2024 Accordion Festival
Nov
9
to 10 Nov

2024 Accordion Festival

Our 2024 Accordion Festival will be held on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of November at Kensington Town Hall at 30-34 Bellair St, Kensington. We will feature 2 concerts across the weekend featuring VARDOS, Melbourne Tango Orchestra, special guests Duo Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki from Poland, The Prahran Accordion Band, and a Massed Accordion Orchestra including the Accordion Society of Australia (Victoria) Orchestra (ASAVO). Workshops will be presented by Lucy Riddett, Peter Anderson, Guy Bellman, Anthony Schulz, Sofia Chapman, George Butrumlis, and Duo Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki, catering to all skill levels from beginners to advanced, covering both playing the accordion and repair and tuning. We will also have an 'Accordion Corner' where you can try out different accordions, buy second hand sheet music books, and a jam session/social meet up!

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Bellows & Beverages - August Melbourne accordion meetup
Aug
24

Bellows & Beverages - August Melbourne accordion meetup

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

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Accordion workshop - From Parisian Streets to Your Accordion: Mastering the French Musette Sound, presented by Lucy Riddett
Aug
24

Accordion workshop - From Parisian Streets to Your Accordion: Mastering the French Musette Sound, presented by Lucy Riddett

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join Lucy Riddett in an exciting French musette accordion workshop. During this workshop you will learn the correct technique to create a classic French musette sound including touch, ornamentation, phrasing and more.

This workshop will include a brief introduction to the history of the musette style and a lesson on how to play a classic musette with a focus on the unique qualities of this style. Bring your accordion along and be ready to make some noise!

This workshop will be tailored to suit a variety of skill levels. However, at a minimum it is expected that attendees will be able to read a simple melody in treble clef notation.

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Bellows & Beverages - June Melbourne accordion meetup
June
29

Bellows & Beverages - June Melbourne accordion meetup

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

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Bellows & Beverages - April Melbourne accordion meetup
Apr
27

Bellows & Beverages - April Melbourne accordion meetup

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

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Accordion workshop - Between the lines and spaces: From chords to scales and beyond, presented by Anthony Schulz
Apr
27

Accordion workshop - Between the lines and spaces: From chords to scales and beyond, presented by Anthony Schulz

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Have you wondered what the difference is between a diminished triad and an augmented triad? Where do chords come from and how do they relate to scales? And what about those pesky chord symbols?

This workshop will bring some clarity to where chords and scales come from and why they matter. It is suitable for accordionists from all musical backgrounds and beginner to intermediate levels of experience. Written support materials will be provided in advance of the workshop and there will be plenty of opportunities to play.

Anthony Schulz’s teaching and performing career spans over 30 years. He has recorded on numerous albums and he has toured extensively at an international level most notably with the ARIA award winning world music ensemble Zulya and the Children of the Underground. Anthony is particularly interested in exploring the improvisational capabilities of the accordion and is committed to working with students and players to facilitate a deeper understanding of music through theory and creativity.

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Accordion workshop: Interpreting a Lead Sheet: from Oom-pah to Groove - presented by George Butrumlis
Feb
24

Accordion workshop: Interpreting a Lead Sheet: from Oom-pah to Groove - presented by George Butrumlis

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In this workshop, highly regarded accordionist George Butrumlis will guide participants through a number of lead sheets (chord charts with melodies) and discuss how to approach them with a particular focus on how to make the left hand (basses) work like a rhythm section rather than an Oktoberfest brass band. Not that there's anything wrong with Oktoberfest brass bands but there are ways to play popular songs and interpret lead sheets with greater stylistic integrity! If it's swing, let's swing. If it's bossa, let's bossa. If it's rock, let's rock.

Materials will be sent out prior to the workshop which participants should print out and bring along on the day of the workshop. It's assumed that participants can read music and are reasonably comfortable with the major, minor and chromatic scales in the left hand and no, it's not going to be a scale fest but there are small aspects of these scales and patterns which are essential to fluid bass lines.

Please note that less experienced players are welcome to attend but that the focus of the participatory aspects of the workshop are geared towards intermediate to advanced level players.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Bellows & Beverages - February Melbourne accordion meetup
Feb
10

Bellows & Beverages - February Melbourne accordion meetup

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

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Bellows & Beverages - November Melbourne accordion meetup
Nov
18

Bellows & Beverages - November Melbourne accordion meetup

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

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Accordion workshop: Exploring Jazz and the role of the accordion with accordionist, pianist, and composer Gary Wasenko
Nov
18

Accordion workshop: Exploring Jazz and the role of the accordion with accordionist, pianist, and composer Gary Wasenko

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Have you wondered how to explore the accordion as a blues or jazz instrument?

This workshop presents an opportunity for inexperienced to advanced players to explore the Blues as the foundational root of Jazz. Gary will present topics including history, stylistic developments, and technical elements as applied to the accordion.

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Accordion Festival 2023
Sept
30

Accordion Festival 2023

  • Church of All Nations Carlton, 180 Palmerston Street, Carlton VIC 3053 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

This festival invites us to join in celebration of the accordion’s lively role in the arts and cultural life of many countries and cultures worldwide. Join us at the Church of All Nations in Carlton on Saturday 30th of September to celebrate an instrument that one truly straps to the heart.

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Bellows & Beverages (Melbourne accordion meetup)
Aug
26

Bellows & Beverages (Melbourne accordion meetup)

  • Open Studio, 204 High St, Northcote VIC 3070 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Connect with fellow accordionists and enthusiasts at the Accordion Society of Australia's meetup! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experience the accordion in a warm, friendly atmosphere over food and drink. Bring your accordion and share some songs or just come for a chat and listen. Whether you're an accomplished player, just starting out, or simply adore the mesmerizing melodies of the accordion, this event is perfect for you!

View Event →