Box & Fiddle - March 2017

Fiddle The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Up Helly Aa BAAFIS

David Cunningham Snr CLUB REPORTS

Tom Orr TAKE THE FLOOR PLUS

NEWS, REVIEWS, CLUB &

DANCE DIARIES AND MUCH MORE...

40th Year No. 07 Mar 2017

£2.70

BOX&

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the March 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 Sweyn ‘Forkbeard’ Haraldsson © Pia Walker Printer • Meigle Colour Printers www.meigleprint.co.uk

NAAFC Chairman • Nicol McLaren 9 Sheila Road, Blairgowrie Perthshire, PH10 6RP Tel: 01250 874 526 nicol@boxandfiddle.com Vice Chairman • Iain Cathcart Tel: 01555 661 017 iain@boxandfiddle.com Secretary • Lorna Mair 7 Lathro Lane, Kinross KY13 8RX lorna@boxandfiddle.com Treasurer • Willie Johnstone treasurer@boxandfiddle.com Executive Committee: David Cunningham Charlie Kirkpatrick Susan MacFadyen Margo Maclennan Tom Orr Richard Ross

I’m writing this almost at the end of the haggis-eating season. Bands have been flying to all corners of the world playing for Burns nights in various exotic places. This year I also have had the opportunity to let drop “I have just been to Bangladesh for the weekend.” What an experience! I hope all you musicians never become so jaded that Pia Walker, Editor you do not realise what lucky so-and-sos you are to have the opportunity to play around the world.

I also went to Shetland for Up Helly Aa this year, I have literally gone from Shetlag to Jetlag like so many others. UHA was an experience; it just cannot be explained. I am now a UHA-survivor, as I lasted the night and well into the morning after. Our Anne Smith has written about the Shetland Club Pre-UHA evening in this issue, my photos do not do it justice at all.

I hope to see many of you at the festival in Inchyra, do come and say hello. This is an opportunity for me to hear what you think, discuss what could be improved upon, apologize for my mistakes ☺ and exchange ideas on matters pertaining to clubs, audiences and the NAAFC. I’ll bring my little book and write down ideas for a possible future use.

We are getting near the end of the season, some clubs already closing in April. I don’t know about you, but this season has passed so quickly. Please promote the Baffis by asking your audience to send in their forms as well as their summer subscriptions sooner rather than later.

In the last issue I told you that the golf outing would be in June.

This has now changed to May. You will find the information inside the magazine. Hope you can make it!

Our AGM and Celebrity Luncheon is on the last Sunday in June, another great day out. Charlie Kirkpatrick is busy organising this.

When you send in your remittance for this day, he will confirm by e-mail, which will be your ‘ticket’ to attend. If you do not have an e-mail facility, and you worry if you have a ticket, then phone him and he will tell you if you are on the list or not. (He won’t be mailing out physical tickets).

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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10 6

News

8

BAFFIs

10

Arbroath Open Day; Tynedale

B&F • CONTENTS

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38

Centre Stage

Your chance to vote for this year’s awards

39

Club Diary

A club night with a difference

44

Dance Diary

48

Reviews

50

Take the Floor

52

Music

The pre-UHA club night

13

Musings

11

David Cunningham Snr

18

AGM Notification

19

Club News

Our new column from Tom Orr

The story continues

Book now for the AGM and celebrity luncheon

The latest news from our clubs

Deadlines:

5

Heather Donaldson

You are never too old to go clubbing!

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Pentlands Ceilidh Band French Fiddle Tunes Robyn Stapleton

Scott Band SDB

Memories of Angus Gove

by Arthur Wood

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.

Full house at the Meadowbank Inn

Arbroath Open Day at the Meadowbank Inn A large audience enjoyed an excellent afternoon of music at our third open day. Tony Simpson, the club chairman, welcomed everyone and then Avril Abbott, vice chairman, informed the company that all proceeds would be going to Cancer Care Ward 32, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Our guests were the Carnoustie Traditionals led by Neil Alexander and Stewart Anderson.

This group consists of fiddles, accordions, keyboard and double bass. They played a superb mix of music, which was very much appreciated by all. Our floor players, who hailed from Falkirk to Fraserburgh and all places in between, were, on accordions, John Hart, Cora Wilson, Margaret Patullo, John Elliot, Steven Carcary, Eric Davidson, John Stuart, Liam Hope, Barbara Archibald, Dean Smeaton and Tony Simpson. On fiddles were Dave Smith and Tom Truesdale with John White, Aileen Jamieson and Tony accompanying various groups on keyboard.

On drums were Avril, Malcolm Ross and Brian Watt.

Tony opened the evening with dancing to Steven Carcary and Malcolm Ross whose bright and bouncy music soon filled the floor with dancers. They played a good variety of old time and ceilidh dances and the floor was always busy.

Dancers havi

ng a good tim

y and Malcolm Ross

Dancing to Steven Carcar

An exciting evening of dance was brought to a close with a traditional Auld Lang Syne.

Tony gave the vote of thanks to all for a very successful day and to all who donated raffle prizes. He gave credit to the many businesses in Arbroath who supported this venture. Thanks were also given to the Meadowbank Inn and their staff for their help and attention.

EA

e

B&F • NEWS

Dear Pia, In October 2016, a terrible road accident claimed the life of a 2-year old girl very close to where the Blairgowrie A&F Club meets in Coupar Angus each month. Her 5-year old brother and 17-year old sister were also injured and taken to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee by the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). Blairgowrie A&F Committee wished to do something to help and, after approaching the victim’s family, offered to organise a fund raising ceilidh. The family agreed and asked that the proceeds be given to the SCAA. The ceilidh is to be held in the Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus, on Friday 21st April 2017, from 8pm to 11.30pm.

Music is by Scott Band and friends, and tickets (£8) can be obtained from Elspeth Reid (phone 01307 460948 or mobile 0771 992 6685), or from Scott Band (mobile 0784 590 6645). We are also accepting donations from anyone unable to attend.

Regards, Gordon Reid (Blairgowrie A&F committee member)

Mark Mackenzie receiving the trophy from Ish bel Crichton

Tynedale

NEW SEASON, NEW VENUE, NEW TIME

PHOTO (C) C. MACKENZIE

Letters

N

Our new season commences on Thursday 16th March at 7.00 pm.

Our new venue is The Tynedale Farmer Function Suite. This is situated on the Tyne Green at Hexham and forms part of the Tynedale Auction Mart buildings. This new venue is all on ground level and has a 300 space car park. For Sat Nav. location the Post Code is NE46 3SG Our opening guests will be the Matthew Maclennan Band.

For any information, contact our secretary, Roddy Matthews, on 01434 672424 or 07801 951965.

JL

Lewis & Harris At our January meeting, Mark Mackenzie was presented with the 2016 Iain Crichton Memorial Trophy for ‘The Most Improved Young Player’ and he definitely deserved it.

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

800 plus torches and a burning galley

A club night

with a difference!

Being sent on business to Shetland in the beginning of February meant that, of course, I had to do Up Helly Aa. The Shetland A&F Club arranges for a Pre-UHA club night where the bands taking part in the marathon that is UHA turn up to take a turn. I quickly asked Annie Smith to write to the B&F with her tale (she was sitting with a notebook!)

C

ompere Jeemie Burgess started by introducing The Lomond Ceilidh Band: Alan Small, Kyle Innes, and Gemma Donald. What else could they start with but a Boston Two Step followed by some of Jeemie Burgess’s favourites, leading to some banter from the compere. Next was the Glencraig Band with Nicol McLaren, Gordon Howe, Issy Hodgson, Davie Bell and Hamish Smith who led us through some great sets before Craig Paton’s Band took over. Craig was joined

by Andy Kain, Tom Orr, Duncan Black and Gordon Smith manfully playing through problems Duncan was having with his box. Next was The West Telferton Band with excellent banter between band and compere plus a welcome first Mr Burgess waltz of the night, Eileen’s Waltz.

Andrew Knight had Ricky Ross, John Burns, Colin Garvin, and Douglas Knight making up his popular band. The Pentland Ceilidh Band, Colin Brown, Nicky Mcmichan, Margaret Robertson and Gary Kellow, finished first half in style. Our own Da Fustra started the second half, with James Leask, Cecil Hughson, Kirsten Hendry, Alan Gifford and Sheriene Scollay being joined on second box by the legendary Iain MacPhail. Their Shetland waltzes with MacPhail’s harmonies were pure magic. Michael Philip was next, joined by Margaret Robertson, Issy Hodgson, Nicol McLaren and Mark Smith, playing some good marches and reels before they made way for Gary Sutherland, Colin Brown, John Burns, Alan Sutherland and Willie

B&F • MARCH 2017

Musings

13

By Tom Orr

W

hen asked to write for the magazine I was quite apprehensive because so often discussions on our music spiral into heated debates.

This is comforting as this demonstrates the passion people feel about our music. However, writing my own viewpoint down in print is undoubtedly bound to cause some disagreement.

Therefore, I have no intention of being confrontational and what I write is merely my own heart-felt opinion. I believe I am fairly neutral as I feel natural playing in the most traditional way, but also conversely on the boundaries of what has been readily accepted to date. What I try to appreciate is that there are so many different stakeholders of our music. Our music provides a great buzz to the professional performers playing at concerts, dances, recordings and to those listening and dancing. What is often forgotten is the pure joy it provides to listeners and the person playing to an audience for the very first time or someone Our music provides that plays at home for their own a great buzz to enjoyment. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy music. the professional Therefore, one thing that we performers playing should all try to remember would be a collective appreciation of the at concerts, dances, just as hard about future export fact that different stakeholders recordings and to as well as celebrate what has exist, each with their own gone before. Looking back rather historic and future investment in those listening and than forward can cause negativity ‘our’ music and the fact that it is dancing because clubs aren’t as good as not a competition. Hopefully this they used to be; festivals aren’t would replace negativity with as big as they used to be; dances positivity.

Our music is at a very critical point. Robbie has aren’t the same as they used to be; but remember taken a step back from broadcasting and we have the summers aren’t as long as they used to be and had many tributes looking back at the greats of crème eggs aren’t as big as they used to be. A fight our scene. These have been brilliant and allowed between reality and nostalgia isn’t a fair one.

I looking forward to sharing my thoughts and people not only to reminisce, but also to introduce these stalwarts to many who were not fortunate please remember these are my own humble opinions enough to hear them when they were still active. and they only count for one in the many thousands However, this is not the end and we should think of us that appreciate ‘our’ music. l

“

”

B&F • MARCH 2017

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David Cunningham Snr. – a man of many talents By Pia Walker

In the February edition we heard about the early life David Cunningham Snr. In this issue we continue the story.

T

o all dancers, Miss Milligan was something of a god. She was a very good friend of David Findlay and since he worked at BBC Glasgow, he used to drive her to St Andrews.

Apparently, Miss M hated the tune Caddam Woods so playing it was a big no no (at least until she left after the break, after which it was always played: (“She’s off – we will play Caddam Woods.”).

Unfortunately one hot night when the windows were wide open, she heard the opening bars, came back onto the stage behind the piano, banged on said piano until the music petered out and shouted, “You are turning my dancers into hooligans!” after which she stomped off. Tempo was everything to Miss M and brings to mind Sir Jimmy Shand’s words to her after she told him he was playing too fast: “Well that’s ma tempo, lass.” She did it once again as the band played a ‘birly’ reel – “Well 8 notes to the bar reels can give the illusion of being fast and perhaps it was - just a tad. Miss M’s foot stopped tapping the floor, a sure sign she was nae happy.

And then … A dancer hooched … Oh dear! After the inevitable banging on the piano and another ‘hooligan’ speech, David Findlay stood up and gently escorted her through the door at the side of the stage. Apparently, he told her quietly that if she ever did it again, he would never come back to play.

She apologised to him, they came back, and the dance resumed.”

David acknowledges that tempo is a moveable feast depending on the dancers’ ages, their abilities, and the dance itself. Strathspeys are the hardest to get right musically, he says, and he clearly prefers those with a clear ‘drag and cut’ to the more pastoral slow-air style of today’s strathspeys or the polkalike interpretations favoured by some. “Nothing is more graceful than when a good dancer dances to a well-played strathspey.” To my comment that I found waltzes played too slowly today, David agreed. We both think that waltzes should have a bit of a swing to them. He refers to Sir Jimmy Shand

The Trio

as the ‘King of the Scottish Waltz’. He likes slow airs, if the accordionist can emulate the fiddle and blend the notes, and feels that this is more difficult to achieve on the diatonic button-box because of the ‘press and draw’ where each note begins when the previous note stops. “Certain top exponents do overcome this, however, by making full use of all three rows. This is the undoubted domain of the velvet smoothness of a good fiddler or one of the very few masters of the accordion who have achieved this much sought-after effect.”

David is a Scottish dance musician through and through although dance bands then played music other than just for Scottish dancing, Most public dances in Fife leaned towards the modern ballroom dances, perhaps with a Scottish waltz thrown in, whereas further north in Perthshire, Tayside and beyond it would be more Scottish. However, bands played for dancing! They also had a fixed band membership. “Today I would say such a thing as a fixed band is uncommon; that we are all a big group of musicians with a tendency to play together.” His modest advice to musicians is simply to stop and

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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.

Malcolm Ross, George Darling and Billy Thom with a drum solo between between tunes from Malcolm. Scott gave a welldeserved vote of thanks to the local players and to the superb band who played us out with The Orange Blossom Special to huge applause.

ANNAN ST ANDREW Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross, Aberdeen

ABERDEEN On a driech, wet and windy evening chairman Scott Gordon welcomed everyone and we started off with a couple of lively sets from Keith Duncan on accordion accompanied by Stanley Flett on piano and Scott on drums. Next was Amy Pirie on accordion. She is a welcome visitor to the club. Denis Shepherd (new proofreader for the Box & Fiddle) then entertained on his moothie.

We were delighted to welcome back Sandy McAllan on buttonbox as he had been missing for many months because of illness.

Guest artist-time saw Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross entertaining with a very varied programme of two steps, waltzes, Scottish and Canadian

reels, the Flying Scotsman racing down the tracks for tea!

George Ogg on accordion played a couple of sets with Scott on drums after the short break. Next was accordionist Charlie Abel accompanied on piano by Jim Stott. Then it was Ernest Mitchell on fiddle with Stanley on piano, followed by accordionist Gary Anderson, Scott Nichol on piano and Scott on drums. The two Scotts were joined by Lynne Maciver on accordion and Susan Gordon who was playing our ‘raffle man’ Billy’s dad’s fiddle, which had been in the loft unplayed for many years.

We were treated to some superb tunes from the guests, many were Gordon’s own compositions. My favourite set was the drummers’ set, with tunes written for Bobby Colgan,

The guest band was the Laurie Family Band from Gilsland, near Haltwhistle, comprising James Laurie on five-row button-key accordion, sister Fiona on fiddle and brother Murdo on drums.

They began by playing for a number of favourite dances.

The local players, accompanied by Iain Wilson on keyboard and Billy Porter on drums. Kenny White from Rigg played three sets on piano accordion. Amongst the tunes played was Lord Lovat’s Lament. Bill McMinn from Lockerbie played two sets on a two-row melodeon, a Burns selection including Ye Banks and Braes and My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, finishing with Morag of Dunvegan. Kenny Jackson from Stonehouse played several tunes on piano accordion including The Thistle of Scotland, Scotland the Brave and the beautiful

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B&F • CLUB DIARY

39

Club Diary March 2017 DATE

CLUB

GUEST ARTIST

VENUE

TIME

CONTACT

1

Dingwall

Martainn Skene Trio

National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA

7.30 pm

Elspeth Weir 01349 877 675

1

Glenfarg

Jimmy Cassidy Duo

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU

7.30 pm

Russell Robertson 01577 830 642

1

Montrose

Gary Blair

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

The Occasionals

The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB

7.30 pm

Irene Anderson 01764 654 298

2

Galashiels

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Clovenfords Hotel, Galashiels TD1 3LU

7.30 pm

Robert Cleland 01896 754 463

2

Isle of Skye

Graeme MacKay Trio

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

Linda Shaw 01478 611 122

2

Lewis and Harris

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

2

Oban

Susan MacFadyen

The Royal Hotel, Oban PA34 4BE

7.30 pm

Anne McFadyen 01631 562 077

2

Rothbury

Iain MacPhail Band

Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR

7.30 pm

Mary Davidson 01668 281 307

2

Turriff

Graham Geddes Duo

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

5

Arbroath

Ewan Galloway (AGM)

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, Elliot,

By Arbroath DD11 2PE

7.30pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

5

Clydesdale

The Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band

St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark ML11 7JS

2.00 pm

Shirley Cathcart 01555 661 017

5

Gretna

Andy Philip Duo

The Solway Lodge Hotel, Gretna DG16 5DN

7.00 pm

Robin Waitt 01387 371 423

6

Thurso

Lindsay Weir

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

7

Campsie

Leonard Brown & His Band

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 07889 021 972

7

Fort William

Janet Graham

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

7.30 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505

7

Islesteps

Wayne Robertson

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

Ian Gray 01387 760 276

7

North East

Garioch Blend

Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN

7.30 pm

Rory Smith 07769 801 996

8

Alnwick

Richard Smith Trio

The Farriers Arms, Alnwick NE66 2XX

7.30 pm

Leonard Brown 07758 723 355

8

Forres

Pentlands Ceilidh Band

Victoria Hotel, Tytler Street, Forres IV36 1EL

7.30 pm

Mrs Ann Sharp 01309 672 672

8

Inveraray

Ian Muir Trio

Inveraray Inn, Inveraray PA32 8XB

8.00 pm

Margaret Mather 01499 302 458

8

Langholm

Scott Leslie Ceilidh band

British Legion, Langholm DG13 0DN

7.30 pm

Adam Grant 01387 371 423/ 01387 381 305

8

Orkney

Club Night (Visitors welcome)

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Jim Marwick 01856 874 474

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

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

Pentlands Ceilidh Band Getting Jiggy PCB1 This new release from the Pentland’s Ceilidh Band helps keep the great traditional ceilidh band sound alive and well, which is great to see. The band line-up comprises Derek Rae (accordion) Garry Kellow (drums) and Colin Brown (accordion and midi bass).

I have to say from the outset that this new recording for some reason didn’t quite tick all my boxes and I’m struggling to establish why because the musicianship is top class and the band create a very tight, disciplined sound, but for me, it didn’t quite have the X Factor.

That said, CD reviews are extremely subjective and reflect the opinion of the reviewer, in this case me. Like many of you I’m sure, I’ve often read album

French Fiddle Tunes

227 Traditional Pieces for Violin, with accompanying CD ED 13841

Author Chris Haigh Published by Schott Reviewed by Marie Fielding

I am delighted to be reviewing yet another of Schott’s Publications for fiddle. The focus this time is on France, with dance tunes, ‘crooked’ melody and time signature structures

reviews which haven’t been very complimentary to find when I’ve listened to them myself, I’ve completely disagreed with the reviewer. I hope you find that’s the assessment of this new album from the Pentlands Ceilidh Band when you listen to it, because the fact it didn’t do it for me does not make it a bad album.

The recording contains sixteen tracks featuring over fifty tunes including Tantans, Campbell’s Farewell to Redcastle, Australian

Ladies, A Waltz for Nan, Ian and Chrissie Gracie, Duncan the Gauger, Donella Beaton, Drumtochty Castle, Sheriff A.C. MacPherson of the Glasgow, Brenda Stubbert’s, Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque and Donald MacLellan of Rothesay. The standout track for me (which I did enjoy) called Ted’s Two Steps featured Bonnie Wee Jeannie McColl, Ma Big Kilmarnock Bunnet, Lassie Come and Dance Wi Me, If You’re Irish Come Into The Parlour and MacNamara’s Band.

Perhaps on reflection the album contained too many unfamiliar tunes (at least to me) which is maybe the missing piece of the jigsaw that influenced my view. I certainly didn’t connect with it emotionally (sorry boys).

As I said earlier, this is only my opinion so do please check it out for yourself.

and a vast and varied content of stunning repertoire. With 227 tunes to choose from, this book is generous with its content of waltzes, polkas, rigatonis and much more.

The layout is clean, precise and easy to interpret. The author, Chris Haigh, has written several books for Schott. Web site details are www.fiddlingaround.co.uk.

The accompanying CD is basic, with a clean melody to follow and helpful as a starting guide to the rhythms

Sheet Music

By Arthur Wood

Memories of Angus Gove

Musician Angus Gove was a friend for more than 30 years. He was an avid lover of our national music and had a vast knowledge of Scottish tunes. He was a weel-kent face at clubs and festivals in many parts of Scotland. When illness prevented him playing his accordion, he changed to playing the mouth organ, which he continued to play at clubs until a few weeks before his passing in May 2015.