Happy Birthday Perth
Perth Celebrates 40 Years
by Duncan Cameron
B&F November 2010
The Perth Accordion and Fiddle Club marked 40 years since the founding of the Club in September 1970 by some of the leading names in the Scottish music scene at the time. The initial meetings were held in The Scone Arms, however, due to the rapid growth in membership, the Club outgrew the premises and transferred shortly thereafter to The Salutation Hotel, which has been our home ever since. We were therefore pleased to welcome a large attendance including many founder members to a Celebration night held in The Salutation Hotel on 21st September to mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Club.
Following a welcome to the company from Peter Bruce, chairman, we started the evening’s entertainment with selections from Chic Boath and Irene Anderson on accordions backed by resident backing players Bill Ewan on keyboard and Gerry Boxall on drums. The music continued with selections from John Davidson, Kyle Innes and Ian McCallum on accordions, with Tom Clark on accordion together with daughter Stella Wilkie on fiddle completing the first part of the evening’s entertainment.
Whilst the guest band was assembling on stage, we welcomed founding Committee members Linda Grant, Mickie Ainsworth, Maisie Ainsworth and Joan Blue to cut a cake to mark the Anniversary.
Formalities over, we continued with the music and, to mark the occasion, we had invited a bandleader who was one of the initial guests to visit the Club, and who has regularly visited over the past 40 years, with Ian Holmes bringing along his full Broadcasting Band as our soecial guests. With his usual precision, Ian and his band proceeded to entertain us with a well presented and varied programme which was greatly appreciated by all present, setting the toes tapping to his attentive and detailed style of playing.
Following Ian’s first guest spot we had an extended interval to allow stovies and a glass of wine kindly provided by the management of the Salutation hotel to be enjoyed by the members of the audience together with a piece of the Anniversary cake.
With supper served and the raffle drawn, we continued the entertainment with selections from John Weaks, Ian Cameron and Scott Band on accordions backed by the resident backing players. Finally James Coutts on accordion assisted by Willie Simpson on fiddle, Jimmy Cassidy on second accordion, Joan Blue on keyboard and Gerry Boxall on drums played further outstanding selections taking us up to the return of the guests.
With Ian and his band returning for their second spot, they again wasted no time to continue with their outstanding programme of music. The care taken to the presentation of the programme, and the variety of selections played on the different styles of accordion with such precision was a pleasure to listen to, leaving many wishing that the evening’s entertainment could have been extended. Ian mentioned that it is now only very occasionally the full band gets the opportunity to play, however, the quality of the music provided did not give any indication of a gap in regular playing, which reflected the high standard of the musicians in the band.
Thanks to Ian and his Band, comprising Ian leading on four different accordions during the course of the evening, Gordon Simpson on fiddle, Ricki Franci on second accordion, Gus Millar on drums, John Sinton on double bass and Jim Clark on piano for providing such excellent entertainment for our Anniversary night. This gave us an excellent start to the season, which I hope we can maintain throughout the rest of the year.
Following the evening, I received a letter from Ian including a copy of a recently composed tune which he has kindly named as Perth A&F Club’s 40th Anniversary. Unfortunately, I cannot read music, however, I am advised by musicians that this tune is well up to the usual high standard of an Ian Holmes composition, and I trust that this will become a firm favourite with players in the future. Many thanks Ian.
Following a welcome to the company from Peter Bruce, chairman, we started the evening’s entertainment with selections from Chic Boath and Irene Anderson on accordions backed by resident backing players Bill Ewan on keyboard and Gerry Boxall on drums. The music continued with selections from John Davidson, Kyle Innes and Ian McCallum on accordions, with Tom Clark on accordion together with daughter Stella Wilkie on fiddle completing the first part of the evening’s entertainment.
Whilst the guest band was assembling on stage, we welcomed founding Committee members Linda Grant, Mickie Ainsworth, Maisie Ainsworth and Joan Blue to cut a cake to mark the Anniversary.
Formalities over, we continued with the music and, to mark the occasion, we had invited a bandleader who was one of the initial guests to visit the Club, and who has regularly visited over the past 40 years, with Ian Holmes bringing along his full Broadcasting Band as our soecial guests. With his usual precision, Ian and his band proceeded to entertain us with a well presented and varied programme which was greatly appreciated by all present, setting the toes tapping to his attentive and detailed style of playing.
Following Ian’s first guest spot we had an extended interval to allow stovies and a glass of wine kindly provided by the management of the Salutation hotel to be enjoyed by the members of the audience together with a piece of the Anniversary cake.
With supper served and the raffle drawn, we continued the entertainment with selections from John Weaks, Ian Cameron and Scott Band on accordions backed by the resident backing players. Finally James Coutts on accordion assisted by Willie Simpson on fiddle, Jimmy Cassidy on second accordion, Joan Blue on keyboard and Gerry Boxall on drums played further outstanding selections taking us up to the return of the guests.
With Ian and his band returning for their second spot, they again wasted no time to continue with their outstanding programme of music. The care taken to the presentation of the programme, and the variety of selections played on the different styles of accordion with such precision was a pleasure to listen to, leaving many wishing that the evening’s entertainment could have been extended. Ian mentioned that it is now only very occasionally the full band gets the opportunity to play, however, the quality of the music provided did not give any indication of a gap in regular playing, which reflected the high standard of the musicians in the band.
Thanks to Ian and his Band, comprising Ian leading on four different accordions during the course of the evening, Gordon Simpson on fiddle, Ricki Franci on second accordion, Gus Millar on drums, John Sinton on double bass and Jim Clark on piano for providing such excellent entertainment for our Anniversary night. This gave us an excellent start to the season, which I hope we can maintain throughout the rest of the year.
Following the evening, I received a letter from Ian including a copy of a recently composed tune which he has kindly named as Perth A&F Club’s 40th Anniversary. Unfortunately, I cannot read music, however, I am advised by musicians that this tune is well up to the usual high standard of an Ian Holmes composition, and I trust that this will become a firm favourite with players in the future. Many thanks Ian.