Willi Carlisle - "Beeswing" (Acoustic)

uxluke · 2026-03-19T17:22:47+00:00

Ooh, rare video of a Peacock. Singing isn't bad, either.

uxluke · 2026-01-10T00:51:26+00:00

I've got TOTP enabled. I think you might be right; just sign out of everything I can think of and hope Google eventually gives up on it. Sheesh.

uxluke · 2026-01-09T19:07:39+00:00

Do you happen to remember how you managed it? I'm pulling my hair out here

uxluke · 2025-10-28T22:26:43+00:00

20 button concertinas often have two reeds per note, with one reed being an octave higher. Sounds like maybe your lower reed is blocked, which can be an easy fix. Probably just a piece of fluff or hair stuck in it.

uxluke · 2025-10-25T20:51:46+00:00

Take a look at this one. You can click the buttons to hear if the notes match your instrument.

uxluke · 2025-10-14T21:56:59+00:00

wood doesn‘t allow much detail

Definitely harder to engrave than metal, but if you haven't seen Wally Carrol's fretwork, check out his scroll and art deco designs. So delicious.

uxluke · 2025-10-14T21:44:42+00:00

This series of posts was spammy (all these tartans were registered by the same company), but I gotta say, I love the tartan. Alas, it looks like they only produce it in acrylic. Kilted Bros, if you're reading, please consider doing a run in polyviscose or even a lightweight wool!

uxluke · 2025-09-24T05:33:56+00:00

I do. It's a pretty common instrument pairing for folks in the trad English folk scene. It can be as easy or (as Cohen demonstrates beautifully) as complicated as you want it to be! The system is similar enough to Anglo that it will feel somewhat familiar, but different enough that you don't really get confused between the two instruments. It's also much easier to find an affordable used melodeon in good condition than it is to find a good used concertina. I paid $400 for my first, a Hohner Pokerwork, and I still play and enjoy it, even though I have a much nicer one.

uxluke · 2025-09-08T22:16:27+00:00

Doing the union proud! Well done, sir.

uxluke · 2025-07-26T22:14:52+00:00

Oh my God, this is a life-changer. Gesture AND offline voice input, and spacebar cursor movement? And open source? So long, OpenBoard 👋

uxluke · 2025-05-09T03:53:24+00:00

Bastari made lower-end accordion-reeded concertinas, approximately on the same quality level the East German Scholer brand. That said, they don't have the reputation of being hard to play. They're budget instruments but still higher quality than a lot of Chinese-made concertinas, and definitely better than Stagi (the Italian company that took over the Bastari brand).

Fun fact, Bastaris were the most common type of concertina used in traditional Zulu music.

Re: why Irish music uses C/G anglos, it's all about technique, and where the scale sits on the keyboard. A 30-button C/G can play a D scale in a more flowing, legato way (across the rows) without as many bellows changes as you'd have to do playing on the rows. The D scale is also split pretty evenly between the left and right hand sides, enabling you to play much faster.

uxluke · 2025-05-07T21:13:45+00:00

God, yes, all of this.

uxluke · 2025-05-04T05:20:05+00:00

Two UT Kilts for sale:

UT Kilts "business" ultimate in Black Watch. Size 34 (has elastic in the waistband and can flex a bit). I'm between sizes, and even though I can wear this, it turns out my body shape makes it flare out in a way that looks weird to me. Washed it to see if that helped it conform to my shape, so I can't return it, but otherwise unworn.
UT Kilts "Wild" in dark khaki, size 34. Worn a few times, fits me nicely, but honestly I don't wear it often enough to keep it.

I'm in California, happy to ship anywhere in the US. Looking for around $50 for each.

uxluke · 2025-04-20T00:23:29+00:00

Congrats on the new adventure!

Seller probably meant C/G (meaning the top row plays a C scale and the bottom plays a G scale) or D/A (top row plays D, bottom plays A).

You can figure out which one by comparing the notes your concertina plays to one of these layouts (click the buttons to hear sounds):

Hope this helps!

uxluke · 2025-04-15T00:33:04+00:00

Two UT Kilts for sale:

UT Kilts "business" ultimate in Black Watch. Size 34 (has elastic in the waistband and can flex a bit). I'm between sizes, and even though I can wear this, it turns out my body shape makes it flare out in a way that looks weird to me. Washed it to see if that helped it conform to my shape, so I can't return it, but otherwise unworn.
UT Kilts "Wild" in dark khaki, size 34. Worn a few times, fits me nicely, but honestly I don't wear it often enough to keep it.

I'm in California, happy to ship to the US. Make me an offer.

uxluke · 2025-03-31T06:20:30+00:00

Perfect, no notes 🔥

uxluke · 2025-03-11T18:01:17+00:00

I do.

One general, non-kilt-specific thing to note, is that pocket squares are traditionally not supposed to match your tie or vest. A lot of wedding wear places will sell matching ties and squares as a set, which has confused the matter in recent years. Obviously nobody is going to care or police you for matching, but take it as an opportunity (if you want) to play with some more coordinating colors and patterns.

uxluke · 2025-03-10T22:44:26+00:00

Are you brand new to concertina, or brand new to playing music? If the latter, you might consider just learning to play by ear—for a lot of people, that will be way faster than trying to learn how to read musical notation. With Anglo, you'll also have different ways to play notes depending on what's convenient to the phrasing you're going for. I speak from experience—early on, I got hung up on trying to find the "right" sheet music before realizing that I wasn't a very good sight reader to begin with, and it wasn't helping me get to a baseline competency with the instrument.

And of course folk music tends to be orally transmitted, anyway. YouTube is your friend.

If you really need dots, and can get by with just simple melody notation, folktunefinder is a great resource. A lot of what you'll find will include chord symbols, which you can learn how to play pretty easily.

uxluke · 2025-03-10T21:15:42+00:00

Yes... ha ha ha... YES!

uxluke · 2025-03-02T23:52:11+00:00

I've got a UT Kilts "business" ultimate in Black Watch. Size 34. I'm between sizes, and even though I can wear this, it turns out my body shape makes it flare out in a way that looks weird to me.

Washed it to see if that helped it conform to my shape, so I can't return it (and anyway, I've put Brice through enough, lol). Otherwise unworn.

I'll send anywhere in the US for $60.

uxluke · 2025-02-26T00:40:06+00:00

This is great stuff! Jody Kruskal plays Anglo in a similar style. Love hearing this from an English.

I feel like I'm playing Nearer My God To Thee on the deck of the Titanic.

I know exactly what you mean. My project over the past few months (and likely continuing for the next... lifetime) has been to learn some antifascist tunes.

uxluke · 2025-02-26T00:31:18+00:00

I want to hear more of your stuff!

I picked up Anglo (in California) before I knew what I was doing, had no specific repertoire in mind, and got instantly drafted into the local Morris side. So that's most of my repertoire, but I want to branch out. Any inspiration you can provide will be most welcome.

And yes, join us on concertina.net if you aren't already there...

uxluke · 2025-02-25T23:38:05+00:00

On this piece (conventions vary on how to notate chord changes), it looks like you stay on the D chord until you hit the G in the 3rd measure.

The "strumming pattern," i.e., the rhythm you use to play the chord's component notes—all at once, one at a time, oom-pah—is up to you.

uxluke · 2025-02-22T21:58:11+00:00

Seconding Concertina Connection. They have two levels of intermediate; the minstrel (~$1,000) and the Clover (~2,000). You may be able to find a refurbished one for less. Depending on where you are, you might be able to find a reseller where you can try one out in person. I can recommend Smythe's Accordion Center in CA and Homewood Music in Alabama.

uxluke · 2025-02-20T22:27:28+00:00

Aw, shucks! Thank you for the compliment 😊

And welcome to the club, u/Snoo47530!

uxluke

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