Anna Pack is a musician and dancer with a long-standing interest in European traditional dance, performing in duos with Blowzabella's Dave Shepherd (R.I.P.), Nigel Eaton, Hekety's Jo Veal and in the trio Oscina.

Anna and I have travelled together to many a festival and workshop in England, France and Belgium. We've also been lucky enough to share the stage a couple of times to play with legends Riccardo Tesi and Naragonia Quartet! I've learned a lot from her over the years and always admired her vast skillset and dedication to her artistic talents. I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Anna's links:

Oscina Bandcamp | Ravelry knitting patterns

Videos of Anna & I on stage with famous bands:

Riccardo Tesi 2020 | Naragonia Quartet 2023

Join my PATREON for extended episodes, guest tutor Melinar tutorials & learning resource archive:

www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic

Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes - Improvers L2 June 27th:

https://stables.org/workshops

Visit my website for on demand classes, courses, live dates, merch & more:

www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Intro & outro music:

'Dream Big' by Mel Biggs. All rights reserved.

Listen to the full track on my album 'From Darkness Comes Light':

www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com

Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:

YouTube | Instagram

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Nick has performed and taught professionally since 2010 after completing the BMus Folk and Traditional Music with a 1st from Newcastle University. Since then, he has been part of various musical projects both in the UK and abroad. In 2015 Nick joined the Germany-based Irish music trio ‘Iontach’ with Siobhán Kennedy and Jens Kommnick and toured all over the country performing and giving workshops in both fiddle and diatonic button accordion. More recently since returning to the UK, Nick became the third member of the balfolk trio ‘Woodwose’ with Steve Tyler and Katy Marchant, specialising in playing for Balfolk dancing and with an emphasis on newly self-composed melodies. Nick’s musical style stems from a blend of inspirations and music traditions including Great Britain, Ireland, France and Scandinavia.

Nick's links:

Iontach | Woodwose

The arrival of the Queen of Sheba / Padraig McGovern

Join my PATREON for extended episodes, guest tutor Melinar tutorials & learning resource archive:

www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic

16th May Birmingham Balfolk event 2-5.30 pm, The Woodman Pub, Curzon St, B4 7XG:

https://fb.me/e/biKTQc1JW

KILNSIDE TICKETS: Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly 29/05:

https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/

Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes - Improvers L1 May 23rd:

https://stables.org/workshops

Visit my website for on demand classes, courses, live dates, merch & more:

www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Intro & outro music:

'Dream Big' by Mel Biggs. All rights reserved.

Listen to the full track on my album 'From Darkness Comes Light':

www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com

Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:

YouTube | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Howson, often thought of as a one-row player but these days she plays mainly D/G, is best known as a driving force in a number of significant English ceilidh bands including the Old Hat Dance Band and PolkaWorks, playing melodeon and harmonica. She grew up in the East Anglian tradition, playing alongside legendary musicians such as Oscar Woods and Dolly Curtis, but all along, she has had a very eclectic wider repertoire stretching from south west Ireland to the south west states of America, and north east England to north east Australia. 2026 will be her 50th year playing the melodeon, which will be marked by a solo presentation “Carry on Squeezing” at summer festivals.

As well as being a musician and educator, Katie is also a researcher, historian and writer on various aspects of traditional music, song and dance, with several books and websites to her name. She has made various media appearances including film and TV. Together with her late husband John Howson, she founded and ran the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust from 2000 to 2017. During this tenure she produced the annual “Melodeons and More” workshop days which were much-loved events in their day, and organised five melodeon-building courses led by Emmanuel Pariselle. In 2010, she was awarded the EFDSS Gold Badge Award.

Katie's Links:

Website | Bandcamp | https://www.eatmt.org.uk/ | www.unsunghistories.info | www.eastangliandulcimers.org.uk

Join my PATREON for extended episodes, guest tutor Melinar tutorials & learning resource archive:

www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic

Derbyshire Makes Festival, Swadlincote Hub Day 25th April 10-4pm with events across the county April-May:

https://www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk/whats-on

KILNSIDE TICKETS: Cosmos Chocolat bal (28/04) & Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly (29/05):

https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/

Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes - Improvers L1 May 23rd:

https://stables.org/workshops

Visit my website for on demand classes, courses, live dates, merch & more:

www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Intro & outro music:

'Dream Big' by Mel Biggs. All rights reserved.

Listen to the full track on my album 'From Darkness Comes Light':

www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com

Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk

Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:

YouTube | Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.