Box & Fiddle - December 2017

Fiddle

41st Year No. 04 Dec 2017

£3.00

BOX& The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

Shetland Festival We interview Peter Leask

Perth Festival Results 2017 GORDON YOUNG IS CENTRE STAGE We remember Fred Donald

PLUS

NEWS, REVIEWS, CLUB & DANCE DIARIES AND MUCH MORE...

Welcome

B&F • EDITORIAL

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...to the December 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 Ivor Scollay and Graeme Garrick photo by © Nicol McLaren 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

The last couple of months have been some months. We had the festivals and the relevant articles to be planned and produced. AND we had to change printer on the day the November issue was to be printed. Thanks to the new printer and Kevin Douglas, the November issue was still out in time. It did cause some disruption in my usual planning. And then it was time to organise Pia Walker, Editor the December issue and deal with almost 400 resubscriptions coming into the office. No wonder November disappeared! I so appreciate the comments I get from you all so congratulations to subscriber James McLellan, Radstock, who has just turned 90 in October. And I will contact you, Jim Murphy of York.

So to December and I hope you enjoy this issue if you get time to read it in this very busy and short month (please note, if you want something in the January issue, it has to be received before 5th November). My Christmas present from you would be for reporters to keep to 250-300 words and not add extra spaces between words. I have said before that we are trying to get away from the ‘report’ style of the club news in order to make it flow better and thus easier to read. (B&F Sept 2016). Your text goes through several processes to arrive at the required style: it is edited (usually to get the word count to a reasonable level, but also to change present tense to past, and to ensure that repetitions are kept to a minimum), Denis will then proofread it and I will do name and tune checks. We are not criticising what you wrote, merely keeping the magazine content lighter and more attractive to the readers.

Thanks go to the reporters who send in their items straight after their meetings. This helps me spread the editing work over the full month, so I can concentrate on other matters closer to the deadline. Deadline doesn’t mean the date that you ‘must wait until.’ ☺ December can be a hard time for many who have lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with you all.

The B&F team and the exec. committee wish everyone a peaceful time over the holidays.

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

B&F • CONTENTS

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8 Alison Laurenson

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News In Memory Fred Donald

Festivals Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017; All Scotland

Club Diary You are never too old to go clubbing!

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Dance Diary

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Reviews

Find the nearest dances and ceilidhs

Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017

Stirling at 90; Spark O’Water;

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Centre Stage

Christmas

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Club News

Gordon Young

The latest news from our clubs

Deadlines:

The High Summit; The Accordion at

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Music Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club’s 40th Anniversay by Alan Gifford

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.

Orkney Celebrations

AFC players

October was a celebratory month for us as it is 40 years since the club was formed. Jim Marwick, our present chairman, was a founder member, still playing his accordion with us – and drums if necessary. We celebrated with a dinner at the Legion with around 50 members and friends. Jim welcomed everyone and gave a brief and interesting history of the club. Through the years playing members have numbered around 20 and today we still manage well into the teens every Wednesday. Venues have changed over the years, but now we meet in The Reel, an ideal venue, all year round except for a couple of weeks around Christmas. Jim introduced our special guests: Ally Eunson (widow of founder member Alfie Eunson) and her daughter, Evelyn; Jim Anderson, our faithful compere; and Harvey Johnston, OIC convener, and his wife Helen.

A lovely meal was served by Mitzi Collingwood and her staff and the beautiful anniversary cake, made by Netta Harcus of Westray, was cut by Ally and Jim. Harvey proposed a toast to the future of the club. In thanking the club for the invitation, he said that while we might not be able to communicate in all the languages over the world, music was a universal language that everyone could share. He listed a wide range of people who had kept traditional music alive in Orkney from the past right through to the present.

We invited Da Fustra, the very popular

Shetland band, to come south and celebrate with us. We had four fantastic nights with them. They came to The Reel on the Wednesday and had a tune with us there. On Thursday in Westray they played at a fund raising concert for the Lifeboat.

A very enthusiastic audience enjoyed a first class concert of excellent music and of course the friendly banter within the band. It was great that 10 people from the neighbouring island of Papa Westray hired a boat to come across for the occasion. Then it was back to Kirkwall on Friday morning to prepare for our open night to continue the 40 years of celebration – and what a celebration. Over 100 people equally enjoyed the wonderful selection and styles of music from Scottish to Irish to French musettes with James’ French accent improving by the minute.

The highlight and surprise was when the band played a new tune, a march written by Alan Gifford, fiddle player with Da Fustra. He had specially composed it for us and called it Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club’s 40th Anniversary.

Thank you, Alan, Kevin, James, Derek and Cecil for a truly special evening.

On to the Saturday, and they were all geared up to play for a dance at the British Legion. It was hugely successful with enthusiastic dancers filling the floor for every dance. This concluded what had been a fantastic few days of music at its best.

Da Fustra

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Festivals Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017 Interview with Peter Leask by Pia Walker Photos by Nicol McLaren and Pia Walker

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ctober means the annual pilgrimage to the Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, organised by the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Club.

This year was the 30th festival and it is the 40th anniversary of the club. I therefore decided to ask their club chairman Peter Leask a little more about himself and the club and festival in general.

Peter has been chairman since November 2000 and took over from Gussie Angus. He himself doesn’t play an instrument, although he loves to listen to the music. The only one in the nearest family who played was a cousin Jack Leask who played the accordion.

Peter got involved when son James wanted to learn the accordion at the age of 9. Jim Halcrow found him a 48 bass accordion and he went to Alice Nicolson at Brindister for lessons. In 1994, when James was 10, he started going to the accordion & fiddle club to play. This was of course also Peter’s first time at a club and he remembers that Gordon Shand was the guest that night. “It was my first ever time to the club and I got hooked.” From then on it became a family

Youth concert - the future

affair as the whole family started going to the club regularly so that the children James and John could hear all the different players. Peter believes that as well as going to lessons, it is very important for youngsters to listen to others in order to get a better understanding of the music “Unfortunately young people play and then go home. I suppose it depends a lot on whether the parents are into traditional music or not.”

40 years ago, the first chairman was Frank Chadwick, who along with his wife Lillian owned the Hayfield Hotel in Lerwick. Lillian was a close relation to Ronnie Cooper, the well known musician and composer, and Hayfield became the location for many a music session with many such famous names: as Ronnie, Willie Hunter, Jim Halcrow and ‘peerie Willie Johnston’ to name but a few.

The club was started in 1978 by a group of local musicians. The idea was basically for them to meet and have a tune together. Over the years, the club has grown, and meets in the Shetland Hotel every 2nd Thursday from mid-September until late March and it aims to have guests from outside Shetland visiting 4 times during this period. Later in March they have a dance in one of the halls with a guest artist providing the music. “We have a regular pool of players who come along for a tune and to entertain the audience which can vary from 50 to 100, with more on a guest night.” The audience revenue is used to help raise funds for the annual festival. Another popular event, which can attract up to 200 audiences, is the Monday Pre-Up Helly Aa night in January. As there are not enough homegrown bands to cover the 11 or so dance halls that open in Lerwick for this incredible spectacular that is Up Helly Aa, the organisers ‘import’ dance bands from the mainland and they

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B&F • WWW.BOXANDFIDDLE.COM

s pion with adjudicator All Scotland Cham Brown ard on Le d an r lin Dewa Sandy Lindsay, Co Champion Matthew Maclennan

Band winners Abbie Dawson Fiddle Group winner

ors Anne Black with adjudicat Dewar in Col and wn Leonard Bro

All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2017 ALL SCOTLAND SENIOR TRADITIONAL ACCORDION SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP Jimmy Shand Challenge Shield Margaret Hendry Salver (Senior Lady) 1. Matthew MacLennan, Edinburgh 2. Duncan Black, Edinburgh 3. John Burns, Kilsyth Ladies 1. Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul, Kyle of Lochalsh 2. Emma Dickson, West Linton ALL SCOTLAND SENIOR FIDDLE SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP Ian Powrie Challenge Cup 1. George Davidson, Aberdeen 2. Shona MacFadyen, Coatbridge 3. Ellie McLaren, Braemar ALL SCOTLAND SCOTTISH BAND CHAMPIONSHIP Ronnie Cooper Memorial Trophy (Band) John Gibson Memorial Trophy (Rhythm Section) 1. Duncan Black, Edinburgh

2. Kyle Rowan, Edinburgh 3. John Burns, Kilsyth ALL SCOTLAND SCOTTISH TRIO CHAMPIONSHIP Perth Accordion Club Challenge Cup 1. Duncan Black, Edinburgh 2. Robert Black, Boness 3. Kyle Rowan, Edinburgh ALL SCOTLAND JUNIOR TRADITIONAL ACCORDION SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP Angus Accordion College Challenge Shield Jimmy Stephen Salver (Junior Girls) 1. Andrew Erskine, Biggar 2. Mike Laurenson, Shetland 3. Cameron McLaren, Cupar Girls 1. India Islay Smith, Penicuik ALL SCOTLAND JUNIOR FIDDLE SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP Albie Tedham Challenge Cup Mickie Ainsworth Memorial Trophy & Award 1. Anya Johnston, Lerwick 2. Mia Clark, Shetland 3. Lachlan Murdo Kennedy, Glasgow

ts l u s e R ALL SCOTLAND UNDER 12 TRADITIONAL ACCORDION SOLO Black Isle Shield 1. Emily Gifford, Shetland 2. Abbie Christie, Banchory 3. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland UNDER 12 CONTINENTAL SOLO 1. Fin Hope, Biggar 2. Abbie Christie, Banchory 3. Jake Johnstone, Biggar UNDER 12 WORLD MUSIC SOLO 1. Joseph Finkelstein, Currie 2. Jake Johnstone, Biggar 3. Charlotte Hamlet, Dumfries JUNIOR PIPE MUSIC ACCORDION SOLO Charlie Cowie Memorial Cup 1. Mike Laurenson, Shetland 2. India Islay Smith, Penicuik UNDER 16 CONTINENTAL SOLO 1. Mike Laurenson, Shetland 2. India Islay Smith, Penicuik 3. Cameron McLaren, Cupar

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Centre Stage Gordon Young A very well known and highly respected drummer and a firm supporter of the accordion and fiddle clubs and festivals around the country.

What is your most cherished childhood memory?

The Scottish Home Service on the wireless on a Saturday night with dance music, Sportsreel and The McFlannels.

Who was a big influence in your life and/or your music?

My parents! Their insistence on good manners and their concern for those less fortunate.

What was your first job?

Clerk in the RBS. When was the first time you performed in public?

Dancing in an Edinburgh SCD-competition at primary school age. My poor mother had to sit through about forty teams of kids all doing the Flowers of Edinburgh. That’s devotion!

What do you appreciate most in life?

After my recent heart surgery the care from the staff in the Cardiology unit in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary was outstanding.

What is your greatest indulgence?

My wife’s homemade treacle scones. Yummy!

What is your abiding musical memory?

My first broadcast with the great Ian Holmes band of the early 1970s. Unique!

What are your worst fears?

Being locked in a hall with

Messrs Kirkpatrick and Hamilton and only allowed to play repeatedly The Swedish Masquerade.

What are the best places in the world you have visited?

Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro.

What is your favourite musical venue?

Sound Hall in Lerwick, Shetland.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who enjoyed life and was very grateful to have had a tune with some outstanding musicians.

What makes you angry, annoyed or short tempered?

People with big egos who clearly have done little to expect this accolade.

What is your favourite location in Scotland? Edinburgh.

If you had to leave what would you miss and what would you be glad to see the back of?

I would miss Scotland, its history, traditions and its fine music. I would not miss the Irish folk music we seem to be bombarded with these days.

If your house was on fire what item would you save?

I would tuck my lovely wife Dianne under one arm and my Premier 2000 snare drum under the other and head for the hills.

Who are your heroes and why?

The doctors, nurses, paramedics and police do a very good job, in very trying circumstances. The guy who taught Derek Hamilton to sing What a Hero! (Joke Derek, honest!)

The Scottish Dance Music scene - your thoughts and hopes: It has some outstanding young people now performing.

However, I would like the current performers to pay more attention to their audience and try to envisage what the people paying the admission might like. I would like to hear more SCD-music on the airwaves. Strathspeys seem to have been abandoned, unfortunate given that this tempo is so distinctly Scottish.

What 5 people would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Charlie Kirkpatrick, Derek Hamilton, Jimmy Shand Jnr, Bill Hendry, Dr Sandy Nixon - just in case!

Your 1, 2, 3 of favourite tunes/ songs: The Hills of Tynron (Ian Holmes) Stan Saunders’ Hornpipe (Sandy Nixon), Miss Bennet’s Jig (in E-flat of course) Today I will Eat: Roast beef, roast potatoes & veg Drink: A large dram of Balvenie Read: The Scotsman Visit: My 98-year-old aunt Watch: Any Shetland Festival Grand Dance DVD

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 Scott Gordon opened the October meeting and welcomed a good audience. Keith Duncan opened on accordion and Ernest Mitchell followed with his friend, first time visitor Derek, on fiddles. Sandy McAllan on his button-box rounded off the first half, and all accompanied by Stanley Flett on piano and Scott on drums.

Our guest artist, and here for the first time as leader of the band, was Callum Cruickshank.

With him were Tom Orr on piano, Duncan Christie on drums and Callum’s dad Brian on bass. They gave us a superb selection of marches, jigs, reels and a polka. They kept our feet tapping and entertained till tea-time with a funny story about an ‘experience’ getting to the Isle of Coll to play at a wedding!

The second half started with our entertaining moothie-player Denis Shepherd accompanied by our guest Callum on piano, followed by Lynne Mciver with her Take the Floor recording band comprising on fiddle Susan Gordon, on drums Duncan Christie, on second box Scott Gordon and on piano Tom Orr. They played three great sets. Lastly we had

Aberdeen

our secretary Susan doing a fiddle solo accompanied by her husband and chairman Scott on accordion. This was a treat for us as we only get a solo from Susan when we are short of players!

We then had 45 minutes of fantastic music from our guests including the tune Cruickie Junior by John Burns written for Callum along with another true story about a stag night and a chipped tooth!

The audience were shouting for an encore, so well done Callum and haste ye back.

Scott then closed with a vote of thanks.

Sheila Bain ANNAN ST ANDREW The October meeting took place in Newington Social Club. Jack Murdoch welcomed

a packed audience who had come to hear The Garioch Blend Dance Band. The band comprised Charlie Esson on piano accordion, Chay Esson on drums and Willie Kelman on fiddle and vocals. The band soon had the dancers on the floor with the Eva Three Step, Lomond Waltz and the Gay Gordons Two Step. A Sweetheart Waltz to the lovely tune of The Banks of the Bonny River Don, sung by Willie, was followed by Anna Marie. The band played a mixture of quick steps and waltzes with tunes from Scotland and Ireland and with Willie in fine voice.

The local players came from as far away as Stonehouse, Carnwath, Northumberland and Cumbria. Graham Woods on drums and Ian Wilson on keyboard accompanied them

☛

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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

Stirling at 90 Glencraig Scottish Dance Band SBCD001

A new release from the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band always leads to a much anticipated listen.

Such is the high standard the band have set themselves with previous recordings and this new CD is sure to delight their many fans of whom I’m privileged to count myself one. As way of some background, in 2014 the RSCDS Stirling Branch published a book of Scottish country dances to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. Roll forward three years and the branch has now commissioned this excellent CD from the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band to recognise the 90th Anniversary of the Stirling branch of the RSCDS (further information on the society can be found at www.rscds-stirling.org).

For the dancers amongst us, it is worth noting this CD includes all the music from the Bannockburn 700 book, plus five additional dances. The band features the same line-up that produced last year’s superb Christmas CD with the exception of a change of personnel in the drumming department. We have bandleader Nicol McLaren on lead accordion, Neil Caul (second accordion), Gordon Howe (fiddle), Isobelle Hodgson (piano), John Sinton (bass) and Robert Simpson (drums). The music was arranged

by Nicol who also co-produced the recording with David Cunningham who additionally recorded, mixed and mastered the album.

The recording includes a staggering 75 tunes which include thirteen of Nicol’s own prolific compositions, The Keithick Lodge Two Step, Vancouver Welcome, The Sutherland Lass, Mary MacKechnie, Miss Elizabeth Conder, Miss Cholmondley Marjoribank’s Favourite, The Red Rose, Mrs Joan Russell, Archie Mackechnie, LJ

”

This is yet another outstanding recording that comes with a highly recommended sticker on it

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Ginger, Katharine Hoskins, Andy Buchanan of Meggernie and The Nether Bailey. As we’ve come to expect from the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band, their playing is tight and accurate with a very crisp and clean sound as they glide with great ease from one tune to the next.

The members of this band have won numerous awards and clocked up many years’ playing experience, both individually and together; therefore, it should come as no great surprise that this is yet another outstanding recording that comes with a highly recommended sticker on it.

Definitely a CD worth adding to your collection.

Further information on the band can be found at www.glencraigsdb.co.uk.