The No.1 Ladies Accordion Orchestra is a cake-loving, tea (and wine!) drinking group of accordion enthusiasts who travel around the UK to introduce audiences to the amazing versatility of the piano accordion.
We get together six weekends a year, usually organised a year in advance. Two of these weekends are rehearsal-only weekends, and potential new members attend a rehearsal-only weekend. The above photo of "Six ladies in a bath tub" was taken during one of our rehearsal-only weekends on a farm in Cornwall, where there was lots of music practice, hiking in the surrounding countryside and fine dining, for which the No.1 Ladies are renowned.
The remaining four weekends are concert weekends - one new member referred to them as "accordion bootcamp". We arrive on a Friday, have dinner then practice into the evening. Saturday morning - more practice. Saturday afternoon, some practice but then a good break to stretch your legs and explore the locality.
On the Saturday evening we usually have a concert and then spend the Sunday either performing again, or playing new tunes before heading for home.
