Rees Wesson

5. Welsh and more

As a Welshman, my first love is Welsh and English folk music, but I also like to push the boundaries of the instrument. Zydeco Blues appeals to my sense of adventure.

I learned to play the accordion while working on the night shift in a cheese factory and have recently started building my own accordions in my little shack in Welshpool (they are made of cheese). I like to begin my workshops with a basic Cajun/Zydeco waltz.

Later we move on to a two step. Then a few zydeco riffs and on into some Freestyle Blues. It's a formula that seems to work well with beginners to the genre. All the tunes are played in the second key or its relative minor. i.e. G (or E minor) on a C/F box.
 

My current bands include:

• Joe le Taxi - Zydeco Dance Band (established 20 years)
  
• Parti Gungrog - Welsh Folk Rock Band (est. 4 years)
  
• mei Contain Nuts - English Country Dance Band (est. 9 years)
  
• Llandinam Village Band - Welsh Folk Dance Band(est. 10 years)
  
• Rees Wesson and Chris Bartram - folk songs and tunes (est. 32 years)
  

• www.melodeons.com