Box & Fiddle - August 2017

Fiddle

40th Year No. 12 Aug 2017

£2.70

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

The Celebrity Luncheon KEITH FESTIVAL CASTELFIDARDO 2017 TAKE THE FLOOR

PLUS

NEWS, REVIEWS, CLUB & DANCE DIARIES AND MUCH MORE...

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

3

...to the August issue of Box & Fiddle The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Editor • Pia Walker 7 Tarvit Gardens Cupar, Fife, KY15 5BT Tel: 01334 657 850 Mob: 07715 115 489 editor@boxandfiddle.com Designer • Marie Martin mamidesigns@hotmail.com Section icons by: FlatIcon

Cover Image Robbie Shepherd and Gary Innes

by Pia Walker

Printer • Meigle Colour Printers www.meigleprint.co.uk

NAAFC Chairman • Nicol McLaren 9 Sheila Road, Blairgowrie Perthshire, PH10 6RP Tel: 01250 874 526 nicol@boxandfiddle.com Vice Chairman • Iain Cathcart Tel: 01555 661 017 iain@boxandfiddle.com Secretary • Lorna Mair 7 Lathro Lane, Kinross KY13 8RX lorna@boxandfiddle.com Treasurer • Willie Johnstone treasurer@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: David Cunningham Charlie Kirkpatrick Susan MacFadyen Tom Orr Richard Ross

It was good to see so many of you at the NAAFC AGM, and I hope you all enjoyed the day. I certainly did. In this issue, you will see a little about the celebrity luncheon, which as usual was a great success. I hope to be able to publish something about the AGM itself in September when the new season start.

I have had a wee trip to the Fiddler of Pia Walker, Editor Strathspey Festival in Grantown of Spey.

Several of you have been to various other festivals over the summer, and in this issue, Keith gets a mention. If you are an organiser of a festival or Open Day or any event, remember to write about it and send it to the Box & Fiddle, preferably with a few photos.

As you know, I try to reply to all e-mails as soon as I get them.

I have had a few people contact me via Facebook, and in some instances, these queries and requests have unfortunately been overlooked. Please if you wish communicate with me in writing, do it by e-mail or letter, not Facebook. I read e-mails and letters at my office desk, where I have the proper facilities to respond more or less immediately. When reading something on my mobile at midnight, I may not remember it the next day ☺ I also have had phone calls from people who have left answer messages. If you could please speak your names and phone numbers as clearly as possible when calling, I may be able to get back to you. I certainly am not trying to ignore you. “Hello, phone me.” Just doesn’t do it for me ☺ I still have several clubs that have not sent in their dates for the next season: 10 for September and 18 for October. You have to let people know you are open for business as early as possible, if you want them to visit. Marie publishes all the dates on the website as soon as I send them to her. The magazine publishes the current month’s information as well as the next.

This month we have a new club GLASGOW, I look forward to hearing more about them, especially what was involved in setting up the club. I hope you will be very successful.

Keep up with the latest news at

www.boxandfiddle.com Box & Fiddle (NAAFC)

Pia

The editorial team reserves the right to refuse or edit all copy. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Use of material and advertising from this publication is strictly prohibited without permission in writing from the editor.

While every care has been taken in compiling Box & Fiddle to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press, Box & Fiddle assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

Contents

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B&F • CONTENTS

10 17

Castelfidardo 2017

19

Club News

9 The New Generation

28

Centre Stage

9

Musings by Tom Orr

29

Club Diary

10

Keith Festival

32

Dance Diary

36

Music

News Magazine Stockists Find out where to pick up your Summer issue

Catherine Speight

12 16

An honour indeed...

Read all the results of the event

by Callum Stuart

The Celebrity Luncheon Take the Floor The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience

Deadlines:

5

12

A trip for accordion lovers

The latest news from our clubs

Gary Innes

You are never too old to go clubbing!

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Drum Sergeant Lenni Bell B.E.M

by Iain Bell

All articles, adverts, club reports and text for the magazine must be e-mailed to the editor by the 5th of every month at the latest. Copy received after this date cannot be guaranteed to feature in the next issue.

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

NEWS

News

Send in your story. If you have a photo that tells a story, send it in with an explanation.

The Box & Fiddle Striding Forward As you know, the B&F Team: Marie (designer), Shirley (advertising), Denis (proofreader) and I work hard at producing what by someone at the AGM was called ‘an excellent product’. We aim to continue to do so and to expand to appeal to people outside the club scene. After all, we would like more people to be aware of and visit the clubs.

Despite increases in both postage and print, we have managed to keep the prices the same since 2012. We keep a very tight rein on the costs, and this year broke even. However, balancing cost is one thing, but we still have to ensure that the magazine remains a quality product, that we can still cover the rising costs and that you still want to promote and sell the magazine as much as possible.

At the 2016 AGM, we were given permission to investigate incentives to increase sales. At this year’s AGM an idea was put to the clubs with that in mind and a proposal came from the floor to raise the recommended retail price to £3

Laura Jane with her award.

with a reduced price for clubs, distributors and subscribers of the magazine. The AGM attendees voted overwhelmingly to implement this.

From September, clubs and distributors will now be able to sell the magazine for £ 3, but will only be invoiced £ 2.85 per magazine. Clubs will have an incentive of 15p for every magazine they sell and every reader who buys at a club will help that club in a small way. The NAAFC will also still pay the postage to clubs and distributors.

From September, direct subscribers will pay £ 2.80 plus postage (£1.19) per magazine when they renew. This is for UK readers only. I will make contact with our readers abroad to advise how this will affect them.

I am looking forward to making the magazine even better during the coming season. I am always looking for articles, news, photos, titbits, letters, music etc. – if it is of interest to you, it will be of interest to others, so send me your input.

Pia Walker, editor

The Jean Graham Memorial Trophy On 20th May, Laura Jane Rintoul was awarded The Jean Graham Memorial Trophy – ‘Spirit of the Mod’ award for 30 year’s service to Stirling Provincial Mod. Laura Jane explains: “Jean Graham MBE lived in Alexandria, Dumbartonshire and was a much loved and respected music adjudicator at both Mods and music festivals. Having known and been adjudicated by Jean several times, I am sure you can appreciate my joy on being awarded this trophy as it makes it very special for me”.

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

Keith Festival

By Callum Stuart

Every shop should stock them

F

riday was the start of the weekend and local performers and guests performed two concerts at Keith Primary School along with some pupils.

During the evening there was plenty of musical entertainment to choose from Neil Hardie Scottish Dance Band was playing at a dance in the Legion; they proved to be a hit and the dance was a sellout. The Ploo held a bothie ballad concert in the lounge. The guests appearing at this concert were Joe Aitken, Jim Taylor, Geordie Murison, Scott Gardiner, Iona Fyfe and Carol & Alan Prior. As usual, this concert was a great success with followers of bothy ballads. The Bowling Club hosted the opening concert with some of the guests mentioned above, the local band Ill’ Tricket, our guest fiddler Andy Kain with accompanist Martin Henderson from Shetland and the Adin Graham Scottish Dance Band, as well as a number of young performers.

On Saturday afternoon, the patients of Turner Memorial Hospital and the local care homes residents were treated to a selection of live music. The prize-winners concert was held in the

evening in St Thomas Hall. This concert comprises performances by all the competition winners after they have been presented with their trophies. On Saturday evening a sell-out concert was held in the Bowling Club where all the guests previously mentioned performed along with The Quiggs and David Corner. There was a concert in the lounge of the Ploo Pub where all the Bowling Club guests also performed in a smaller, more intimate setting. The Royal Hotel hosted the concert with the headline act of Breabach Folk Band along with some of our other guests as supporting acts.

On Sunday, the outdoor concert had to go indoors to the Legion owing to the rain. Strathisla Pipe Band kicked off followed by a selection of the guests. On Sunday night we had the farewell concert with the remaining guests making up the line up, finishing up with a ceilidh.

Guests to Keith were providing music in some local shops and pubs. The sessions are designed for musicians to come along and join in. This is what the festival is all about – joining in. l

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Take The Floor

THE SEAMUS O’SULLIVAN EXPERIENCE

I

have been playing at Fiddle & Accordion Clubs for some years now, and I asked some of the band members how I would go about auditioning for a Take the Floor broadcast and was advised to get in touch with Jennifer Cruickshank, which I did, and so the ‘Experience’ was born.

I spoke with the rest of the band namely Iain Cathcart, Duncan Black, Neil McMillan and Gordon Smith to arrange some rehearsal dates and after a few get-togethers, we were ready to venture into the studio. Here I had a great time playing all the tunes and sets we had rehearsed. I was delighted

to have Chelsea Docherty doing her bit of hard shoe Irish Dancing during Kate Dalrymple and again later in the programme, which I think, sounded well.

We all enjoyed the whole ‘Experience’ and the end result (while not strictly Scottish Dance Music) certainly had our toes tapping and hopefully it had the same effect with the listeners.

This broadcast would not have happened had it not been for all the band members – each of whom had his or her special part to play. Special thanks to them all and to Iain Cathcart for writing out all the chords for us to follow. l

05/08/17 – Rpt. Seamus O’Sullivan + Conservatoire Student 12/08/17 – Mull Special with Alasdair Macleod 19/08/17 – Rpt. Leonard Brown All Stars + Ceilidh Trail Concert Eden Court 26/08/17 – CD/Vinyl Hour + Tom Orr Ceilidh Set

B&F • AUGUST 2017

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Castelfidardo 2017 O

ur May 2017 trip to Italy consisted of 40 people from the UK, 10 from USA and one person from Canada.

Once we arrived and settled into our hotel in Castelfidardo we took a stroll to the Accordion Museum for a brief talk and to see all the interesting exhibits. People could play a special wood Zero Sette accordion and some of our members took the opportunity to entertain. We then wandered back to the hotel, stopping briefly at the music shop opposite the monument to the Paolo Soprani factory.

After dinner at the hotel, some of us played the accordions kindly loaned to us by the manufacturers.

We had a collection of Giustozzi and Alessandrinis, a used Scandalli from the Castelfidardo music shop and a wonderful top of the range Beltuna Spirit double cassotto. Zero Sette loaned us a Petosa cassotto with a lovely rich tone. We thank all the manufacturers and the music shop for their kind co-operation.

After breakfast the next day, we visited the Victoria Accordions showroom where the giant piano accordion is situated alongside a smaller chromatic model. People enjoyed trying to play these giants and managed to produce some recognisable tunes.

Giancarlo Francenella, who built the piano accordion, and his daughter Laura, who assisted him in the construction of the smaller model, were present.

There were other interesting exhibits, including one of the largest collections of concertinas and

bandoneons dating from the 19th century. Tango maestro Astor Piazolla had once played two of the bandoneons.

After lunch, we visited the Pigini and Beltuna factories to see these fine instruments being made and to try some of the new accordions. We received a late invitation from Scandalli who are re-introducing visits and some of the group wanted a quick tour here.

In the evening, we visited the usual restaurant in Sirolo. The owner always makes us welcome and allows us to play the accordions after dinner. More playing took place back at the hotel in the bar!

Thursday was a free day with optional tours to see the production of accordion bellows and reeds. Some

B&F • CLUB NEWS

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Club News Just remember to seek permission to publish the photos and tell us the name of the photographers.

To ensure a more readable section, please only send in max 250-300 words. A photo tells a better story, so add one or two of those too. Why not of your audience? Information in Club News helps attract visitors to your club, so make sure your club sounds like the place we want to go to.

Blackthorne Ceilidh Band stramash at Arbroath

ANNAN ST ANDREWS MC Jack Murdoch welcomed everyone to the June meeting and introduced The Willy Macfarlane Band. Playing with him were on second box was Frank Morrison, on keyboard Carol Rae and on drums Billy Dow. They started by playing for The Gay Gordons, Southern Rose Waltz, Eva Two Step, Saunter Together and The Edinburgh Mixture. The last dance of the first half was a Square Tango.

First local player was Jim Fraser with John Douglas playing second box. He played The Black Velvet Band, Sweet Rosie O’Grady and Wild Colonial Boy. Bill McMinn, also with John Douglas, played Dumbarton’s Drums and Jock o’ Hazeldene. Kenny Jackson played Scotland the Brave.

He was followed by Willie

Little on tin whistle and James Laurie on accordion. Barbra Fisher and John Douglas then played The Wild Rover, Delila, Wheels, Yellow Bird and Never on Sunday. Elizabeth Morrison from Law played The Old Rustic Bridge and Black Hills of Dakota on accordion. Moria Rayside from New Stevenson then played Believe me if all Those Endearing Young Charms, Sweet Rosie O’Grady, Irish Jaunting Car, and When Irish Eyes are Smiling. The final local player was John Waugh who played for a White Heather Foxtrot. All players were accompanied by Iain Wilson on keyboard and Bill Porter on drums.

The band then returned and continued playing for more dances ending with a Viennese Swing. Jack thanked the local players for their continued support and wished everyone a

safe journey home.

ARBROATH A smaller crowd than usual was welcomed by vice chairman Avril Abbott and music was swiftly started by our dedicated core of local players. On accordion were Margaret Smith, John Hart, Alan Petrie, Arthur Wood, Cora Wilson and Tony Simpson. On fiddle we had Dave Smith and Liz Arthur.

We also welcomed long time supporters of our club Gordon (fiddle) and Rhoda Legge (accordion) who delighted us with their debut performance.

Michael Mulford played bass guitar and Tony and Bill Ford accompanied several groups on keyboard.

Our guests, all from the border area, were Bob Liddle and the Blackthorne Ceilidh Band. Bob was on lead

☛

B&F • CLUB DIARY

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Club Diary August 2017 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

1

Seghill

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

2

Glenfarg

The Martin Donaldson Band

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

7.30 pm

Russell Robertson 01577 830 642

2

Montrose

Leonard Brown Duo

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30 pm

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

2

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

3

Crieff

Calum Johnston & Joan Blue

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

7.30 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

3

Lewis and Harris

Charlie Kirkpatrick

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

3

Rothbury

Kyle Rowan Duo

Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR

7.30 pm

Mary Davidson 01668 281 307

3

Turriff

Leonard Brown

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

6

Arbroath

Colin Dewar

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot, By Arbroath DD11 2PE

7.30pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

6

Peebles

Open Day

Rugby Social Club, Peebles EH45 8RS

1.30 pm - 5 pm

Dorothy Lawson 07760 197 301

8

Blairgowrie

Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio

Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL

7.45 pm

Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302

8

Seghill

Sounds Instrumental

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

9

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

10

Button-Key (Windygates)

Frank Morrison

The Greig Institute, Windygates KY8 5DG

7.00 pm

Mary Cook 01592 713 687

10

Carlisle

Gary Blair

St Margaret Mary’s Social Club, Carlisle CA2 4JX

7.30 pm

Alison Davies 01228 675 505

11

Orkney

Brandon McPhee

Kings St Halls, Kirkwall

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

14

Glasgow

Iain MacPhail 6-piece band

Scotstounhill Bowling Club, 633 Anniesland Rd, Glasgow G14 9AD

7.30 pm

Claire Gullan 07759950404

15

Seghill

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

16

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

17

Tynedale

Ian Cruickshanks Band

Tynedale Farmers Function Suite, Hexham Auction Mart, Hexham NE46 3SG

7.00 pm

Roddy Matthews 01434 672 424 / 07801 951 965

20

Annan St Andrew

Dick Black

St Andrew Social Club, Annan DG12 5JW

7.30 pm

Mrs N Taylor 01461 204 604

22

Ellon

Jock Fraser

Station Hotel, Ellon AB41 9BD

7.30 pm

Dr Tom R Jamieson 01358 729 575

22

Seghill

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

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B&F • BWWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM &F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

Dance Diary

View the Scottish Country Dances online at www.dancediary.info/index.html Contact: ceilidh@dancediary.info Tel: 01389 767718 or send your entry to: Alasdair Graham, 1 First Avenue, Dumbarton G82 2PU

Ceilidh & Old Time Dances

Regular Weekly Events

DATE

TOWN

HALL

BAND

TIME

COST

CONTACT

COMMENTS

Mondays

Kirkwall

St Magnus Centre

Live Music

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£4/£2

Door - All Welcome 01856 873 534

Orkney Dance Assoc.

Wednesdays

Glasgow

St Andrews in Square

Live Music

7.15 pm - 9.30 pm

£5.50 Bar

Door (Tricia Matthews) 01324 716 855

Ceilidh & Old Time Class

Most Sundays

East Kilbride

Girl Guide Hall, Dundas Place

-

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£2 (tea)

Door or tel : - 01355 230 134 or 245 052

Ceilidh & Old Time Club

Ceilidh & Old Time Dances

August 2017

DATE

TOWN

HALL

BAND

TIME

COST

CONTACT

COMMENTS

2

Banff

Springs Hotel

Jock Fraser

7.30 pm 10.30 pm

£4/£3.50

01346 518 754

A. & F. Club Weekly Ceilidh

2

Linlithgow

Palace Courtyard

Gordon Pattullo

7.30 pm 10.30 pm

£8.50

0131 331 1528

Scotch Hop-Indoors if wet

4 - 26

Edinburgh

Lauriston Hall

Various + Piper & Caller

9.00 pm 11.00 pm

£8

0131 339 5374

Fringe Ceilidhs [NOT Sundays]

4

Edinburgh

British Legion

Canongate Cadjers

8.00 pm 11.00 pm

£8

07815 741 699

Dances & Requests – EH7 4EL

4

Aberdeen

St Nicholas Ch.

Gordon Shand

8.00 pm 12.00 mn

£7.50 Tea

01467 671 394

Ceilidh – Adv. Ticket - Raffle

5

Largoward

Village Hall

Lindsay Weir

8.00 pm 11.00pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

5

North Kessock

Marine Park Hall

Dave Husband S.

8.00 pm 12.00 mn

£5 B.Y.O.B.

01463 870 508

Social Dancers

5

Midlem

Village Hall

Ian Cruickshanks

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£6 Bar

01835 870 244

Own Food – Reserve Ticket

5

Banchory

British Legion

Gordon Shand

8.00 pm 12.00 mn

£7.50

07715 318 875

Adv. Ticket Stovies - Raffle

9

Banff

Springs Hotel

Garioch Blend

7.30 pm - 10.30 pm

£4/£3.50

01346 518 754

A. & F. Club Weekly Ceilidh

9

Linlithgow

Palace Courtyard

Jim Lindsay

7.30 pm - 10.30 pm

£8.50

0131 331 1528

Scotch Hop-Indoors if wet

11

Bridge of Earn

The Institute

Leonard Brown

8.00 pm - 11.00 pm

£5 [No Bar]

07952 026 633

Pay at Door

12

Largoward

Village Hall

Scott Band

8.00 pm - 11.00 pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

12

Canonbie

Village Hall

Ewan Galloway

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£6 B.Y.O.B.

07704 727 463

(own food) DG14 0UX (Charity)

12

Isle of Lewis

Borve House Hotel

Live Music

8.30 pm

Free

01851 704 870

Monthly – Donations welcome

12

Tranent

Rannoch House

Gavin Piper

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£5 Bar

01875 615 138

Pay at Door

13

Aberdeen

Ashdale Hall

Charlie Esson

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£4 No Bar

01569 731 465

Blackburn Club Local Charities