Karen Tweed
Encyclopedia
Karen Tweed is a piano accordion
ist from London
, England
.
at the age of 11, studying from button and piano accordion virtuoso John Whelan, and went on to win the first of 5 all-Ireland
championships in 1977 (on both piano accordion and melodica
). In 1989, she resigned from her full time Art and Design teaching post at Bexhill High School, Sussex
, to become a professional musician working with The Poozies
, The Kathryn Tickell
Band and Sally Barker
. Since then she has played around the world, giving concerts in Hong Kong
, New Zealand
, Australia
, Egypt
, Scandinavia
, Lesotho
, Turkey
, Japan
, the USA and Canada
.
, she is featured on over 30 CDs, and is also in demand for her work as an arranger, composer and tutor, being main piano accordion
tutor at Folkworks
youth courses for the past several years, as well as organising her own Adventures in Music courses along with Roger Wilson
. She is the main piano accordion tutor at the World Music Centre, University of Limerick
, Ireland
and a regular tutor at the BMus Degree in folk
and traditional music
at Newcastle University and The Sage Gateshead.
She left The Poozies
and Swåp
in 2007 in order to work on other projects.
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
ist from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Tweed began to play the piano accordionPiano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
at the age of 11, studying from button and piano accordion virtuoso John Whelan, and went on to win the first of 5 all-Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
championships in 1977 (on both piano accordion and melodica
Melodica
The melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
). In 1989, she resigned from her full time Art and Design teaching post at Bexhill High School, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, to become a professional musician working with The Poozies
The Poozies
The Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
, The Kathryn Tickell
Kathryn Tickell
Kathryn Tickell is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.-Life and career:...
Band and Sally Barker
Sally Barker
Sally Barker is an English folk singer and songwriter, known for her solo work and as a founding member of The Poozies.-Biography:...
. Since then she has played around the world, giving concerts in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
, she is featured on over 30 CDs, and is also in demand for her work as an arranger, composer and tutor, being main piano accordion
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
tutor at Folkworks
Folkworks
Folkworks is a non-profit organisation based at The Sage Gateshead and a part of the North Music Trust. It runs many workshops, summer schools and festivals to promote and encourage the furtherance of folk music. It was begun in 1988 by Alistair Anderson and Ros Rigby and became part of the North...
youth courses for the past several years, as well as organising her own Adventures in Music courses along with Roger Wilson
Roger Wilson (folk musician)
Roger Wilson is an English folk singer, fiddler, guitarist, and songwriter who, he says, abandoned a graphic design career to become a full-time musician in 1986. He was a member of The House Band and later joined Chris Wood and Martin Carthy in performances...
. She is the main piano accordion tutor at the World Music Centre, University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and a regular tutor at the BMus Degree in folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and traditional music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
at Newcastle University and The Sage Gateshead.
She left The Poozies
The Poozies
The Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
and Swåp
Swåp
Swåp are an Anglo-Swedish band that produce a musical fusion of traditional nordic music and celtic music.-Biography:Swåp was formed in 1995 by Karen Tweed , Ian Carr , Ola Bäckström and Carina Normansson...
in 2007 in order to work on other projects.
Selected discography
- The Palm Of Your Hand - Roger WilsonRoger Wilson (folk musician)Roger Wilson is an English folk singer, fiddler, guitarist, and songwriter who, he says, abandoned a graphic design career to become a full-time musician in 1986. He was a member of The House Band and later joined Chris Wood and Martin Carthy in performances...
(1987) - Beating The Drum - Sally BarkerSally BarkerSally Barker is an English folk singer and songwriter, known for her solo work and as a founding member of The Poozies.-Biography:...
& The Rhythm (1992) - Signs - The Kathryn TickellKathryn TickellKathryn Tickell is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.-Life and career:...
Band (1993) - Chantoozies - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(1993) - Drops Of Springwater (1994)
- The Silver Spire (1994)
- Irish Choice Tune Book (1994)
- Compilation: Across The Water (1994)
- Courage, Love and Grace - Pete MortonPete MortonPete Morton is a folk singer-songwriter who currently lives in London, England.-Biography:Morton was born in Leicester, England on July 30, 1964, and was educated at Countesthorpe Community College where he spent most of his time in the music block learning guitar and playing new wave and punk songs...
(1995) - Dansoozies - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(1995) - Shhh - Ian CarrIan Carr (guitarist)Ian Carr is an English guitarist and producer from Yorkshire, who has performed with Swåp and The Kate Rusby Band.Until the late 1990s, Carr was a part of The Kathryn Tickell Band...
& Karen Tweed (1995) - Fyace - Ian CarrIan Carr (guitarist)Ian Carr is an English guitarist and producer from Yorkshire, who has performed with Swåp and The Kate Rusby Band.Until the late 1990s, Carr was a part of The Kathryn Tickell Band...
& Karen Tweed (1997) - SWÅP - Swåp (1997)
- New Directions In The Old - Roy BaileyRoy Bailey (folk singer)Roy Bailey MBE , is a British socialist folk singer. Roy began his singing career in a skiffle group in 1958.Colin Irwin from the music magazine Mojo said Bailey represents "the very soul of folk's working class ideals.....
(1997) - Come Raise Your Head - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(1998) - Sic - Swåp (1999)
- Half As Happy As We - The Two Duos Quartet (1999)
- Infinite Blue - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(2000) - Live på Halkaerkro: Compilation of live tracks - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
, SwåpSwåpSwåp are an Anglo-Swedish band that produce a musical fusion of traditional nordic music and celtic music.-Biography:Swåp was formed in 1995 by Karen Tweed , Ian Carr , Ola Bäckström and Carina Normansson...
, Kathryn TickellKathryn TickellKathryn Tickell is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.-Life and career:...
Band (2000) - Coda - Roy BaileyRoy Bailey (folk singer)Roy Bailey MBE , is a British socialist folk singer. Roy began his singing career in a skiffle group in 1958.Colin Irwin from the music magazine Mojo said Bailey represents "the very soul of folk's working class ideals.....
(2000) - Raise your head: A Retrospective - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(2001) - May Monday - Karen Tweed & Timo AlakotilaTimo AlakotilaTimo Alakotila is a Finnish composer, arranger, and musician born July 15, 1959.Timo Alakotila's range of music styles stretches from Finnish folk music of the pelimanni style over some jazz influences to more or less Finnish style tangos, and with some extensions to classical music...
(2001) - Mosquito Hunter - SwåpSwåpSwåp are an Anglo-Swedish band that produce a musical fusion of traditional nordic music and celtic music.-Biography:Swåp was formed in 1995 by Karen Tweed , Ian Carr , Ola Bäckström and Carina Normansson...
(2002) - One Roof Under - Andy CuttingAndy CuttingAndy Cutting is an English folk musician and composer. Born 18 March 1969 in Harrow, he plays melodeon and has had instruments made by Castagnari to his own specification. He won the Folk Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 and 2011...
& Karen Tweed (2002) - Faerd - Faerd (2003)
- Changed Days Same Roots - The PooziesThe PooziesThe Poozies are an all-women band that produce folk music from the English and Scottish traditions. The band perform traditional and self-composed material. Contemporary songs written by Sally Barker also feature heavily in the current live set...
(2003) - Each Step on the Way - Tony Hilliard (2005)
- Du Da - SwåpSwåpSwåp are an Anglo-Swedish band that produce a musical fusion of traditional nordic music and celtic music.-Biography:Swåp was formed in 1995 by Karen Tweed , Ian Carr , Ola Bäckström and Carina Normansson...
(2005) - Gastbud - Morten Alfred Hoirup and Harald Haaugaard (2005)