Box & Fiddle - January 2018

Fiddle

41st Year No. 05 Jan 2018

£3.00

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

e m i t w o h S d n a l High

The Trad Awards Angus Strathspey & Reel Society’s Annual Fiddle Festival

PLUS

GEMMA DONALD IS CENTRE STAGE We remember Bryce Johnstone

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

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 Martin mamidesigns@hotmail.com Section icons by: FlatIcon

Cover Image Elizabeth Fraser Dancers with Piper Yvonne MacKenzie Photo by Robert Wares Printer • Caledonian Colour Printers South Parks Industrial Estate Peebles, EH45 9ED

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

Happy 2018 to you all. I hope that you all had a peaceful Christmas and that this new year will bring a lot of good times with great music and of course dance. I can’t wait for some warmer weather.

December was interesting – a short month with strict deadlines, and I hope that there has not been too much postal delay, so you Pia Walker, Editor all have your magazine. I had to be extra strict, and our magnificent proofreader had an accident recently and is recovering right now – Denis, get well soon.

December also saw the 15th Trad Awards and congratulations to all who took part; I couldn’t be there but saw many kent faces on telly from that night. The winners are listed elsewhere in this issue.

January is a time for resolutions. I hope you all have decided to visit more clubs and festivals. Don’t forget we have the Inchyra NAAFC festival in March and I hope to see many of you there.

Clubs, try and encourage your musicians to take part, and why not club together and get a bus to take you there and back?

Which reminds me that I have met several people at various outings saying that they had stopped going to clubs because they no longer drove at night or at all and that they were missing it. Have you thought about car sharing facilities?

I would like to thank the whole production team behind the magazine: Marie (design magician), Shirley (advertising wonder), Denis (proofreader extraordinaire) and Kevin (service-minded superhero printer), I would like to thank you for helping produce a fantastic magazine we can be proud of. I would also like to thank the Executive for their support and help. We should all thank the people who voluntarily do that extra bit and distribute the magazine to so many of you. I salute you for ensuring the continued success of the magazine. Finally, thanks go to all the advertisers and readers who support the magazine, the NAAFC and the clubs, you are the most importantl.

Committee members, please keep promoting the magazine, and reading it of course. You should all know the magazine by heart ☺ Best wishes for 2018.

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

10 6 8 9

15 News Letters Festivals Angus Strathspey & Reel Society’s Annual Fiddle Festival

10 12 14

14 15

The Trad Awards Highland Showtime In Memory

Gordon Pattullo

Deadlines:

5

21 18

Centre Stage

21

Club News

41

Club Diary

Gemma Donald

The latest news from our clubs

You are never too old to go clubbing!

47

Dance Diary

49

Reviews

Bryce Johnstone

Take the Floor

B&F • CONTENTS

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Shetland Session Border Mixture Three

52

Music Gordon’s 50

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.

6

N

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.

Arbroath Club Raises over £1000 for Charity Below: Club secretary Babs Thomson passes cheque to Jenny Mcmillan with young Blake in the middle

Full house in the afternoon

Arbroath club held another very successful charity open day on 1st October 2017. The event, which was held at the town’s Meadowbank Inn, comprised two sessions: a music session in the afternoon and a dance in the evening.

The afternoon session was standing room only with more than 160 people coming along to listen, play or do both. It was a very busy programme with ‘spots’ from a large number of musicians.

On fiddle we had Dave Smith, Gordon Legge, Tommy Truesdale and Liz Arthur. On accordion were Arthur Wood, Cora Wilson, Steven Carcary, Gilbert Cheetham, John Davidson, Bert Cull, Rhoda Legge, Gavin Piper, Eric Davidson, Scott Band and Tony Simpson. On drums we had Malcolm Ross and Avril Abbott and on piano were May Gray and Tony Simpson while Ian Ramsay played guitar. The audience also enjoyed a set from the ‘Sally Army Players’ who meet on a weekly basis in the town’s Salvation Army Hall.

Around 80 guests attended the evening dance and enjoyed a mixed programme of Scottish

country, ceilidh and old time music played by Scott Band and his Scottish Dance Band, the event being compered by well-known presenter Ian Lees.

This was the fourth open day the club has organised. Club chairman Tony Simpson said, “This was another great open day and we thank everyone who contributed and made it the success it was. Thanks go to the club and visiting musicians, to Scott Band and his band, to Ian Lees, to the Meadowbank Inn, to the local businesses who provided raffle prizes etc., and of course to our club’s members, guests and committee members who supported the day.”

The chosen charity this year was Hope For Blake. Young Blake McMillan is a wee boy who suffers from a very rare and demanding condition, MECP 2 Duplication Syndrome, which requires Blake to receive 24-hour care. A cheque for £1064.39 was presented to Blake’s mother Jenny McMillan at the club meeting on 3rd December.

She said, “I am delighted to receive this money which will help both Blake and research into this very disabling condition and I thank Arbroath Accordion and Fiddle Club for their support and for putting this wonderful open day together.”

B&F • FESTIVALS

Festivals Angus Strathspey & Reel Society’s Annual Fiddle Festival

By Joan Grant

A

ngus Strathspey & Reel Society’s Annual Fiddle Festival was held in St Andrews Church in Kirriemuir on 11th November and if you weren’t there, you missed a great event.

St Andrew’s church echoed to the sound of many strings being played by fiddlers from far and wide. With numbers augmented by a bus load of Shetland fiddlers and an orchestra from Edinburgh, it was a busy day of nerves, excitement, disappointment and much laughter.

A new competition this year for age 9 and under attracted 5 competitors. In third place was 7-yearold Julia from Perth who has only been playing for a short time, and is one to keep an eye on!

The junior competitions were well attended and this year there was a real contest in the quartet

and orchestra sections.

Maureen Rutherford from Perth was a very fair, efficient and entertaining adjudicator and the fabled Joan Blue from Bankfoot was accompanist.

Both are such experts, and also wonderful musicians and very congenial personalities - the dream team! This was fitting for our 50th Fiddle Festival. Although not as busy as the Festival days of yore, 2017 will go down as one of our more successful years. Our sincere thanks to all involved, particularly Lindsay Downie, our Festival secretary.

We always have room for new players, young or old, beginner or experienced, so come and join us on a Monday night (7.30 – 9pm) in St Andrews Church Hall, Glamis Road, Kirriemuir. l

Results AGE 9 & UNDER

COMPOSITION (SLOW AIR)

HORNPIPE

1. Kristie Williamson, Shetland 2. Jayden Moore, Shetland, 3. Julia Poyda, Perth

1. Michael Phillip, Shetland 2. Sandy Ingram, Glamis 3. Yla Steven, Blackford

AGE 10 TO 12

SLOW AIR

1. George Davidson, Tarland 2. Jenny Robinson, Edinburgh 3. Sarah Lynchehaun, Edinburgh

1. Maisie Henderson, Shetland, 2. Charlotte Slater, Ellon 3. Jemma Christie, Finzean, Banchory AGE 13, BUT UNDER 16

1. Rhiann Matthew, Tarland 2. Emma Leask, Shetland 3. Rhiannon Thomason, Shetland

1. George Davidson, Tarland 2. Sarah Lynchehaun, Edinburgh 3. Gordon Penman, Montrose SENIOR MARCH, STRATHSPEY & REEL

1. Derek Zuckert, Edinburgh 2. Rachel Simpson, Arbroath

CHAMPIONSHIP

1. George Davidson, Tarland 2. Sarah Lynchehaun, Edinburgh QUARTET

1. The Deeside Quines ORCHESTRA

1. The High Level Orchestra, Shetland

9

☛

10

B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

The Trad Awards Here’s the list of winners: ALBUM OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BIRNAM CDS

All We Have Is Now by Elephant Sessions COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED

BY GORDON DUNCAN MEMORIAL TRUST

Tiree Songbook COMPOSER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED

BY PRS FOR MUSIC

Adam Sutherland Duncan Black and Marie Fielding

S

imon Thoumire’s baby has come of age and celebrated its 15th year in style in Paisley in early December. The NAAFC is sponsoring an event at the awards: Dance Band of the Year and this year, we had not one but 4 of our bands nominated for the award: Duncan Black Band, James Coutts Scottish Dance Band, John Carmichael Ceilidh Band and David Halcrow Band.

Two of our clubs were nominated for the TRACS sponsored award Club of the Year: Clydesdale Accordion Club (Lanark) and Campsie Accordion & Fiddle Club.

Furthermore, many of our musicians had been nominated in other categories.

So congratulations to all nominees, whether you won or not. If you were there, we hope you had a wonderful time.

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED

BY GREENTRAX RECORDINGS

Skipinnish CITTY FINLAYSON SCOTS SINGER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND SONG ASSOCIATION

Siobhan Miller UP AND COMING ARTIST AWARD SPONSORED

BY ROYAL SCOTTISH CONSERVATOIRE

Hò-rò

MUSIC TUTOR OF THE YEAR SPONSORED

BY CREATIVE SCOTLAND

Emma Tomlinson GAELIC SINGER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED

BY MACMEANMNA

Robert Robertson

B&F • JANUARY 2018

15

Gordon Pattullo

By Bill Brown

A

40th anniversary to many conjures up the titles Quadragennial or Ruby, but call it what you like, 40 years is a very long time and a lot of squeezing.

As someone able to recall vividly that young ginger haired teenager that took the Scottish accordion fraternity by storm in the late seventies, it’s hard to believe in 2017 that Gordon Pattullo has clocked up a staggering 40 years in the music business.

The 70s was an interesting decade, with four prime ministers, four general elections, two property booms, two oil crises and a pop music revolution whose reverberations still resonate widely today.

For lovers of Scottish music we were well catered for with Calum’s Ceilidh, Thingummyjig, Andy Stewart’s Scotch Corner and numerous Hogmanay offerings on the telly. The seventies also saw the birth of Radios Clyde and Forth, which back then also regarded it as their public duty to promote our kind of music. Radio Forth perhaps royally led the way with Robin Brock’s excellent weekly Folks Around Robin programme produced by Chris Worrell and Sandy Wilkie.

Gordon began his professional music career in 1977, the year when the world mourned the death of Elvis Presley and Fleetwood Mac released their Grammy award winning album Rumours. Not to be outdone, the young Gordon himself got in on the recording act that year by releasing his second album The Young Traditionals with Addie Harper Jnr on the EMI label.

Gordon’s parents were always interested in accordion music. Jimmy Shand, Arthur Spink, Ian Powrie and Jimmy Blue were just a few whose sound filled the Pattullo household. Gordon’s mum Georgina played piano and violin and his dad James, known as Peem, played the melodeon.

Gordon’s ultimate love affair with the accordion

began on his 11th birthday when his parents bought him his very first accordion, a three-voice 120 bass Sonola.

Next step was accordion lessons, and young Gordon was duly dispatched to the Dundee Accordion School of Music to begin his formal music education under the stewardship of the superb Jim Marshall in what was a very successful music school in Union Street. Two years later, at the age of thirteen, Gordon also started receiving lessons from legendary Dundee accordionist John Huband . In contrast to the continental and classical styles Jim Marshall taught, John focused more on Scottish traditional music. Gordon remembers feeling a little nervous on his very first public performance in 1973 in his own school, Kettins Primary near Coupar Angus. Gordon had only been playing about six months at this stage. Jim Marshall introduced his young protégé to ex-world champion accordionist Louis Cabrelli who provided Gordon with more advanced tuition. Cabrelli, a child prodigy of the 1920s, was held in the highest regard by many of the world’s finest accordion players.

The young Gordon was now well on the road to great things and the competition stage beckoned.

Gordon’s first competitive engagement at the age of 13 was the Junior Scottish Traditional section at

☛

18

Centre Stage Gemma Donald Shetland fiddler known for her amazing and lively talent, her shoes and her dress sense.

When was the first time you performed in public?

I think it was at the Whiteness & Weisdale Hall in a school concert around 1995.

What do you appreciate in life?

My mam is my best friend and my greatest support.

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Disney World, Orlando! It was hilarious dragging Dad on all the roller coasters. Bluto’s Bilge Raft at Universal Studios! We all got entirely soaked!

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

My mam and dad. There was always music in the house and having a tune with Dad playing his accordion or Mam playing piano. Mam used to have to drag me away from the piano so everyone could get some sleep.

It’s still like that.

What are your worst fears?

Not being able to play music any more.

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

Bandera, Texas; Godderich, Ontario and Nashville, Tennessee although I’m lucky to have been able to travel all over the world with my music.

What is your favourite musical venue?

Da Lounge in Lerwick! I have too many favourites but I always enjoy playing in the sessions at Da Lounge.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone kind, light-hearted and generous. Although it’s more likely to be mad as a box of frogs, with a very loud laugh and a massive shoe collection!

What was your first job?

Working in the local cattery.

What makes you angry, annoyed or short tempered?

When I can only find one shoe out of the pair that I want to wear!

What is your greatest indulgence?

Anyone who knows me knows the answer to this one: SHOES!

What is your favourite location in Scotland?

Mam’s hoose in Whiteness, Shetland!

What is your abiding musical memory?

Being asked on stage with Buddy Spicher and the Nashville Swing Band. It was one of the best experiences ever!

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

I would miss the music and the tunes. Would be glad to see the back o’ the hoosewark!

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

My fiddle, my cat Smucks and at least a few pairs of shoes!

Who are your heroes and why?

Bobby Hicks, Buddy Spicher and Aubrey Haynie - I love their music and aspire to be able to master my instrument even half as well as them!

The Scottish Dance Music scene - your thoughts and hopes?

The future of Scottish music is in very safe hands with the number of talented young musicians all over the country. I just hope to see a younger crowd coming out to support them so there are audiences for them to play to throughout their careers.

What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Dad (Neil Donald), Robbie Leith, Drewie Hawick, Jack Robertson and DoDo (George Elphinstone), because I’d never be finished laughing and there would be a tremendous tune afterwards!

Your 1, 2, 3 of favourite songs: Ove Joensen by Ronnie Jamieson, Chadwick’s Bog by Ronnie Cooper and the song Hey Diddle Diddle by Mills Brothers Today I will Eat: Reestit mutton and tattie soup with buttery bannocks Drink: A mug of milk Read: New Simon Kernick book Visit: Alan’s Mam and Dad Grace and Dyce Small.

Watch: Eastenders

B&F • CLUB DIARY

41

Club Diary January 2018 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

3

Montrose

Marian Anderson Trio

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30 pm

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

4

Isle of Skye

The Islands Ceilidh Band

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

Linda Shaw 01478 611 122

4

Lewis & Harris

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

7

Arbroath

John Stuart Dance Band

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot,

By Arbroath DD11 2PE

7.30 pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

7

Clydesdale

60s Bairns

St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS

2.00 pm

Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017

7

Gretna

Clyde Valley Ceilidh Band

The Solway Lodge Hotel, Gretna DG16 5DN

7.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

8

Glasgow

David Bowen Trio

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

7.30 pm

Claire Gullan 07759950404

8

Thurso

Addie Harper

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

9

Blairgowrie

Gavin Piper & Callum Wallace

Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL

7.45 pm

Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302

9

Campsie

Ray Carse

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 07889 021 972

9

Dunfermline

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Sportsman Bar, Rosyth KY11 2NX

7.30 pm

Bob Adam 01383 306 142

9

Fort William

TBC

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

7.30 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505

9

Islesteps

The Homelanders

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

Ian Gray 01387 760 276

9

Seghill

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

10

Alnwick

Club Night (Burns Supper)

The Northumberland Hall, Alnwick NE66 1TN

7.30 pm

Leonard Brown 07758 723 355

10

Forres

Graeme Mitchell SDB (40th Anniversary)

Victoria Hotel, Forres IV36 1EL

7.30 pm

Ann Sharp 01309 672 672

10

Inveraray

Robert Nairn Trio

Inveraray Inn, Inveraray PA32 8XB

8.00 pm

Margaret Mather 01499 302 458

10

Langholm

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Langholm Social Club, Langholm DG13 0DN

7.30 pm

Adam Grant 01387 371 423/01387 381 305

10

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

10

Renfrew

Gary Blair & The Jimmy Blair Orchestra

Moorpark Masonic Halls, Renfrew PA4 0SA

7.30 pm

Ian Murchison 0141 889 4711

11

Button-Key (Windygates)

John Stuart SDB

The Greig Institute, Windygates KY8 5DG

Mary Cook 01592 713 687

11

Glendale

Robert Whitehead & The Danelaw Dance Band (45th Anniversary)

Glendale Hall, Wooler NE71 6NL

7.30 pm

Leonard Brown 07758 723 355

11

Shetland

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Shetland Hotel, Lerwick ZE1 0PW

7.30 pm

Peter Leask 01595 693 162

☛

B&F • DECEMBER 2017

Reviews

If you wish your CDs, DVDs or books to be reviewed, please send them to: Bill Brown, 3 Galahad Close, Cippenham, Slough, SL1 9DT

Shetland Session David Halcrow Band HALCD1701

From the very first bar of music on this CD you can smell the tang of the salt sea air and the infectious music instantly transports you to the magic of the Shetland Isles.

Simply put, a gem of a recording and one you definitely don’t want to miss out on.

Shetland Session is unbelievably the debut album from the David Halcrow band. I have no doubt this CD will leave its indelible mark on you. The members of this six-piece band have been playing together for several years and seek their inspiration in Scottish dance, folk and traditional styles of music, which grow and thrive on this majestic island that continues to produce an abundance of extremely talented musicians.

Having never had the privilege of visiting the Shetland Islands, I nonetheless get the sense that the music of the islands is still cool with the young generation and inbuilt in them is a strong desire to preserve the great musical heritage that has put the Shetland Islands on the world map.

On the basis of this recording, David and his superb band are clearly not going to be pigeon

”

Undoubtedly be a contender for CD of the year

49

”

holed into one musical genre.

Clearly shining through the DNA of this very talented group of musicians is a deep seated love of other styles of music aptly demonstrated with tracks ranging from self-penned compositions in the French musette style through to Shetland, Scottish, Scandinavian, Celtic, Irish and traditional tunes.

The band members are David Halcrow (lead accordion), Alan Nicolson (harmony accordion), Iain Williamson (fiddle), Margaret Robertson (piano), Graham Malcolmson (double bass) and Graham Jamieson (drums).

The album also features guest appearances from David’s sister

Hazel McCallum (piano), his father Jim Halcrow (accordion), Brian Morrison (accordion) and Norman Goudie (guitar and bass).

The album is very fittingly dedicated to the memory of David’s late father, the legendary Jim Halcrow, who I’m sure needs no instruction to readers of this magazine. Jim was perhaps best known for his time in the Hamefarers band and was a very deserving recipient of the NAAFC’s Guest of Honour Award in 2012, with a further honour coming Jim’s way in 2013 when he was inducted into the Scots Trad Hall of Fame. Jim helped to arrange much of the music on the album before his death in June 2015 at the age of 80 and although he can only be heard on one track his influence can be heard throughout the whole album. My only small criticism, which I would have to place ultimately at the door of Birnam CD who produced the artwork, is the printing of the track listing and information about each tune on such a background and in such a small typeface that the text is nigh impossible to read unless you have 20/20 vision, or a magnifying glass, or ideally both! However that small point should not detract from what is an absolutely stunning body of work that must undoubtedly be a contender for CD of the year.

☛