Button Boxes & Moothies

Button Boxes & Moothies The Elphinstone Institute's Button Boxes & Moothies: A Free Reed Convention will be returning to Aberdeen, Scotland from 14-16 November 2025.

A festival, directed by Dr Frances Wilkins in celebration of small ‘free reed’ instruments. A festival, directed by Dr Frances Wilkins of the Elphinstone Institute in celebration of small ‘free reed’ instruments including melodeons, concertinas, mouth organs, Jew's harps and button accordions. Aimed at players of all levels, and those who have never played before, this festival has something for e

veryone - 'come and try' sessions, instrument workshops, concerts, talks and demonstrations, maintenance workshops, mixed instrument workshops (open to all melody instruments) and sessions. For more information, please contact us. Tickets are on sale through our website.

We're very excited to have special guest Luke Daniels joining us on 26th September to lead a day's tuition in B/C button...
13/07/2026

We're very excited to have special guest Luke Daniels joining us on 26th September to lead a day's tuition in B/C button box at the University of Aberdeen!

We will be running a tuition day for people of all levels to explore the wonderful B/C button box. Luke will be providing learning materials in advance to suit all levels.

The tuition day is from 9-5pm with an evening concert from 7:00pm in the Dunbar Street Hall. There will be other events over the weekend including informal music sessions on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Tickets for the tuition day and concert are £85/75 (Friends of the EI)/40 (students/under-25s) including lunch and refreshments. There are also a limited number of bursaries available - please contact [email protected] for more information.

The evening concert in Dunbar Street Hall is £15/12/6.

For more information and tickets, visit the website at www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com

This event has been made possible by the support from the Traditional Arts and Culture Fund, administered by TRACS, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Luke Daniels University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Folk Orchestra: The Woods Aberdeen City Council - City Events

Button Boxes & Moothies festival director, Frances Wilkins, has recently released her 5-track EP released as a CD. Solo ...
24/06/2026

Button Boxes & Moothies festival director, Frances Wilkins, has recently released her 5-track EP released as a CD. Solo English concertina with guitar accompaniment from Brian Ó hEadhra.

The CD is available through her bandcamp site, priced at £7.50 plus p&p, at https://franceswilkins.bandcamp.com/album/frances-wilkins-ep

It is also available to buy directly from the Elphinstone Institute in Aberdeen.

Frances will be leading a tuition day as part of the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling on Saturday 26th September for all players of the English concertina system.

For more information and to book, visit www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com

We were so incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Professor Ian Russell MBE over the weekend. Ian was a huge inspirati...
17/05/2026

We were so incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Professor Ian Russell MBE over the weekend.

Ian was a huge inspiration to so many people in so many ways. He founded Button Boxes & Moothies back in 2003 and as well as playing the button box himself was incredibly supportive of players of free reed instruments who have attended the festival over the years.

Ian will be greatly missed by many people in all corners of the globe. Our sincere condolences go to Norma, who has been so supportive of the festival over the years, and to their son Joe and grandson Tomas.

Autumn Fling tickets are now on sale! They can be booked at:https://www.ticketsource.com/button-boxes-and-moothies-2026A...
01/05/2026

Autumn Fling tickets are now on sale! They can be booked at:

https://www.ticketsource.com/button-boxes-and-moothies-2026

A day of tuition on English concertina with Dr Frances Wilkins and B/C button box with Luke Daniels, followed by an evening concert in Old Aberdeen.

£85 for the day, £75 for Friends of the Elphinstone Institute (£20 per year, join through the website), £40 for full-time students and under-18's.

Ticket includes:
*Tuition from 9:30-4:30pm (lunch from 12:30-1:30pm)
*Evening concert with Frances Wilkins, Luke Daniels and friends
*Lunch and refreshments
*informal music sessions over the weekend

Please note that Elphinstone Institute membership (£20 per year) can also be purchased through the ticket shop, and gives a £10 discount on tickets.

If you have any questions, please get in touch

Luke Daniels

Aberdeen City Council

We are excited to announce the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling! A day of tuition in B/C Button Box (Luke Daniels) a...
20/04/2026

We are excited to announce the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling!

A day of tuition in B/C Button Box (Luke Daniels) and English Concertina (Frances Wilkins) followed by an evening concert in Old Aberdeen.

£85 for the day (including lunch and refreshments), £75 for friends of the Elphinstone Institute. All abilities catered for.

For more information and to reserve a place, please contact Frances on [email protected].

Tickets go on sale on 1st May!

There will be music sessions over the weekend including an opening session on the Friday evening.

Address

Elphinstone Institute
Aberdeen
AB245UA

Telephone

+441224272996

Website

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