THE MIDDLETOWN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES presents:

Karen Tweed & John Dipper 
    
Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at 8pm
145 Margarite Rd. Ext., Middletown CT
Suggested donation: $20 general ($23 at the door), $10 students, $5 children 12 & under
Please call Jody Cormack 860-346-4422 for reservations
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

          Karen Tweed is established as one of the finest exponents of the piano accordion. Her music, which moves with ease between blistering melody lines and soulful backing, has been described as 'mercurial, subtle and astounding'. Starting the piano accordion at eleven years, her first teacher was Joe Coll from Corby, Northamptonshire. Karen later began Irish music lessons with John Whelan the great button accordion player, and classical piano accordion lessons from Lawry Eady. In 1977 she won the first of five All-Ireland championships, and retired from competition as All-Ireland senior champion in 1981.
            Drawing from her background in Irish traditional music, Karen combines a wealth of musical history with a respect for other European traditions making her music accessible yet individual. She is most well known for her groundbreaking collaborative work with the English ensemble, 'The Two Duos Quartet' and the Anglo-Swedish group 'SWÅP'. Her 'May Monday' project, involving musicians from Sweden, UK and Finland received critical acclaim from BBC Radio producers to music events organisers throughout Europe. The album has been a platform for her own composing skills crossing the musical borders of folk, classical and jazz, and she is now featured on over 30 CDs. In addition to the groups mentioned above, she appears on The Kathryn Tickell Band, The Poozies, Ian Carr & Karen Tweed. She has also played sessions on recordings by Sting (UK), Morten Alfred Hoirup & Harald Haugaard (DK), Tony Hillyard (NZ) and Sally Barker (England), to name a few.

“Tweed's sensibilities straddle classical and traditional modes with the agility of Margot Fonteyn and the fluency of someone bi-lingual since birth. This is a music tethered to neither a time nor a location.” -- Irish Times

“...some of the most beautiful music I have heard so far in 2001. What Tweed has done is further liberate the piano accordion from the oompah band stereotypes and demonstrate the instrument’s full melodicism..” – Irish Echo

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            A respected and established performer and composer, John Dipper grew up steeped in the traditions of Southern England. His unique playing style and his traditionally-spirited compositions convey a deep understanding and passion for the English traditional and vernacular musical repertoire.  As a workshop leader and teacher John’s knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm combine to make him a much sought-after tutor. He has taught at venues and events including the Australian National Festival, Sidmouth International Festival, Ashokan in the United States, and for the Folk Music degree program at Newcastle University. Graduating with a degree in Music and Audio technology BSc Hons, John’s dissertation centered on the interpretation of field recordings. His deep interest in this area has lead to the formation of the English Acoustic Collective.

            John performs in several different groups and ensembles, the most recent of which is the John Dipper Band. John also appears as part of the Methera Quartet, as a member of No Man's Band (with Iris Bishop and Gary Holder, accompanying Martyn Wyndham-Read), and on Martyn Wyndham-Read’s ‘SongLinks’ CDs.

 “A player of great clarity and depth.” -- Chris Wood.

“Very lyrical and perceptive – A very talented and respected young performer.” -- Martyn Wyndham-Read.

“[The John Dipper Band] is very special…worth driving 200 miles to see and hear” – Living Tradition Magazine.

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DIRECTIONS to the concert:

from north:
Take I-91 south, to route 9 south, to exit 11. Turn left at the end of the ramp. Go through blinking lights (landmark is a firehouse on the left). Turn left at the first set of traffic lights (Millbrook Rd.). Go exactly one and a half miles. Turn right onto Livingston Rd. (landmark is a sign for Crystal Lake on the right)  Stay on Livingston Rd. as it winds around a little, to the first street on your left (Margarite Rd. Ext.). Landmark is a stop sign facing the other way. Number 145 Margarite Road Ext. is at the forth mailbox PAST the powerlines, on the right. The house has a deck around the front and a semi-circular driveway. Mailbox with the house number 145 is just after the driveway. Do NOT go up the road between the white gateway, you’ll have gone too far!

from the shoreline and Rhode Island:
Take I-95 to Rt. 9 North (around Old Saybrook/Essex). Take exit 11 off route 9, and turn left at the end of the ramp. From there, follow the directions above.

from south: (you have a choice of two other routes, if you don't want to take I-91 north all the way up to Route 9 south)

Take I-91 North to exit 15 ("Yalesville/Durham"). At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Rt. 68 (you'll be going east). Stay on Rt. 68 for 6 or 7 miles until it ends, at Rt. 17 in Durham. Turn left onto Rt. 17 (you'll be going north). Go straight for 1 mile ...or less ... until you come to some stop lights. At the first set of lights, turn right onto Haddam Quarter Rd.  (landmark is a liquor store on the right-hand corner). Go on Haddam Quarter Rd. for about 1 1/2 miles. Look for a pond on the left, followed by three houses. At the corner of the third house, turn left onto Arbutus St. (you'll be going north). Go on Arbutus for approx. 1 1/2 miles. Just after the power lines, turn right onto Livingston Rd. Go to the stop sign, then turn right onto Margarite Rd. Ext. Number 145 Margarite Road Ext. is at the forth mailbox PAST the powerlines, on the right. The house has a deck around the front and a semi-circular driveway. Mailbox with the house number 145 is just after the driveway. Do NOT go up the road between the white gateway, youll have gone too far!

OR....