Year 7 No 2 - October 1983
As this is our first report in the ‘B&F’ I’ll just mention that we hold our open nights on the last Wednesday of the month from April to September and consequently have almost finished our season when everybody else is starting up. However, we never really stop, as playing members meet every week for a tune (and a pint).
The following, then, is a run-down of this year’s goings-on in the Albert Hall, Kirkwall.
April 83
On 27th April, for our first open night, we had as guests the West Mainland S&R Society. Having welcomed everyone, the Chairman, Davie Linklater, handed over to the Society, led by Mrs Netta Ashburn, and they got the evening off to a grand start. Later on they provided two young solo fiddlers, both from Stromness, Peter Pratt, who played a slow air and Shetland reels, and Stewart Walker, with traditional Scandinavian tunes on his Dardanger fiddle.
First Club member on (also one of the youngest) was Clinton Findlay (Kirkwall) on accordion. Clinton was followed by Three in Harmony – Alfie Eunson from Holm (melodeon), Andrew John Foubister (Deerness) playing guitar and moothie and Elizabeth Firth (Stenness) on keyboard. They played a varied selection ranging from bothy ballads to ‘Home on the Range’.
John Linklater (Deerness) played fiddle selections with keyboard accompaniment by Dave Linklater (Kirkwall). A lively stramash, led by Dave Hutchison (Holm) and Michael Grieve (Kirkwall) on accordions, finished off the first half. After the raffle we heard a duet from Peter and Stewart, then Dave Bowen from Inverness (nice timing again!) borrowed Rob Anderson’s box and gave us a few tunes, switching to keyboard later to accompany Rob Findlay. The West Mainland took the stage again to finish the evening’s entertainment.
May 83
Second open night was on 25th May, no guest this time, but plenty of local talent to fill the bill. We were pleased to welcome back Johnny Morrison, on holiday from Balerno and complete with fiddle. Formerly a leading member of the Orkney S&R Society, Johnny gave us a fine rendering of a slow air, march, strathspey and reel.
Also playing were the Linklater family from Deerness ; Robbie on fiddle, son John on mandolin and daughter Hazel keyboard. Accordionist Michael Grieve was backed by Elizabeth Firth, keyboard. A busy night for Elizabeth, she also accompanied James David Firth (Cajun and Swedish fiddle tunes) and, as part of Three in Harmony, Alfie and Andrew John.
Following them, another fiddler, Lesley MacLeod (Kirkwall) with Scott Skinner marches, Shetland reels and the beautiful slow air ‘Sitting in the Stern of a Boat’. Back to the accordion Rob Anderson (Kirkwall) played an old favourite, the ‘Primrose Polka’. Then once again it was stramash time, and the Club, led by David Hutchinson and Michael Grieve, brought the evening to a close.
June 83
The third open night, 29th June, was an ‘Isles Night’ with guests from the Islands of Stronsay, Wyre and Shainsay. After the opening stramash we had Pat Shearer, an excellent fiddler. Originally from Stronsay, now resident in Kirkwall, Pat, accompanied on piano by Molly Ritch (Toab) played some great stuff includiong ‘The Orcadian’ by John Mason.
Next, our guests from Shapinsay, a group comprising Maisie Skea, Lillian Leslie, Kenny Garson and Jim Foubister, accordions, Jackie Sinclair, fiddle, and Caroline Robertson, piano. The group play for Old Time dancing, currently enjoying a revival in Orkney, indeed, one of their tunes ‘The Swedish Masquerade’ being a dance still performed in Shapinsay.
We then had a rousing set of tunes from the Wyre Band, three accordionists, Edwin Flaws (3 row), Jim Johnston and Freddie Craigie (both 2 row) and on drums Ian Flaws.
To follow, two accordionists, Irene Flett (Kirkwall) with Norwegian and Continental tunes, followed by Clinton Findlay playing pipe marches.
All our guests having done their second stint, stramash time came round again and the Club joined the Wyre Band on stage to close the evening.
July 83
It’s not every night we have to cart in extra chairs for folk, but 27th July was the night we had Bill Black and his Band as guests, and the band, with Bill himself on 3-row, Graeme Mitchell (second box), Judith Davidson (fiddle), Betty MacKinnon (piano) and an Orcadian exile, Geordie Borwick on drums, got the evening off to a great start. Playing to a packed house, they gave us a special selection of Scottish dance music, including solos from Judith and Graeme.
Their first spot over, we heard more Continental music from Irene Flett, accordion. This was followed by Lesley MacLeod, Dave Linklater and Elsie Linklater Ifiddle, accordion and piano) and then, up on holiday from Keith, Ian H. Cruichshank on accordion. To close the first half we had a stramash, only just managing to cram everybody on stage, and Davie Hutchison, leading on his own this month, demonstrated once again how strong Hohner reeds are!
Starting off the second half was Rob Anderson, backed by Graeme Mitchell on piano and, from Inverness, Murdo Mackenzie on drums. After that, a solo from Lesley MacLeod, then further selections from Irene and Ian.
Back with the band, Bill introduced two surprise guests ; singer Elfrida Scott from Kintore and her daughter Inga (12) whose fiddle playing went down a treat. No doubt Inga will make many club appearances in the future, and Orkney would certainly like to be included. The band played on to the end of the evening rounding off a most successful night and sending everybody home happy (even the Treasurer!!)
August 83
August 31st saw another local night with the Club stramash starting off, followed by the Linklater family, Robbie, John (on fiddle this month) and Hazel, then Wullie Gray (Stenness) on accordion, with a fine selection of tunes including the old yodeling waltz ;The Cobbler’. To follow we heard Karen Moodie (Kirkwall) on fiddle, making her first appearance at the Club. Karen won the senior fiddle sectionof the Orkney Fokk Festival competition back in May. Somebody elsemaking his Club debut was Ronald Anderson (Orphir) on accordion, along with Victor Reid from Kirkwall on drums. No handing around here either, Ronald got stuck in and played some tricky stuff, and at a fair rate of knots too! Next on was Irene Flett with more Norwegian accordion music, followed by another stramash to end the first half. After Chairman Dave Linklater had drawn the raffle, Michael Grieve got part two going and we heard from everybody once more before the final stramash.
September 83
The Seprember open night, the last of the season, saw a return visit from Bobby Coghill from Staxigoe, backed by Dennis Manson, Thurso, on piano and Chris Duncan, Wick on drums. After the opening stramash the Trio started off with two great 4/4 marches ‘Walter Douglas MBE’ and ‘Aros Park’, Bobby playing three row for the first part of their programme and, after a solo from Dennis on accordion, changing to fiddle to finish the first spot.
Next we hears Davie Newlands (St Ola) on the pipes, then Rob and Ronald Anderson, accordionists, taking us up to half time. First on after the raffle were Lesley MacLeod, fiddle, and Dave Linklater, accordion, followed by more pipe medleys from Davie. Something special for the last night, Michael Grieve and Davie Hutchison (persuaded at last) gave us their rendering of two German folk tunes and, a great favourite, the Cape Breton ‘Trip to Windsor’ selection. After a solo from Ronald it was time for our guests again, with Bobby including a tune on the pipes for good measure.
Having finished their spot, thoroughly enjoyed by a very appreciative audience, Bobby, Dennis and Chris were joined on stage by the Club for a grand stramash to close this, our third full season of open nights.
On piano, on this and other open nights, were Elizabeth first, Elsie Linklater and Dave Linklater and other members taking part in stramashes were accordionists:-
Lilian Harcus
Nanette Wylie
Jim Leslie
Jimmy Seator
Stanley Flett
Erland Anderson
Brian Flett
Ernie Seator
And fiddlers :-
Geordie Hay (home on holiday from Aberdeen in July)
Dan Coghill and
Lawrie Sutherland.
As this is our first report in the ‘B&F’ I’ll just mention that we hold our open nights on the last Wednesday of the month from April to September and consequently have almost finished our season when everybody else is starting up. However, we never really stop, as playing members meet every week for a tune (and a pint).
The following, then, is a run-down of this year’s goings-on in the Albert Hall, Kirkwall.
April 83
On 27th April, for our first open night, we had as guests the West Mainland S&R Society. Having welcomed everyone, the Chairman, Davie Linklater, handed over to the Society, led by Mrs Netta Ashburn, and they got the evening off to a grand start. Later on they provided two young solo fiddlers, both from Stromness, Peter Pratt, who played a slow air and Shetland reels, and Stewart Walker, with traditional Scandinavian tunes on his Dardanger fiddle.
First Club member on (also one of the youngest) was Clinton Findlay (Kirkwall) on accordion. Clinton was followed by Three in Harmony – Alfie Eunson from Holm (melodeon), Andrew John Foubister (Deerness) playing guitar and moothie and Elizabeth Firth (Stenness) on keyboard. They played a varied selection ranging from bothy ballads to ‘Home on the Range’.
John Linklater (Deerness) played fiddle selections with keyboard accompaniment by Dave Linklater (Kirkwall). A lively stramash, led by Dave Hutchison (Holm) and Michael Grieve (Kirkwall) on accordions, finished off the first half. After the raffle we heard a duet from Peter and Stewart, then Dave Bowen from Inverness (nice timing again!) borrowed Rob Anderson’s box and gave us a few tunes, switching to keyboard later to accompany Rob Findlay. The West Mainland took the stage again to finish the evening’s entertainment.
May 83
Second open night was on 25th May, no guest this time, but plenty of local talent to fill the bill. We were pleased to welcome back Johnny Morrison, on holiday from Balerno and complete with fiddle. Formerly a leading member of the Orkney S&R Society, Johnny gave us a fine rendering of a slow air, march, strathspey and reel.
Also playing were the Linklater family from Deerness ; Robbie on fiddle, son John on mandolin and daughter Hazel keyboard. Accordionist Michael Grieve was backed by Elizabeth Firth, keyboard. A busy night for Elizabeth, she also accompanied James David Firth (Cajun and Swedish fiddle tunes) and, as part of Three in Harmony, Alfie and Andrew John.
Following them, another fiddler, Lesley MacLeod (Kirkwall) with Scott Skinner marches, Shetland reels and the beautiful slow air ‘Sitting in the Stern of a Boat’. Back to the accordion Rob Anderson (Kirkwall) played an old favourite, the ‘Primrose Polka’. Then once again it was stramash time, and the Club, led by David Hutchinson and Michael Grieve, brought the evening to a close.
June 83
The third open night, 29th June, was an ‘Isles Night’ with guests from the Islands of Stronsay, Wyre and Shainsay. After the opening stramash we had Pat Shearer, an excellent fiddler. Originally from Stronsay, now resident in Kirkwall, Pat, accompanied on piano by Molly Ritch (Toab) played some great stuff includiong ‘The Orcadian’ by John Mason.
Next, our guests from Shapinsay, a group comprising Maisie Skea, Lillian Leslie, Kenny Garson and Jim Foubister, accordions, Jackie Sinclair, fiddle, and Caroline Robertson, piano. The group play for Old Time dancing, currently enjoying a revival in Orkney, indeed, one of their tunes ‘The Swedish Masquerade’ being a dance still performed in Shapinsay.
We then had a rousing set of tunes from the Wyre Band, three accordionists, Edwin Flaws (3 row), Jim Johnston and Freddie Craigie (both 2 row) and on drums Ian Flaws.
To follow, two accordionists, Irene Flett (Kirkwall) with Norwegian and Continental tunes, followed by Clinton Findlay playing pipe marches.
All our guests having done their second stint, stramash time came round again and the Club joined the Wyre Band on stage to close the evening.
July 83
It’s not every night we have to cart in extra chairs for folk, but 27th July was the night we had Bill Black and his Band as guests, and the band, with Bill himself on 3-row, Graeme Mitchell (second box), Judith Davidson (fiddle), Betty MacKinnon (piano) and an Orcadian exile, Geordie Borwick on drums, got the evening off to a great start. Playing to a packed house, they gave us a special selection of Scottish dance music, including solos from Judith and Graeme.
Their first spot over, we heard more Continental music from Irene Flett, accordion. This was followed by Lesley MacLeod, Dave Linklater and Elsie Linklater Ifiddle, accordion and piano) and then, up on holiday from Keith, Ian H. Cruichshank on accordion. To close the first half we had a stramash, only just managing to cram everybody on stage, and Davie Hutchison, leading on his own this month, demonstrated once again how strong Hohner reeds are!
Starting off the second half was Rob Anderson, backed by Graeme Mitchell on piano and, from Inverness, Murdo Mackenzie on drums. After that, a solo from Lesley MacLeod, then further selections from Irene and Ian.
Back with the band, Bill introduced two surprise guests ; singer Elfrida Scott from Kintore and her daughter Inga (12) whose fiddle playing went down a treat. No doubt Inga will make many club appearances in the future, and Orkney would certainly like to be included. The band played on to the end of the evening rounding off a most successful night and sending everybody home happy (even the Treasurer!!)
August 83
August 31st saw another local night with the Club stramash starting off, followed by the Linklater family, Robbie, John (on fiddle this month) and Hazel, then Wullie Gray (Stenness) on accordion, with a fine selection of tunes including the old yodeling waltz ;The Cobbler’. To follow we heard Karen Moodie (Kirkwall) on fiddle, making her first appearance at the Club. Karen won the senior fiddle sectionof the Orkney Fokk Festival competition back in May. Somebody elsemaking his Club debut was Ronald Anderson (Orphir) on accordion, along with Victor Reid from Kirkwall on drums. No handing around here either, Ronald got stuck in and played some tricky stuff, and at a fair rate of knots too! Next on was Irene Flett with more Norwegian accordion music, followed by another stramash to end the first half. After Chairman Dave Linklater had drawn the raffle, Michael Grieve got part two going and we heard from everybody once more before the final stramash.
September 83
The Seprember open night, the last of the season, saw a return visit from Bobby Coghill from Staxigoe, backed by Dennis Manson, Thurso, on piano and Chris Duncan, Wick on drums. After the opening stramash the Trio started off with two great 4/4 marches ‘Walter Douglas MBE’ and ‘Aros Park’, Bobby playing three row for the first part of their programme and, after a solo from Dennis on accordion, changing to fiddle to finish the first spot.
Next we hears Davie Newlands (St Ola) on the pipes, then Rob and Ronald Anderson, accordionists, taking us up to half time. First on after the raffle were Lesley MacLeod, fiddle, and Dave Linklater, accordion, followed by more pipe medleys from Davie. Something special for the last night, Michael Grieve and Davie Hutchison (persuaded at last) gave us their rendering of two German folk tunes and, a great favourite, the Cape Breton ‘Trip to Windsor’ selection. After a solo from Ronald it was time for our guests again, with Bobby including a tune on the pipes for good measure.
Having finished their spot, thoroughly enjoyed by a very appreciative audience, Bobby, Dennis and Chris were joined on stage by the Club for a grand stramash to close this, our third full season of open nights.
On piano, on this and other open nights, were Elizabeth first, Elsie Linklater and Dave Linklater and other members taking part in stramashes were accordionists:-
Lilian Harcus
Nanette Wylie
Jim Leslie
Jimmy Seator
Stanley Flett
Erland Anderson
Brian Flett
Ernie Seator
And fiddlers :-
Geordie Hay (home on holiday from Aberdeen in July)
Dan Coghill and
Lawrie Sutherland.