Fiddle
42nd Year No. 02 Oct 2018
The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts
d n a l k Fal TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
BON ACCORDS CEILIDH WEEKEND SKYE ACCORDION & FIDDLE FESTIVAL ALAN GIFFORD IS CENTRE STAGE
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NEWS, CLUB & DANCE DIARIES AND MUCH MORE...
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BOX&
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 Martin mamidesigns@hotmail.com Front cover Fiona Sykes and Jenny Aitkenhead with Marie Fielding and Dave Husband 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
It is a packed magazine this month. I am so glad that people have started to send us many more contributions - long may it last. I have also been oot and aboot, but still need you to send me material. Many of the clubs have had a phone call from me. I am attempting to get through to all of you at some point this season. I have Pia Walker, Editor had some quite interesting conversations with you and also people outside the club sphere with regard to the word ‘club.’ Some people are of the opinion that the word ‘club’ prevents people from attending the meetings because they think that as they are not members, they can’t! Would the words ‘in concert’ or ‘event’ in promotional material make more paying audiences attend? Would a text such as: “X band in concert hosted by Y club and supported by local players – all welcome” make a difference? I’ll leave it up to you to mull over or perhaps try out. It is a little late coming out, as my pc gave me some trouble this month, but you should by now have received the NAAFC registration form from Shona, and we look forward to receiving your filled-in form as soon as possible, so that we know whom to contact in the future. Furthermore, there are still clubs who have not sent me their dates and guest artist names. Your NAAFC registration fee entitles you to having your news and dates published in the magazine, but if I don’t have them, I can’t show them! On page 10, I have written a little bit more about this mainly for new committee members and reporters. October sees two more festivals, Shetland and Perth. I hope to be at both, so do come up and say hello to me. I always like to have a blether with you all. The write-ups for both will be in the December issue, but fear not - November will be full of information too, including an interview with a well-known entertainer whose name shall remain a secret until then. So with these two festivals on the horizon - let’s face the music and dance!
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
14 6 10 11 12 14
News Welcome, Committee Members and Reporters Bon Accords Ceilidh Weekend Musical Memories Festivals Falkland Traditional Music
16 28
Centre Stage
29
Club Diary
34
19
Club News The latest news from our clubs
Deadlines:
Alan Gifford
You are never too old
Dance Diary Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs
38
Reviews
40
Sheet Music
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to go clubbing!
Festival 2018 Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival
B&F • CONTENTS
Next Dance Please
Billy Cadger’s Reel By Dave Smith
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.
Fraser MacLean’s Hootananny Presentation By Erik Spence A well-known Highland musician who pioneered Saturday afternoon ceilidhs in Inverness 23 years ago was recognised for his services to the city’s music scene. Fraser MacLean from Muir of Ord received a presentation in Hootenanny having jointly hosted the popular ceilidh there from June 2003 to June 2018. A former chairman of Inverness-based Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club, Fraser said he felt there was a need for some sort of entertainment for locals and visitors and the Saturday ceilidh began life in the former Cummings Hotel in 1995. Presenting Fraser, 80, with an inscribed quaich before an audience of around 100, Hootananny owner, Kit Fraser, said he regarded him and his musician partner Erik Spence, 71, as the Morecambe and Wise of traditional Scottish music although he did not know who was who! He said: “You retired on your 80th birthday and you have now come back as our guest of honour. You have both created what I regard as one of the most authentic and genuine Scottish traditional weekly sessions in the Highlands with
Congratulations to Glenfarg who celebrated their 30th anniversary in September. Chairman Nicol McLaren was present and is here seen with the current committee. Stewart Smith, who has been involved since the start of the club, and Pam Warren cut the cake.
Kit Fraser and Fraser MacLean
emphasis on the accordion.” Fraser said he was grateful to have been given the opportunity to play and pleased that the informal format had been so successful over the years. Erik , also present at the event, said: “The Saturday ceilidh is Scotland’s longest-running afternoon gig. We have had a plethora of players, singers and even Gaelic choirs joining us on stage which has helped create a great atmosphere for music, craic and dancing.” The many players attending the sessions include Rory MacLeod, Hamish MacDougall, Calum MacAskill, Graeme MacKay, Bruce MacGregor, Lynne Gould, Nicky McMichan, Hamish Polson, Colin Dewar, Ian Cameron, Jacqui MacDonald, Bob Wares, Jock Fraser, Susie Simpson, Roya MacLean and Murdo Watson. The music sessions are now continuing with Iain Joseph MacDonald taking over from Fraser. l
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Welcome
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND REPORTERS
A
new season is under way with new committees and reporters in many of our clubs. It can be daunting to start again. Where do you start? What information do the NAAFC need and in what format? And that is on top of the monthly meetings, finding guest bands, setting up and getting someone to help out with entry money and raffles as well as catering. Phew, and then there’s that woman from the magazine wanting us to do things too. Yes please! I do need your help. The more you help me, the better I can make the magazine as I will have more time to interview and to fill the magazine with even more material. If you have the September 2016 magazine, there’s a bit in there for reporters especially, so try and get your hands on that magazine. There you will find some hints on how to write up your club events. In short 250-300 words MAX. As you are all now sending in your news in Word-format, it should be fairly simple to spell check your information. Just enter the name/title you want to find the spelling of followed by the word ‘music’ in a search engine and you can see if it is spelled correctly. Of course all of you know that the deadline is the 5th of the month; anything after that cannot be guaranteed a space in the next magazine. Send the text with as little formatting as possible, and not in pdf-format. Plain and simple is the best way . It is a good idea to write while the event is fresh in your mind, so don’t wait until the deadline. The magazine goes through many hands several times before it is sent out to you, so the sooner we have the information, the better.
Photos are always great. Just remember to send us them in a large resolution and of a good quality, and preferably as attachments and not embedded in the e-mail as this can reduce quality. Don’t be disheartened if your photo is not in the magazine, as sometimes we limit the number of photos of any one person and band . If you could rename the photos you send so instead of showing just a number, it actually states who it is of, that would be a great help. Please ensure that the information you send in is double-checked before it is sent to us. Send in your meeting dates as early as possible even if you do not have a guest artist lined up. It is important that people know you have a meeting, so they can plan a visit ahead of time. Do check the website often and let us know of any mistakes or changes. Marie always tries and make changes as soon as she gets the information, except during the days when we are finalising the magazine ready to go to print. Changes happen, so make sure the NAAFC are notified of them as soon as possible. The first information we require is the NAAFC registration form, which you send in with your NAAFC fee. Please return this as soon as possible, so that we have the correct information at the beginning of the season rather than at the end. But most of all, please do keep sending. I am always looking for articles, stories, news items, interviews and photos. It is your magazine, so if you think something is missing, well why not supply it? l Pia
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Festivals
A tune
Falkland Traditional Music Festival 2018 By Erika Cragg
A
nother festival has come and gone and what a great weekend of music it was! The festival opened with its annual ceilidh on Friday night, led by the Gary Sutherland Band. Their music was as good as ever and the dance floor was full all night! Visitors from far and wide came to take part and were able to experience a genuinely traditional evening of music, song and dance. Festival guests Marie Fielding, Hamish Moore, Margaret Bennett, Kevin & Ellen Mitchell and Allan Taylor also performed. Saturday afternoon saw the instrumental and singing competitions. This year, the instrumental competitions were judged by Marie Fielding and Dave Husband. Despite only a small number of entrants, the quality was very high. The winners were Eva
Deas for under 16 fiddle and Fiona Sykes and Jenny Aitkenhead for instrumental pairs open; Jenny Aitkenhead was also awarded the Falkland Community Development Trust shield for most promising player. Moira Stewart won the women’s traditional singing and bothy ballad competitions and Duncan Macrae won the men’s traditional singing. Some of our prizewinners stayed and took part in our evening concert, something we always encourage them to do to gain confidence performing on stage. Saturday afternoon also saw some fantastic sessions in the pubs around Falkland. A lively session got going in The Bruce Inn, led by Jim Broon, Alf Hunter and Ken Orrock as well as a group who had travelled all the way from Arbroath
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.
ARBROATH A large audience was welcomed to our September meeting and music quickly got under way with our local players. On accordion were Margaret Smith, Albert Cull, Tony Simpson, Rhoda Legge, Cora Wilson, Eric Davidson and Mac Kinnear and it was great to see Mac playing the box again. Fiddlers were Dave Smith, Gordon Legge, Liz Arthur and for the first time at the club George Watt. Accompanists were Ian Ramsay on guitar, Rhoda and Tony on piano keyboard and Avril Abbott on drums. Avril was our MC and introduced our guest band, the Robert Whitehead SDB whose line-up was George Darling on drums, Ann Rutherford on keyboard and Robert on lead accordion. Their programme was easy on the ear and comprised a wide selection of marches, waltzes, reels and jigs with additional polkas and tunes from Robert’s native Northumberland. Our 5th Charity Open Day will be held on Sunday 7th October at the Meadowbank Inn. The afternoon session will be a club afternoon from 2-5pm to which all musicians and listeners are invited to come along. The
Robert Whitehead, Arbroath
Steven Carcary Trio will be playing for dancing from 7.3011.00 pm. Proceeds from the day will go to Kaela’s Wishes, a trust fund set up to support Kaela Thould, a severely disabled youngster. BLAIRGOWRIE A large and enthusiastic audience listened as Scott Band introduced the accompanists for what became a very busy evening: Marissa Bryce (piano) and Rab Stark (drums). We also had a larger than usual number of club players, and we had to apologise and disappoint some of them; we fitted in as many as possible, but time was against us and some accordions and violins were sadly left unplayed. Club players were John
Davidson, Mac Kinnear, Liam Hope, Johnny Duncan, Willie Macfarlane, Angus Roberts, Christina and Joyce Hope, Derek Edmond, John Gray, Ronnie Johnstone and George Jolly (all accordion except Christina - violin). Gordon Reid, Steven Carcary and Scott Band shared 2nd box duties, Mabel Gray gave Marissa a break from the piano, and Gordon Young, Jim Dow, Gerry Boxall, Billy Hutton and Rob Smillie all took a turn on the drums. Our guests were the very popular Steven Carcary six-piece band, with Steven on lead accordion joined by Graham Bell (harmony accordion), Bill Ewan (piano), Suzanne Croy (double bass), Gillian Ramsay (violin) and Malcolm Ross (drums). They
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Centre Stage
Alan Gifford If you have had anything to do with Shetland and its music, you have probably encountered the friendly and very welcoming fiddler and brass player Alan Gifford When was the first time you performed in public? Probably 1959 at our music festival or my teacher’s interschool orchestra. What do you appreciate most in life? My family and good health. What is your most cherished childhood memory? My uncle was home from sailing and left me a fiddle (I was 2!). I was laying the table for my mam as he lifted me to the table and told me I would have to grow! Who was a big influence in your life/music? My dad. Musically – my teacher, Geoffrey de Mercado, Christian Tait who put me through higher music and taught me so much about basic harmony, Enoch Jackson, who tutored Lerwick Brass Band for a week in 1974, and told me to give up the cornet (which I couldn’t play) and switch to tenor horn (which I could!). What was your first job? As schoolboy I was a message boy in my aunt’s shop. As an adult I worked in the Clydesdale Bank. What is your greatest indulgence? Collecting music and Shetland books (much to Liz’s consternation and annoyance!).
What is your abiding musical memory? Playing in The Albert Hall with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra; accepting with Cecil Hughson the Scottish Dance Band of the Year trophy for Da Fustra; Glasgow Concert Hall Stage dressed as a viking to sing The Norseman’s Home with Fiddler’s Bid. What are your worst fears? Losing the ability to play music. What are the best places in the world you have visited? Thailand, Australia and France What is your favourite musical venue? No favourite – even if a venue isn’t brilliant, make the most of it! How would you like to be remembered? As someone who cared and helped others. What makes you angry, annoyed or short-tempered? Folk using ‘could of’ instead of ‘could have,’ the use of the word ‘Shetlands’ and selfishness and arrogance. What is your favourite location in Scotland? Standing on top of Arthur’s Seat is inspiring. If you had to leave, what would you be glad to see the back of? Probably midges.
If your house was on fire what item would save? Assuming all humans were out, I would grab as many instruments as I could. Who are your heroes and why? My dad – a quiet, kind, patient and humble man. The Scottish dance music scene – your thoughts and hopes? I feel there is a strong trend towards bands who think that speed equates with quality. I prefer a tempo which gives lift and swing. What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party? Our grandchildren Rosie (5), Cleo (5) Robin (3) and Kai (3). Maybe not the most intellectual conversation, but definitely entertaining! Oh and Liz to keep order! Your favourite 1, 2, 3 of favourite tunes/songs? Misty, Meditation (Massanet) and hundreds of Scottish tunes! Today I will Eat: Shetland Lamb Drink: A nice red wine with the lamb. Read: Music (friend coming for dinner and a tune). Visit: Nowhere – see above. Watch: Not making too many mistakes!
• OCTOBER B&B F&•FCLUB DIARY 2018
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Club Diary October 2018 DATE
CLUB
GUEST ARTIST
VENUE
TIME
CONTACT
1
Thurso
Steven Carcary
Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA
7.30 pm
Ian Wright 01847 892 050
2
Blairgowrie
Alasdair Salter Duo
Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL
7.45 pm
Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302
2
Campsie
Richard Ross SDB
Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ
7.30 pm
Billy Hutton 07889 021 972
2
Fort William
Sileas Sinclair Band
Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY
7.30 pm
Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701 505
2
Islesteps
Jim Cleland Band
Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS
7.30 pm
John M Caskie MBE 01387 710 975 07711 573 071
2
North East
Neil Dawson
Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN
7.30 pm
Rory Smith 07769 801 996
2
Seghill
Club Night (Visitors welcome)
Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ
7.00 pm
James Youngson 01670 356 410
3
Dingwall
Gordon Pattullo & Malcolm Ross
National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA
7.30 pm
Elspeth Weir 01349 877675
3
Glenfarg
Marian Anderson Trio
Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NU
7.30 pm
Stewart Smith 01577 830 296
3
Montrose
Graeme Mitchell Band
Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ
7.30 pm
Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487
3
Orkney
Club night (Visitors welcome)
The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD
7.30 pm
Jim Marwick 01856 874 474
4
Crieff
Ray Carse
The British Legion, Crieff PH7 3EB
7.30 pm
Irene Anderson 01764 654 298
4
Galashiels
Susan MacFadyen Trio
Gala YM RFC, 4 Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, TD1 1PF
7.30 pm
Robert Cleland 01896 754 463
4
Isle of Skye
Roy Hendrie Duo
The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU
7.30 pm
Linda Shaw 01478 611 122
4
Lewis and Harris
Club Night (Visitors welcome)
Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN
8.00 pm
Janette MacIver 01851 704 870
4
Rothbury
Johnny Duncan Duo
Queens Head Hotel, Rothbury NE65 7SR
7.30 pm
Mary Davidson 01668 281 307
4
Turriff
Gordon Pattullo Duo
Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ
7.30 pm
Pat Steele 01888 562 486
5
Coalburn
Willie Macfarlane SDB (Club Dance)
Coalburn Miners Welfare, Coalburn ML11 0LH
7.30 pm
Fiona Paul 01555 840 667
7
Arbroath
Club Open Day
The Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath DD1 5RA
2-5 pm
Tony Simpson 01241 875 326
7
Arbroath
Steven Carcary Trio (Evening Dance)
The Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath DD1 5RA
7.30 pm
Tony Simpson 01241 875 326
7
Gretna
Seamus O’Sullivan trio
Richard Greenhow Centre, Gretna DG16 5AQ
7.00 pm
Robin Waitt 01387 371 423
9
Dunfermline
Johnny Duncan Duo
Sportsman Bar, Rosyth KY11 2NX
7.30 pm
Mr Bob Adam 01383 306 142
9
Seghill
Club Night (Visitors welcome)
Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ
7.00 pm
James Youngson 01670 356 410
10
Alnwick
Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Jubilee Hall, Newton on the Moor NE65 9JY
7.30 pm
Mungo Riddell 07836 637 638
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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
Next Dance Please Leonard Brown and his All Star Band By Derek Hamilton
The latest CD to drop through my letterbox was one from Leonard Brown. I have to say, this young impresario’s energy and enthusiasm for keeping our music alive shows no bounds. He is totally committed to his craft and, indeed, a master at it as well. Leonard has the happy knack of surrounding himself with the crème de la crème of Scottish talent, which helps enhance his already outstanding ability as an accordionist of the highest calibre. This latest CD is for dancing as the title suggests. But don’t worry if you like me have two left feet; you can just sit and listen to the sheer toe-tapping joy that these ultra-talented musicians bring to the party. The boys (using the term loosely, as they are all highly experienced band men) are the usual suspects Leonard has with him as support musicians with one notable addition, Iain Anderson the marvellous fiddler with the Peter Pan looks! Iain is a long established and fine exponent of his instrument, a teacher and solo and band musician. The usual suspects are Liam Stewart (piano), John Sinton (bass), Duncan Findlay (guitar and banjo) and Malcolm Ross (drums). The album stands out from the crowd with its cartoon-type design by Gary Hogg. The CD has all the hallmarks of quality right from the top of the range CD case itself. The music only enhances the quality of the product! All the sets are played for a dancing audience. I can definitely see every dance teacher having this album at the top of his or her pile of CDs and using it extensively. At the same time, I can see all Scottish music enthusiasts wanting to have it in their collection. Some of the dances are less widely known but were included for Leonard’s many fans - Brecon in March, a 5x40 bar reel, for example. Many popular
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This young impresario’s energy and enthusiasm for keeping our music alive shows no bounds
”
round-the-room dances are included: Edinburgh Mixture, Lomond Waltz, Jazz Twinkle, Viennese Swing, Flirtation Two Step, Circassian Circle, White Heather Foxtrot, The Boston Two Step, St Bernard’s Waltz, Southern Rose Waltz and Mississippi Dip (my favourite track on the CD). Leonard here uses the Dermot O’Brien arrangement as the basis of Whistlin’ Rufus and incorporates his own variations to make it his own. The set dance lovers are not forgotten either - with Sailor’s Hornpipe, Bratach Bana, Four Hand Star, Riverside Jig as well as the aforementioned Brecon in March. His selection of tunes is superb and the performance is “chust sublime, Dougie,” to coin a Para Handy phrase. This is a must for your collection and listening and dancing pleasure. It is Leonard and his All Star Band at their very best. l