63rd Perth All-Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival
by Nicol McLaren
B&F January 2013
27th October 2012 saw the 63rd All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival take place, once again, in Perth – and what a day it turned out to be!
The event actually started on the Friday evening (26th) with a very well attended ceilidh and dance in The Salutation Hotel – the hub of the whole Festival – ably administered by Alasdair MacCuish and The Black Rose Ceilidh Band and supported by many of the visiting artistes. This has proved to be a great meeting and greeting event over the years, prior to the serious matter of ‘Competition Day’. Competitions started bright and early at 9am in three venues in the centre of Perth – The Salutation Hotel, the St John’s Episcopal Church Hall, and the Salvation Army Hall. This was truly a feat of organisation to have competitors, adjudicators and stewards in the right place at the right time (especially with competitors and adjudicators ‘multi tasking’) and ran pretty much to time. Competitions culminated in the ‘All Scotland Scottish Band Championship’ and the final of the ‘All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion solo Championship’, which had started at 11am, taking place in the Main Ballroom of The Salutation Hotel with the six finalists having qualified from the initial 19 competitors. The atmosphere was tremendous as the audiences from all the other venues filled the seats – and the gangways – and any other available space to hear a diverse array of styles from the bands, with John Burns’ Band emerging as victors and Callum Cruickshank from Lumphanan (yes – the son of Jennifer and Brian Cruickshank) claiming the prize for the best rhythm section.
The six finalists in the Senior Scottish excelled both technically and stylistically and everyone I’ve spoken with agrees that it was the closest competition for many years. No one envied the adjudicators, John Carmichael and Graham Geddes, in having to select the ‘1,2,3’. We all had to wait until after the concert to find out who our new champion was to be. A repeated comment throughout the day was that of how high the standard of playing and musicianship was in all of the competitions – a great compliment to the teachers around the country who can bring out the best in their wards. Another observation was the size of the entry (and, again, the standard) in the fiddle sections. It’s great to see this after Perth struggled for numbers in these sections for many years. I must also mention here the contribution of adjudicator Marie Fielding. No disrespect to any other adjudicator but I was very impressed at the way Marie took time to give pointers to encourage the young players in particular, and also pass on wee tips and advice to all the players, explaining what SHE was looking for and how to achieve it. Perhaps time constraints don’t allow this all the time, but if more adjudicators did this, I’m sure it would help all competitors and, indeed, the listening audience, and alleviate much of the ‘debate’ when a result is announced.
During the afternoon, Festival goers and the Perth public were entertained in The Salutation Bar and The Greyfriars Bar by The Black Rose Ceilidh Band and Steven Carcary respectively, taking the message and the music to the wider audience. Both venues were ‘jumping’, but the mystery to me was why so many of the public, despite extensive local advertising asked, “What’s all this about?” Come on Perth, it’s only been going for 63 years!!! Well done to the musicians for keeping the enthusiasm going all afternoon.
And so to the final concert – the Grand Finale – held immediately after the Senior Scottish playoff whilst the adjudicators deliberated. And what a concert it was, opening with accordion legends Jack Emblow and Tony Compton. Their CV reads like the ultimate accordionists portfolio spanning almost 50 years (Sing Something Simple, Last of the Summer Wine, Allo’ Allo’ to name only a few of the shows Jack has been involved with) and they did not disappoint, enthralling the audience with jazz and swing classics including my personal favourite, ‘Musette for a Magpie’. A truly spellbinding performance throughout, which had the audience hollering for more. Come back soon boys!
How do you follow that? Well, the organizers came up trumps once again with the outstanding duetting fiddles of Marie Fielding and Alison Smith, ably assisted on piano by Tom Orr. The girls treated us to a first-rate, diverse, wonderfully musical spot featuring the differing, yet complimentary styles of each, producing a very, very pleasing sound.
Finally, to close the concert, and, indeed, the whole Festival we had Gordon Shand and his Scottish Dance Band – Gordon on lead accordion, Alison Smith on fiddle (no rest for the wicked!), Jim Lindsay on second box, Graham Berry on piano and Gordon Smith on drums – who took us through some fantastic sets of Scottish dance music, all with the “Gordon Shand twist” adding variety and interest as only Gordon can.
Just before Gordon played his last set, however, we had the small event of announcing the result of the Senior Scottish Accordion Championship. The adjudicators gave their crits and announced the results, with the winner being Leonard Brown from South Shields in Northumberland with an outstanding performance of tunes ll written by Cardenden’s Michael Philip. Well done Leonard! Actually, the 1st and 2nd placed players couldn’t have lived much further apart – Northumberland and Caithness!! – which shows how the Festival still attracts players, competitors and spectators from across the length and breadth of the country.
In conclusion, a great day had by all, in every way enhanced by the ‘behind the scenes’ organisation by the Perth Festival Committee who have taken over, where Bill Wilkie left off, and developed and grown the Festival into one of the highlights of the Accordion and Fiddle year.
Please note that due to problems with the venue, the 2013 Festival will be held on a different date, the first weekend in October (4th and 5th). Get it in the diaries now!
RESULTS
All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo (Jimmy Shand Shield)
1) Leonard Brown (South Shields)
2) Brandon McPhee (Castletown)
3) Liam Stewart (Galston)
Senior Accordion Solo for Traditional Pipe Music (Bill Black Challenge Cup)
1) Neil Angus MacNeil (Aberdeen)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Paisley)
3) John Burns (Kilsyth)
Senior Scottish Country Dance Band (Ronnie Cooper Memorial Trophy)
1) John Burns (Kilsyth)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
Senior Scottish Country Dance Band – Best Rhythm Section (John Gibson Memorial Trophy)
Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
Junior Scottish Country Dance Band (Alex MacArthur Memorial Quaich)
1)
2)
3)
Own Composition (Jimmy Blue Trophy)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
3) Michael Philip (Kirkcaldy)
Scottish Trio Championship (Perth Accordion & Fiddle Club Challenge Cup)
1) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) John Burns (Kilsyth)
Open Button Key Traditional Accordion Solo (Duncan Campbell Memorial Trophy)
1) Brandon McPhee (Castletown)
2)
3)
Veterans’ Solo (40 and over) (Andrew Rankine Memorial Quaich)
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2)
3)
Junior Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 16) (Angus Accordion College Challenge Shield)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
Junior Accordion Solo for Traditional Pipe Music (Under 16) (Charlie Cowie Memorial Cup)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Junior Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 12) (Black Isle Shield)
1) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
2) Kyle Rowan (Edinburgh)
3) Andrew Erskine (Biggar)
Senior Ladies Accordion Solo (Margaret Hendrie Silver Salver)
1) Susan MacFadyen (Wesy Kilbride)
2) Laura Crawford (Ladybank)
3) Claire Black (Biggar)
Junior Girls Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 16) (Jimmy Stephens Silver Salver)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Samantha Erskine (Biggar)
3)
Scottish Ceilidh Band (Bobby MacLeod Trophy)
1)
2)
3)
FIDDLE CLASSES
Senior Fiddle Solo (16 and over) (Ian Powrie Cup)
1) Anne Nichol (Inverurie)
2) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
3) Graham MacKenzie (Inverness)
Senior Fiddle Solo Slow Air (16 and over) (Pibroch MacKenzie Memorial Quaich)
1) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
2) Graham MacKenzie (Inverness)
3) George Davidson (Tillyhilt)
Junior Fiddle Solo (Under 16) (Albie Tedham Trophy)
1) Sean Allan (Carluke)
2) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
3) Ellie McLaren (Braemar)
Junior Fiddle Solo Slow Air (Under 16) (Shelagh Rankine Memorial Trophy)
1) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
2) Mark Green (Inverness)
3) Hannah Adamson (Cunningsburgh)
Junior Fiddle Solo (Under 12) (Jim Ritchie Challenge Cup)
1) Rachael Havlin (Ellon)
2) Rhiann Matthew (Tarland)
3=) Sorcha Gall (Huntly) & Iona Cruickshank (Lunphanan)
Junior Fiddle Under 12
1)
2)
3)
Junior Fiddle Under 16
1)
2)
3)
CLASSICAL CLASSES
Open Continental Musette Solo
1)
2)
3)
Open Continental Polka Solo
1)
2)
3)
Under 14 Continental Musette Solo
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Fraser Hewitt (Quothquan)
3) Steven Stark (Auchtermuchty)
Under 14 Continental Polka Solo
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Cameron Duncan (Glenrothes)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Senior Classical Accordion Championship (Accordion World Cup)
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2) Sarah Alexander (Edinburgh)
3)
Junior Classical Accordion Championship (Accordion World Cup)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
3)
Under 12 Classical Accordion Solo (Kool Accordions Sussex Cup)
1) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
2) India Islay Smith (Penicuik)
3) Zara Elliott (Galashiels)
The event actually started on the Friday evening (26th) with a very well attended ceilidh and dance in The Salutation Hotel – the hub of the whole Festival – ably administered by Alasdair MacCuish and The Black Rose Ceilidh Band and supported by many of the visiting artistes. This has proved to be a great meeting and greeting event over the years, prior to the serious matter of ‘Competition Day’. Competitions started bright and early at 9am in three venues in the centre of Perth – The Salutation Hotel, the St John’s Episcopal Church Hall, and the Salvation Army Hall. This was truly a feat of organisation to have competitors, adjudicators and stewards in the right place at the right time (especially with competitors and adjudicators ‘multi tasking’) and ran pretty much to time. Competitions culminated in the ‘All Scotland Scottish Band Championship’ and the final of the ‘All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion solo Championship’, which had started at 11am, taking place in the Main Ballroom of The Salutation Hotel with the six finalists having qualified from the initial 19 competitors. The atmosphere was tremendous as the audiences from all the other venues filled the seats – and the gangways – and any other available space to hear a diverse array of styles from the bands, with John Burns’ Band emerging as victors and Callum Cruickshank from Lumphanan (yes – the son of Jennifer and Brian Cruickshank) claiming the prize for the best rhythm section.
The six finalists in the Senior Scottish excelled both technically and stylistically and everyone I’ve spoken with agrees that it was the closest competition for many years. No one envied the adjudicators, John Carmichael and Graham Geddes, in having to select the ‘1,2,3’. We all had to wait until after the concert to find out who our new champion was to be. A repeated comment throughout the day was that of how high the standard of playing and musicianship was in all of the competitions – a great compliment to the teachers around the country who can bring out the best in their wards. Another observation was the size of the entry (and, again, the standard) in the fiddle sections. It’s great to see this after Perth struggled for numbers in these sections for many years. I must also mention here the contribution of adjudicator Marie Fielding. No disrespect to any other adjudicator but I was very impressed at the way Marie took time to give pointers to encourage the young players in particular, and also pass on wee tips and advice to all the players, explaining what SHE was looking for and how to achieve it. Perhaps time constraints don’t allow this all the time, but if more adjudicators did this, I’m sure it would help all competitors and, indeed, the listening audience, and alleviate much of the ‘debate’ when a result is announced.
During the afternoon, Festival goers and the Perth public were entertained in The Salutation Bar and The Greyfriars Bar by The Black Rose Ceilidh Band and Steven Carcary respectively, taking the message and the music to the wider audience. Both venues were ‘jumping’, but the mystery to me was why so many of the public, despite extensive local advertising asked, “What’s all this about?” Come on Perth, it’s only been going for 63 years!!! Well done to the musicians for keeping the enthusiasm going all afternoon.
And so to the final concert – the Grand Finale – held immediately after the Senior Scottish playoff whilst the adjudicators deliberated. And what a concert it was, opening with accordion legends Jack Emblow and Tony Compton. Their CV reads like the ultimate accordionists portfolio spanning almost 50 years (Sing Something Simple, Last of the Summer Wine, Allo’ Allo’ to name only a few of the shows Jack has been involved with) and they did not disappoint, enthralling the audience with jazz and swing classics including my personal favourite, ‘Musette for a Magpie’. A truly spellbinding performance throughout, which had the audience hollering for more. Come back soon boys!
How do you follow that? Well, the organizers came up trumps once again with the outstanding duetting fiddles of Marie Fielding and Alison Smith, ably assisted on piano by Tom Orr. The girls treated us to a first-rate, diverse, wonderfully musical spot featuring the differing, yet complimentary styles of each, producing a very, very pleasing sound.
Finally, to close the concert, and, indeed, the whole Festival we had Gordon Shand and his Scottish Dance Band – Gordon on lead accordion, Alison Smith on fiddle (no rest for the wicked!), Jim Lindsay on second box, Graham Berry on piano and Gordon Smith on drums – who took us through some fantastic sets of Scottish dance music, all with the “Gordon Shand twist” adding variety and interest as only Gordon can.
Just before Gordon played his last set, however, we had the small event of announcing the result of the Senior Scottish Accordion Championship. The adjudicators gave their crits and announced the results, with the winner being Leonard Brown from South Shields in Northumberland with an outstanding performance of tunes ll written by Cardenden’s Michael Philip. Well done Leonard! Actually, the 1st and 2nd placed players couldn’t have lived much further apart – Northumberland and Caithness!! – which shows how the Festival still attracts players, competitors and spectators from across the length and breadth of the country.
In conclusion, a great day had by all, in every way enhanced by the ‘behind the scenes’ organisation by the Perth Festival Committee who have taken over, where Bill Wilkie left off, and developed and grown the Festival into one of the highlights of the Accordion and Fiddle year.
Please note that due to problems with the venue, the 2013 Festival will be held on a different date, the first weekend in October (4th and 5th). Get it in the diaries now!
RESULTS
All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo (Jimmy Shand Shield)
1) Leonard Brown (South Shields)
2) Brandon McPhee (Castletown)
3) Liam Stewart (Galston)
Senior Accordion Solo for Traditional Pipe Music (Bill Black Challenge Cup)
1) Neil Angus MacNeil (Aberdeen)
2) Matthew MacLennan (Paisley)
3) John Burns (Kilsyth)
Senior Scottish Country Dance Band (Ronnie Cooper Memorial Trophy)
1) John Burns (Kilsyth)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
Senior Scottish Country Dance Band – Best Rhythm Section (John Gibson Memorial Trophy)
Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
Junior Scottish Country Dance Band (Alex MacArthur Memorial Quaich)
1)
2)
3)
Own Composition (Jimmy Blue Trophy)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
3) Michael Philip (Kirkcaldy)
Scottish Trio Championship (Perth Accordion & Fiddle Club Challenge Cup)
1) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) John Burns (Kilsyth)
Open Button Key Traditional Accordion Solo (Duncan Campbell Memorial Trophy)
1) Brandon McPhee (Castletown)
2)
3)
Veterans’ Solo (40 and over) (Andrew Rankine Memorial Quaich)
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2)
3)
Junior Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 16) (Angus Accordion College Challenge Shield)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Kyle Innes (Strathmiglo)
Junior Accordion Solo for Traditional Pipe Music (Under 16) (Charlie Cowie Memorial Cup)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Adam Gibb (Biggar)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Junior Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 12) (Black Isle Shield)
1) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
2) Kyle Rowan (Edinburgh)
3) Andrew Erskine (Biggar)
Senior Ladies Accordion Solo (Margaret Hendrie Silver Salver)
1) Susan MacFadyen (Wesy Kilbride)
2) Laura Crawford (Ladybank)
3) Claire Black (Biggar)
Junior Girls Traditional Accordion Solo (Under 16) (Jimmy Stephens Silver Salver)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Samantha Erskine (Biggar)
3)
Scottish Ceilidh Band (Bobby MacLeod Trophy)
1)
2)
3)
FIDDLE CLASSES
Senior Fiddle Solo (16 and over) (Ian Powrie Cup)
1) Anne Nichol (Inverurie)
2) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
3) Graham MacKenzie (Inverness)
Senior Fiddle Solo Slow Air (16 and over) (Pibroch MacKenzie Memorial Quaich)
1) Maggie Adamson (Fladdabister)
2) Graham MacKenzie (Inverness)
3) George Davidson (Tillyhilt)
Junior Fiddle Solo (Under 16) (Albie Tedham Trophy)
1) Sean Allan (Carluke)
2) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
3) Ellie McLaren (Braemar)
Junior Fiddle Solo Slow Air (Under 16) (Shelagh Rankine Memorial Trophy)
1) Eilidh Anderson (Tarland)
2) Mark Green (Inverness)
3) Hannah Adamson (Cunningsburgh)
Junior Fiddle Solo (Under 12) (Jim Ritchie Challenge Cup)
1) Rachael Havlin (Ellon)
2) Rhiann Matthew (Tarland)
3=) Sorcha Gall (Huntly) & Iona Cruickshank (Lunphanan)
Junior Fiddle Under 12
1)
2)
3)
Junior Fiddle Under 16
1)
2)
3)
CLASSICAL CLASSES
Open Continental Musette Solo
1)
2)
3)
Open Continental Polka Solo
1)
2)
3)
Under 14 Continental Musette Solo
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Fraser Hewitt (Quothquan)
3) Steven Stark (Auchtermuchty)
Under 14 Continental Polka Solo
1) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
2) Cameron Duncan (Glenrothes)
3) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
Senior Classical Accordion Championship (Accordion World Cup)
1) Paul Capaldi (Galashiels)
2) Sarah Alexander (Edinburgh)
3)
Junior Classical Accordion Championship (Accordion World Cup)
1) Emma Dickson (Dolphinton)
2) Alexander Girling (Glenfarg)
3)
Under 12 Classical Accordion Solo (Kool Accordions Sussex Cup)
1) Ewan Dowie (Kettlebridge)
2) India Islay Smith (Penicuik)
3) Zara Elliott (Galashiels)