Box & Fiddle Jan 2015

Fiddle

38th Year No. 05 Jan 2015

The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

FOLK FOR

JAMES CASTELFIDARDO

2014

Dundee Strathspey & REEL SOCIETY

NEW Generation

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

£2.70

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Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

3

...to the January 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 Irvine mamidesigns@hotmail.com Cover Image Joanna Powell Paitings www.joannapowellpaintings.co.uk 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 • Susan MacFadyen Carlung Farm, West Kilbride Ayrshire, KA23 9PU Tel: 01294 823 865 susan@boxandfiddle.com Treasurer • Charlie Todd 63 Station Road, Thankerton Biggar, ML12 6NZ Tel: 01899 308 327 charlie@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: Charlie Kirkpatrick David Cunningham Margo Maclennan Richard Ross Tom Orr Willie Johnstone

Welcome to a new year, I hope 2015 will be good to you all. Thank you for all your good wishes, encouraging notes and e-mails and all the positive comments Marie and I have received during the last part of 2014. Thank you to all distributors, you are doing a fantastic job. I would like to thank you, the reader, for sending me articles, reports and ideas.

Pia Walker, Editor Some of the ideas are being implemented. A reader asked me if it was possible to have a map of some kind, so we could see where the various clubs are located. Marie is working on this on the website, and if you have been online, you will see that changes happen all the time.

With regards to the website and the diaries, please could all clubs check their own page from time to time. Do you meet in the months stated? On the dates mentioned? Mistakes happen.

I know musicians of course never make mistakes! But I’m not a musician! ☺ Thank you also for letting me know if you haven’t received your magazine and for telling me this in advance of your club meeting, so I can do something about it. We work to strict deadlines, and the magazine is sent out in advance of the first of every month to all. I think a few packages were caught up in the Christmas mail, at least that is the excuse we get from Royal Mail!

I am at present working on the guest list for the February issue, so guest artistes check your online entry and send me your information. If not, outdated info may appear in print.

Another plan for 2015 is to have a presence at as many Festivals as possible, i.e. I would like to be able to have magazines for sale at various events. Windygates and Inchyra are coming up. So let me know when your festival is, so we can discuss this.

Let’s make 2015 a great year. See you around.

Pia

Hot Tip

Send in your reports without fancy fonts. Just use capitals at the start of a sentence. And do check names of people and tunes.

Keep up with the latest news at

www.boxandfiddle.com Box & Fiddle (NAAFC)

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.

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Contents

B&F • CONTENTS

9

Jimmy Burgess Band

8

Dundee Strathspey & Reel Society What they got up to during their anniversary year

9

Folk for James David Gardner tells the story of a remarkable concert involving many of our friends

10 The New Generation Emma Dickson

11 Centre Stage

Pia takes the hot seat

12 Castelfidardo 2014

A pilgrimage to Accordionland

14 Presentations

So many clubs, so much to celebrate

15 Club News

21

36 Club Diary

Where to go for a good night out

41 Dance Diary

Find the dances and ceilidhs near you

43 Take the Floor Ian Thomson SDB

44 In Memory

Charlie Watkins, Tom Wemyss and Ron Hodgson

46 Reviews

The latest news from our clubs

Deadlines:

12

Scandinavian Fiddle Tunes

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.

5

6

B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

The New Generation

H

a duo with Adam Gibb of Biggar. aving been born into a I have also played alongside musical family, my passion for musicians of similar age and music, and indeed the accordion, ability in the youth accordion band was evident from a very young KODA for around six years. We age. Prior to receiving any formal have performed at many events, accordion lessons, I picked up a including T in the Park. few simple tunes by ear, namely As a solo accordionist, I have Highland Cathedral and I Belong competed successfully at many to Glasgow. Much of my inspiration accordion festivals including the stemmed from my dad, Keith Oban Accordion Masters and the Dickson, and indeed my granddad, Emma Dickson UK Accordion Championships. At John Anderson. At the age of six, I All Scotland Senior Ladies present I am currently learning the began music lessons from Wilson Champion 2014 bagpipes, and under the tuition of Wood of Whitburn who, for the last Gordon Rowan I have been given the opportunity eleven years, has taught me on a weekly basis. to learn music strongly influenced by musicians It was Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club from the West Coast of Scotland. which provided me the first ever chance to play Although music will always be my passion, I in front of an audience and around 10 years hope in future to pursue a career in the police later, in January 2014, this club gave me my force, as well as continuing playing at ceilidhs first opportunity to perform as a guest artist, and concerts for enjoyment. performing music from many different idioms as

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Accordion Straps Gig Bags - Cases Accordion Stands

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tre Sta n e

ge

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Hearing my dad play the banjo.

C

B&F • JANUARY 2015

7

What is your favourite location in Scotland?

Shetland.

Who was a big influence in your life and /or your music?

My dad and my SCD teacher in Denmark, Joan Kinn, who inspired us to love Scottish dance and its music.

If you had to leave, what would you miss and what would you be glad to see the back of?

I’m so glad you didn’t ask me ‘who’ but ‘what’ – I would miss Scotland, but not the rain.

What was your first job?

I was 12 and started dog walking and working in a bakery.

If your house was on fire what item would you save?

My daughter’s fish – she would kill me if I didn’t.

What was the first time you appeared/performed in public?

Reinhardt Dans’s end of term festivities, I was 5 and dressed in a tutu for the ballet section.

What do you appreciate most in life?

My family, happiness.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Now that would be telling!

What is your abiding memory through music and/or dancing?

Music: A competition playing Bach’s Wiegenlied badly on the recorder when little.

Dancing: The sheer euphoric joy that comes from moving to music.

What are your worst fears?

Not being able to dance.

What are the best places in the world you have visited?

Fiji and Shetland.

What is your favourite venue?

Anywhere with a good dance floor.

Pia Walker Never ask others what you won’t do yourself ! So when B&F magazine’s answer to The Stig caught me with the list of questions, I couldn’t well say no.

Pia is RSCDS trained and certified! She teaches dance, she calls ceilidhs. She is the present Convenor of Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and a Trustee of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland. And instead of sleeping, she is your editor!

She is the mother of 2 adult, very sensible children, and still doesn’t know how they managed to turn out like that.

How would you like to be remembered?

By raising your glasses.

As a positive, reasonably nice and helpful person.

What makes you angry, annoyed or short tempered?

When people don’t reply to e-mails and texts! When people are nasty and negative.

Who are your heroes and why?

No one specific, many people do something heroic in their own way all the time.

The Scottish Dance Music Scene - your thoughts and hopes: That dance organisers would invest in full bands for their dances.

What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party: Definitely a chef, a waiter and someone to do the washing up and anyone who like to eat.

Your 1, 2, 3 of favourite tunes/ songs?

1. The Sweetness of Mary.

2 Altid frejdig når du går.

3. Anything played or sung well.

Today I will: Eat: On the hoof Drink: A glass of wine or a wee malt Read: A soppy novel Visit: Broughty Ferry to teach dance Watch: Bones or some other blood dripping drama.

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B&F • NEWS

Presentations

Dunblane’s long standing committee member and secretary Ann Dunbar has resigned after 40 years involvement with the club. She is seen here receiving a gift and flowers from Club Chairman Ian Hay.

A special event? Tell us in text and pictures.

Gordon Pattullo ready to cut the cake for Forfar’s 30th birthday celebrations

A presentation from Lewis A&F Club of £2000 to Crossroads Lewis

Jan Dubickas presenting one of her own paintings to winner of the raffle, Andrew Morton at the November meeting in Newtongrange Young Regular Biggar Club Supporters with the cake baked by Hannah Jamieson celebrating Biggar’s 40th Anniversary

B&F • CLUB NEWS

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? If you don’t have a report to write, then mention someone from your club or a special event and send in a relevant photo. Information in Club News helps attract visitors to your club, so make sure your club sounds like the place we want to go to.

ABERDEEN We were pleased to welcome back Frank Burnett (accordion), who opened proceedings accompanied by Stanley Flett on keyboard and Scott Gordon on drums. Then we had Keith Duncan on accordion with a few sets. Stanley Flett (accordion) then took the stage accompanied by Esma Shepherd.

Guest artists for the evening were the Gary Donaldson Band comprising Gary on accordion, Russell Hunter on fiddle, Keith Dickson on keyboard and Scott Gordon on drums. They played a varied selection of tunes, old and new, which everybody enjoyed.

After teatime, Charlie Lawie played a couple of sets along with Stanley on second box and Esma on keyboard. Charlie paid tribute to Tom Wemyss who died this past week. He was the founder member of the Aberdeen Club.

After Charlie, we had young Andrew Gibb on accordion accompanied by Scott Nicholl on keyboard and Scott Gordon on drums. Then Scott Nicoll took up the accordion, Andrew went on the drums and since

Gary Donaldson

these two lads were pupils of Keith Dickson, he came on stage to accompany them on keyboard.

The last guest from the floor was Denis Shepherd who gave us his usual mixture of tunes on the moothie including Hills of Lorne, presumably for Russell Hunter’s benefit. The tune was written by his grandfather, Charlie Hunter, whose fiddle Russell was playing.

The Gary Donaldson Band came back for their second spot and the audience enjoyed a great set of tunes with fine arrangements and harmonies from all the musicians.

A good night all round.

ANNAN ST ANDREW

The guest band for the November meeting was the Andrew Knight Scottish

Dance Band, with Andrew Knight from Newtongrange on fiddle, Richard Ross from Dalry, Ayrshire on piano accordion, James Clark from Annan on keyboard and Billy Goodfellow from Roberton on drums. Andrew, who is one of Scotland’s finest fiddlers, was born in Dundee and in his youth was taught classical viola. He participated in the Annual Music Festival in Dundee and was a member of several East of Scotland Orchestras. An introduction from Iain McPhail, the wellknown dance band leader, led to him playing with Robert Baird’s Border Reivers and he subsequently formed the popular West Telferton Band. Andrew and the band commenced the evening by playing for a number of popular dances.

9

☛

Sheet Music

Guru Jayan’s Reel of Kerala

Iain composed 4 tunes for the new dance The Radical Road, a dance devised by Stewart Adam of RSCDS, Edinburgh Branch, and named 3 of them after members of the Indian dance company, Dance Ihayami, who co-choreographed the dance with the Edinburgh Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Ihayami means ‘I am here’. Guru Jayan is the musical director of the company and he comes from Kerala in India. The dance was devised to celebrate the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Gury Jayan’s Reel (of Kerala) is the lead tune, the others: Priya’s Reel, Edyta’s Reel and The Edinburgh Ihayami (“I am Here”) Reel.

Guru Jayan's Reel of Kerala

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