Month: September 2013

Breton Music Week

Published on by Gary ChapinLeave a comment

Two North American Breton cultural organizations, Kerlenn New York and Bretons de Quebec, have joined forces to launch the first annual Breton Music Week. A series of events from October 18 to 27 scheduled in a swath reaching from New York City, through Massachusetts, and into Quebec (with, hopefully, one outlier in Maine … which would be me).

“The goal of Breton Music Week is to extend and increase the awareness of Breton Music and culture in North America!” The week culminates with the Fest-noz Vraz! in NYC. And, hey, they have a tee shirt!

Best Gig Comment Ever

Published on by Gary Chapin3 Comments

I played for an hour yesterday at a local nursing home. Most everyone seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed it. But one woman — the oldest in the building — did not enjoy it. She sat about five feet away, directly in front of me. Between every number she would ask, “Don’t you know any of the old songs that I know?” And, “Play ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'” And, “‘Tell Me That You Love Me, Sweetheart.'” She was good natured, but I could tell I was frustrating her with my tradFrench stuff. About forty-five minutes in she got up and walked away, leaving behind the best gig comment I’ve ever gotten.

“If that’s what they play in France, I’m glad I live here.”

What’s the best comment you’ve ever gotten at a performance?

Two Blogs of Note

Published on by Gary ChapinLeave a comment
Sur le blog de ma fille.

I wanted to bring your attention to two blogs of interest to the accordéon-centric. The first (nepotism alert) is that of my daughter, Brigid. Quite the photographer, she is responsible for many of the photos on this site, and undertook to document the most recent performance of my trio, Le Bon Truc. These photos are posted on her blog, Brigid and the World. The photos of her trip to Costa Rica are also amazing.

The second blog is Loafing Aboard. Doc is a denizen of mel.net, and recently spent the summer in Ghent conducting a sort of dream-turned-real accordéon bacchanal. His most recent post is a beautiful essay about that trip.