Fiddle The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts
new LOOK
ISSUE
Country
&Western Meets traditional Scottish Music
Twenty ‘Seventh Heaven’ For Scottish Music Fans
Profile:
George Darling Chairman’s Report
PLUS much more...
38th Year No. 01 Sept 2014
£2.70
BOX&
Welcome
B&F • editorial
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...to the September 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 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 3 Bellefield Crescent Lanark, ML11 7QY Tel: 01555 661 017 iain@boxandfiddle.com Secretary • Susan MacFadyen Carlung Farm, West Kilbride Ayrshire, KA23 9PU Tel: 01294 823 865 susan@boxandfiddle.com Treasurer • Charlie Todd 63 Station Road, Thankerton Biggar, ML12 6NZ Tel: 01899 308 327 charlie@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: Richard Ross David Cunningham Willie Johnstone Charlie Kirkpatrick Jacqueline MacDonald Tom Orr
Marie and I have been working hard over the last couple of months and hope you will like the new format and look. I for one am very impressed with Marie’s designs and ideas and look forward to working with her in the future. I’m sure that between us, and with your input, we will get a magazine that really makes an Pia Walker, Editor impact. What content will I, as your new editor, want to see in the magazine? I would like to see a vibrant magazine with lots of interesting articles and reports, lots of photos to look at and something for everyone, young and old. BUT it is not just me, is it? What do YOU want to see in the magazine? I can only put in what you send me! Therefore send me the information you think should be shared with others. It is YOUR magazine after all. The magazine is a place where you can read what goes on in our world, but also a place for others to get to know your club, so keep me informed of what goes on up your way. That way I can promote your activities in the magazine and on social media. Don’t wait to get asked, send it today! Please promote the magazine during your club nights, we need to increase the sales and subscriptions of the magazine, and I will need your help to do that. Even an increase of one or two magazines per club per month will have a great impact on sales. If this happens it may make our treasurer, Charlie Todd, attempt a smile at the next AGM! I will try and get in contact with all clubs as the year progresses, please do come up and say hello if you see me around, don’t be a stranger. And finally thank you to all who have sent in information for this issue, and thank you for double checking names and spellings etc. It is a great help, the less I have to double-check names etc. the more time I have to go out and promote your activities to others. I wish you all a brilliant new season.
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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NAAFC Chairman’s Report 2014 News Catch up on all the
11 Twenty-‘Seventh Heaven’ for Scottish music fans
12 Festivals
The 12th Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival; Lairg Music Festival
16 Country & Western Meets Traditional Scottish Music
At Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Deadlines:
18 Club Diary
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Where to go for a good night out
22 Club News
The latest news from our members clubs
latest stories and events
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12
33
Nicol McLaren reports on the AGM
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B&F • SEPTEMBER 2014
33 PROFILE: George Darling text
36 Dance Diary
Find the dances and ceilidhs near you
38 In Memory
We remember Allan Kindness and Bill Greig
40 Reviews
We review the latest cds, dvds and books
44 Sheet Music
Ian and Elaine’s Diamond Wedding by Barbara Lewis
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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Presentations
A special event? Tell us in text and pictures.
Lanark The photo shows a presentation of the proceeds from our Charity Dance in June, where a cheque for £500 was presented to the Beatson Cancer Charity. Our new season gets under way on 22nd September when our Guest Artist will be the Bob Liddle S.D.B.l
Janette Scott, Secretary
End of an Era Jimmy Petrie, President, who has been the linchpin of the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club for the past 12 years, has decided to step down, much to the disappointment of club members. Jimmy’s knowledge of the artists who play at Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout Scotland has not only kept the N.E Club going, but increased membership at a time when other clubs were finding it difficult to maintain numbers. It should also be noted that Jimmy was ably assisted by his wife Jan, who has been Secretary/Treasurer during his tenure as club President. A presentation of a bottle of whisky and four crystal glasses was made to Jimmy, by long-time Club member Meta Hird. Jan received a bouquet of flowers from Frank Farquharson, Club reporter. l
Right: Jane Farquharson was presented with a crystal rose bowl and inscribed plaque for her 41years of supporting musicians and help with young local up and coming fiddlers and accordionists. Below: Frank Farquharson presents Jan Petrie, secretary treasurer, with a bouquet of flowers.
Above: Jim Petrie being presented with a bottle of whisky and crystal glasses by Meta Hird.
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Festivals Just remember to seek permission to publish the photos and tell us the name of the photographers.
We aim to build up a festival calendar so everyone can see when you special event is happening. Send me the dates well in advance. Nearer the time think of including an ad. Perhaps send in a short text to lead up to the festival. Afterwards it is always good to see lots of happy people and a short article on how the festival went – perhaps from a visitor?
The 12th Angus Accordion & Fiddle Festival
Lomond Ceilidh Band in pub session
T
he Festival got off to a cracking start with the Friday concerts and dance in the Meadowbank Inn and the British Legion. Eddie Rose was in great form and kept the company well entertained along with the young accordionists, Scott Carnegie (accordion) and Kevin Milne (drums), and the Scott Band 6 piece Scottish Dance Band. The dancers were kept on their toes with the lively Lomond Ceilidh Band. The British Legion also had a great atmosphere with Robert Lovie keeping it all together with stories and songs and introducing the Leonard Brown
Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band
Scottish Dance Band, which comprised of some very talented musicians: Maggie Adamson, Liam Stewart, Davie Stewart, Malcolm Ross and John Sinton. The Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band was making their first appearance at the Festival. The dance floor was filled to capacity
Leonard Brown SDB
all evening with the popular Neil Hardie Scottish Dance Band providing the music. The pub sessions on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons were well attended with some great entertainment provided by a host of top musicians. The Grand dance was again well attended with great music from five of the top bands and the dance floor was filled to capacity all night during the 30 plus dances. The newly introduced dance workshop was well attended on the Saturday morning with John Caskie putting the dancers through their paces. Unfortunately the Sunday
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Club Diary
Most of the contact information listed has been taken from the current website, please contact editor@boxandfiddle.com for any corrections to the diary.
September 2014 DATE
Club
Venue
Time
Contact
Guest Artiste
2nd
Seghill
Seghill Comrades Club, Front Street Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 7TQ
7.30 pm
James Youngson Tel: 01670 356 410
Leonard Brown Trio
2nd
Campsie
Glazert Country House Hotel 25 Milton Road, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ
7.30 pm
Billy Hutton Tel: 0141 776 2344
The Occasionals
2nd
Islesteps
Locharbriggs Social Club, 22a Auchencrieff Road, Locharbriggs, Dumfries DG1 1XS
7.30 pm
Ian Gray Tel: 01387 760276
Ian Muir Trio
3rd
Dingwall
National Hotel High Street Dingwall IV15 9HA
7.30 pm
Elspeth Weir Tel: 01349 877 675
Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance Band
3rd
Montrose
Park Hotel 61 John Street, Montrose DD10 8RJ
7.30 pm
Ron Ramsay Tel: 01241 879 487
Billy Anderson
4th
Carlisle
St Margaret Mary’s Social Club, Scalegate Road, Carlisle CA2 4JX
7.30 pm
Alison Davies Tel: 01228 675505
David Oswald Trio
4th
Rothbury
Queens Head Hotel Townfoot, Rothbury NE65 7SR
7.30 pm
M. Davidson Tel: 01668 281 307
Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson
4th
Turriff
Commercial Hotel Auchry Road, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ
7.30 pm
Pat Steele Tel: 01888 56248
Nicola Auchnie and Friends
5th
Lewis and Harris
Sea Angling Club South Beach Quay, Stornoway HS1 2BT
8.00 pm
Janette MacIver Tel: 01851 704 870
20th Anniversary Celebration Night
7th
Arbroath
Arbroath Artisan Golf Club Elliott, By Arbroath DD11 2PE
8.00 pm
Tony Simpson Tel: 01241 875 326
Jim Lindsay Duo
7th
Gretna
The Gables Hotel Gretna 1 Annan Road, Gretna Green DG16 5DQ
7.15 pm
David Bell Tel: 01228 523 957
Lyne Valley Band
9th
Blairgowrie
Red House Hotel Station Road Coupar Angus PH13 9AL
7.45 pm
Helen Aitchison Tel: 01821 670 302
Dundee Strathspey & Reel Society
9th
Dunfermline
Civil Service Sports Association Castle Road, Rosyth KY11 2HU
7.30 pm
Bob Adam Tel: 01383 306 142
Lomond Ceilidh Band
9th
Seghill
Seghill Comrades Club, Front Street Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 7TQ
7.30 pm
James Youngson Tel: 01670 356 410
Club Night
10th
Alnwick
The Farriers Arms, Farne Road Shilbottle, Alnwick NE66 2XX
7.30 pm
Leonard Brown Tel: 0191 4219 804
Nicol McLaren and the Glencraig SDB
10th
Forres
Victoria Hotel Tytler Street, Forres IV36 1EL
7.30 pm
Ann Sharp Tel: 01309 672 672
The Jim Clelland Band
10th
Langholm
British Legion, Lairds Entry Langholm, DG13 0DN
8.00 pm
Adam Grant Tel: 01387 381 305
Stuart McKeown trio
11th
Button-Key (Windygates)
The Greig Institute, Milton Road, Windygates, Fife KY8 5DG
7.00 pm
Mary Cook Tel: 01592 713 687
The Crusaders
14th
Biggar
Biggar Bowling Club 20 Edinburgh Road, Biggar ML12 6AX
7.00 pm
Charlie Todd Tel: 01899 308 327
Andrew Gibb SDB
14th
Haddington
Railway Hotel, 70 Court Street Haddington EH41 3AF
2.00 pm
Audrey Podlinski Tel: 01620 828 095
Lindsay Weir
15th
Beith
Beith Bowling Club Boghead, Beith KA15 1DZ
7.30 pm
Mrs E MacFadyen Tel: 01294 823865
Iain Cathcart SDB
15th
Duns
Masonic Lodge, 41 Newtown Street, Duns, TD11 3AS
7.30 pm
Tel: 01361 883 048
Ian Cruickshanks Trio
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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 min 250 – 300 words. A photo tells a better story, so add one or two of those too. You don’t have to send in a formal report, just for the sake of it. You could perhaps mention someone from your club with a photo? Something different that happened? Remember information here helps attract visitors to your club. Make sure your club sounds like just the place we want to go to. We apologize for the heavy editing. Playing catch-up meant we had far to much text for far too few pages.
Aberdeen Accordion and Fiddle Club April With a grey mist coming in from the North Sea we still had a good turnout. After our local players the guest artists were the Steven Carcary Duo. We’re never sure who the “other half” will be when Steven visits, but we were delighted to see it was Malcolm Ross. Steven played a wide variety of very lively tunes, mostly Scottish. He included a Samba in the first half and a rumba in the second to which Malcolm did his fancy stuff. The audience loved it. With some sing-a-longs in the second half, the audience went home happy. May The May meeting was the last of the season and started with the Annual General Meeting, chaired by Scott Gordon. He reported that we had had a good year with a good variety of guest artists. Financially we are not very well off, but the raffle helps to keep us afloat. He thanked all the committee for their work over the year – the men for lifting the heavy equipment up
Steven Carcary, Malcolm Ross
and down the stairs before and after the meeting, and the ladies especially Secretary Susan Gordon and Treasurer Sheila Bain and others helping with the raffle etc. Guests for the night were the Ian Thomson Scottish Dance Band comprising Ian on lead accordion, Mark Cummine on 2nd accordion, Willie Johnstone on fiddle and Graham Sherrit on drums. They played some lively sets of marches, waltzes, jigs, strathspeys and reels with some funny stories from Ian in between. It was a grand night to finish our season. Esma Shepherd Arbroath May A superb night of music was delivered by our guests for this month, The Carnoustie
Traditionals. Eleven fiddles took the stage along with a drummer, Bill Hendry on piano and leader for the past 35 years, Stuart Anderson, on accordion. They produced a phenomenal sound playing a vast variety of not only Scottish music, but also a Canadian rag waltz and to surprise us all, performed a great rendition of Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz. All absolutely beautiful! Together with our local players it was a first class evening of music to which Tony gave the vote of thanks to the guests, and it was with reluctance that our audience left. June Although we had a smaller audience than usual, our local players and the guest artistes the David Oswald Trio made for a very enjoyable evening. The guest artistes immediately captivated the audience with some great sets and vibrant traditional music. David was on lead accordion, Dave Bell on drums and Bill Ewan on keyboard. The superb evening concluded with a stramash. Avril gave the vote of thanks
George Darling PRO F I L E
How did an Englishman from a totally non-musical family, who trained as a coalmining engineer, become one of the best known and respected drummers on the Scottish dance band scene? To find out the answers I met up with George at his home, a tidy terraced cottage in the quaint Mid Lothian village of Rosewell, near Bonnyrigg, on a February afternoon.
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Dance Diary
View the Dance Diary online at www.dancediary.info/index.html Contact: ceilidh@dancediary.info Tel: 01289 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
Every Monday
Dundee
Castle Green, Broughty Ferry
Class
7.15pm 9pm
£4/£5.80
Door Pia Walker
Run by RSCDS Dundee Tel: 01382 523 943
Every Monday
Kirkwall
St Magnus Centre
Live Music
7.30pm 10pm
£3/£1
Door - All Welcome
Orkney Dance Assoc.
Every Tuesday
Humbie, East Lothian
Village Hall
(Tuition Given)
7.30pm 10pm
£3 (BYOB)
Door (Owen & Catherine Harrison) 01383 415 142
Ceilidh, Old Time and Social Dance Club
Every Wednesday
Garelochhead
Parish Church
-
2pm 4pm
£2 (tea)
Tel: 01436 671 089
Social Dance Club
Every Wednesday
Bonnyrigg
Pitcairn Centre
Live Music
7.30pm 10pm
£4
Door (Jennifer Johnstone)
Ceilidh & Old Time
Every Wednesday
Glasgow
St Andrews Square
Live Music
8pm 9.30pm
£5.50 (bar)
Door (Tricia Matthews)
Ceilidh & Old Time Class
Every Wednesday
Coupar Angus
St Anne’s Ch. Hall
-
7pm 9pm
£2.50
Door tel: 01828 627 547
Ceilidh Class – Tracy Thom
Every Saturday
Fife, Largo Ward
Largo Ward Village Hall
Live Music
8pm 11pm
£5 (tea) (no bar)
Door
Different bands each week. (See Diary)
Every Sunday
Fife, Cupar
Old Parish Church Hall, Kirk Wynd
-
2pm 5pm
£3 (tea)
Door (Owen & Catherine Harrison) 01383 415 142
Ceilidh, Old Time & Social Dance Club
Most Sundays
East Kilbride
Girl Guide Hall, Dundas Place
-
7.30pm 10pm
£2 (tea)
Door or Tel: 01355 230 134 or 245 052
Ceilidh & Old Time Club
Ceilidh & Old Time Dances
October 2014
Date
Town
Hall
Band
Time
Cost
Contact
Comments
3rd
Irvine
Volunteer Rooms
Ian Cruickshanks
7.30pm 11.30pm
£7 (BYOB)
Tel: 01292 316 815
Ayrshire Ceilidh Club
Aboyne
Victory Hall
Johnny Duncan
8pm 12pm
£7 (tea)
Tel: 01339 886 534
Charity – Phone for Ticket
Keith
Royal British Legion
Nicol McLaren
7.30pm 11.30pm
TBC
Tel:01542 888 471
Dufftown Dancers - Old Time
Sorn
Village Hall
Hartfell
7.30pm 11.30pm
£6 (B.Y.O.B.)
Tel: 01560 700 219
Phone for Ticket. Old Time Dances
Largo Ward
Village Hall
Ian Cruickshanks
8pm 11pm
£5 (tea)
Door
Weekly Dance
4th
Sponsor this section by contacting Pia at editor@boxandfiddle.com
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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
The Susie Simpson Scottish Dance Band
Bryans Room Recordings BRCD080
Susie Simpson and her Scottish dance band have released a much anticipated debut album on the Bryans Room record label and a fine recording it is to. The Inverness based band features Susie on accordion, piano and whistle, Jock Fraser on second box, Gillian Stevenson on fiddle, Heather Donaldson on drums, and Sheena Kelman, also on piano on tracks six and twelve. Collectively the band has created a very crisp, concise sound with plenty of lift and lilt which is very pleasing on the ear and a joy to listen to. They also play in strict tempo and clearly have a lot of experience of playing together as the chemistry with each other shines through. The standard of playing is top class and way beyond the expectation one would expect from a debut recording. Susie is also a prolific
composer having penned the tunes Ian Simpson’s Countdown, Murd & June the Fiddlers, Sheena Kelman, Jock Stephen the Drummer and Dr John Kennedy’s Farewell to Riverside. My personal favourite on the CD is A Waltz for Mary again written by Susie herself. It’s a beautiful tune which I recall hearing for the first time on a compilation CD a few years back. Another highlight for me is the quickstep set featuring The Carpenters hit On Top of the World, Darktown Strutter’s Ball and Old Piana Rag.
All things considered, this is a really pleasing recording, which ticks all the boxes for a debut CD and is well worth your listening attention. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of Susie and her fine band. Derek Hamilton from Bryan’s Room should be given special mention for overseeing and engineering another great recording which has been well executed.
For more information and contact details check out Susie’s Facebook page.
Playlist • Grand March • Murd & June the Fiddlers • Sheena Kelman • Jock Stephen the Drummer • The Star of Logy Bay • County Longford • Peter Ambelay • The Banks of Allan • Water • PM JK Cairns • The Festival March • Cullen Bay • Crags of Tumbledown Mountain • The Angel’s Share • Dr John Kennedy’s Farewell to Riverside • Redondo Beach • Donella McDonald of Bunavulan • Jackson’s Bottle of Claret • The Roaring Barmaid • Iris Nicolson’s Favourite • Ingram’s 35 • Willie Coleman’s Jig • Tripping Up the Stairs • The Tipsy Sailor • Stan Chapman’s
• The Road to Banff • The Tap Dancer • Black to MacPhail • Simon Thoumire’s Jig • Frank McConnel’s Three Step • The New Island Waltz • Betty Cunningham of Thurso • Marchhall Crescent • He Ro Hi Rum • Iomadh Rud tha Dhith Ohm • Hebridean Waulking Song • Calum Beag • Viva Tonight • Top of the World • Darktown Strutter’s Ball • Old Piano Rag • A tribute to Allan Michael • Patches March • MacNeil’s March • A Waltz for Mary • Waiting for the Federals • The Faery Reel • Spootiskerry • Dick Kommer’s Reel • The Legacy