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2020 r u o on H f o uest
e c u r B r e t e P In interview with Pia Walker
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ne of the many pleasures of being your editor is that I get to talk to so many people. Interviewing the Guests of Honour is a highlight, so travelling to Scone on a miserable day to hear a little bit about accordionist Peter Bruce, well-known MC of many a Perth Festival, was not an onerous task at all. Peter was born in 1953 in Ardfern, Mid-Argyll as one of 3 brothers. One of them, Colin, lives in England and the other, Neil, in Ballinluig. They and their families are the only family Peter has, as he never married. Colin and Peter are the only brothers with an interest in music with Colin playing piano. His father, Colin a cattleman, and mother Elizabeth encouraged Peter to learn to play by ear. His father played fiddle and was self-taught and his mother played the organ. His musical career started when the family lived near Laggan Bridge, and at the age of six, he was
given a tiny red accordion from an uncle. His first performance was in Laggan Hall shortly thereafter. As he grew, so did his accordions and he now is the proud owner of a Gola. In 1960 the whole family moved to Scone where Peter has lived ever since, except for the four years (1971-1975) he spent studying mathematics at University of Edinburgh. He started lessons with Mickie Ainsworth, who Peter says was an inspiring teacher who made you want to do better. Mickie worked hard to undo the bad habits acquired by Peter from playing by ear. The second tune he was taught was Jaunting Along in the purple book, which accordionists of a certain age will remember. The story goes that Peter, who could not read music, practised what was preached, and then came back the next week and played it wonderfully - in the wrong key! As Mickie toured with the Powrie Band he wasn’t
