Box & Fiddle - November 2018

Fiddle

42nd Year No. 03 Nov 2018

£3.00

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

MUSICAL MEMORIES AT HOME WITH EDDIE ROSE DERYN WAITT IS CENTRE STAGE

PLUS

x o n o B Butt

g n i r e h t a G

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

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the November 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 Front cover Button Box Gathering Hamish Maclennan Section icons by: FlatIcon

Printer • Ivanhoe Caledonian Printing Company Ltd Eskmills, Musselburgh, EH21 7PE

NAAFC Chairman Nicol McLaren The Shian, Woodlands Road Blairgowrie, PH10 6LD Tel: 01250 874 526 nicol@boxandfiddle.com Vice Chairman Iain Cathcart Tel: 01555 661 017 iain@boxandfiddle.com Secretary Shona MacFadyen secretary@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: Scott Band Charlie Kirkpatrick Susan MacFadyen Tom Orr Richard Ross Liam Stewart

Doesn’t time fly? We are into the Christmas season, and I hope you will find some great gift ideas, as well as some good reads, in this issue.

As I have mentioned before, the whole team work hard to strict deadlines in order to get the magazine printed and sent out in time. (We even work on the magazine Pia Walker, Editor while we are on holiday!) October saw some magazines being delivered a few days late. Thanks go to all who phoned on the first of the month to highlight this! Unfortunately, we cannot control how and when the Royal Mail decide to deliver their second class mail.

I have been asked why so and so who passed away hasn’t been mentioned in the magazine. The short answer is that if I am not sent anything, I can’t include it in the magazine. If you feel that someone should have a mention, please send me something ca 250 words – Oh, and it can be about birthdays, weddings and anniversaries too Photos are always welcome. It is important to have a good mix of content.

There are still clubs that haven’t sent in their meeting dates, therefore I can’t publish them – if you cannot see your club in the magazine or on the website, ask your committee to check if they have notified me!

Denis, our proofreader, has asked me to request (nay, insist!) that reporters please write out the full names of the people they are writing about, at least once in each report. I feel this is a valid point as this magazine goes out nationally and internationally to many readers and they may not know who Tom, Dick and Harry are – and I may not know either Thank you go to all who phoned re last month’s wrong photo caption!

We are approaching the Christmas season, which means businesses go on holiday. The January magazine needs therefore to go to print in the second week of December. Please don’t wait until the last moment before submitting information.

You wouldn’t want your ‘news’ appearing in February or March if it can get into an earlier issue.

Keep warm out there.

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

B&F • CONTENTS

12 18 6 9 10 12 16 18

News Take the Floor Letters Button Box Gathering Musical Memories At Gnome with the Roses

16 40

Centre Stage

41

Club Diary

Club News The latest news from our clubs

Deadlines:

You are never too old to go clubbing!

46

Dance Diary Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

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Reviews

52

Sheet Music

An interview with Eddie Rose

21

Deryn Waitt

Next Dance Please

Libby Rae of Biggar

By Peter Rae

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.

Scotland’s young musical talent wows crowd at Highland festival finale

On 15th September, nearly 1000 young musicians impressed a Highland crowd with an incredible showcase of Scottish music and culture, alongside the top names in traditional music. With support from the Year of Young People 2018 event fund, the Blas Festival, organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with Highland Council, came to a close with an outstanding display of Scotland’s young musical talent in a large-scale showcase, Òran Mòr, in Inverness.

Meaning Great (or Big) Song, this musical extravaganza featured young musicians from Fèisean and various youth initiatives from across Scotland including the Highland Council Youth Music Groups, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music and City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band. Trail West, Mischa Macpherson, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Breabach and Skipinnish, all of whom were selected by the young musicians taking part on the day, also treated the audience to performances.

The highlight of the day was the Year of Young People Ensemble: a brand new Gaelic song written by up-and-coming young Gaelic songwriter Robbie MacLeòid. His song, Bèo an

Dòchas (Living in Hope), was written specifically for Òran Mòr and was sung by all the young people, under the musical direction of Donald Shaw and led by young Gaelic singer Annia MacGillivray from Tain.

Robbie MacLeòid commented: “Writing this song for Òran Mòr has been an incredible experience and opportunity for me. It has been a wonderful day!”

Alix Aburn, a Blas Festival Youth Ambassador said: “To be part of Òran Mòr today has just been the icing on the cake! It was a brilliant feeling standing on stage alongside my friends and professional musicians, entertaining the crowd in Inverness!

“Blas Festival provides young musicians like myself with the opportunity to perform alongside some of the top Scottish traditional musicians of this moment at a variety of venues across the Highlands and Islands and I hope to be involved again in the future!”

Blas Festival, which aims to celebrate Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene, ran from 7-15th September and featured traditional musicians and singers including Julie Fowlis, Wolfstone, Niteworks, Assynt, Alasdair Gillies and a new Gaelic song commissioned by BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Mischa Macpherson. l

CHANGE OF VENUE Castle Douglas have changed their venue from NOVEMBER to: Threave Rovers Football Club, Meadow Park, Castle Douglas, DG7 1 DJ

B&F • NEWS

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Ronnie Easton at 80 October 2nd was Ronnie’s 80th Birthday, but his partner Jean Nichol organised a surprise shindig for him on Sunday 30th September in the Black Bull Hotel, Lauder. Jean’s family took him to lunch at 12.30 and at 2.00 Ronnie was whisked out of the room for a dram at the bar. That gave us an opportunity to slip in and organise the gear for the ensuing musical afternoon. Jean then ushered Ronnie in and the look of surprise on his face was just sublime.

Opening up that afternoon’s magical music was Tom Orr (Jean’s granddaughter’s partner) accompanied by Jim Nichol (Jean’s son) on piano and Gordon Young on drums. Ronnie then played a few sets and the afternoon continued with all the visiting musicians taking it in turn to entertain.

June Meikle did an excellent job of summarising Ronnie’s life without embarrassing the big man in any way! Well done June!

Bobby Colgan was in good form as were Ewan Galloway, Frank Morrison, John Douglas, Neil MacMillan, June Meikle, Mike Guiney (an Irishman from Cork, but living in Darvel, who played guitar with Ronnie before he moved to Lauder), Shauna Flockhart, Brian Forrest, Brian Griffin, George Darling and Kenny Wilson. The

afternoon was a rip roaring success thanks to Jean and the family working so hard to make it so.

With a sigh of relief when the stovies, tea and coffee were served, Jean said “I can go back to telling Ronnie the truth again!” Jean had been slipping out to the shops and “meeting folk she hadn’t seen for ages” in order to get phone calls out to various guests so that Ronnie wouldn’t hear the conversations. Ronnie’s reply, “Ah jist thocht she wiz seein’ anither man. Of coorse ah should’ve kent better!”

On behalf of Jean and the family - thanks to everyone who made it a day to remember! l Derek Hamilton

Happy Birthday Hilda Laird is seen here receiving a birthday surprise on her 60th, for her support of the club. Hilda is not on the committee, but helps with all the kitchen work, making the tea and sandwiches each month for the guest band

PERTH STRATHSPEY & REEL SOCIETY

CONCERT PERTH LIBRARY THEATRE 7PM SUNDAY 25TH NOV. TICKETS FROM THE CONCORDE SCOTT STREET PERTH

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g n i r e h t a G x o Button B B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

Jim Mackay band

ED E N C O U R T IN VE R NE S S , THU R SD AY 2 0 TH SEP TEMBER 2 0 1 8 September saw me travelling to Inverness for the Button Box Gathering. I managed to get there for the sound check, where musicians of all ages gathered to prepare for the evening performance. I stayed for the evening performance, and thoroughly enjoyed the music and meeting readers from all over.

Margo Maclennan was tasked with the very difficult task of writing a short article. Enjoy!

By Margo Maclennan

J

ohn ‘The Prof’ Matheson warmly welcomed an almost full house of button-box enthusiasts with Jim Mackay and his band opening the 17th year of this successful show. The line-up this year was Jim and Graeme Mackay (button-box), Matthew Maclennan (piano accordion), Bill Ewan (piano) and Malcolm Ross (drums). Jim and the band played their usual high standard of marches, waltzes and reels, including some which were composed by Jim, to the delight of the audience.

The organisers, Jim and his wife Catherine, invited John ‘The Prof’ to accept a framed copy of the tune composed by Jim Mackay, John ‘the prof’ Matheson MBE in celebration of John having received this honour from Her Majesty the Queen.

John has been the show compere for a number of years, and seems to have an unending supply of stories and banter.

Also performing were The Young Button Boxers along with their tutor Graeme Mackay. They were Alistair Taylor, George MacIver, Alan Mackillop and Ellen MacDougall. All the young players had the opportunity to showcase their talents, playing a selection of tunes and receiving warm applause by the audience who all appreciated their performance and musical talent.

Next was Sandy Ross (button-box), who ably supported by George Macintosh on piano played a selection of 4/4 and 6/8 marches, continuing with a set of Gaelic waltzes. He finished with some 2/4 marches: John MacFadyen of Melfort and John Carmichael’s Farewell to Scotland.

We had a surprise guest this year, namely Hamish MacDougall with his two-row melodeon.

He was supported by Gillian Stephenson (fiddle) and Susie Simpson (piano) and played a great

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

l a c i s u M emories M

PART TWO

By Denis Shepherd

g Paul Anderson’s

Uncle Donald playin

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fiddle

n the previous issue of the B&F, I told you of my early interest in Scottish music and how our family listened to music from the radio and gramophone. With this in mind, my father (who played accordion) came home from a ‘roup’ one day with a fiddle and two bows. Unfortunately for me (but possibly fortunately for the rest of the family), the fiddle and one of the bows had no strings. Despite this, I managed to produce music by ‘playing’ the fiddle and diddling the tunes I had learned from our stock of ‘78’ records. I spent hours standing fiddling and diddling on an old lorry cab which had been deposited near the house, entertaining a large audience … of nettles! An additional secret member of the audience was sometimes my sister who peeped round the corner to see how my stage presence was developing.

I now realise that diddling was the first thing I

‘performed’ – but in the public domain it was the last, because the first diddling competition I entered was in 2017, and I have now gone on to win my last three diddling competitions. Possibly this skill had lain dormant for 60 years!

I never got as far as playing a fiddle with strings.

However, we did have a fiddler in the family - my uncle Donald, my dad’s brother, who also played in the family band. In the early days of Aberdeen Accordion and Fiddle Club, I used to meet up with him and his wife Helen there and Donald would usually seek out the guest fiddle player and ask whether he could play The President!

Not long before he passed away in 1997, Donald enjoyed an 80th birthday party in Logie Coldstone.

This was secretly organised by his family and he would have had no inkling what was to happen.

One of the entertainers they had booked was Paul Anderson, the legendary Tarland fiddler, and Donald could not resist asking him for a ‘shottie’ of his fiddle - against Helen’s wishes, as she reminded him he had not played for years: “Donald, dinna mak’ a feal o’ yersel’!” She was as amazed as everyone else when he proceeded to fiddle his way through a set of tunes as though he played them every day!

Another fiddler still in good form in his 80s was

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

At Gnome with

A

s e s o R e h t

most peculiar title for an article in this magazine you may just ponder. But gnomes seem to feature very much in the life of Eddie Rose as I found out during my trip to Pitlochry to interview him. His garden has a fair number in all shapes and sizes, even one playing an accordion. That one once disappeared, eventually turning up at the local police station. Eddie was told that it refused to divulge its gnome address. However, the address was gnomn to the police and thus it was duly returned.

For more than 50 years, many of us (if not most of us) have encountered Eddie Rose, Scotland’s Son of Fun, in one of the many shows he has appeared in - Bill Wilkie’s annual concerts in Perth, for example.

Eddie was born in 1944 in Cromdale where his father was a joiner/cooper with Balmenach distillery.

He is the youngest of three children. An afterthought (although Eddie called it something different ). His sister who is 22 years older insisted that she had hoped for a gold watch for her 21st but had got Eddie instead – what his brother, who is 18 years older, said at the time isn’t known.

None of the above were entertainers although

Eddie did point out that his dad, when quality assuring his work products, always had sung The Road and the Miles to Dundee – and that this road had got longer and longer the more the quality had had to be assured. Eddie’s great idol and the reason he decided to become an entertainer was Andy Stewart. Eddie often visited him when performing in Arbroath. He is also a great admirer of Ken Dodd with regard to comedy, and I think I put my foot in it when I told him that I wasn’t!

He started singing locally, getting spots with the Gaelic choir – but sang in English as he wasn’t a Gaelic speaker. It was here he met Margaret, his wife of nearly 50 years. Watch out, Pitlochry, I have a feeling that their party in February will be quite a shindig! I’m sure Eddie will raise his glass of sweet sherry to toast his wife, who is also his manager, and to their, as she ensures me, 50 happy years together. His two sons, Andrew and Mark, who according to both Eddie and Margaret have a sense of humour too, the seven grand children and one great grand child will also applaud them.

In 1965 they moved to Pitlochry for Eddie to take

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? Information in Club News helps attract visitors to your club, so make sure your club sounds like the place we want to go to.

The Màrtainn Skene Highland Dance Band, , Aberdeen

ARBROATH Our 5th open day proved an extremely good and successful day. Thirteen groups and soloists throughout the afternoon entertained a full house. Among these were nineteen local players. Fiddlers were Dave Smith, Liz Arthur, George Watt, Jim Milne and Tom Truesdale. On accordions were Arthur Wood, Robert Howat, Cora Wilson, Margaret Smith (also playing banjo), Tony Simpson, John Davidson, Barbara Archibald, Eric Davidson, Albert Cull and Mac Kinnear with Bill Ford on solo piano. Accompanists were on keyboard Tony, Bill and Rhoda Legge, and on drums we had Avril Abbott with Ian Ramsay on guitar. Our grateful thanks go to all these players.

During the afternoon, we had a visit from 13-year-old Kaela and her family whom we had chosen to benefit from this event. Kaela clearly enjoyed hearing the music.

As well as being blind she is a quadriplegic, suffers from many other serious conditions, and is cared for by her mum and three sisters. We hope that proceeds may enhance this situation, albeit in a small way. We wish this family well.

Our evening dance took place with the Steven Carcary Trio comprising Graham Bell (2nd box), Graham Sherrit (drums) and Steven on lead accordion.

Although numbers were slightly down, the dancers and listeners had a great evening. The music was second to none and clearly enjoyed by all.

Our next meeting will be at our usual venue, Arbroath Artisan Golf Club on 4th November when we welcome back the Steven Carcary Duo. EA ABERDEEN Scott Gordon, our chairman, welcomed everyone back to the British Legion in Bridge of Don for our first night of the 18/19 season. Hopefully the season

will be good with plenty of players, members and visitors.

We had a good audience and just enough local players to fill the time before our guests took the stage.

On accordion we had Frank Burnett, Keith Duncan, Sandy McAllan and Lynne Christie.

On fiddle were Susan Gordon and a visitor from Perth who is living in Aberdeen for six months, Calum Johnston. On mouthie was Denis Shepherd and on piano Stanley Flett and Dennis Morrison, while visitor Dennis Constable and Scott Gordon played drums.

Gordon also played accordion, accompanying the two fiddlers.

The Màrtainn Skene Highland Dance Band were our guests.

Màrtainn along with Dennis Morrison on piano and Nicky

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Centre Stage

40

Deryn Waitt Well known accordionist from the Bon Accords band.

Deryn has, with her other half, helped run clubs and dance weekends, and is often seen at festivals and places where music is at the forefront.

When was the first time you

What are the best places in

Who are your heroes

performed in public?

the world you have visited?

and why?

Singing at a concert aged 7.

Co. Cork, Kerry, Co. Claire

Doctors, nurses, vets –

and Venice.

anyone in a caring profession.

What is your favourite musical

The Scottish dance music

venue?

scene – your thoughts and

Tyneside Irish Centre.

hopes?

What do you appreciate most in life?

Health and home.

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

Bowling with my dad (and winning).

Who was a big influence in your life/music?

My parents, Bobby Crowe

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who helped others.

What makes you angry,

and Dermot O’Brien.

annoyed or short-tempered?

What was your first job?

cry.

Saturday girl in Woolies while at school.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Cruelty to animals makes me

What is your favourite location in Scotland?

Canonbie / Langholm.

Being among dogs.

If you had to leave, what

What is your abiding musical

would you be glad to see the

memory?

Playing in Co. Cork for the first time.

back of?

I wouldn’t ever leave!

That the camaraderie between musicians will come back!

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

Family!

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

Galway Shawl, Kerry Dancing, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.

Today I will Eat: Chicken.

Drink: Tap water or wine with a meal.

If your house was on fire what

Read: Kindle.

What are your worst fears?

item would save?

Visit: Shops!

Having to leave my home.

My dog.

Watch: Corrie.

NOVEMBER BB&&FF•• CLUB DIARY 2018

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Club Diary November 2018 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

1

Crieff

Marian Anderson

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

7.30 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

1

Galashiels

Willie Macfarlane SDB

Gala YM RFC, 4 Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, TD1 1PF

7.30 pm

Robert Cleland 01896 754 463

1

Isle of Skye

Ewan Galloway Band

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

Linda Shaw 01478 611 122

1

Lewis and Harris

Iain Crichton Memorial Charity Night

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

1

Rothbury

Neil Hardie 5-Piece Band (AGM)

Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR

7.30 pm

Mary Davidson 01668 281 307

1

Shetland

Jimmy Cassidy & Callum Wallace

Shetland Hotel, Lerwick ZE1 0PW

7.30 pm

Peter Leask 01595 693 162

1

Turriff

Lynn Gould Trio

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

4

Arbroath

Steven Carcary Duo

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot,

By Arbroath DD11 2PE

7.30 pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

4

Clydesdale

Craigowl SDB

St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS

2.00 pm

Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017

4

Gretna

Alan Gardiner Trio

Richard Greenhow Centre, Gretna DG16 5AQ

7.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

5

Thurso

Robert Whitehead

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

6

Campsie

The Full Scottish SDB

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 07889 021 972

6

Fort William

Michael Garvin Band

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

7.30 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505

6

Islesteps

Ian Smith Trio

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

John M Caskie MBE 01387 710 975 07711 573 071

6

North East

Gordon Pattullo

Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN

7.30 pm

Rory Smith 07769 801 996

6

Seghill

Leonard Brown French Night (Pooled Supper)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

7

Dingwall

Neil Caul Band

National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA

7.30 pm

Elspeth Weir 01349 877 675

7

Glenfarg

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

7.30 pm

Stewart Smith 01577 830 296

7

Montrose

Callum Wallace Duo

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30 pm

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

7

Orkney

Club night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

8

Button-Key (Windygates)

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Greig Institute, Windygates KY8 5DG

7.00 pm

Mary Cook 01592 713 687

8

Carlisle

Leonard Brown

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

7.30 pm

Alison Davies 01228 675 505

10

Sutherland

Daniel McPhee Trio

Rogart Village Hall, Rogart IV28 3XB

8.00 pm

Monica MacLean 01408 641 388

10

Uist & Benbecula

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Griminish Church of Scotland Hall, Benbecula

8.00 pm

Theona Morrison 01870 603 180

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Dance Diary

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

Monday

Kirkwall

St Magnus Centre

Live Music

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£4/£2

Door - All Welcome

01856 873 534 Orkney Dance Assoc.

Wednesday

Coupar Angus

St Anne’s Church Hall, Forfar Road

-

7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

£2.50

Tracy Thom

01828 628 747 Ceilidh Class.

Wednesday

Glasgow

St Andrews in Square

Live Music

7.15 pm - 9.30 pm

£5.50 Bar

Door (Tricia Matthews) 01324 716855

Ceilidh & Old Time Class

Wednesday

Garelochhead

Parish Church

-

2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

£2 (tea)

Jim 07500 723 874 or Neil 07788 116 324

Social Club

Wednesday

Stornoway

Primary School

-

7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

-

Janette Maciver 01851 704 870

School term time only

Wednesday

Midlem

Village Hall

Live Music

8.00 pm - 10.00 pm

£2 (tea)

Grace Belle Scott 01835 870 244

Old Time

Thursday

Dumfries

Kirkton Village Hall

Live Music

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£4

John Caskie 07711 573 071 Restarts 13th Sept

Old Tyme Dance Class with Tuition

Most Sundays

East Kilbride

Girl Guide Hall, Dundas Place

Phone to check time

2.30 pm - 4.30 pm or 7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£2 (tea)

Door or tel : 01355 230 134 or 245 052

Ceilidh & Old Time Club 01294 212 267

Ceilidh & Old Time Dances

November 2018

DATE

TOWN

HALL

BAND

TIME

COST

CONTACT

COMMENTS

3

Tranent

Rannoch House

Ewan Galloway

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£5 Bar

01875 615 138

Pay at Door

3

Inverness

Kirkhill C. Hall

Marian Anderson

8.00 pm - 12.00 mn

£6 Tea

01463 870 508

Social Dancers B.Y.O.B.& Food

3

Largoward

Village Hall

Scott Band

8.00 pm - 11.00pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

9

Bridge of Earn

The Institute

Scott Band

7.30 pm - 10.30 pm

£5 [No Bar]

07952 026 633

Pay at Door

9

Foulden

Village Hall

Neil Hardie

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£6 No Bar

01289 386 400

Tea/Coffee available

9

Irvine

Volunteer Rooms

Ian Muir

7.30 pm - 11.00 pm

£7 BYOB

01292 440 073

Ayrshire Ceilidh KA12 0BA

10

Canonbie

Village Hall

Ewan Galloway

7.30 pm - 11.30 pm

£6 B.Y.O.B.

07704 727 463

(own food) DG14 0UX

10

Largoward

Village Hall

Tommy Newcomen

8.00 pm - 11.00 pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

11

Glencarse

Village Hall

Scott Band

7.30 pm - 10.00 pm

£3.50

01738 552 688

Set & Couples Dances-No Bar

17

Largoward

Village Hall

Johnny Duncan

8.00 pm - 11.00 pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

B&F • NOVEMBER 2018

Reviews Springtime in the Rockies & Other Favourites Jimmy Burgess with Alan Nicolson & Norman Goudie Independent

A couple of years ago, having listened to clips of the famous Shetland accordionist Jimmy Burgess on YouTube, I set out to find some of Jimmy’s CDs as I very much liked what I’d heard, but alas, I couldn’t find any! When this CD dropped through my letterbox it became clear why. Despite playing in public for over 65 years, Jimmy hadn’t actually recorded any!

In fact I believe in all those years Jimmy has actually only recorded one track, which appeared on the 25th Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival CD. That by definition makes this recently released recording unique and one that all enthusiasts of Scottish dance music need to have in their collection.

Jimmy is supported on this recording by Alan Nicolson (accordion) and Norman Goudie (guitar and double bass). The beginnings of this CD took root in Norman Goudie’s workshop/studio when Norman quietly started recording Jimmy’s playing.

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

Norman thereafter managed to edit a number of the tracks, while later adding his guitar and double bass playing to the recording. A few more tracks were recorded at a subsequent session. The CD opens with three well-known tunes, Springtime in the Rockies, Wild Irish Rose and Auld Scots Mother O’Mine. As you would expect from three highly experienced Shetland musicians, all the characteristics of the Shetland Isles sound shines through. There is much to enjoy about this CD, especially as it includes evergreen favourites such as Isle of Innisfree, Galway Bay, The Old Rustic Bridge, Lara’s Theme from Doctor Zhivago, It’s A Long Way to Tipperary, The Happy Wanderer, Pack Up Your Troubles, You Are My Sunshine and Home On The Range. Jimmy has reached the grand age of 82 years now, so this maybe the only opportunity you have to get your hands on his currently one and only recording. l

RSCDS Book 53 Jim Lindsay & His Scottish Dance Band CD085 Receiving a new CD from Jim Lindsay and His Scottish Dance Band is always a very welcome experience, such is the standard of playing, the musical expertise and the quality one has come to expect from such a talented man. The first note heard on this recording confirms, if ever confirmation was needed, that the listener is in for a real treat.

The band line-up is full of familiar sounding names, all highly skilled and talented in their own right. We have finally Jim on lead accordion, David Hume on second box, Alison Smith and Gillian Ramsay on fiddle, Graham Berry on piano and bass and Gordon Smith on drums. This new recording contains 17 tracks featuring more than 30 great tunes from composers such as Phil Cunningham, Ian Lowthian, George Meikle, Simon Thoumire, Iain

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