Fiddle
41st Year No. 03 Nov 2017
£3.00
BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts
Skye
Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017 The Button Box Gathering David Pullar A Rescuer of Abandoned Accordions
BON ACCORD CEILIDH WEEKEND PLUS
NEWS, REVIEWS, 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 Section icons by: FlatIcon
Cover Image © Johanna Vogt 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
I’m still recovering from festival overload. It has been a whole month with nothing but music for dancing, music for listening and definitely music to enjoy. It was good to meet so many of you in Shetland and I hope to have several people give their version of experiences in the December issue with, of course, a few photos. Pia Walker, Editor Quite a few people have been talking about behaviour during performances. Banging doors and loud laughter etc. can be really distracting, not only for the performer, but also for us sitting listening. Please wait until the music stops before entering and exiting a room and respect performers by not making too much noise during a performance. One or two were wondering why I hadn’t approved their entry to the NAAFC Facebook-site. Unfortunately, I have to approve every item owing to people posting adverts there without any intention of supporting the magazine. If I am busy working on the magazine, FB is not a priority. Therefore, it may take a while for me to respond. Contact details are printed in the magazine on page 3. E-mails are a much quicker way to get a response. I do get info in the most wonderful ways. Most people send e-mails now, which have made it so much easier to edit and/or distribute the info. However, some e-mail me photos or pdfs of text. This means that both Marie and I will have to retype, which means that errors and omissions can occur. It would also be a great help if your news were in separate e-mails from other information such as guest artist information as I deal with various elements at different times. If date info is at the bottom of a news report, it may be put in another folder until I start editing the next magazine and thus will not show up immediately; the same goes for info sent with payments. In November I will be at Fiddlefest and at the RSCDS AGM, so do come and say hello.
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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News The Button Box Gathering Margo Maclennan
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Festivals
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In Memory
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B&F • CONTENTS
Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017
Eric Glanville
Take the Floor A Rescuer of
Abandoned Accordions We talk to Daivd Pullar
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14 Deadlines:
Bon Accords Ceilidh Weekend Centre Stage Roddy Matthews
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Club News
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Club Diary
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Dance Diary
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Reviews
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Music
The latest news from our clubs
You are never too old to go clubbing!
Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs
Hobgoblin Music; Hjaltibonhoga
By Eric R Glanville
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.
From Australia to Shetland October 2017 saw my wife Kim and me visit Shetland for the 30th Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival. Although this wasn’t our first time in Scotland, it was our first time this far north. We had bought ‘season tickets’, which meant we were to choose an event out of the six available on both the Thursday and the Friday. There were seven acts in each concert and the decision was not easy. We were aware that Shetlanders did do dances a bit differently from what we knew. We were surprised though at how different, despite recognising most of the titles. After observing a couple of rounds, we joined in for some and sat back to look and listen for the others. They play their music differently as well, though the differences are far more subtle. This was evident at The Grand Dance on the
Galashiels
Saturday night, where six local and six mainland bands share the bill. It was interesting to hear the comparisons, particularly with Shetland tunes, and to appreciate the Shetland bands on their own terms. The Festival also invited Jan Arild’s Orchestra from Norway. They were a great addition to the line-up and did provide some clues to the musical differences - the Nordic influence is still present. The whole experience was very enlightening on both levels. Shetlanders also know how to have a good time and that love of life extended through to making first-timers like us welcome. Unfortunately, Australia is too far away for us to say we will return in the next couple of years. But rest assured, Shetland will be in our itinerary for our next Scottish trip. Thank you Shetland for a wonderful experience we are keen to repeat. David South
NEW VENUE is Gala YM RFC, 4 Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, TD1 1PF.
The first club night will be on Thursday 2nd November 2017. Guest will be Ian Cruikshanks Band.
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x o B n o t t u T he B g n i r e h t a G
By Margo Maclennan
Jim Mackay SDB
J
ohn (the prof) Matheson gave a warm welcome as compere for the 16th amazing Button Box Gathering where the money raised was donated to the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue. The Gathering offers an opportunity to young up-and-coming musicians. Jim Mackay’s Scottish Dance Band comprising Jim Mackay, Graham Mackay and Matthew Maclennan, with a back row of Bill Ewan (piano) and Tom Mackay (drums), opened the show. They played a selection of marches and waltzes with many of Jim’s own compositions, and these were great favourites of the audience. Graham supported 5 young students called the Button Boxers to great applause. They were Alastair Taylor, George MacIver, Adam Mackillop, Craig, the next generation of the Mackay family, and Ellen MacDougall, all playing a delightful selection of tunes. Graham gave us a solo spot supported by Bill on piano and what versatility he showed as he reminded us of why he has won all these championships.
Scott Band with his fiddler Alana Gowans, Malcolm Ross (drums) and Bill Ewan (keyboard) also performed. They are such a talented band with a great swing and a tight sound. Likewise Jim and Sandy Lindsay who, supported by Malcolm and Bill, played outstanding music and it was obvious that both they and the audience enjoyed their spot. After the interval, Jim Mackay (button-box) accompanied by Matthew on piano gave us some great tunes written by Jim; one of them was a wedding March for his son Tom and his wife Susan. The highlight for the audience was the first appearance of 15-year-old Robert Smith from Fortrose. He played brilliantly with a laid-back sound and was accompanied and supported by Matthew. This duo was much enjoyed by all judging by the warm applause from the audience. Scott Band and his band then returned and were followed by Jim and Sandy Lindsay. Both bands gave us some great toe-tapping tunes. The final act was the Brandon McPhee Trio with Robert Cameron
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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM
Festivals Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017
Skye Strings
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lorious weather greeted a host of musicians and supporters from all points of the compass who converged on Portree’s Royal Hotel to attend the 13th annual Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival. On the Thursday evening festival chairman Ally ‘K’ MacPherson welcomed a full house and called upon Margaret Nicolson of Staffin to formally open the event. The daunting task of opening music for the festival fell to the hugely popular Janet Graham and her band, with Janet on lead accordion, Derek Hamilton on second box, Jimmy MacDonald on piano and Richard Hughes on drums. As has happened over the previous Festivals, Derek, Jimmy and Richard were also probably the hardest working musicians at the event as they volunteer their services as backing to many players and are always much in demand. Other musicians on piano accordion were Betty Donaldson of Fife, D B MacLeod of Lewis, Iain Joseph MacDonald of Muir of Ord, John Omand of Tiree, Andy Philip of Ayrshire and Paul Wright. Hamish MacDougall of Muir of Ord played 2-row button-box and Ian Wilson and John Cameron piano. On drums we heard Ally ‘K’ MacPherson,
Willie Macfarla
ne
Betty Donaldson
Roya MacLean Band
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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM
A Rescuer of Abandoned I
ACCORDIONS
think this is the best way to describe David Pullar. David hails from Fife, from Blebo, but I went to meet him in the home he as occupied for ca. 35 years near Montrose. David was a joiner, but after having worked in various professions became a salmon fisherman as are his family. In fact there are three David Pullars – the eldest, the middle and the youngest and they all play accordions. Steven Carcary taught David the youngest. The David that I came to see in his house - a salmon bothy right on the edge of an east coast cliff with the most beautiful view of the sea - also plays the accordion, although he states that “he can barely wring a tune,” and has been involved with the Windygates Buttons and Bows for many years. It was his grandson, David the youngest, who contacted me to tell me about his granddad’s hobby, which started when he began learning to play 15-17 years ago. He told Bobby Dewar during a visit that he wished he could play and Bobby gave him an old accordion which was then overhauled by John Crawford and this was to become his first ever accordion. His interest may have started many
years before that as he remembers being taken to the Palace Theatre in Dundee for a show when he was age 8 or 9 and remembers an accordionist in a glittery suit with a sparkly accordion. The lights were dimmed in the theatre and David remembers the sequins etc. sparkling in the stage light. Starting with just one accordion 15-17 years ago, he now has 800-900. In his own words, “it was a collection that went completely out of hand”. His grandson told me that at one time, there were more than 60 accordions in the living room and the only empty space was a path from his granddad’s armchair to the telly. Now only a few were in the room – including his prized Salas from 1932. He picked up the Salas that had been owned by a lawyer in London through Eric Glanville from Rosyth. He picked up many an accordion from Eric: on one occasion, he bought 5 on the same day. When you have deliveries of accordions up to 3 times a day, you need somewhere to store them. David the eldest therefore built a special room in the basement for them – except there was no basement to start with. They literally dug and carved
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.
ABERDEEN Chairman Scott Gordon welcomed everyone back to the first evening of the new season at the British Legion in Bridge of Don. We had just enough local players to entertain the audience until our guests, The James Coutts SDB, came on stage. We started with Frank Burnett on accordion, followed by Ernest Mitchell on fiddle. Morag Sinclair, a visitor from the Beith Club, was next to play on accordion followed by Denis Shepherd on moothie and Sandy McAllan on accordion, all accompanied by Scott on drums and Stanley Flett on piano. All players entertained us in different ways and we enjoyed them all. Our guest James introduced his merry men Brian Cruickshank on bass, Graham Berry (piano) and Ian Adamson on drums, and for the next 30 minutes there was silence except for the music, singing and applause. It was a great first half and a wonderful start to the autumn meeting. After tea and raffle we had more local players with Gary Forrest on accordion, James on second box, Graham on piano and Scott on drums. We also
had Lynne Mciver on accordion with Susan Gordon on fiddle, Scott on drums and Graham on piano, and we enjoyed their different styles of music. The guests were back on for the last 40 minutes. We were delighted with their vast selection of sing-along tunes, waltzes, 4/4 marches, two steps, a fantastic Tango Musette and a slow air into a waltz composition by Gordon Shand called Inver Bridge and played beautifully. After a rousing applause they played an encore that included two of my favourites, Miss Jane of Violet Bank and Dunaskin Glen. Well played James and band! Scott then closed the evening informing us of the band for the next month. You are all very welcome. Sheila Bain ALNWICK The club held the first meeting for this season in the new venue The Northumberland Hall in Alnwick, and all enjoyed a splendid night as we had good company, hospitality and great music. Ernie Coe, our invited guest compere got things under way and welcomed everybody. He then introduced the local players as a group to open the
musical proceedings. They were Susan Clark, Gillian Birnie, Di Jevons on fiddle, Jimmy Little and Ernie Gordon on mouth organ, Ian Riddle on drums, Ann Brown, Robin Cowens, Neil Riddle, Leonard Brown and myself on accordion. Playing guitar and banjo were Anthea Wibie-Chalk and Martin Philpson. Our quest artists were Jimmy and Sandy Lindsay playing 3-row button-accordion with Malcom Ross on drums. They produced a grand programme of music, traditional sing-alongs, a wee touch of jazz and the popular favourites. Many thanks to all who made it a grand and memorable night. Mungo Riddell ANNAN ST ANDREWS The September meeting took place in St Andrews Social Club on Sunday 27th September. Compere Jack Murdoch welcomed everyone and introduced the guest band The Lyne Valley Dance Band, who were no strangers to Annan. They have been a popular band in the area since they first played at Hethersgill Village Hall in 1959. The band comprises David Bell on accordion, Donald Ridley on second box,
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B&F • CLUB DIARY
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Club Diary November 2017 DATE
CLUB
GUEST ARTIST
VENUE
TIME
CONTACT
1
Dingwall
Ross MacPherson Band
National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA
7.30 pm
Elspeth Weir 01349 877 675
1
Glenfarg
David Oswald SDB
Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU
7.30 pm
Russell Robertson 01577 830 642
1
Montrose
Scott Band SDB
Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ
7.30 pm
Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487
1
Orkney
Club Night (Visitors welcome)
The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD
7.30 pm
Jim Marwick 01856 874 474
2
Crieff
Joyce Ramsay Trio
The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB
7.30 pm
Irene Anderson 01764 654 298
2
Galashiels
Ian Cruikshanks Band
Gala YM RFC, 4 Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, TD1 1PF
7.30 pm
Robert Cleland 01896 754 463
2
Isle of Skye
Nicol McLaren & The Glencraig SDB
The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU
7.30 pm
Linda Shaw 01478 611 122
2
Lewis and Harris
Iain Crichton Memorial Charity Night
Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN
8.00 pm
Janette MacIver 01851 704 870
2
Oban
Willie Scott Band
The Royal Hotel, Oban PA34 4BE
7.30 pm
Anne McFadyen 01631 562 077
2
Rothbury
Gavin Piper (AGM)
Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR
7.30 pm
Mary Davidson 01668 281 307
2
Turriff
Kathleen Hadden & Friends
Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ
7.30 pm
Pat Steele 01888 562 486
5
Arbroath
Leonard Brown
Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot, By Arbroath DD11 2PE
7.30 pm
Tony Simpson 01241 875 326
5
Clydesdale
Callum Cruickshank SDB
St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS
2.00 pm
Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017
5
Gretna
Martainn Skene
The Solway Lodge Hotel, Gretna DG16 5DN
7.00 pm
Robin Waitt 01387 371 423
6
Thurso
Robert Nairn
Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA
7.30 pm
Ian Wright 01847 892 050
7
Campsie
Sandy Nixon SDB
Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ
7.30 pm
Billy Hutton 07889 021 972
7
Fort William
Gemma Donald & Alan Small
Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY
7.30 pm
Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505
7
Islesteps
Brandon McPhee Trio
Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS
7.30 pm
Ian Gray 01387 760 276
7
North East
John Stuart
Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN
7.30 pm
Rory Smith 07769 801 996
7
Seghill
Club Night (Visitors welcome)
Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ
7.00 pm
James Youngson 01670 356 410
8
Alnwick
Alan Gardiner Trio
The Northumberland Hall, Alnwick NE66 1TN
7.30 pm
Leonard Brown 07758 723 355
8
Forres
Leonard Brown (Solo)
Victoria Hotel, Forres IV36 1EL
7.30 pm
Mrs Ann Sharp 01309 672 672
8
Inveraray
Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Inveraray Inn, Inveraray PA32 8XB
8.00 pm
Margaret Mather 01499 302 458
8
Langholm
Brandon McPhee trio (Ticket Only)
Langholm Social Club Langholm DG13 0DN
7.30 pm
Adam Grant 01387 371 423 / 01387 381 305
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B&F • NOVEMBER 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
Hobgoblin Music Celebrating 40 Years Various Artistes HOBCD040 It is hard to believe Hobgoblin Music was established over 40 years ago. The company’s support and contribution to traditional folk and roots music across those four decades has been outstanding and it is great to see the company continue to flourish and still play a critical part in promoting a genre of music that continues to grow in popularity. If evidence were needed to support that claim you only have to look at the highly successful folk festivals that take place every year across the country. Before I review this 40th anniversary CD a little history lesson. The birth of Hobgoblin Music took place in 1976, the inspiration for the conception being Mannie and Pete McClelland who at the time were looking to buy a concertina but couldn’t find one for love nor money. The McClellands then began to visualise a folk music store where you could find shelves and shelves of folk instruments, accessories and music books. Hobgoblin Music had arrived and the first very humble outlet opened at Burgess Hill Market. Both Pete and Mannie had other jobs at this point. Pete worked at an engineering firm and
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Mark [McCabe] is a most talented traditional accordion player and his great playing is featured on two tracks
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Mannie was a teacher. The name Hobgoblin was Mannie’s idea and as demand grew, Hobgoblin and the services they offered back in those early days caught on very fast. Hobgoblin upgraded to a barn in Ifield Wood and in 1977 they moved to their first proper shop in Northgate, Crawley, which subsequently moved to Brighton in 2015. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Hobgoblin Music have compiled an album of music featuring past and present staff members, all of whom were and are great musicians in their own right. The album is a follow up to a similar CD they released fifteen
years ago to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The CD features music from Hobgoblin founders Pete and Mannie McClelland, Mark McCabe, Sarah Mallinson, Nick Collins, Russ Flemming, Cris Piersenné, Mark White, Jacquelyn Hynes, Nicola Rain, Sarah Mooney, Georgia Lewis, Ken Thompson, Dogan Mehmet, Neil Campbell, Mike Ross, Ollie King, John Rain, Alex Percy and Pip Ives. While it might not be appropriate to call out one specific musician amongst this collection of some of folk music’s finest talent, I’m going to be a little self-indulgent and do just that! Accordion lovers must check out the talent of Mark McCabe who manages Hobgoblin’s Birmingham store. Mark is a most talented traditional accordion player and his great playing is featured on two tracks. This CD is a wonderful retrospective look at the amazing contribution Hobgoblin Music have made to folk and root music. Who knows how many young traditional musicians Hobgoblin Music have inspired and supported throughout their history - I’m sure it’s many! Let’s all raise a glass, toast Hobgoblin’s fortieth anniversary and wish them continued success in the many years that hopefully lie ahead. For more information on Hobgoblin Music and this CD, do check out their website at www.hobgoblin. com.
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