley.
They will be accompanied by local folk musicians Mary and Nick Barber who play fiddle and melodeon.
The concert will be at St Stephen’s Church, Lindley, on September 21 at 7pm. Tickets are available online from www.nick-barber.net/shop and cost £10.
Concertina bands were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, mainly in Yorkshire, Lancashire and the North East with prominent bands being Heckmondwike, Mexborough, Ashton and Oldham.
Unfortunately, they died out after World War Two. They played much the same repertoire as brass bands and usually had 20 to 24 players.
These days it’s difficult to get enough players but there have been a few revivals, one was the Hawkwood Concertina Band with players from all over the country.
The ensemble is a six-piece band playing the repertoire of the old bands and the music they would be playing now if they were still around. Most of them have played with the Hawkwood Band.
Nick and Mary Barber
Local musicians Nick and Mary Barber will also be performing at the concert, bringing their repertoire of English, Swedish and French traditional dance music, played on fiddle, melodeon, french horn and recorder.
Nick and Mary both play in local orchestras – they are involved in running Orchestra of Square Chapel in Halifax – and perform with the White Rose Morris team and are regulars at local folk music sessions.
Adrian Jackson, a spokesman for the band, said: “It promises to be an entertaining evening showing off some of England’s best traditions and a rare opportunity to hear these instruments played together.”
