Year 34 No 02 October 2010
September - As the night’s start to draw in again it was a case of getting back in harness and looking forward to the new season at our new venue, the Biggar Bowling Club. Our opening night can be a bit unpredictable, numbers wise, depending on how the harvest is going but there were no worries on that score with an excellent turn-out of both listeners and players.
On accordions we had Alan Ferguson all the way from Turriff, Jim Gold, Charlie Todd, Emma Dickson, Fraser Hewitt, Robbie Paterson, Samantha and Andrew Erskine (putting Forth back on the musical map), Andrew Gibb, David Kennedy, Katie Todd, Ian Ramsay, Megan Bell, Willie McFarlane and John Weaks paying a visit all the way from Glasgow.
On fiddle were Tom Gold, Hannah Dickson and Gilbert Logan and onnconcertina David Corner.
Keyboard was in the safe hands of Jim God, Alan Gardiner, Steven Todd and Keith Dickson.
On drums were Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope, Andrew Gibb and Ross Anderson.
Special mention should be made of Emma Dickson who have us an excellent rendition of The Flight of the Bumble Bee on piano accordion, a quite stunning technical but nonetheless very listenable piece.
Our guest for the evening was local lad Blair Gardiner and his Band. Like many of the aforementioned players Blair, now staying in Law Village, is a former pupil of Keith Dickson. Backed by (uncle) Alan Gardiner on second accordion, Keith Dickson on keyboard and (recently moved to Glasgow) Nicky McMichan on drums, Blair gave us two excellent sessions of swinging Scottish dance music.
Year 34 No 04 December 2010
Having skipped October because so many of our musicians and Committee were at The Shetland Festival, our November meeting, appropriately enough, saw Shetland providing our guest artistes, the immensely talented Maggie Adamson (fiddle) and Brian Nicolson (guitar), a blend of youth and experience.
But firstly there was a wealth of local talent, with Keith Dickson’s pupils in particular providing some tremendous music. MC Alan Gardiner introduced –
On accordions – Emma Dickson, Claire Black, Samantha and Andrew Erskine, David Kennedy, Andrew and Adam Gibb, Lana Thomson, Jim Gold and Charlie Todd.
On fiddle were Tom Gold and Hannah Dickson.
On keyboard Jim Gold, Emma Dickson and Alan Gardiner.
On drums Geordie Shiels, James Dickson and Tom Hope with David corner on concertina.
With the Perth Festival not long past we had some well rehearsed MSRs, medleys and Continental pieces to entertain the listeners. Abnormal weather conditions for the time of year, namely snow and ice, had left us wondering what the turnout of listeners would be, but we needn’t have worried. A healthy crowd was treated to a wealth of music and song as Maggie and Brian interspersed slow airs and selections of Shetland reels and Gateshead hornpipes with a veritable array of musical idioms with everything done impeccably without a dot of music – which is in the Shetland traditional style I suppose.
Brian’s rendition of The Trowie Song preceded by his explanation of trowies and their more modern manifestation ‘cybertrowies’ had us in stitches, as had Maggie’s polite English translation of the broad Shetland lyrics as we tried to learn the chorus.
Our thanks to Maggie (currently at the RSAMD in Glasgow) and Brian for making the journey.
Year 34 No 06 February 2011
A Happy New Year to all Box and Fiddle Readers. Having missed our December meeting due to the severe weather (along with most of our neighbouring Clubs) it was touch and go for January as well but it was decided to go ahead. It turned out a very good night in the Biggar Bowling Club considering the snow and ice outside. Local players turned out in good numbers to support us.
On accordion we had Charlie Todd, Fiona Paul, Claire Black, Ian Ramsay, Adam Gibb, Alan Gardiner, Janet Graham, Andrew and Samantha Erskine, Emma Dickson and Paul Capaldi.
On fiddle were Tom God, Hannah Dickson and Gilbert Logan with David Corner on concertina.
On keyboard were Alan Gardiner, Keith Dickson and Fiona Paul.
Drummers were Geordie Shiels, Andrew Gidd, Tom Hope, James Dickson and Charlie Todd. Many thanks to them all. Paul Capaldi played a couple of spectacular pieces, namely Accordiana and The Root Beer Rag.
And spectacular is also a word that can be applied to our young guest artiste bandleader and his trio, namely Craig Paton from Milnathort. The current Scottsh Senior Champion treated us to two excellent sessions of Scottish, continental and modern music including his winning set from Perth which was technically brilliant and enjoyable to listen to. Nice to hear it played with a backing which was in the more than capable hands of Liam Stewart on keyboard and Gordon Smith on drums, names which speak for themselves. Craig’s youthful patter and enthusiasm also added to the atmosphere.
Year 34 No 07 March 2011
February - Finally a meeting when the weather wasn’t a concern (and just as well since our guests had a long way to come). We were also entertained by a wealth of local talent.
On accordion were Charlie Todd, Fiona Paul, Ewan Galloway (all the way from Coldingham), Andrew Gibb, Jim Gold, Ian Graham, Scott Nichol, Claire Black and Emma Dickson.
On fiddle Hannah Dickson and Tom gold.
On keyboard Alan Gardiner, Jim Gold, Jim Nichol and Keith Dickson.
On drums Tom Hope, Geordie Shiels, Andrew Gibb, Andrew Barrie and James Dickson.
On concertina was David Corner and giving us a song was Shelley Clark from Sanquhar.
Our guests were the Lynne Christie SDB from Aberdeen consisting of Lynne on lead accordion, brother Duncan on drums and husband and wife team Scott and Susan Gordon on second box and fiddle. They gave the audience two sessions filled with the best of Scottish dance music. Nice to see Lynne playing a Domino Morino IV, since they’re becoming a bit rarer amongst the broadcasting bands these days (but you still can’t beat them for tone). The Band played an excellent mixture of traditional and more recent compositions. A favourite of mine is the often overlooked 2/4 The Duke of Roxburgh’s Farewell to the Blackmount Forrest by Angus MacKay and it was good to hear it getting an airing. The band competently worked their way through all the tempos keeping our assembled listeners and players well entertained with something to suit all tastes, including an excellent fiddle solo from Susan. Many thanks to the band for making the long journey.
Year 34 No 08 April 2011
For our March meeting Chairman Alan Gardiner, with wife Emma and drummer Andrew Barrie, was absent enjoying a playing trip to Spain. Club Treasurer, Charlie Todd, compered the evening and introduced the following local artistes.
On accordions were Jim Gold, Bob Berry, Margaret Ferguson, Davy Miller, Andrew Gibb, Andrew and Samantha Erskine, Fiona Paul, Emma Dickson and David Anderson.
On fiddle - Tom Gold and Hannah Dickson.
On concertina - David Corner.
On keyboard – Jim Gold, Fiona Paul, Keith Dickson and Jim Nichol.
On drums George Shiels, Andrew Gibb, Tom Hope, James Dickson and Charlie Todd.
Our guests for the evening were the Ian Kirkpatrick SDB from Dumfries with Ian leading on Shand Morino, daughter Karen on fiddle, John Douglas on second box, Jim Clark on keyboard and, sitting in on drums, our own Andrew Gibb. Ian gave us an excellent variety of Scottish dance music interspersed with his interesting explanations of the stories behind the tune titles and Karen did a couple of fine fiddle solos. Ian might have mentioned once or twice that Ian Powrie was his greatest inspiration and who could disagree with that. Many thanks to the band for a very entertaining programme.
Year 34 No 09 May 2011
We concluded our season on 10th April at Biggar Bowling Club in style with an exceptional turnout of local talent and an excellent guest band. Being in the middle of the school holidays probably helped encourage the young talent to join us.
On accordions we had Katie Todd, Claire Black, Fraser Hewitt, India and Brian Smith, Robbie Paterson, Emma Dickson, Ellie Borthwick, Bob Berry, Margaret Ferguson, Rachel Oliver, Willie Buchanan (from North Connell), Smantha and Andrew Erskine, Paul Capaldi, Leonard Brown (from South Shields), Adin Graham (from Windygates), Andrew and Adam Gibb, Charlie Todd, Jim Gold, Fiona Paul and Alan Gardiner.
On fiddle were Tom Gold, Emma Gardiner, Hannah Dickson and Adam Gibb.
David Corner had his concertina.
On keyboard we had Jim Gold, Alan Gardiner, Fiona Paul, Keith Dickson and Leonard Brown.
On drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope and James Dickson.
Understandably with so much talent, some of it from quite far afield, we ran slightly late. A great many of the aforementioned are Keith Dickson’s pupils and this month as an additional treat he had organised three duets. Claire Black gave an excellent rendition of Magic Fingers and Borders accordion teacher Paul Capaldi played two exceptional numbers.
Our guests for the evening were the Steven Todd SDB from Dalkeith. Steven was accompanied by Robert Menzies on fiddle, David Kennedy on second box, Scott Nichol on keyboard and Fraser McInnes from Mull on drums. Again, barring Fraser, they are all Keith’s pupils/ ex-pupils. The band played two excellent sessions of well rehearsed selections with several sets of exceptional reels interspersed with all other tempos of Scottish dance music. A stunning performance for their Club debut and worthy guests for any Club.
With the season now over, thanks to everyone who made it possible, particularly Biggar Bowling Club, who have made us most welcome all year. We look forward to resuming, after a well earned rest, in September.
September - As the night’s start to draw in again it was a case of getting back in harness and looking forward to the new season at our new venue, the Biggar Bowling Club. Our opening night can be a bit unpredictable, numbers wise, depending on how the harvest is going but there were no worries on that score with an excellent turn-out of both listeners and players.
On accordions we had Alan Ferguson all the way from Turriff, Jim Gold, Charlie Todd, Emma Dickson, Fraser Hewitt, Robbie Paterson, Samantha and Andrew Erskine (putting Forth back on the musical map), Andrew Gibb, David Kennedy, Katie Todd, Ian Ramsay, Megan Bell, Willie McFarlane and John Weaks paying a visit all the way from Glasgow.
On fiddle were Tom Gold, Hannah Dickson and Gilbert Logan and onnconcertina David Corner.
Keyboard was in the safe hands of Jim God, Alan Gardiner, Steven Todd and Keith Dickson.
On drums were Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope, Andrew Gibb and Ross Anderson.
Special mention should be made of Emma Dickson who have us an excellent rendition of The Flight of the Bumble Bee on piano accordion, a quite stunning technical but nonetheless very listenable piece.
Our guest for the evening was local lad Blair Gardiner and his Band. Like many of the aforementioned players Blair, now staying in Law Village, is a former pupil of Keith Dickson. Backed by (uncle) Alan Gardiner on second accordion, Keith Dickson on keyboard and (recently moved to Glasgow) Nicky McMichan on drums, Blair gave us two excellent sessions of swinging Scottish dance music.
Year 34 No 04 December 2010
Having skipped October because so many of our musicians and Committee were at The Shetland Festival, our November meeting, appropriately enough, saw Shetland providing our guest artistes, the immensely talented Maggie Adamson (fiddle) and Brian Nicolson (guitar), a blend of youth and experience.
But firstly there was a wealth of local talent, with Keith Dickson’s pupils in particular providing some tremendous music. MC Alan Gardiner introduced –
On accordions – Emma Dickson, Claire Black, Samantha and Andrew Erskine, David Kennedy, Andrew and Adam Gibb, Lana Thomson, Jim Gold and Charlie Todd.
On fiddle were Tom Gold and Hannah Dickson.
On keyboard Jim Gold, Emma Dickson and Alan Gardiner.
On drums Geordie Shiels, James Dickson and Tom Hope with David corner on concertina.
With the Perth Festival not long past we had some well rehearsed MSRs, medleys and Continental pieces to entertain the listeners. Abnormal weather conditions for the time of year, namely snow and ice, had left us wondering what the turnout of listeners would be, but we needn’t have worried. A healthy crowd was treated to a wealth of music and song as Maggie and Brian interspersed slow airs and selections of Shetland reels and Gateshead hornpipes with a veritable array of musical idioms with everything done impeccably without a dot of music – which is in the Shetland traditional style I suppose.
Brian’s rendition of The Trowie Song preceded by his explanation of trowies and their more modern manifestation ‘cybertrowies’ had us in stitches, as had Maggie’s polite English translation of the broad Shetland lyrics as we tried to learn the chorus.
Our thanks to Maggie (currently at the RSAMD in Glasgow) and Brian for making the journey.
Year 34 No 06 February 2011
A Happy New Year to all Box and Fiddle Readers. Having missed our December meeting due to the severe weather (along with most of our neighbouring Clubs) it was touch and go for January as well but it was decided to go ahead. It turned out a very good night in the Biggar Bowling Club considering the snow and ice outside. Local players turned out in good numbers to support us.
On accordion we had Charlie Todd, Fiona Paul, Claire Black, Ian Ramsay, Adam Gibb, Alan Gardiner, Janet Graham, Andrew and Samantha Erskine, Emma Dickson and Paul Capaldi.
On fiddle were Tom God, Hannah Dickson and Gilbert Logan with David Corner on concertina.
On keyboard were Alan Gardiner, Keith Dickson and Fiona Paul.
Drummers were Geordie Shiels, Andrew Gidd, Tom Hope, James Dickson and Charlie Todd. Many thanks to them all. Paul Capaldi played a couple of spectacular pieces, namely Accordiana and The Root Beer Rag.
And spectacular is also a word that can be applied to our young guest artiste bandleader and his trio, namely Craig Paton from Milnathort. The current Scottsh Senior Champion treated us to two excellent sessions of Scottish, continental and modern music including his winning set from Perth which was technically brilliant and enjoyable to listen to. Nice to hear it played with a backing which was in the more than capable hands of Liam Stewart on keyboard and Gordon Smith on drums, names which speak for themselves. Craig’s youthful patter and enthusiasm also added to the atmosphere.
Year 34 No 07 March 2011
February - Finally a meeting when the weather wasn’t a concern (and just as well since our guests had a long way to come). We were also entertained by a wealth of local talent.
On accordion were Charlie Todd, Fiona Paul, Ewan Galloway (all the way from Coldingham), Andrew Gibb, Jim Gold, Ian Graham, Scott Nichol, Claire Black and Emma Dickson.
On fiddle Hannah Dickson and Tom gold.
On keyboard Alan Gardiner, Jim Gold, Jim Nichol and Keith Dickson.
On drums Tom Hope, Geordie Shiels, Andrew Gibb, Andrew Barrie and James Dickson.
On concertina was David Corner and giving us a song was Shelley Clark from Sanquhar.
Our guests were the Lynne Christie SDB from Aberdeen consisting of Lynne on lead accordion, brother Duncan on drums and husband and wife team Scott and Susan Gordon on second box and fiddle. They gave the audience two sessions filled with the best of Scottish dance music. Nice to see Lynne playing a Domino Morino IV, since they’re becoming a bit rarer amongst the broadcasting bands these days (but you still can’t beat them for tone). The Band played an excellent mixture of traditional and more recent compositions. A favourite of mine is the often overlooked 2/4 The Duke of Roxburgh’s Farewell to the Blackmount Forrest by Angus MacKay and it was good to hear it getting an airing. The band competently worked their way through all the tempos keeping our assembled listeners and players well entertained with something to suit all tastes, including an excellent fiddle solo from Susan. Many thanks to the band for making the long journey.
Year 34 No 08 April 2011
For our March meeting Chairman Alan Gardiner, with wife Emma and drummer Andrew Barrie, was absent enjoying a playing trip to Spain. Club Treasurer, Charlie Todd, compered the evening and introduced the following local artistes.
On accordions were Jim Gold, Bob Berry, Margaret Ferguson, Davy Miller, Andrew Gibb, Andrew and Samantha Erskine, Fiona Paul, Emma Dickson and David Anderson.
On fiddle - Tom Gold and Hannah Dickson.
On concertina - David Corner.
On keyboard – Jim Gold, Fiona Paul, Keith Dickson and Jim Nichol.
On drums George Shiels, Andrew Gibb, Tom Hope, James Dickson and Charlie Todd.
Our guests for the evening were the Ian Kirkpatrick SDB from Dumfries with Ian leading on Shand Morino, daughter Karen on fiddle, John Douglas on second box, Jim Clark on keyboard and, sitting in on drums, our own Andrew Gibb. Ian gave us an excellent variety of Scottish dance music interspersed with his interesting explanations of the stories behind the tune titles and Karen did a couple of fine fiddle solos. Ian might have mentioned once or twice that Ian Powrie was his greatest inspiration and who could disagree with that. Many thanks to the band for a very entertaining programme.
Year 34 No 09 May 2011
We concluded our season on 10th April at Biggar Bowling Club in style with an exceptional turnout of local talent and an excellent guest band. Being in the middle of the school holidays probably helped encourage the young talent to join us.
On accordions we had Katie Todd, Claire Black, Fraser Hewitt, India and Brian Smith, Robbie Paterson, Emma Dickson, Ellie Borthwick, Bob Berry, Margaret Ferguson, Rachel Oliver, Willie Buchanan (from North Connell), Smantha and Andrew Erskine, Paul Capaldi, Leonard Brown (from South Shields), Adin Graham (from Windygates), Andrew and Adam Gibb, Charlie Todd, Jim Gold, Fiona Paul and Alan Gardiner.
On fiddle were Tom Gold, Emma Gardiner, Hannah Dickson and Adam Gibb.
David Corner had his concertina.
On keyboard we had Jim Gold, Alan Gardiner, Fiona Paul, Keith Dickson and Leonard Brown.
On drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope and James Dickson.
Understandably with so much talent, some of it from quite far afield, we ran slightly late. A great many of the aforementioned are Keith Dickson’s pupils and this month as an additional treat he had organised three duets. Claire Black gave an excellent rendition of Magic Fingers and Borders accordion teacher Paul Capaldi played two exceptional numbers.
Our guests for the evening were the Steven Todd SDB from Dalkeith. Steven was accompanied by Robert Menzies on fiddle, David Kennedy on second box, Scott Nichol on keyboard and Fraser McInnes from Mull on drums. Again, barring Fraser, they are all Keith’s pupils/ ex-pupils. The band played two excellent sessions of well rehearsed selections with several sets of exceptional reels interspersed with all other tempos of Scottish dance music. A stunning performance for their Club debut and worthy guests for any Club.
With the season now over, thanks to everyone who made it possible, particularly Biggar Bowling Club, who have made us most welcome all year. We look forward to resuming, after a well earned rest, in September.