OrganFax

It is with great pleasure we can announce our intention to attend this event with the Organfax trade stand. This is the first time that any of the new team members have been able to "take the show on the road".

We hope to have a wireless link to the internet for the current Organfax 2 website and hope to be able to give a little taster of the new OF3 site which is due to release soon. We will also do our best to answer any questions you may have.

The event will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th January 2009 at the Holiday Inn (Black Prince) Bexley Kent just off the M25 Junction 2 (A2). Opening hours will be from 10am - 5pm daily. (FREE ADMISSION & FREE PRIZE DRAW).

Its going to be a musically packed show with a star studded line up... Tim Flint, Ian House, James Sargeant, Malcolm Deakin, Chris Whybrew, Richard Bower, Rod Pooley, David Harrild, Chris Jones to name but a few. Specialist staff from Yamaha, Roland, Korg, and Hammond will be demonstrating the new luxury range of pianos and keyboards with very special one-weekend prices and part-exchange deals to suit every pocket!

Whatever you do, don't miss it..... and keep an eye out for the ORGANFAX stand!!!

Tony Stace and Andrew Nix (T & A Events) would like to wish everyone a Very Happy and Musical New Year. Andrew and Tony go on to say... "

Also our sincerest good wishes go to the team working hard on the launch of Organfax3. We look forward to seeing the new site and hope it will be highly successful.

After a busy and exciting 2008 we look forward to this years events as we have an amazing programme featuring the best performers in the business. Further details can be found on our new look website.

Once again, many thanks and kindest regards,

Tony & Andrew"

Although John Dalley has been retired from the concert scene for some time, we know that many will want to pass on their best wishes to him. We know that today John is surrounded by friends and family at a special surprise party laid on by his wife Mary. So all the best for the future John and may there be many more to come!

Anyone wishing to see Carol in concert is welcome to a special performance at St Mary's Church, Andover on Saturday 21 March 2009 at 7.30 p.m.

The concert has been initiated by the Weyhill Electronic Organ Society who have organised the event in association with the Mayor of Test Valley's Charity Appeal. Carol is being sponsored by the Society and all proceeds will be donated to the Appeal. The world- renowned organist appeared at this venue in March 2007, when over £1,000 was raised for the local hospice.

Carol has performed concerts and recitals worldwide, whilst UK venues at which this extremely talented player has appeared include Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral, to name but a few. Her concert at St Mary's will comprise of a selection of light music, including a few classical pieces.

Tickets are priced at £6.00 and can be obtained from the Society (Tel.01264 323213).

We would just like to wish you all a fantastic New Year. 2009 holds great things for Organfax and our new web site is nearing completion. We are currently reviewing all the data on the Organfax site and updating it. If you have any news, corrections or additions for the new site then please forward them to john@organfax.co.uk

Hammond are very happy to announce show number 1 in their 2009 UK Organ promotional tour by taking part in the Kent International Keyboard Fair in conjunction with Music Land. A great day out is promised with most other major keyboard / piano manufacturers also exhibiting.

Sessions will be held on the following subjects..

USING THE XK-3 /3C, PRO SYSTEM, XK1 :- an in depth look at the menu system and customising the organ to suityour style of music.

HAMMOND playing styles and Techniques :- with Malc Deakin

THE HAMMOND CONNECTION :- How do I get the authentic Hammond Sound on MY keyboard? The 'Hammond Connection' will also show you how to use the XM-2 drawbar module / XK-1 / XK-3c / Pro System with your existing 'auto arranger' keyboard with awesome effect!

How a XK-3c and a PSR9000 or Tyros etc can transform your musical experience.

The venue is equipped with a cinema style screen and we will have cameras on the keyboards for both clinics and demos plus there will be one to one sessions with Malc Do not miss out on the first of the 2009 Hammond 75th Anniversary Shows

There will be lots of opportunity for you to get 'Hands On' with the Hammond / Leslie range and there will be several live performance sessions to entertain you over the weekend.

THE VENUE

Holiday Inn Black Prince

Southwold Road Bexley, DA5 1ND

Hotel Front Desk: 0870-4009006

Michael Wooldridge sends Christmas and New Year wishes to everyone from pantoland! He is currently working as Musical Director for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the lovely Blackfriars Theatre in Boston, Lincs. He tells us the show has been going wonderfully well with 'House Full' notices up at many performances. The show runs twice daily until 4th January so ring now for ticket availability on 01206 363 108.

Michael is really enjoying the run, as the cast are hugely talented and very friendly. He is especially chuffed to be working with Norman Barrett (pictured above), well known to many from his appearances on TV as ringmaster for the famous Blackpool Tower Circus and the International Circus Championships for many years. At the panto, Norman very much steals the show with his troupe of performing budgies, with whom Michael shares a dressing room! Apparently they just love to do their tricks for the audience, though at one performance one did decide it would be more interesting to fly down to see what was going on with Michael in the orchestra pit!

We would just like to offer Michael the following advice "keep looking over your shoulder just in case 'He's Behind You".....'

"Oh no he's not......Oh yes he is......."

"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" from the Organfax Team

Over 1500 enthusiastic listeners to BBC Radio Solent packed the Bournemouth Pavillion last weekend for their annual Christmas Carol Concert led by Tim Daykin. The organist for the concert was Chris Powell who was delighted with the reaction shown to both his music and the amazing Compton Theatre Organ.

This festive treat will be broadcast on Christmas Eve at 9am and Christmas Day at 6am and 1pm. Listeners on the South Coast will be able to tune into 96.1 and 103.8fm and DAB digital radio whilst people further afield can log onto the BBC Radio Solent Web Site .

Homeworld is an initiative by the Yamaha Home Keyboard Division (known as EKB) to create a high class environment for customers to view a wide range of different home keyboard instruments.

Andy Carvill, Marketing Manager of the EKB Division, stated 'A music store is the perfect environment for the musician, but for many first time customers it can feel a little intimidating. They feel like specialist stores for specialist people. Homeworld is designed to feel the opposite, a relaxed environment with well trained and knowledgeable staff. This means that both the new or more experienced customer can feel at home'.

The website is designed to inform potential customers where their nearest Homeworld store is, and to introduce customers to the staff they will meet prior to their visit.

Visit the Yamaha Homeworld Web Site

According to reports we have received, a great time was had by all at Alvaston Hall last weekend and pictures taken by Ken Abbott are now available on the YKPO Web Site .

You'll see Richard Bower, James Sargeant, Glyn Madden, Janet Dowsett, Howard Beaumont, Santa (Yes even he was there) and others....

Carol Williams has just released the latest DVD in the Tourbus series. The collection of DVDs is designed to be a collection of the great organs of the world. You will hear performances from Carol, meet fascinating people and enter into the depths of these great organs.

The second TourBus DVD features the great organ in Methuen, Massachusetts. This organ has a fascinating history. Take the guided tour around the inside of the great organ and see the mammoth workings of this huge instrument. Then see the interview with Edward J. Sampson (President of the Board of Trustees) as he unveils the history of this amazing instrument.

This organ originally traveled in the 1850s by sea from Germany to the USA and was installed in the Boston Music Hall. It was the first concert hall organ in the USA. Then, learn what happened next to this precious treasure. This organ has a priceless story. Music included:
Mad Rush - Philip Glass
Riff Raff - Giles Swayne
Toccata in Seven - John Rutter
Mozart Changes - Zsolt Gardonyi
The Entertainer - Scott Joplin

Details on how to order this DVD can be found here .

Relax and enjoy the comfortable and spectacular surroundings of Alvaston Hall. This half-timbered Victorian country house is five minutes from the old Cheshire riverside town of Nantwich. A must for Yamaha owners as you will see performances and detailed tutorials by demonstrators from Yamaha as well as the Yamaha Club's own Glyn Madden.

If you fancy a last minute get away then there are still some spaces left. Accommodation for the weekend ranges from £245 per person and you can book your place by calling Sceptre Promotions on 01780 782093.

It promises to be a great weekend, with a great line up. Glyn Madden, James Sargeant, Richard Bower, Peter Baartsmans, Howard Beaumont, Penny Weedon, Janet Dowsett and David Ingley will all be attending. You can download the programme for the weekend here .

Korg's Pa2X keyboard has just recieved an upgrade with a band new operating system.

This greatly anticipated software release has been a long time coming and promises some exciting new features. Top amoungst these are a new type of sound generation called DNC (Defined Nuance Control). Sounds made with the new DNC technology are said to give you an entire new level of playing control and are most likely Korg's answer to Yamaha's SuperArticulation and SuperArticulation 2 technology.

New sounds, new rhythms, new presets and new songbook items are just a few of the reasons to upgrade... and the best thing about it: IT'S FREE.

To find out all the changes the new operating system brings, read Korg's release notes, or go straight ahead and visit the download page.

The Scarborough Fair Collection is pleased to be presenting the first "SUPPER DANCE" this Saturday (29th November) at 7.30pm.

Both Wurlitzer organs will be featured in strict-tempo dance mode and there will be a pie & pea supper, together with a choice of sweets.

Former Blackpool Tower & North Pier Organist - Kevin Grunill will be at the consoles providing the music and the Wurlitzer's really do sound superb at providing this kind of musical accompaniment.

Don't worry if you do not dance, there have been quite a number of tickets sold to people who just like to listen to the music and have an enjoyable night out.

It is hoped that the evening dances will be a regular feature of the complex and that these events will be reasonably well supported.

Tickets are priced at £11.00, including supper and there is ample FREE car parking provided. Tickets can be booked by telephoning 01723 586698. Most credit/debit cards are accepted.