Box & Fiddle - October 2016

The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Tom Alexander LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

SKYE ACCORDION & FIDDLE FESTIVAL THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC FORUM PLUS

News, Reviews, Club

Diaries and much more...

£2.70

40th Year No. 02 OCT 2016

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the October issue of Box & Fiddle The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Editor • Pia Walker 7 Tarvit Gardens Cupar, Fife, KY15 5BT Tel: 01334 657 850 Mob: 07715 115 489 editor@boxandfiddle.com Designer • Marie Irvine mamidesigns@hotmail.com Section icons by: FlatIcon

Cover Image Nicol McLaren and Tom Alexander 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

My neighbour recently asked me “Are you ever at home?” – To that I can only say “Not a lot!” I seem to have been to so many things lately and have met so many of you, which was such a treat. I was at Perth for the Tom Alexander tribute, and a great tribute it was.

I observed Tom as he greeted all who came up to him to say hello in the most polite and Pia Walker, Editor friendly manner. The one great question from that day, however, still remains unanswered: What did Leonard wear under his kilt? (I don’t really want to know).

Now is the time for the clubs to check their entries on the website – to see if all is correct and let me know if it isn’t. Most clubs have sent in at least their dates, which is important so others can see that you are open for business. And no, just telling me that you meet on such and such a day every month is NOT sufficient. YOU have to tell me the DATES you are meeting. If I have to research every club and every date throughout the season, chances are that there will be many more errors and you will be severely annoyed with me ☺ If you send me the dates, and you also check for errors, the diary will be faultless – won’t it? ☺ And I can use the time improving the magazine, so more people will read it and more people will visit your clubs.

You should by now have received your magazine holder, please use it and let me know how many magazines you need for the coming months. I do hear from people that they cannot get the magazine at their club, because it is always sold out.

October will see me on the road again, first on my ‘holiday’ to the Shetland A&F Festival. I will also be going to the Perth Festival. I hope you have already signed up for the competitions there.

Dance classes have started again which means dances are being planned, so if you are a musician and are asked for availability, do contact the organisers as soon as possible. I hear a lot about people who do not respond to requests. It is seen as arrogance and diva-like behaviour and it is not appreciated at all.

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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New Clydesdale Club; The Lomond Ceilidh Band; Celebrations; Bon Accords Ceilidh Weekend; Letters

Take the Floor Tom Alexander Lifetime Achievement Award

The Traditional Music Forum Find out more about this invaluable network

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Festivals

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Memories of

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5

News

23

Derek Hamilton tells us about the celebrations

B&F • CONTENTS

Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2016

John McDonald

Club News

The latest news from our clubs

Deadlines:

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Club Diary

38

Dance Diary

40

Reviews

You are never too old to go Clubbing!

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Greentrax 30th Anniversay Album The Angel’s Share Pendulum

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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NEWS

News

Send in your story. If you have a photo that tells a story, send it in with an explanation.

The Grand Opening of the New Clydesdale Club

After almost nine months of planning, homework, discussions and meetings we were delighted to open the doors for the first meeting. Eager enthusiasts from far and near began queuing more than an hour before the published start time. A capacity audience of over 170 enjoyed an afternoon of fantastic Scottish dance music from a wide variety of club players augmented by two, yes two guest bands!

After a short introduction, NAAFC chairman Nicol McLaren and the Glencraig Band took the honour of the opening to get the Clydesdale Club underway. Nicol was joined on stage by Gordon Howe, Issy Hodgson and Dave Bell.

With our opening meeting attracting many wellknown faces, we were conscious of ensuring as many local players took to the stage as possible.

Our aim was to ensure every player had their turn often pairing them with some of the more established names. Despite a valiant effort from our Club Secretary, unfortunately one or two visiting musicians had to miss out due to the large numbers in attendance.

We were treated to a fantastic closing performance with an all too infrequent appearance of The Alasdair MacCuish Band with Robert Menzies, Scott Gordon, Fraser MacInnes and

local boy Tom Orr wowing the audience.

Players on the day were Islay Cathcart, Erin Leslie, Bob Berry, Marshall Harkness, Janet Graham, Kenny Jackson, Newby Park, John Elliott, John Carmichael, John Burns, Fiona Paul, Ronnie Easton, June Meikle, Billy Hutton, Alex & Ian Graham, Emma Morrison, Neil MacMillan, Michael Philip, Charlie Todd, Ian Adamson, Bruce Quirie, Dorothy Lawson, Carol & Roger Dobson, Gus Millar and Kevin Clark.

Finally, we are indebted to our sponsors; Hands Up for Trad, Lanark Round Table and Kevin Clark of Smilescene Dental Practices, who have provided much needed support easing the financial burden of our first season.

All players and enthusiasts will be made most welcome at our future events, check out our advert for details of our opening season meetings.

Iain Cathcart

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Tom Alexander

Lifetime Achievement Award Nicol McLaren presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Tom Alexander

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n the 28th August I spent one of the most wonderful musical afternoons of my life in Perth. I went along to Leonard Brown’s tribute to Tom Alexander (of the Alexander Brothers). Leonard had organised (almost single handed, but with a wee bit of help from his Mum and Dad) a show in which he presented Tom with a lifetime achievement award. An award, to my mind, long overdue.

Tom Alexander in his heyday was one of Scotland’s (or even Britain’s) top accordionists, with a repertoire that extended from the popular to the classical and everything in between and beyond.

Leonard Brown took over the Salutation Hotel and he and his band took it by storm. With an audience of around 275 he paid the greatest tribute you could imagine to the box player Tom Alexander with Tom sitting in the front row as Guest of Honour.

Leonard’s guest, along with the most receptive audience (I counted 3 voluntary standing ovations),

sat enthralled by this young man’s ability to recreate the Tom Alexander magic.

Surrounded by a wonderful bunch of musicians Leonard played just about all of Tom’s ‘hits’ The Flying Scotsman, The Typewriter, The Oil Rigger, The Alpine Express as well as most of Tom’s own compositions and all in Tom Alexander’s own style.

The show started with a DVD displayed on three big screens telling personal stories about, and tributes to, Tom. This prepared the audience nicely for the band to come on and do their thing. And do their thing they did! Leonard and the boys produced the tightest of professional sounds you will hear anywhere.

As the first half neared completion Tom was presented with his lifetime award including a silver pocket watch inscribed with ‘The Flying Scotsman’.

It’s that sort of detail that makes Leonard stand out from the crowd. Tom was totally overcome by the presentation.

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Festivals

1.

Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2016 A

ttracted many enthusiasts from throughout Scotland and further afield, where the Royal Hotel, Portree was the main venue. Some of the ticketed events were sold out well in advance and all informal sessions were equally well supported.

Thursday evening was a traditional club night.

Compere and Chairman Aly ‘K’ MacPherson invited local businessman and long time supporter, Jan Nicolson, to formally open the Festival, and then it was music all the way from local and visiting musicians including John Cameron on accordion and piano, Sandy Ross on three-row button-box, Caerina Campbell on fiddle, Hamish McDougall on two-row button-box and Aly ‘K’ MacPherson himself on accordion and drums.

Janet Graham, popular bandleader from Cumbernauld, was joined by Derek Hamilton on 2nd box, Richard Hughes on drums and Jimmy MacDonald on piano. Hard working Derek, Richard

and Jimmy went on to support many other players throughout the Festival, including D B MacLeod on piano accordion from across the Minch, and John Omand on his Hohner Gola. Gerry Boxall took a spell on drums, Betty Donaldson gave some sets on accordion as did Aly ‘Beag’ Macleod on two-row button-box. Legendary band leader, Ronnie Easton, backed by Derek, Richard and Jimmy completed the line-up of great musicians who volunteered to entertain the packed audience eagerly anticipating the special guest band, The Michael Philip Scottish Dance Band.

A lively and varied programme was provided by Michael Philip leading on accordion, Daren Stewart on second box, Jim Nichol on piano, Suzanne Croy on bass, Michael’s young son, Aaron Philip, on small pipes and, last but not least, Malcolm Ross on drums to bring the first night to a rousing close.

Friday saw the resumption of many informal

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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 ANDREW The guests for August were the Gary Sutherland Ceilidh Band comprising Gary Sutherland on lead accordion, John Burns on second accordion and Max Ketchin on drums. Gary hails from Cupar in Fife and is an award winning former Scottish Champion. The band began by playing for various popular dances. The local players, accompanied by Ian Wilson and Fiona Paul on keyboard and Billy Porter on drums were: Kenny White from Rigg playing two sets on piano accordion; Bill McMinn from Lockerbie with a two-row melodeon; Fiona Paul from Carnwath on piano accordion; Kenny Jackson from Stonehouse playing several popular tunes on piano accordion; Lawrence Wannop from Great Orton, who in former years was leader of The Hunters Band, played for a Quickstep on piano accordion; Newby Park from Carlisle played a number of popular sing-along tunes on piano accordion; James Laurie from Gilsland played a fiverow button-key accordion; Norman Swainston from Wigton played a number of popular tunes on a small accordion; Willie Little from Dumfries, an

accomplished whistle player and a faithful supporter of the club, played several Jimmy Shand tunes; Jim Fraser from Dumfries played several wellkent tunes on piano accordion; Les Hurst from Carlisle played two contrasting sets on piano accordion; David Bell, leader of the Lyne Valley Dance Band, played piano accordion; John Waugh from Carlisle played for an Alpine Stroll on piano accordion.

The guest band then returned returned and finished with further dances.

ARBROATH Our floor players were quickly in situ after our MC, Avril Abbott, welcomed a good crowd to our September meeting. On

accordions respectively were Cora Wilson, Arthur Wood, John Hart, Margaret Patullo, John White, Alan Petrie, Tony Simpson and Eric Davidson.

Accompanying on keyboard were Tony Simpson and Bill Ford with additional assistance from Issy Hodgson, Avril on drums and on fiddles were Dave Smith and Liz Arthur.

Many thanks goes to all these musicians who provided us with some very good tunes.

Our guest was the Nicol McLaren SDB. What a super sound from this group with Nicol on lead accordion, Issy Hodgson on keyboard, Gordon Howe on fiddle and Dave Bell completing the line-up on drums. We were treated to a great fiddle solo by Gordon playing a classic March,

Nicol McLaren on stage, Arbroath

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Club Diary October 2016 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTISTE

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

2

Clydesdale

Marie Fielding & Duncan Black

St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS

2.00 pm

Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017

2

Gretna

West Telferton band

The Solway Lodge Hotel, Gretna DG16 5DN

7.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

3

Thurso

Leonard Brown

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

4

Campsie

Roddy Matthews

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 07889 021 972

4

Fort William

TBC

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

8.00 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505

4

Islesteps

Derek Hamilton Duo

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

Ian Gray 01387 760 276

4

North East

Leonard Brown

Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN

7.30 pm

Mrs Petrie 01542 860 246

4

Seghill

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.00 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

5

Dingwall

Marian Anderson Trio

National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA

7.30 pm

Elspeth Weir 01349 877675

5

Glenfarg

Gary Blair (Solo)

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

8.00 pm

Russell Robertson 01577 830 642

5

Montrose

Leonard Brown Duo

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

Jack Delaney (35th birthday celebrations)

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

8.00 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

6

Isle of Skye

John Stuart SDB

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

info@skyemusic.co.uk

6

Lewis and Harris

TBC

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

6

Oban

Seumas O’Sulivan

The Royal Hotel, Oban PA34 4BE

7.30 pm

Anne McFadyen 01631 562 077

6

Rothbury

The Occasionals

Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR

7.30 pm

Mary Davidson 01668 281 307

6

Shetland

Various (Festival)

all week

Peter Leask 01595 693 162

6

Turriff

Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

9

Annan St Andrew

Garioch Blend

St Andrew Social Club, Annan DG12 5JW

7.30 pm

Mrs N Taylor 01461 204 604

9

Arbroath

Carnoustie Traditionals Club Open Day

The Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath DD1 5RA

2-5 pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

9

Arbroath

Steven Carcary (Dance)

The Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath DD1 5RA

7:30 pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

11

Blairgowrie

Lomond Ceilidh Band

Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL

7.45 pm

Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302

11

Dunfermline

Sandy Lindsay

Sportsman Bar, Rosyth KY11 2NX

7.30 pm

Mr Bob Adam 01383 306 142

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Dance Diary

View the Scottish Country Dances online at www.dancediary.info/index.html 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

Mondays

Kirkwall

St Magnus Centre

Live Music

7.30-10pm

£4/£2

Door - All Welcome 01856 873 534

Orkney Dance Assoc.

Wednesdays

Garelochhead

Parish Church

-

2pm-4pm

£2 (tea)

01436 671 089

Social Club

Glasgow

St Andrews in Square

Live Music

7.15pm -9.30pm

£5.50 Bar

Door Tricia Matthews 01324 716855

Ceilidh & Old Time Class

Bonnyrigg

Pitcairn Centre

Live Music

7.30-10pm

£4

Door Jennifer Johnstone

Ceilidh & Old Time

Stornoway

Primary School

-

7pm-9pm

-

Janette Maciver 01851 704 870

Ceilidh & Old Term time only

Midlem

Village Hall

Live Music

8pm-10pm

£2

B G Scott 01835 870 244

Old Timer Classes

Dumfries

Kirkton Village Hall

Live Music

7.30pm -10pm

£3

John Caskie 07711 573 071

Old Tyme Dance Class with Tuition

Glen Douglas

Hall (near.

Jedburgh)

Live Music

7.30-10pm

£2

John 07803 951 293

2nd & 4th Thursdays only

Fridays

Stornoway

Primary School

-

7.30 pm-9.30pm

-

Janette Maciver 01851 704 870

Ceilidh & Old Time Term time only

Most Sundays

East Kilbride

Girl Guide Hall, Dundas Place

-

7.30 -10pm

£2 (tea)

Door or tel : - 01355 230 134 or 245 052

Ceilidh & Old Time Club

Thursday

Ceilidh & Old Time Dances

October 2016

DATE

TOWN

HALL

BAND

TIME

COST

CONTACT

COMMENTS

7

Dumfries

Locharbriggs C. C.

Iain Cathcart

8pm-12mn

£8

01387 710 975

Old Tyme Dance

8

Inverness

Kirkhill C. Hall

Jim Cassidy

8pm-12mn

£5 Tea

01463 870 508

Social Dancers B.Y.O.B.

8

Largoward

Village Hall

Ian Cruickshanks

8pm-11pm

£5 Tea

07961 437 615

Weekly Dance KY9 1HZ

8

Elderslie

Village Hall

John Carmichael

7.30-11pm

£5/£4

0141 884 6786

Also Singer & Piper PA5 9AS

9

Arbroath

Meadowbank Inn

Steven Carcary

7.30-12mn

£7

01241 858 091

Dance after open Day

14

Foulden

Village Hall

Robert Whitehead

8pm-12mn

£6 No bar

01289 386 400

Soft drinks sold

14

Bridge of Earn

The Institute

George Rennie

8pm-11pm

£5 [No Bar]

07952 026 633

Pay at Door

14

Edinburgh

Masonic Club

Canongate Cadjers

8pm-11pm

£8

07815 741 699

Dances & Requests – EH7 4PB

14

Irvine

Volunteer Rooms

Liam Stewart

7.30-11.30

£7 B.Y.O.B.

01292 316 815

Ayrshire Ceilidh Club

15

Canonbie

Village Hall

James Coutts

7.30-11.30

£6 B.Y.O.B.

07704 727 463

(own food)

15

Daviot

Strathnairn Hall

Steven Carcary

8pm-12mn

£6 BYOB

01540 651 377

Cairngorm Dancers IV2 5XL

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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

Greentrax 30th Anniversary Album The Special Projects Various Artistes CDTRAXS 8616

2016 marks the 30th Anniversary of Greentrax Recordings who have done so much to promote Scottish traditional music. To mark the occasion Greentrax has released this double CD featuring thirty tracks specially selected

by Managing Director Ian Green from the many “special projects” of the past thirty years. The compilation includes tracks from not only the Greentrax label, but also the Culburnie label, licensed from Alasdair Fraser for the UK, Europe and other territories, also celebrating thirty years in 2016, plus tracks from the school of Scottish Studies Sound archive, the G2 label and the Celtic Collections budget serie, so a lot of material to sift through in creating this 30th anniversary compilation. A lot of care and thought has clearly gone into the track selection for this double celebration CD and I’m told that Ian Green is confident that it represents an exciting snapshot of the many special projects Greentrax have undertaken during the past thirty years.

In selecting tracks, the rich

Culburnie Records catalogue, including the many Alasdair Fraser albums, proved a very difficult choice but Ian finally settled on The High Reel Set from the award winning Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Fire and Grace album. Choosing a track from the twenty-seven albums in the highly rated Scottish Tradition series, also proved to be a daunting task, but the Lizzie Higgins version of The Jolly Beggar from the very popular Muckle Sangs album won the day. A short, but well sung version of The White Cockade by Robert Burns sung by the internationally acclaimed Jean Redpath also made the cut. Tracks were also selected to represent such stunning projects as Aly Bain and Friends from what was probably one of the best television series of all time and the compilation duly includes an exciting set from Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain. The best selling Gaelic Woman album

is also represented by CatherineAnn MacPhee performing one of her favourite songs. Other albums featured in the collection include Gentle Giants which focussed on the noble Clydesdale horse.

Robin Laing sings Heavy Horses.

Another Greentrax album that couldn’t be overlooked when making this selection was the fabulous and critically acclaimed Far Far From Ypres which is currently the number one best selling Greentrax album.

No Greentrax compilation album would be complete without representation from brilliant songwriter Eric Bogle so delightfully the track The End of An Auld Song from The Emigrant and The Excile Album is included.

There are many wonderful tracks on this two CD compilation which reflect Greentrax Recordings thirty year history and it also serves as a timely reminder of the outstanding contribution Greentrax and very specially their founder, Ian Green, has made to promote and keep alive our wonderful traditional music.

I have a sneaky feeling this two CD compilation set will in time become a much prized collectors item so if I were you, I would get my hands on a copy while you can! This is a wonderful double CD set containing many musical gems which I would highly recommend.