George Dura lives with his family in Middlesbrough.  As well as being a Community Liason Officer for Middlesbrough Council, he is a musician and community leader.  George is from northern Romania and from the Roma community.
 
Our Sonic Allotments recording sessions have involved meeting at a place chosen by George – so far, Redcar Beach and Stuart Park in Middlesbrough.  Both times, we have had a long conversation sitting on a bench, followed by George playing a tune or two on his accordion.  The conversation is about identity, land, and community connections.  George has a lot to share about the similarities and differences between the place he grew up in northern Romania and NE England where he has been living for some years.  Themes of isolation and togetherness; belonging and difference; and shared cultural knowledge and understanding run through the dialogue. 
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The stories and thoughtful comments from George give a particular context for the tunes that mix with the sounds of people passing by, the seagulls and starlings, and the expansive sea/landscape.  Played in these public spaces, the accordion seems at once familiar and yet also somehow lonely after the tales of wedding parties, community gatherings and the international music careers of George’s forebears.