Across Lankum’s three albums you can find Radie Peat playing concertina, harmonium, bayan accordion, tin whistle, piano and harp. Meeting after the band’s sound check at Tufnell Park’s Dome, I wasn’t sure which instrument Peat would choose to discuss. “I love my harmonium and bayan accordion,” she says, “but when people ask me what instruments I play, I really feel I can only say concertina and tin whistle. They are the only ones I feel really confident on.”

A family of instruments

“This is a baritone concertina,” she says holding up an instrument that reminds me of the kind I’ve seen played by pirates singing sea shanties. “And it’s bigger than my normal concertina. My normal concertina is a Dipper – it’s called that because it’s made by Colin and Rosie Dipper, they’re based in Wiltshire and are the best concertina makers in the world. I originally learned concertina on a Lachenal, but a smaller one than this one. But I was also smaller – I was about ten when I started to learn it. My dad plays concertina and I just started playing his concertina. My parents bought me one which was very nice of them as they are not cheap. Then we went to lessons together – yes, my dad and I both getting concertina lessons at the same time! I grew up in a family where we all engaged with Irish trad music.”

“It took root in County Clare in the mid-19th century and, interestingly, has always been a popular instrument there with female musicians”

Peat notes that her dark brown instrument is at least a hundred years old. “It’s also a Lachenal – they were one of the major Anglo-German concertina producers of the 19th and 20th century – and its original patent emblem has fallen into the concertina.” She points at a small steel badge that’s slipped inside the wooden grips. “They are often made of rosewood and have bone buttons. Also, they have an engraved metal reed inside.”

Baritone Concertina

“This baritone is in a different key to my Dipper – it’s much lower pitched. I was looking for a lower pitch and one in this key as Ian [Lynch] plays a set of uilleann pipes in the key of B – this is exactly the same but an octave lower so me and Ian can play together.” The instrument, Peat informs me, is one of the key elements in Irish trad music. “Concertina is very popular – especially in County Clare. It took root in County Clare in the mid-19th century and, interestingly, has always been a popular instrument there with female musicians. My teacher Noel Hill is probably the best known concertina player in Ireland.”

She then adds, “concertinas are popular throughout the world – the Zulu people play them and call them a ‘squeeze box.’ It’s a wonderful instrument, very portable and adaptable. This baritone is a very big concertina. Concertina is different from accordion – it is a sweeter sound. To get good on it takes time, effort and a degree of fanaticism!” She laughs and then adds, “the concertina is great to travel with, but the harmonium is a hassle. If I just played concertina it’d be easy!”

“One of my favourite things to do is play concertina with my sisters”

On Lankum’s latest and Songlines award-winning album, The Livelong Day (reviewed in #154), Peat believes her best concertina playing can be heard on ‘Bear Creek’ and ‘Ode to Lullaby’. “It depends on what the song needs. Harmonium or concertina. It’s nice to have a few things to choose from. I think I might be a bit scatterbrained with instruments – I chop and change... Different instruments do different things for you.”

Peat caresses her concertina and says, “I have three sisters and two of them play concertina. One of my favourite things to do is play concertina with my sisters. Everyone in my family plays music – my parents play about three sessions a week.”

This article originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of Songlines. Never miss an issue – subscribe today