Click heScottish
Country Dance Bands 7Their Chance
Came at the Interval
The Fair City Dance Band was formed three years ago.
The leader, George Findlay, was formerly leader of the resident Scottish Dance Band in the City Halls, Perth.
Of his beginnings George says, “I originally learned to play the button-key accordion, being taught by my late Uncle Jim (James Mitchell, Methven) but changed to the piano accordion when about 12 years old.
In the present line-up there are five players –
George Findlay (accordion) is an insurance official, who lives in Perth.
Jack Cadenhead (violin) is a male nurse at Murray Royal Hospital.
Walter Lewis (bass) a GPO engineer, lives in Scone.
Eric Stewart (piano) accounts officer, stays in Luncarty.
Atholl Donaldson (drums) is a painter and lives in Perth.
“I think our luckiest break was at Hogmanay two years ago when we were asked to play the interval for Ian Powrie’s Band.
“Mr Sloggie of the B.B.C. was present at the broadcast and asked me to come for an audition.”
They made their first broadcast on June 1st, that year.
The longest journey that band have undertaken was to Wooler in Northumberland.
“Our best night would be when we provided a concert and dance at the opening of the new hall at Kinloch Rannoch. It is one of the best halls you could wish to play in, although the halls at Letham, Angus and Friockheim are also first class,
“So far as tunes are concerned, I think we are like all the bands. We have plenty of our own, but have never published them. They are just jotted down on bits of manuscript and played until we know them by memory”..re to edit.
The Fair City Dance Band was formed three years ago.
The leader, George Findlay, was formerly leader of the resident Scottish Dance Band in the City Halls, Perth.
Of his beginnings George says, “I originally learned to play the button-key accordion, being taught by my late Uncle Jim (James Mitchell, Methven) but changed to the piano accordion when about 12 years old.
In the present line-up there are five players –
George Findlay (accordion) is an insurance official, who lives in Perth.
Jack Cadenhead (violin) is a male nurse at Murray Royal Hospital.
Walter Lewis (bass) a GPO engineer, lives in Scone.
Eric Stewart (piano) accounts officer, stays in Luncarty.
Atholl Donaldson (drums) is a painter and lives in Perth.
“I think our luckiest break was at Hogmanay two years ago when we were asked to play the interval for Ian Powrie’s Band.
“Mr Sloggie of the B.B.C. was present at the broadcast and asked me to come for an audition.”
They made their first broadcast on June 1st, that year.
The longest journey that band have undertaken was to Wooler in Northumberland.
“Our best night would be when we provided a concert and dance at the opening of the new hall at Kinloch Rannoch. It is one of the best halls you could wish to play in, although the halls at Letham, Angus and Friockheim are also first class,
“So far as tunes are concerned, I think we are like all the bands. We have plenty of our own, but have never published them. They are just jotted down on bits of manuscript and played until we know them by memory”..re to edit.