Box & Fiddle - July 2017

Fiddle

40th Year No. 11 July 2017

£2.70

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

The Isle of Skye ACCORDION AND FIDDLE FESTIVAL

THE SHAND MORINO DAY The 2017

BILL THOM

MEMORIAL TROPHY

PLUS

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

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the July 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 The Shand Morino Day Photo: 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 Margo Maclennan Tom Orr Richard Ross

It has been a few hectic months here in B&F world, ending with the NAAFC AGM at the end of June. As this issue goes to print before the AGM, you won’t see how that went until August and September when I will bring you information first on the Luncheon and then on the AGM itself. However, we are definitely all preparing for it at the time Pia Walker, Editor of writing. In June, I visited the golf day oot, as you can see from the write-up in this issue. I also went to the Shand Morino day in Windygates, and Margo Maclennan and I will be visiting the Fiddler of Strathspey Festival the day before the AGM. We hope to be able to tell the many visitors about our clubs, so they can visit you. I hope to be visiting more clubs in July if possible, but I am also away tour guiding for 8 days.

In order to get the August issue out in time, please can you ensure that your input to the magazine is in my in-box no later than the 5th of July as mentioned in the June issue.

This issue contains the guest artist list. A list has to be updated regularly to be worth anything, and I send out information to the guest artists every year asking them to update their info, so you have the correct up-to-date details to refer to, and I have proof that we have permission to publish both hard copy and online.

However, I have the same problems as the clubs and the many dance clubs I speak to. Getting a reply can be difficult! Musician, if you are not included, it is because you didn’t reply to my e-mail before the deadline! You can still be added online, if you contact me or enter your details from the website, but you missed the magazine entry. Some of you don’t have e-mails, and there’s a few I have no contact details for at all. Please send me a letter with your contact details, if you want to be included, incl. your permission for us to publish your data.

I also still need quite a few clubs to send in their dates for the next season. Don’t wait till you have a guest artist, but send me the dates, so that your club can ‘go live’.

Enjoy your summer. I hope to see you soon somewhere.

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

12 6 8 10

News Magazine Stockists Where to pick up your Summer issue

The Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival 2017 A Personal View by Derek Hamilson

12 15

The Shand Morino Day 2017 The rhythmical dialogue between music and dance

By Wendy Timmons

16

The 2017 Billy Thom Memorial Trophy

19

Centre Stage

20

Out of the Blue

Nicol McLaren

By Tom Orr

Deadlines:

B&F • CONTENTS

16

5

37

20

The New Generation

21

Club News

31

Guest Artist Directory

37

Take the Floor

38

Club Diary

40

Dance Diary

42

Review

George Spence

The latest news from our clubs

Your essential A-Z

Ian Smith

You are never too old to go clubbing!

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Feast of Fiddles

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.

Blairgowrie music shop closes As I am sure you will already know, I am in the process of closing down my shop the Music Box after 31 years in the town of Blairgowrie.

The town is very quiet now and I have relied on visitors and tourists throughout these years.

I’d like to thank the Box and Fiddle for the help it gave me with advertising, and when you did a write up about 8 years ago as we moved to our 7th shop in the town. It’s a strange feeling shutting down the shop after all these years but the way we look at music nowadays has changed, and not

for the better. I’m also celebrating my 45 years in entertainment this year and hope to keep doing what I love for many years yet.

Should we be able to relocate our business and start again I will get in touch straight away to advertise with you.

Thank you again for all your help and all the best to you, your committee and your members.

Tommy Newcomen Reply: All the best Tommy and do keep in touch.

Wick Past chairman Billy Thompson presenting Farquhar Macgregor, who retired from the chair last year, with a plaque to thank him for the time and effort he has given and continues to give to the club.

Windygates Button-Key Accordion & Fiddle Club recently celebrated their 30 year anniversary. The club was named after our first president Sir Jimmy Shand. The cake is here seen being cut by chairman Bruce Lindsay and his wife Lilly, and Roy Magna who was one of the first club members that joined in 1987.

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

The Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017 A Personal View by Derek Hamilson. Photos courtesy of Simon Power, Dumfries

Friday stramash

T

he last weekend in May has become, over the last 13 years, a pilgrimage for three old cronies, Richard Hughes, Jimmy MacDonald and me. After I set out from Galston, Ayrshire, the first stop is at Tarbet on the edge of Loch Lomond to pick up Jimmy MacDonald who hails from Tighnabruaich on the Kyles peninsula. Then the pair of us follow the road to Crianlarich and onward to Corran Ferry where we pick up Richard Hughes from Tobermory, Mull. Lunch then beckons and we stop at Spean Bridge. We normally arrive in Portree before 4pm and drop our bags off at the amazing guesthouse we have used for 13 years. Easdale is well located for a short walk to the Royal Hotel where the main action takes place and Chrissie and Alasdair Matheson look after us like family over the 4 days.

The stage in the ’Well Plaid’ venue was set up earlier in the day and mics, amplification and a keyboard made ready for use, thanks to John Cameron and whomever he can muster to help. A few tunes are played before tea and this year Janet Graham from Cumbernauld was first up assisted by ‘The Last of the Summer Wine’ (the affectionate name given to Richard, Jimmy and me by the committee).

We are awaiting the day when they rename us ‘The Midsomer Three’ as we’ve murdered a few tunes in our time! As time progresses the venue fills up

Some Skye fiddlers

with the all ticketed crowd (the health and safety and licensing laws restrict numbers unfortunately) and the first night gets under way at 7.30 pm.

‘Local’ artists start the accordion club-style night. I say local, but they tend to hail from all over - as far apart as Caithness in the north, Florida in the west and all places in between! The Thursday guests, The West Telferton Caledonian Dance Band under the supervision of Andrew Knight on fiddle, are a well-organised band of musicians who play lively, interesting music for the general public. Colin Garvin on piano, Andrew’s middle son on drums and the front line energy of Richard Ross on lead accordion made up the band in the excellent first half. I was honoured to be asked to sit in on second box for the second half and I enjoyed it immensely.

Tunes from about 11am with only a short break for lunch were the order of the day on Friday.

Again, after tea, the accordion club got under way with the visiting players leading up to the guests for the night. Craig McFadyen and his band admirably filled the two spots with their unscripted, west coast, immaculate style. Craig’s dad Hector, or Echan as we call him, was on second accordion, Matthew Maclennan was on piano and George Bremner on drums. It was played to perfection with not a dot of music in sight - just great music for one and one half

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

Life: Mum and Dad instilling a work ethic and a desire always to “do your best”. “Remember, no one ever achieved anything by saying that it couldn’t be done!”

Music: Alex MacArthur (my uncle) and Ian McCallum (who worked for my dad) What was your first job?

Apart from working every weekend and holiday on the farm, I had a summer job before final year at university with John Soutar (Sportsturf) of Stirling, renovating/rejuvenating/ reseeding almost every senior football ground in Scotland. My first full time job was as a trainee salesman with S.A.I. after leaving University.

What was the first time you performed in public?

At a meeting of the Falkirk Branch of An Comunn Gaidhealach when I was about 9.

What do you appreciate most in life?

Life in general and making the most of every day.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Probably my debenture seats at Murrayfield – although following Scotland rugby is a whole lot better at the moment!

What is your abiding musical memory?

The opening night of Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Club in the Clydesdale Hotel in Biggar in 1974 with guests Jim Johnstone’s Band and (by chance) Ian Powrie –

tre Sta n e

ge

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Living on the farm at Dunmore.

Experiencing and learning about nature, learning to drive (tractors first) and the freedom of the countryside.

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B&F • JULY 2017

Nicol McLaren Leader of the Glencraig SDB and chairman of the NAAFC sat still long enough to be cornered by our secret centre stage scribe. my inspiration to lead a Scottish Dance Band!

What are your worst fears?

Not being able to play music for whatever reason.

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

I love travelling, so its difficult to narrow this down but… Australia, New Zealand, Moscow, Rome, Shetland and Corsica are all up there!

What is your favourite musical venue?

The Victoria Hall in Dunblane, which has a very special atmosphere when the dance floor is full.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who always did his best and tried to make a difference.

What makes you angry, annoyed or short tempered?

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People who are inconsiderate or ill-mannered.

What is your favourite location in Scotland?

West coast in good weather, or Murrayfield on a winning day.

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

The scenery – everywhere in Scotland seems to have both a magnificent vista as well as a fantastic backdrop. I’d happily see the back of midgies!

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

My accordions.

Who are your heroes and why?

My parents. I am whatever I am because of them.

The Scottish Dance Music scene - your thoughts and hopes: I hope we can attract younger dancers to the scene. Music and dance are inextricably linked and one will struggle without the other. We have a number of phenomenal young musicians on the scene, but who will they be playing for in 25 years time?

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

Gordon Brown (Scotland & British Lions), Billy Connolly, Victoria Wood, Severiano Ballasteros and Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie (Lulu).

Your 1,2,3 of favourite tunes/songs: At the moment: Willie Anderson’s Farewell to Dalcharn (George Bell), A Land for All Seasons (Climie Cass) and Dunaskine Glen (Ian Muir) Today I will : Eat: Seafood curry Drink: Tea (maybe a wee gin) Read: The Courier on line Visit: Farm after farm!

Watch: A replay of Saturday’s rugby.

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.

ANNAN ST ANDREWS The May meeting took place in Newington Social Club on 21st May. Compere Jack Murdoch welcomed everyone and told us that the local players would play first, as the guest band was not arriving until later. It was nice to see Jack back after his recent stay in hospital, but he said he would only stay a little while then hand over to John Watret.

Fifteen local players then took to the stage. Amongst them were Jim Fraser from Dumfries who played for a Lomond Waltz with John Watret singing along. Richard Brown from Aspatria played a lovely tune on accordion called I Wish You Joy. John Waugh, who later played for a White Heather Foxtrot, first backed Ian Woods on fiddle.

James Laurie played for an Eva Three Step and Roger Dobson from Langholm rounded the local players’ spot off with a Gay Gordons Two Step.

After the break John introduced the guest artists, Freeland Barbour and the Occasionals. The band comprised Freeland on piano accordion, Kevin MacLeod on banjo and Gus Millar on drums.

Freeland from Glenfincastle is the co-founder of the Occasionals and the popular

Wallochmor Ceilidh Band.

The band played some wellknown tunes such as the Isle Of Capri, Show Me the Way to go Home, Dancing In Kyle and with the banjo the sound was very refreshing. The dancers enjoyed a great variety of dances including Square Tango, Eva Three Step, Postie’s Jig, Brittania Two Step and the Black Mountain Reel.

John thanked the local players for their support, those who brought raffle prizes or bought tickets, and the band for a great night’s entertainment.

Continental music too. Just before the break, we had some sing-alongs again and ended with The Bluebell Polka.

Then it was back to the local players with Andy singing a couple of well-kent songs to sing along to. When the guests returned, we again listened to marches, jigs and waltzes. We even had a hornpipe, Captain Pugwash. They finished with some fast and furious reels showing that they are a young band with a great choice of music.

Agnes Bain BLAIRGOWRIE

BANFF AND DISTRICT On this May summer evening, Andy welcomed all, and together with Bob Watson on button-accordion, Calum McCaskill on guitar and Dave & Diane Morrice on fiddle and piano he began by playing various sets. Dave & Diane continued playing some lovely tunes before Andy, Bob and Calum joined them with some sing-along tunes.

Our guest was the Kyle Innes SDB with Kyle on piano accordion, Ewan Galloway on piano and Scott Cunningham on drums. They played marches, waltzes and jigs including some Gordon Patullo tunes and some

A large audience gathered to hear our guest band The Occasionals. We had a cheque presentation (£1254) to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, this being the proceeds of our fundraising ceilidh, as well as the presentation of a bouquet to a fellow committee member (my very surprised wife) about to celebrate a very important birthday.

Club players were Scott Band, Dave Matthew, David Stoakes, John Gray, George Jolly, Stewart Smith, Fred Davidson and Stewart Smith (all piano accordions). In the second half, we heard Gordon

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B&F • GUEST ARTISTS

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Guest Artist Directory Please contact editor@boxandfiddle.com for any additions, deletions or amendments. Any changes will occur in online-format.

KEY: S = Solo D = Duo T = Trio Q = Quartet B = Band

Designed by Freepik.com

S TIST R A

A

BILLY ANDERSON Band: Billy Anderson Band Area: Fife Band Size: Q Mobile: 07778 178 716 Landline: 01334 840 469 E-mail: Billyandersonmusic @gmail.com Web: www.billyanderson.co.uk MARIAN ANDERSON Band: Marian Anderson’s SDB Area: Falkirk Band Size: T / Q / 5 / B Mobile: 07905 649 046 Landline: 01324 831 833 E-mail: mariansband@aol.com

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SCOTT BAND Band: Scott Band SDB Area: Angus Mobile: 07845 906 645 Landline: 01828 650 525 E-mail: scottbox@hotmail.co.uk FREELAND BARBOUR Band: The Occasionals Area: Edinburgh Mobile: 07434 959 724 Landline: 0131 662 4295 E-mail: contact@freeland barbour.co.uk Web: www.theoccasionals.com FB: The OccasionalsCeilidh Band NEIL BARRON Band: Neil Barron SDB Area: West Yorkshire Band Size: S-6 Mobile: 07909 906 060 Landline: 01937 588 352 E-mail: neilbarron@hotmail.com

ROBERT BLACK Band: The Jim Johnstone Tribute Band Band Size: Q / 5 / B Mobile: 07712 890 636 E-mail: robert@rbmusic.biz Web: www.robertblack.co.uk

LEONARD BROWN Band: Leonard Brown and His All Star Band Area: Tyne and Wear Band Size: S / D / T / Band Mobile: 07758 723 355 E-mail: leonardbrown accordion@gmail.com Web: www.leonardbrown accordion.co.uk

Professional musician and six times all Scotland accordion champion. Many appearances on Take the Floor

IAIN BUCHANAN Band: Cairnhill Ceilidh Band Area: Lanarkshire Band Size: T Mobile: 07736 937 428 E-mail: musicalservices@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.accordionrepairsscotland.co.uk

ROBERT BLACK Band: The Robert Black Band Band Size: T / Q / 5 / B Mobile: 07712 890 636 E-mail: robert@rbmusic.biz Web: www.robertblack.co.uk GARY BLAIR Band: Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra Area: Renfrewshire Band Size: B Mobile: 07813 712 594 Landline: 0141 886 2 564 E-mail: gazzapt@yahoo.co.uk FB: JimmyBlairAccordion Orchestra

GEORGE BURNS Band: Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band Area: North Lanarkshire Band Size: B Mobile: 07984 686 970 Landline: 01236 826 154 E-mail: geomag@talktalk.net

JOAN BLUE Area: Perthshire Band Size: S / D Landline: 01738 787 842 E-mail: joanna_pianna2010@ btinternet.com

PAUL CAPALDI Area: Scottish Borders Mobile: 07740 663 472 Landline: 01896 750 123 E-mail: pccapaldi@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.bonaccordceilidh band.co.uk www.paulcapaldiceilidhband.co.uk

GREGOR BORLAND Band: Gregor Borland & Bob Turner Area: Edinburgh Band Size: S / D Mobile: 07465125 525 E-mail: gregorborland@hotmail.com Web: www.fiddlingscool.com

STEVEN CARCARY Band: Steven Carcary Band Area: Perthshire Band Size: D / T/ Q / 5 /6 Mobile: 07952 026 633 Landline: 01738 813 997 E-mail: steven.carcary @btinternet.com

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B&F • JULY 2017

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Take The Floor

IAN SMITH

I

t was a great honour to be given the opportunity to record my debut Take the Floor broadcast recently. The line-up consisted of Marie Fielding on fiddle, Fraser MacInnes on drums and Ross Wilson on keyboard along with myself on accordion.

Although I am a member of this year’s Scottish Dance Band of the Year, Trail West, our style of music for dancing is very different from that of a typical Scottish Dance Band so it was a real pleasure to be able to perform alongside some of the best musicians in the dance band scene for this broadcast.

I decided to follow the format of a dance in Tiree, choosing dances that are danced on the island and

with tunes that are well liked throughout the West Coast of Scotland.

The broadcast was a particularly special recording for me as, at the time of recording, my father was terminally ill with cancer. After a discussion with the show’s producer, Jennifer Cruickshank, I agreed to record the program with the hope that my father would be fit enough to listen at the time of broadcast.

My father was able to listen and passed away just two days after the show was broadcast. I dedicated a set of his favourite Gaelic waltzes to him and it was very special for me that he was able to hear this.

I would like to thank Jennifer, Gary and the Take the Floor team for the opportunity.

01/07/17 – CD/Vinyl Hour + Blazin Fiddles Concert 08/07/17 – Rpt Robert Black Session + Plockton School Of Music 15/07/17 – Tiree Special Rpt Ian Smith Session + Tiree Visit 22/07/17 – CD/Vinyl Hour + Skipinnish Concert 29/07/17 – Rpt Celtic Connections – David Kennedy SDB + Tryst

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Club Diary July 2017 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

4

Seghill

Liam Stewart

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

5

Glenfarg

Pentland Ceilidh Band

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

7.30 pm

Russell Robertson 01577 830 642

5

Montrose

Martin Donaldson Band

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30 pm

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

5

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

6

Crieff

Gordon Pattullo

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

7.30 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

6

Lewis and Harris

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

6

Rothbury

Liam Stewart

Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR

7.30 pm

Mary Davidson 01668 281 307

6

Turriff

Susie Simpson SDB

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

11

Blairgowrie

Iain MacPhail SDB

Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL

7.45 pm

Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302

12

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

13

Button-Key (Windygates)

Ian MacCallum Band

The Greig Institute, Windygates KY8 5DG

7.00 pm

Mary Cook 01592 713 687

13

Carlisle

Julie Best & Jean Corrighan

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

7.30 pm

Alison Davies 01228 675 505

16

Annan St Andrew

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

St Andrew Social Club, Annan DG12 5JW

7.30 pm

Mrs N Taylor 01461 204 604

18

Ellon

Alasdair Salter

Station Hotel, Ellon AB41 9BD

7.30 pm

Dr Tom R Jamieson 01358 729 575

19

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

20

Tynedale

Marian Anderson

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

7.00 pm

Roddy Matthews 01434 672 424 / 07801 951 965

26

Orkney

Leonard Brown

Kings St Halls, Kirkwall

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

30

Forfar

George Rennie Duo

Forfar Royal British Legion, Forfar DD8 2HA

7.30 pm

Brian Laird 01307 467 128

30

Gretna

Open Day

The Solway Lodge Hotel, Gretna DG16 5DN

1.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

Guest Artists Why not advertise in the Box & Fiddle, the readers are your customers, contact: editor@boxandfiddle.com