Roger Watson: Transforming Tradition

Roger Watson: Transforming Tradition

From Chatterbox with Mel Biggs by Mel Biggs Music

December 1, 2025 · 1h 9m · Episode 24

About this episode

Roger Watson discusses his extensive experience with the melodeon and his contributions to traditional music.

Roger Watson has been playing melodeon for 55 of his 78 years. Known for his work as a member of Muckram Wakes and The New Victory Band in the 1970s, he published a tutor method in 1980: the Handbook for Melodeon, on behalf of Hohner. Later he worked as Artistic Director of TAPS, a folk development organisation, where he used his melodeon and knowledge of English traditional music to create projects involving players from many different music genres and cultural backgrounds, including Boka Halat. Retired for health reasons in 2010, he has returned to playing and workshop leading in recent years. Roger's Links: Facebook | YouTube Join my PATREON for extended episodes, guest tutor Melinar tutorials & learning resource archive: www.patreon.com/melbiggsmusic Live @ Mel's & ONLINE Double duo house concert 9th December 2025: Info & Tickets Learn DG melodeon with Mel at The Stables, Milton Keynes Jan 18th: https://stables.org/workshops Evesham Melodeon Playgroup & concert Feb 7-8th: https://www.melodeonplaygroup.org/ Visit my website for on demand classes, courses, live dates, merch & more: www.melbiggsmusic.co.uk Intro & outro music: 'Dream Big' by Mel Biggs…

People in this episode

Host: Mel Biggs

Guest: Roger Watson

Topics covered

  • melodeon
  • traditional music
  • folk development
  • music genres
  • workshops
  • music history

Keywords

  • melodeon
  • Roger Watson
  • traditional music
  • folk music
  • workshops
  • music projects
  • Hohner

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Muckram Wakes, The New Victory Band, Hohner, TAPS, Boka Halat

Products: Handbook for Melodeon

Places: Milton Keynes, Evesham

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