Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace, Weddings Parties Anything, Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission

Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace is an Australian-based accordion and keyboard player, who for more than forty years has played around the world with a range of outfits including Weddings Parties Anything and Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission.  We cover a lot of that career, in addition to some discussion on accordions in contemporary music, some great desert island disc selections and a whole bunch more. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):   Mark’s musical upbringing and earning his stripes in a Scottish dance band from age 12. Auditioning and joining Weddings Parties Anything Wedding Parties Anything live in 1988 – Under The Clocks Weddings Parties Anything – Streets of Forbes Early days gigging with Weddings Parties Anything, including a residency at Fitzroy’s Jike Jika Hotel. Weddings Parties Anything’s first album – Scorn of the Women The Infanticide of Marie Farrar Weddings Parties Anything – Away Away The second album – Roaring Days Discussion on Weddings Parties rise and rise and supporting acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Steve Earle and U2. The third album – The Big Don’t Argue The Ballad of Peggy and Col The fourth album – Difficult Loves The fifth album – King Tide Changes in band lineup and making Australia the ‘new Europe’ touring-wise. The sixth album – Donkey Serenade The last album – River’esque The ending of Weddings Parties Anything, the final gigs and stage diving with an accordion Touring with U2 and BB KingMark in action with Sally Dastey The brilliant Tiddas Playing on Mick Thomas and The Sure Thing albums – including Big Geographical The formation of Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission Three Roving Commission songs to check out: Back in the Day, Build This, Anything You Recognise (which in part retells the discussion with Mark on the breakup of Weddings Parties Anything) Mark’s accordions and go to keyboard: the Nord Electro 3 The solo album: Squeezebox Wally Thoughts on musical legacy The The – This Is The Day Desert Island Discs: Kite – Kirsty Maccoll, Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake, Dancer With Bruised Knees – Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Moon Safari – Air, How Will The Wolf Survive? – Los Lobos, Nina Simone At Town Hall – Nina Simone. Key links: Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content Buy some keyboard related merchandise Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn Complete our audience survey to help us improve! Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations. A special thanks to Tim Pyers who introduced me to Weddings Parties anything way back in 1989. Do get in touch Tim!The post Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace, Weddings Parties Anything, Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.