Leonard Brown is one of the busiest accordion players in the country. 

He is in great demand as a solo performer, band leader, session musician and guest artiste at accordion and fiddle clubs throughout the country. 

Leonard Brown first became involved in music at the age of four when he started piano lessons with teacher Norman Brown from Penshaw, County Durham. He showed a natural flair for music and continued his studies throughout his school years. He sat numerous exams through the associated board of the royal school of music (ABRSM) and achieved his Grade 8 at the tender age of 15. He was accepted to study a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Music at Newcastle University in 2009. He graduated with a 2:1 in July 2012. 

Leonard first picked up an accordion at the age of eleven. He was an Irish dancer for four years from the age of seven with the McElvogue School of Irish Dancing and after winning 120 medals and 17 trophies, he decided to retire and take up the accordion. 

His dancing teacher’s sister, Sheena McCaffrey gave Leonard his first lessons on piano accordion with the main focus being bellow movement and how the left hand operated. Leonard then went on to teach himself and took a keen interest in Scottish music through his hero, the great Tom Alexander MBE from the famous Alexander Brothers.

Other accordionists that have influenced Leonard over the years are: 

Gordon Pattullo, Dermot O’Brien, Seamus O’Sullivan, Wayne Robertson, Liam Stewart, Michael Philip and Iain MacPhail. 

Leonard competed in October 2012 at the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival and won to became only the second Englishman to be crowned All Scotland Accordion Champion. This is the creme de la creme of accordion competitions in Scotland and is a title that Leonard is very proud of. He was awarded the Jimmy Shand Shield by the adjudicator John Carmichael. 

Leonard has consequently played extensively across the United Kingdom as a soloist and with his band. He was also a member of the Happy Cats Folk Band from 2011 until they disbanded in 2017.

Since 2011, Leonard has recorded 15 professional albums and 3 DVDs most of which are available to purchase through the shop page as a CD, DVD or the latest product on everyone's shopping list - A USB. An option to Download each track of an album is a brand new feature of the website and tracks are available for as little as £0.99p each. 

Since 2017, Leonard has been touring Theatres with The Leonard Brown Show which features The All Star Band and many special guests from all over the U.K and Ireland.

Since covid - Leonard has teamed up with fiddle player Maggie Adamson from Shetland and released two albums - Shades of Shetland and Encore, as well as two sell out tours in 2022 and 2023. 

The current members of Leonard’s All Star Band are: 

• Leonard Brown - Accordion 
• Liam Stewart - Piano 
• Duncan Findlay - Banjo, Guitar 
• John Sinton - Double Bass 
• Malcolm Ross - Drums

We look forward to welcoming you to one of Leonards concerts/shows in the near future.

Leonard’s dance weekends are one of the most popular events in the calendar. More info on the events page. 

Voted 
Guest Artiste of the Year 

Leonard Brown and Malcolm Ross

2016,2019,2023
&

CD of the Year  2012, 2019
by the NAAFC in Scotland 
A great honour indeed!