Paul Hutchinson Knows Which Piano Accordion You Need Before You Do
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Folk legend. Accordion authority. The reason our southern customers never make the wrong choice.
Not many people can look a confused beginner in the eye, ask three questions, and know exactly which instrument will change their life. Paul Hutchinson can — and has been doing it for the best part of three decades.
We are, frankly, delighted to have Paul Hutchinson on the Squeezebox Marketplace team. When we say "delighted," we mean it in the way a newly formed folk band feels when the finest piano accordionist in the room agrees to join — slightly surprised, enormously grateful, and very aware that the standard has just gone up considerably.
Paul runs our southern branch near Hungerford, and if you've ever stood in front of a wall of piano accordions wondering where on earth to begin — how many basses, which key layout, why the prices vary so wildly — Paul Hutchinson is precisely the person you want in your corner. If some of those questions sound familiar, our accordion jargon buster is a good place to start — but honestly, Paul's answer will be better.
You may already know Paul as one half of Belshazzar's Feast, the much-loved duo that spent 25 years touring the folk world, collecting plaudits along the way — including a nomination as Best Duo at the BBC Folk Awards. If you've ever caught them at a festival, you'll know exactly why. Paul is widely regarded as one of the finest folk accordionists in the country, recognised for a playing style that's as refreshing as it is distinctive — part deep tradition, part formal musicality, part "how does he do that?"
His interest in 17th and 18th century dance music has taken him around the world, and his experience as a workshop leader, educator and composer means he has a rare gift: the ability to communicate complex musical ideas to anyone, at any level, without making them feel foolish for asking. That's rather useful when someone walks in off the street clutching a printout from the internet, convinced they want a particular instrument, and needing a gentle steer in the right direction.
Which, it turns out, happens quite a lot.
At Hungerford, you're in safe hands
Paul doesn't just help you choose the right piano accordion — the Squeezebox Marketplace southern branch has onsite repair and tuning facilities, so your accordion journey doesn't grind to a halt the moment something needs attention.
Whether you're a complete beginner, a returning player, or a serious musician looking to upgrade to something like a Pigini or Dino Baffetti — Paul and the team are there for every step of the way.
Not sure which instrument is right for you? Our own Kingfisher range is a wonderful place to start — intelligently designed, lighter than you'd expect, and built for players who want quality without the guesswork. And if you're not quite ready to commit, our Renticy rental scheme means you can try before you buy — £49 a month, a fully refundable deposit, and every penny you pay goes towards the purchase price if you decide this is, as we suspect it will be, the beginning of a beautiful and slightly obsessive new chapter.
Paul has spent his career making music feel accessible, joyful and community-centred. That's exactly what Squeezebox Marketplace is about. We couldn't have asked for a better person to have by our side in the south — and neither could you.
Find out more about Paul's music and work at paulhutchinsonmusic.com, and when you're ready to talk instruments, you know where to find him.