ABOUT

Button Boxes & Moothies is a celebration of the lesser known but wonderfully versatile free reed instruments. These instruments were at one time very popular with people in North-East Scotland and beyond but fell out of favour over time. Directed by Dr Frances Wilkins, senior lecturer at the Elphinstone Institute and a concertina player herself, the festival aims to offer rare opportunities to learn more about the instruments, receive valuable tuition, meet the finest players, take part in sessions and attend concerts.

Established in 2003 by the late Professor Ian Russell, Button Boxes and Moothies is a celebration of these lesser known and often overlooked small free reed instruments:

• Button boxes

• Mouth organs

• Jew’s harps

• Concertinas

• Melodeons