Mel Biggs is a folk musician, melodeon player, and expert in online music education. Over the years, she's met some of the finest box players & teachers from across Europe. Join Mel every month as she chats with a different folk celebrity guest, and get to know the person behind the music. Tune in for your monthly dose of inspiration, entertainment & accordion geekery!
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Rees Wesson - timeline 1974 – Mike James turned up at our folk club with a melodeon. I was smitten. Bought a Hohner Pokerwork for £30 and off I went. Learned to play on the night shift in a cheese factory in West Wales. Early influences, Rod Stradling of The Old Swan Band and Reg Hall of The Rakes, then Oscar Woods and Percy Brown. Discovered Sidmouth Festival. Spent much time in Wales, the West Country, East Anglia and elsewhere talking to the older generation of musicians. 1984 – Began importing Castagnari instruments and fixing up old Hohner accordions. 1988 – Went to Italy and Louisiana to meet accordion builders. Started trading at UK festivals. 1989 – Joined Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas. Much touring in Europe and America. Regular trips to Italy and Ireland to meet makers and players. Began teaching melodeon. Honed my tuning skills to a professional standard. 1992 – Formed Joe Le Taxi Zydeco Band. 2007 – Started building single row accordions (melodeons, same thing). I was a skilled engineer, wood was different! Steep learning curve. Pictures on my website Gallery at www.melodeons.com (https://www.melodeons.com) 2026 – Joined Pogue McClone. Joe Le Taxi is now 34 years old. I have a new ceilidh band, May Contain Nuts. I'm still playing gigs of all types. Currently recording another CD of folk tunes.
Rees' links:
Website (http://www.melodeons.com/) | Bandcamp (https://reeswesson.bandcamp.com/album/nice-and-lovely) | Joe Le Taxi (https://joeletaxi-zydeco.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-on-stage) | Willie Badger (https://williebadger.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-thief) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rees.wesson)
Replay Rees' Melinar tutorial:
https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/melinar-rees-in-171004965 (https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/melinar-rees-in-171004965)
Livestream concert from my kitchen!
Grace Smith Trio + Archie Churchill-Moss 29th November:
https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/ (https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/)
Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes - Absolute Beginners L1 October 31st:
https://stables.org/workshops (https://stables.org/workshops)
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 (https://www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com)
Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk (mailto:chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk)
Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/MelanieBiggsMusic) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melbiggs_melodeonteacher) | Patreon (https://open.acast.com/networks/65f0537aedbd610016765b31/shows/65f05712edbd610016775c21/episodes/www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic) | Website (https://open.acast.com/networks/65f0537aedbd610016765b31/shows/65f05712edbd610016775c21/episodes/www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk)
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6 Sept 2026
Moya Sweeney: The Area In Between
Moya Sweeney, is an accomplished Irish traditional musician and tutor, having performed across Ireland and Europe. Moya graduated from Ulster University with a First-Class Honours in Music in 2021, and completed a PGCE in Music in 2024. Moya has appeared on various television and radio programmes, such as BBC Two’s ‘I Lár an Aonaigh’, RTE Radio 1’s ‘Céilí House’, TG4’s ‘Ceol ón Earagail’, along with various BBC Radio Ulster Programmes such as The Eve Blair Show and The Mark Patterson Show. Moya has performed in Michael Rooney’s ‘Famine Suite’ at IMBOLC in 2019, while also performing as a member of the IMBOLC Orchestra in 2020 and 2023, along with Four Men & A Dog. She is also a member of the Ulster Folk Orchestra, and has performed Michael Rooney’s ‘Ómós na nUltach’. Most recently, Moya has released her debut EP 'From The Aa (https://moyasweeneyarchiemoss.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-aa)' with Archie Churchill-Moss.
Moya's links:
Bandcamp (https://moyasweeneyarchiemoss.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-aa) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/moya_sweeney/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/moya.sweeney.7)
Replay Moya's Melinar tutorial:
https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/melinar-moya-in-167229371 (https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/melinar-moya-in-167229371)
Live Folk Music in Swadlincote (DE11)
Kilnside Folk Events presents Janice Burns & Jon Doran 13th September:
https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/ (https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/)
Session Survival Skills 3-part online workshop series:
https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product/session-survival-skills-workshop-series/ (https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product/session-survival-skills-workshop-series/)
Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes - Absolute Beginners L1 October 31st:
https://stables.org/workshops (https://stables.org/workshops)
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 (https://www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com/)
Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk
Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/MelanieBiggsMusic) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melbiggs_melodeonteacher) | Patreon (www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic) | Website (www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
2 Aug 2026
Tara Connaghan: Navigating Session Uncertainty
Tara Connaghan is an Irish traditional fiddle player from Co. Donegal with more than 35 years' experience performing, teaching and participating in Irish music sessions. She is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast 'In Tune with Tradition', where she has interviewed many of the leading voices in Irish traditional music to explore the musical, social and cultural dynamics that shape great sessions.
Through hundreds of questionnaire responses, interviews and decades of lived experience, Tara has developed a unique perspective on why sessions can feel so welcoming for some musicians and so confusing for others. Today, Tara speaks internationally on session etiquette, cultural fluency and what she calls "Navigating Session Uncertainty", helping musicians make sense of the unwritten side of Irish music sessions.
Her talks, workshops and educational programmes help players move from uncertainty and self-consciousness to confidence, belonging and a deeper understanding of the session itself. Her work is used by music schools, festivals and musicians around the world who want to experience the joy of Irish music sessions while contributing positively to the tradition.
Tara's links:
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tarafiddle/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tara.connaghan/) | Podcast (https://pod.link/1824597652) | Podcast FB page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576848312798) | Podcast YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5tQCcQU81_mewa2uMRbq7A)
Replay Tara's Melinar tutorial on her S.H.A.R.E. session etiquette educational programme for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/165251222 (https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic/posts/165251222)
Join my PATREON to support the podcast - extended episodes, guest tutor Melinar tutorials & learning resource archive:
www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic (https://www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic)
Visit my website for on demand classes, courses, live dates, merch & more:
www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk (https://www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk/)
7-9th August join Judy Minot & I at Halsway Manor 'Practise Smarter, Play Happier' course:
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/practise-smarter-2026 (https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/practise-smarter-2026)
Live Folk Music in Swadlincote (DE11)
Kilnside Folk Events presents Janice Burns & Jon Doran 13th September:
https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/ (https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/product-category/live-music-events/)
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 (https://www.melbiggsmusic.bandcamp.com/)
Get in touch: chatterbox@melbiggsmusic.co.uk
Don't forget to like/subscribe/follow:
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/MelanieBiggsMusic) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melbiggs_melodeonteacher)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
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