The 2024 Accordion Week at the St Audries Bay holiday centre in Somerset, England, took place from July 5th to 12th. There were accordion orchestra workshops morning and afternoon each day and concerts every evening, featuring volunteer players and teachers.

The teachers this year were Sammie Peckover-Mitchell (MD Mixed Ability Orchestra), Lisa-Lee Leslie (MD Vintage Accordion Orchestra), Caroline Hussey (MD Beginners Orchestra), Andrew Purkiss (MD Higher Intermediate Orchestra) and Robin Johnston-Hyland (MD Scottish Orchestra). The event included some master classes, private lessons from the teachers, a ceilidh on the Wednesday evening, and a grand finale concert featuring all of the workshop orchestras on the Thursday evening.

Andrew Purkiss and Robin Johnston-Hyland plus Matt Fisher on drums played for the ceilidh, and Lisa Pukiss called the dances. Sammie and Lisa-Lee were the festival organizers.

The Accordion Week does not have any booked guest accordionists, though the ever popular 94 year old jazz accordionist Harry Hussey – an ever present at these events – performed throughout the week, including evenings in the bar.

The annual Accordion Week at St Audries Bay began in 1988, and was originally organized by the late Malcolm Gee. It had a large and loyal following until the Covid pandemic of 2020 closed the event down. In 2023 it was revived, and it is now re-building its support. London-based accordionist Neil Sanders, who has attended every event since 1988, has written an article about the history of the St Audries Bay Accordion Week, which can be sent to anybody on request.

For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com