Box & Fiddle Dec14

Fiddle

38th Year No. 04 Dec 2014

The magazine for Scottish music enthusiasts

2015 NAAFC

Festival

Entry Form Perth 2014 Results

Shetland Festival The Button Box Gathering

PLUS Club & Dance Diaries, reviews, and much more...

ÂŁ2.70

BOX&

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72 bass mantovanelli piano accordion White, 34 keys, 5 treble, 2 bass couplers, vgc, player now onto a 96.

Has a hard case and a carry case, great to play, came from Germany.

Call Rory Smith 07769 801996

Accordion: A Pictorial History tells the story of the accordion, from the early 1800s to the present time. An A4 sized hardback, this book is a high quality production, fully illustrated with over 300 colour pictures of all types of accordions (each with notes) plus several articles.

An ideal present for any accordion enthusiast!!

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£10

+ £2 p&p Cheque/PO payable to Rob Howard PayPal accepted 42 Avondale Rd, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 9NY (0161) 480 8858 Email: robaccord5 @hotmail.com Also available: An A to Z of the Accordion (Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4) £10 each, post free – a total of 1000 articles and biographies; Vintage Accordions £10, post free

Welcome

B&F • editorial

3

...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 Irvine mamidesigns@hotmail.com Cover image • West Telferton SDB. Andrew Knight (fiddle) and Richard Ross (accordion) by Nicol McLaren 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 • 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: Charlie Kirkpatrick David Cunningham Margo Maclennan Richard Ross Tom Orr Willie Johnstone

Where did November go? The B&F team has been out and about trying to create awareness for your magazine, the NAAFC and the clubs. We had a table at the RSCDS AGM, the Stanley Ceilidh, The Highland Showtime and at the Scots Fiddle Festival (Fiddle 2014) and the magazine was also sold at the Perth Festival. We aim to achieve higher visibility Pia Walker, Editor and thereby foster a renewed interest in the clubs, any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Some of you have told me that it can be difficult for you to get your magazine at various A&F clubs, as they only have sufficient for those who pre-order. Some clubs take a few extra on a Sale & Return basis. You can also ask your club to order your copy for you by talking to your club secretary or ask if they carry spare copies. Failing that you can, of course, subscribe directly.

However, some retailers and individuals have very kindly agreed to keep some in their shops for when your club is closed or you can’t manage to get there. The retailers and individuals currently stocking the Box & Fiddle are as follows: • Charles Todd, Biggar • Concorde Music Shop, Perth • Electrical Shop, Victorian Market, Inverness • High Level Music, Lerwick • Iain Cathcart, Lanark • Jennifer Cowie, Penicuik

• John Douglas Music, Dumfries • Nicol McLaren, Blairgowrie • Richard Ross, Dalry • Susan MacFadyen, Ayrshire • Tom Riddell • The Violin Shop, Glasgow

I hope this list will expand so that in the summer months you will not have to go without your magazine, but can pop in to these shops to pick it up. You will also be able to subscribe for the summer and get your magazine sent to your door.

December is upon us, and I need your entries to the magazine as quickly as possible for January, as the printers need to get this magazine printed and sent out before they close for Christmas.

Enjoy the December magazine, perhaps cuddled up in front of the fire. I hope you all have a lovely time over the festive season with lots of music and cheer.

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.

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Pia Walker Editor, Box & Fiddle 7 Tarvit Gardens Cupar Fife KY15 5BT

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Contents

B&F • DECEMBER 2014

5

15 12 8

10

Presentations Perth and District Accordion and Fiddle Club’s donation to the Cornhill Macmillan Support Group

9

17 The New Generation Cameron McLaren

18 Club News

The latest news from our clubs

Letters David Hall’s memories of Bobby Crowe and John Laurie

37 Take the Floor The Full Scottish

10 The Button Box Gathering

38 Club Diary

11 Centre Stage

43 Dance Diary

12 Festivals

45 Reviews

Margo Maclennan reports on the event

We speak to Bryan Gear

Where to go for a good night out

Find the dances and ceilidhs near you

Results from the 2014 Perth Accordion

We review the latest cds, dvds

& Fiddle Festival Results; Shetland Festival

and books

Deadlines:

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.

6

B&F • www.boxandfiddle.coM

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 2014 All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo Champion

Brandon McPhee

B

randon first picked up the button-key accordion at the age of 10 influenced by his grandfather, Donald McPhee, who encouraged him for the first month by which time he had mastered the Dark Island. In January 2007 and for the next 2 years Brandon began accordion lessons with his uncle, Daniel McPhee. During this time, he also won the Caithness Music Festival 2 years running. Since then he has won almost every “major” competition in the Scottish music calendar, taking home the Junior Accordion Solo Championship twice.

Earlier this year at the NAAFC festival Brandon won the buttonbox competition for the third consecutive year. In October also for the third consecutive year went on to win the Royal National Mod’s Open Senior Accordion Championship and for the third time at the 65th Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival, won the Open Button Key Trad. Accordion Solo (British Chromatic 2 or 3 Row) plus the

Duncan Campbell Memorial Trophy. He also won the All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo Championship, Jimmy Shand Challenge Shield and the Mick Ainsworth Memorial Trophy.

On his adjudication sheet Ian Muir writes: “wonderful playing of a tricky set of tunes on a piano box let alone the 3-row!”

All this happened the day before his 18th birthday.

Congratulations Brandon. l

&F • NOVEMBER B&F • BTAKE THE FLOOR 2014

Take The Floor

6th December

Skipinnish

13th December

Neil Galloway Scottish Dance Band

The full scottish

T

he Full Scottish is a six piece Scottish dance band recently formed by the two band leaders Nicky McMichan and John Burns. After many discussions about the current dance band scene compared to what it was like years ago and how these days we are sometimes lucky to take a three piece band to gigs and the often uttered: “How good would it be to operate as a full six piece all the time?”, we decided to try and make it happen.

To give it the best working chance we decided that we needed a band of people who were neither in John’s or Nicky’s normal line-up and that each member should have equal input and responsibility.

The main concept is that The Full Scottish is a full six piece band (don’t ask them for a trio) and has alternating lead accordions and a well-known line up: John Burns, Nicky McMichan, Maggie Adamson, Dennis Morrison, Graham Crichton and John Sinton.

The band is equipped to cater for the whole range of events. They have also been booked for Glasgow RSCDS branch dance in March 2015. Who would have imagined that?

Top Tip

20th December

The Full Scottish 27th December

Commonwealth Games Outside Broadcast Featuring Robert Black Scottish Dance Band & Blazin’ Fiddles

When you load photos onto your pc, click on them, then rightclick and go down the menu to ‘Rename’. You can then write what the photo is about. It will be easier for you to find them later, and definitely easier for me to decipher who is on the photo. - Pia

7

8

B&BF&F• www.boxandfiddle.coM • www.boxandfiddle.coM

Club Diary

Please contact editor@boxandfiddle.com for any corrections to the diary.

December 2014 DATE

Club

Venue

Time

Contact

Guest Artiste

1

Thurso

Pentland Hotel, Thurso KW14 7AA

7.30 pm

Ian Wright 01847 892 050

Brandon MacPhee Trio

2

Campsie

Glazert Country House Hotel, Lennoxtown G66 7DJ

7.30 pm

Billy Hutton 0141 776 2344

Tom Alexander

2

Fort William

Railway Club, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6LY

8.00 pm

Alisdair MacDonald 01397 701505

Charlie Kirkpatrick

2

Islesteps

Locharbriggs Social Club, Locharbriggs DG1 1XS

7.30 pm

Ian Gray 01387 760 276

Richard Smith Trio

2

North East

Royal British Legion, Keith AB55 5EN

7.30 pm

Mrs Petrie 01542 860 246

Graeme Mitchell SDB

2

Seghill

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.30 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

Club Night

3

Banff and District

Banff Springs Hotel, Banff AB45 2JE

7.30 pm

Alison Coutts 01346 518 754

Johnny Duncan (Christmas Dance)

3

Dingwall

National Hotel, Dingwall IV15 9HA

7.30 pm

Elspeth Weir 01349 877 675

Scott Band Scottish Dance Band

3

Glenfarg

Glenfarg Village Hall, Glenfarg PH2 9NZ

8 pm

Russell Robertson 01577 830 642

Main Event Ceilidh Band

3

Montrose

Park Hotel, Montrose DD10 8RJ

7.30

Ron Ramsay 01241 879 487

Marian Anderson Trio

3

Northern

Hilton Hotel & Country Club, Templepatrick BT39 0DD

8.00 pm

Amanda Robinson 07986 681 611

McStockers Ceili Band (Dance)

3

Orkney

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Peter Brass 01856 811 273

Local night

3

Stonehouse

Violet Social Club, Stonehouse ML9 3HH

7.15 pm

Margaret Hannay 01698 791 163

Nicky McMichan SDB

4

Carlisle

St Margaret Mary’s Social Club, Carlisle CA2 4JX

7.30 pm

Alison Davies 01228 675 505

Bob Liddle Solo

4

Galashiels

Clovenfords Hotel, Galashiels TD1 3LU

7.30 pm

Robert Cleland 01896 754 463

Iain Cathcart Trio

4

Isle of Skye

The Royal Hotel, Portree IV51 9BU

7.30 pm

info@skyemusic.co.uk

Janet Graham Band

4

Lewis and Harris

Caladh Inn, Stornoway HS1 2QN

8.00 pm

Janette MacIver 01851 704 870

The Lomond Ceilidh Band

4

Oban

The Royal Hotel, Oban PA34 4BE

7.30 pm

Anne McFadyen 01631 562 077

Iain Anderson

4

Turriff

Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown AB53 5WJ

7.30 pm

Pat Steele 01888 562 486

Sandy Lindsay Trio

5

Crieff

Crieff Hotel, Crieff PH7 3HY

Lil Watson 01383 410131

Johnny Duncan Duo

6

Arbroath

Arbroath Artisan Golf Club, By Arbroath DD11 2PE (Doors open at 7.30pm)

8.00pm

Tony Simpson 01241 875 326

Steven Carcary Duo

7

Gretna

The Gables Hotel Gretna, Gretna Green DG16 5DQ

7.15 pm

David Bell 01228 523 957

Charlie Kirkpatrick

9

Aberdeen

Old Machar Royal British Legion, Bridge of Don AB23 8JN

7.30 pm

Susan Gordon 07968 439 421

James Coutts (Buffet supper dance)

9

Blairgowrie

Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus PH13 9AL

7.45 pm

Helen Aitchison 01821 670 302

Johnny Duncan Duo

NOVEMBER BB&&FF•• CLUB DIARY 2014

December 2014 cont.

DATE

Club

Venue

Time

Contact

Guest Artiste

9

Dunfermline

Civil Service Sports Association, Rosyth KY11 2HU

7.30 pm

Mr Bob Adam 01383 306 142

Marion Anderson

9

Renfrew

Moorpark Masonic Halls, Renfrew PA4 0SA

7.30 pm

Ian Murchison 0141 889 4711

Iain Cathcart Trio

9

Seghill

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.30 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

Club Night

9

Wick

Mackay’s Hotel, Wick KW1 5ED (a week earlier than normal)

7.30 pm

Farquhar MacGregor 01955 631 243

The Elizabeth MacKenzie Band

10

Alnwick

The Farriers Arms, Alnwick NE66 2XX

7.30 pm

Leonard Brown 0191 4219 804

Christmas Club Night (Buffet Supper)

10

Forres

Victoria Hotel, Forres IV36 1EL

7.30 pm

Ann Sharp 01309 672 672

Colin Donaldson SDB

10

Inveraray

Argyll Hotel, Inveraray PA32 8XB

8.00 pm

Margaret Mather 01499 302458

Duncan Black & Marie Fielding

10

Langholm

British Legion, Langholm DG13 0DN

8.00 pm

Adam Grant 01387 381 305

Alan Small & The Lomond Ceilidh Band

10

Orkney

The Reel, Kirkwall KW15 1KD

7.30 pm

Peter Brass 01856 811 273

Local night

11

Button-Key (Windygates)

The Greig Institute, Windygates KY8 5DG

7.00 pm

Mary Cook 01592 713 687

Christmas Party Night

11

Shetland

Shetland Hotel, Lerwick ZE1 0PW

7.30 pm

Peter Leask 01595 693 162

Club Night

11

West Barns

West Barns Inn, West Barns EH42 1UR

7.30 pm

I McCue 01368 863 448

Club Night

13

Lanark

Ravenstruther Hall, Ravenstruther ML11 7SS

7.30 pm

Janette Scott 01555 870 345

Charlie Kirkpatrick (Dance)

13

Uist and Benbecula

Church of Scotland Hall, Benbecula HS7 5QA

8.00 pm

Christine Mitchell 01870 602 682

Ceilidh Night

14

Balloch

St Kessog’s Hall, Balloch G83 8LQ

7.30 pm

William Scott 07585 554 794

Ewan Galloway

14

Biggar

Biggar Bowling Club, Biggar ML12 6AX

7.00 pm

Charlie Todd 01899 308 327

Club Night

15

Beith

Beith Bowling Club, Beith KA15 1DZ

7.30 pm

E MacFadyen 01294 823 865

Club Night

15

Duns

Masonic Lodge, Duns TD11 3AS

7.15 pm

Dorothy Patterson 01361 883 048

Neil Hardie SDB

15

Highland

The Waterside Hotel, Inverness IV2 4SF

7.30 pm

Jacqui MacDonald 01463 231 929

Ian Joseph Macdonald Band

16

Castle Douglas

Urr Valley Hotel, Castle Douglas DG7 3JG

7.30 pm

Ian Riddet 01387 255 919

Calum Wilson SDB

16

Dalriada

The Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead PA31 8JN

7.30 pm

Margaret Young 01546 602 915

Local Players

16

Mauchline

Mauchline & District KFC Supporters Club, Mauchline KA5 5AD

7.30 pm

Andy Rae 01290 550 402

Tom Alexander

16

Perth and District

Salutation Hotel, Perth PH2 8PH

8.00 pm

Duncan Cameron 01738 621 467

Michael Garvin Trio

16

Seghill

Seghill Comrades Club, Cramlington NE23 7TQ

7.30 pm

James Youngson 01670 356 410

Leonard Brown (Christmas Dinner)

16

Teviotdale

Buccleuch Bowling Club, Hawick TD9 0EG

7.30 pm

Stuart Anderson 01450 880 222

Club Night

17

Kelso

Kelso Rugby Club, Kelso TD5 7EH

7.00 pm

Fiona Oliver 01668 216 162

Susan McFadyen Band

9

☛

10

B&F • www.boxandfiddle.coM

“

Traditionally Inspired

Matthew Maclennan Scottish Dance Band MDM001 If you’re looking for a Christmas gift you may want to consider this fine debut release from the Matthew Maclennan Scottish Dance Band.

Traditionally Inspired contains thirteen tracks expertly played to a very high standard by Matthew and his musical colleagues.

The band line-up features Matthew on lead accordion, Nicky McMichan on second box, the legendary John Sinton on double bass, Iain Anderson on fiddle, Gordon Smith on drums and Dennis Morrison on piano.

Matthew of Kiltarlity near Beauly has been playing Scottish music since he first started playing the accordion at the tender age of seven. If you attend accordion festivals you will be aware that Matthew was overall Senior Accordion Champion in 2009, 2011 and 2013, so here is a young man with an outstanding musical pedigree. It is therefore hard to believe that Traditionally Inspired is Matthew’s first recording. The disciplined and technical accuracy of the music played on this album is a joy to behold and much credit must be given to the other band members who also have outstanding musical pedigrees in their own right and their contribution on this fine recording must not be underestimated or taken for granted.

It is refreshing to listen to thirteen musical sets, containing a selection of tunes from various countries. It is nice to see (or should I say hear) that the band have not fallen into the modern day trap of playing through a set of tunes as fast as possible.

One suspects to have done so, would have gone against everything Matthew was taught during his musical education. Matthew also demonstrates his high respect for the pipe music and Gaelic airs of his Highland heritage with the sensitive way he plays the set A Piping Hot Medley. Other tracks on the CD I particularly enjoyed were the Lomond Waltz set. Also worth checking out are the tracks a Scandinavian Sweetie and the Boston two-step

The disciplined and technical accuracy of the music played on this album is a joy to behold

”

featuring David Halcrow’s tune Robbie’s Farewell.

If you like your Scottish dance music played in strict tempo with fine melody, harmony and rhythm thrown into the mix then this CD will be right up your street. For more information on this fine band, check out Matthew’s website at www.matthew-maclennan.co.uk.

T U O OW N

Matthew Maclennan

SCOTTISH DANCE BAND Début album

Traditionally Inspired £12 + £1.50 p&p.

For International postage contact Matthew for more details.

Contact 07709 847 576 or email thebigboxman@hotmail.com

THE BUTTON-KEY ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUB ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT ONCE AGAIN

GATHERING TO CELEBRATE THE CREATION OF THIS MAGNIFICENT BUTTON-KEY ACCORDION AS DESIGNED AND PLAYED BY THE RENOWNED – SIR JIMMY SHAND IF YOU HAVE ONE – BRING IT ALONG AND PLAY IF YOU HAVEN’T – COME ALONG AND LISTEN

LISTEN TO :

WHETHER FROM

SOLOISTS-

NEAR OR

GROUPS-

FAR

WITH ALWAYS:

YOU ARE

“THE STRAMASH”

WELCOME TO COME ALONG

TO BE HELD IN

THE WINDYGATES INSTITUTE, WINDYGATES, FIFE

ON SUNDAY 18th JANUARY 2015 FROM 1.00 pm TILL 5.00 pm

ADMISSION £7.00

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