Box and Fiddle
Year 43 No 06
February 2020
Price £3.00
52 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer –
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad January is away.………
Pia Walker
Grassroots & Golden Ages
A look back at 23 years of the Blackford Fiddle Group
by Andrew Bachell
It is said that from mid-18th century for about 100 years there was a golden age for Scottish fiddle music. What is certain is that fiddle music……
The Trad Music Awards 2019
by Pia Walker
Saturday 7th December saw many talented musicians travel to Aberdeen for the Folk…………………………
Club of the Year – Button-Key A&F Club
Musician of the Year – Paul Anderson
Scottish Dance Band of the Year – The Cruickshank Family Band
Musical Memories – Part 11
by Denis Shepherd
I previously told you how I started my dance-calling career with Airs and Graces led by Alex Green (whistle) and Madeline Miller (accordion), Susie Simpson (fiddle), Frank Stephen (keyboard) and Alistair Pirie (drums) completed the classic line-up. Up to then I had not known Alex all that well – but I always remembered the first time I met him when, many years earlier, I had been persuaded to do a spot on my practice chanter at Aberdeen A&F Club. I was attempting a final practice in the lobby – only for Alex to come and try to teach me how to breathe in and play at the same time. I never found out if he was serious.
After I had performed at a few ceilidhs with the band, Madeline gave me a book by Robbie Shepherd entitled ‘Let’s Have a Ceilidh’ and suggested I expand my repertoire. One of the dances I learned from this source was the Friendly Waltz and, when we played to a company which included Robbie and his wife Esma at Aberdeen University’s Elphinstone Hall, I mentioned that this dance had several variations but that this was the correct one as I had learned it from Robbie. I gave the instructions and off we went, everyone dancing it perfectly – except Mr Shepherd was now dancing one of the other version! The most amusing incident, however, was at a charity ceilidh at the former Blairs College outside Aberdeen. Additional entertainment had been organised for the interval, provided by the Aberdeen Gun Club. Their first two or three party-pieces were admired by the dancers and band members alike as they caught bullets in saucers and such like. However, the set became rather boring as they continued to show off their huge repertoire of similar tricks and Alex, ever the would-be expert on technical matters, relieved the monotony by having a look at the workings of a spare gun which had been left beside him on the stage. The monotony was shattered rather than broken as the gun went off – Alex had not dreamed it would be loaded! The Gun Club leader must have been one of the few people on earth not to know that Alex played the tin-whistle expertly despite having lost two fingers in a childhood accident. He got quite a shock to hear a gun going off – but nothing compared to his shock on turning to see Alex holding the smoking gun in a hand that had two fingers missing!
Of course, some ceilidhs went with a bigger swing than others. At another event in the Elphinstone Hall, to celebrate a class re-union, we tried our hardest to entice people to dance, without success. One gentleman then came up and said, “That is wonderful music for dancing. Unfortunately none of us came here to dance – we haven’t seen each other for over 20 years and we just came here to talk!”
The venues where we played were many and varied. My calling style was to explain the basics from the stage and sometimes make one or two trips on to the floor to explain the finer points or demonstrate the dance. (“I dinna see foo you can hae the patience!” Alex used to say.) This was usually straightforward but we played at one function in Kincardine O’Neil where the stage was a high balcony, almost at ceiling level (where the jesters performed in days of old, we were told). I definitely benefited from my athletics training that night – every trip between the floor and the stage entailed a long stairway journey! In contrast, I remember when the band played at a well-attended dance in the Beach Ballroom, where the management gave me the use of a radio mic. I enjoyed feeling the power as I stood in the middle of a huge circle of dancers for the Circassian Circle and had them all doing exactly as I told them!
Some venues were private houses, which was fine if we were in a large room in a small house. But in later years, during our time as Fittiefolk, we played for dancing in a fairly small room in a large mansion somewhere south of Aberdeen. Between dances the company spread throughout the house to different rooms; this meant that before each dance, I had to do a tour of the whole house to announce the next dance and wait for the takers to get back to the dancing room! And at one Hogmanay venue, we were allocated a conservatory with no chairs, tables or bar – just ourselves and an empty dancing space, a long corridor away from the main hall where there was entertainment, drinks, seating accommodation – the lot. I think we had takers for just two dances the whole evening!
Centre Stage
Marie Fielding
In Memory – Dave Matthew (July 1938 – Dec 2019)
by
Dave Matthew passed away in December. Dave was known in many Clubs…..
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Robertson: A Musical Heritage – Ian Robertson & Muriel Johnstone – RM1901
Key Change – Gordon Pattullo – GPCD009
At The Reel – Orkney A&F Club - AFCATRI
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
1st Feb 2020 – Celtic Connections Concert – The Big Fling
8th Feb 2020 – Ian Smith SDB – Tribute to Tom Alexander
15th Feb 2020 – Debut session from Craig McFadyen SDB
22nd Feb 2020 – The Full Scottish in session
29th Feb 2020 – An archive session
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th Feb 2020 – Gary Sutherland Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 12th Feb 2020 – Seamus O’Sullivan Experience
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Feb 2020 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Crynoch CB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Feb 2020 – Sileas Sinclair & Archie McAllister
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Feb 2020 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Feb 2020 – George Rennie Duo
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 9th Feb 2020 – Darroch Wood & Friends
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th Feb 2020 – Steven Carcary Trio
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 13th Feb 2020 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Feb 2020 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 13th Feb 2020 – Derek Edmond SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 18th Feb 2020 – Karyn McCulloch
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Susan & Scott Gordon
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Feb 2020 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Crieff & District (British Legion) 6th Feb 2020 – Liam Hope Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Feb 2020 – Michael Garvin Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Feb 2020 – Scott Band SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 11th Feb 2020 – Billy Anderson
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 17th Feb 2020 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – Clappy Doo CB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 23rd Feb 2020 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Feb 2020 – Gary sutherland SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 4th Feb 2020 – Matthew Maclennan
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 6th Feb 2020 – Jiggin’ Higgins
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 27th Feb 2020 – Neil Hardie SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 5th Feb 2020 – Callum Wallace & Tay CB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Gary Blair
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Feb 2020 – Iain Joseph Macdonald Band with Addie Harper
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 12th Feb 2020 – Neil McMillan SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Feb 2020 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 4th Feb 2020 – Neil Hardie SDB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 26th Feb 2020 – Cameronian SDB
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 23rd Feb 2020 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Feb 2020 – Willie McFarland Band
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 25th Feb 2020 – Iain Anderson Duo
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 16th Feb 2020 – Andy Philip
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Feb 2020 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Feb 2020 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Feb 2020 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Feb 2020 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 6th Feb 2020 – Hector McFadyen
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 5th 12th 19th 26th Feb 2020 – Club Nights
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Feb 2020 – Alan Gardiner Quartet
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – The Occasionals
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 12th Feb 2020 – Ian Cruickshanks & Ian McCallum
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th 11th 18th 25th Feb 2020 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th Feb 2020 – Club Night 27th Feb 2020 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Feb 2020 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Feb 2020 – Roddy Matthews & Tweed Valley CB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – Brandon McPhee Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Biggar
4. Blairgowrie
5. Buttonkey
6 Canderside
7 Castle Douglas
8 Coalburn
9 Dingwall
10. Dunfermline
11. Duns
12. Ellon
13. Forfar
14. Forres
15. Glendale
16. Glenfarg
17. Highland
18. Inveraray
19. Isle of Skye
20. Kelso
21. Langholm
22. Mauchline
23. Montrose
24. North East
25. Orkney
26. Perth
27. Renfrew
28. Seghill
29. Shetland
30. TMSA Aberdeen
31. Turriff
32. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2018
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer –
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time-consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad January is away.………
Pia Walker
Grassroots & Golden Ages
A look back at 23 years of the Blackford Fiddle Group
by Andrew Bachell
It is said that from mid-18th century for about 100 years there was a golden age for Scottish fiddle music. What is certain is that fiddle music……
The Trad Music Awards 2019
by Pia Walker
Saturday 7th December saw many talented musicians travel to Aberdeen for the Folk…………………………
Club of the Year – Button-Key A&F Club
Musician of the Year – Paul Anderson
Scottish Dance Band of the Year – The Cruickshank Family Band
Musical Memories – Part 11
by Denis Shepherd
I previously told you how I started my dance-calling career with Airs and Graces led by Alex Green (whistle) and Madeline Miller (accordion), Susie Simpson (fiddle), Frank Stephen (keyboard) and Alistair Pirie (drums) completed the classic line-up. Up to then I had not known Alex all that well – but I always remembered the first time I met him when, many years earlier, I had been persuaded to do a spot on my practice chanter at Aberdeen A&F Club. I was attempting a final practice in the lobby – only for Alex to come and try to teach me how to breathe in and play at the same time. I never found out if he was serious.
After I had performed at a few ceilidhs with the band, Madeline gave me a book by Robbie Shepherd entitled ‘Let’s Have a Ceilidh’ and suggested I expand my repertoire. One of the dances I learned from this source was the Friendly Waltz and, when we played to a company which included Robbie and his wife Esma at Aberdeen University’s Elphinstone Hall, I mentioned that this dance had several variations but that this was the correct one as I had learned it from Robbie. I gave the instructions and off we went, everyone dancing it perfectly – except Mr Shepherd was now dancing one of the other version! The most amusing incident, however, was at a charity ceilidh at the former Blairs College outside Aberdeen. Additional entertainment had been organised for the interval, provided by the Aberdeen Gun Club. Their first two or three party-pieces were admired by the dancers and band members alike as they caught bullets in saucers and such like. However, the set became rather boring as they continued to show off their huge repertoire of similar tricks and Alex, ever the would-be expert on technical matters, relieved the monotony by having a look at the workings of a spare gun which had been left beside him on the stage. The monotony was shattered rather than broken as the gun went off – Alex had not dreamed it would be loaded! The Gun Club leader must have been one of the few people on earth not to know that Alex played the tin-whistle expertly despite having lost two fingers in a childhood accident. He got quite a shock to hear a gun going off – but nothing compared to his shock on turning to see Alex holding the smoking gun in a hand that had two fingers missing!
Of course, some ceilidhs went with a bigger swing than others. At another event in the Elphinstone Hall, to celebrate a class re-union, we tried our hardest to entice people to dance, without success. One gentleman then came up and said, “That is wonderful music for dancing. Unfortunately none of us came here to dance – we haven’t seen each other for over 20 years and we just came here to talk!”
The venues where we played were many and varied. My calling style was to explain the basics from the stage and sometimes make one or two trips on to the floor to explain the finer points or demonstrate the dance. (“I dinna see foo you can hae the patience!” Alex used to say.) This was usually straightforward but we played at one function in Kincardine O’Neil where the stage was a high balcony, almost at ceiling level (where the jesters performed in days of old, we were told). I definitely benefited from my athletics training that night – every trip between the floor and the stage entailed a long stairway journey! In contrast, I remember when the band played at a well-attended dance in the Beach Ballroom, where the management gave me the use of a radio mic. I enjoyed feeling the power as I stood in the middle of a huge circle of dancers for the Circassian Circle and had them all doing exactly as I told them!
Some venues were private houses, which was fine if we were in a large room in a small house. But in later years, during our time as Fittiefolk, we played for dancing in a fairly small room in a large mansion somewhere south of Aberdeen. Between dances the company spread throughout the house to different rooms; this meant that before each dance, I had to do a tour of the whole house to announce the next dance and wait for the takers to get back to the dancing room! And at one Hogmanay venue, we were allocated a conservatory with no chairs, tables or bar – just ourselves and an empty dancing space, a long corridor away from the main hall where there was entertainment, drinks, seating accommodation – the lot. I think we had takers for just two dances the whole evening!
Centre Stage
Marie Fielding
In Memory – Dave Matthew (July 1938 – Dec 2019)
by
Dave Matthew passed away in December. Dave was known in many Clubs…..
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Robertson: A Musical Heritage – Ian Robertson & Muriel Johnstone – RM1901
Key Change – Gordon Pattullo – GPCD009
At The Reel – Orkney A&F Club - AFCATRI
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
1st Feb 2020 – Celtic Connections Concert – The Big Fling
8th Feb 2020 – Ian Smith SDB – Tribute to Tom Alexander
15th Feb 2020 – Debut session from Craig McFadyen SDB
22nd Feb 2020 – The Full Scottish in session
29th Feb 2020 – An archive session
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 25th Feb 2020 – Gary Sutherland Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 12th Feb 2020 – Seamus O’Sullivan Experience
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 16th Feb 2020 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Crynoch CB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 16th Feb 2020 – Sileas Sinclair & Archie McAllister
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 24th Feb 2020 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Feb 2020 – George Rennie Duo
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 9th Feb 2020 – Darroch Wood & Friends
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th Feb 2020 – Steven Carcary Trio
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 13th Feb 2020 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 4th Feb 2020 – Lindsay Weir SDB
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 13th Feb 2020 – Derek Edmond SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Threave Rovers Football Club) – 18th Feb 2020 – Karyn McCulloch
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Susan & Scott Gordon
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Feb 2020 – Ewan Galloway Trio
Crieff & District (British Legion) 6th Feb 2020 – Liam Hope Trio
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 5th Feb 2020 – Michael Garvin Trio
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Feb 2020 – Scott Band SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 11th Feb 2020 – Billy Anderson
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 17th Feb 2020 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – Clappy Doo CB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 23rd Feb 2020 – Susan MacFadyen Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 12th Feb 2020 – Gary sutherland SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) - 4th Feb 2020 – Matthew Maclennan
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) - 6th Feb 2020 – Jiggin’ Higgins
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 27th Feb 2020 – Neil Hardie SDB
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 5th Feb 2020 – Callum Wallace & Tay CB
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 2nd Feb 2020 – Gary Blair
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Feb 2020 – Iain Joseph Macdonald Band with Addie Harper
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 12th Feb 2020 – Neil McMillan SDB
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 6th Feb 2020 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 4th Feb 2020 – Neil Hardie SDB
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 26th Feb 2020 – Cameronian SDB
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 23rd Feb 2020 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 18th Feb 2020 – Willie McFarland Band
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) 25th Feb 2020 – Iain Anderson Duo
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 16th Feb 2020 – Andy Philip
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Feb 2020 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Feb 2020 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 24th Feb 2020 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 4th Feb 2020 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 6th Feb 2020 – Hector McFadyen
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 5th 12th 19th 26th Feb 2020 – Club Nights
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 27th Feb 2020 – Alan Gardiner Quartet
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – The Occasionals
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 12th Feb 2020 – Ian Cruickshanks & Ian McCallum
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th 11th 18th 25th Feb 2020 – Club Nights
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th Feb 2020 – Club Night 27th Feb 2020 – Alan Small & Gemma Donald
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 3rd Feb 2020 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 6th Feb 2020 – Roddy Matthews & Tweed Valley CB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 18th Feb 2020 – Brandon McPhee Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Annan
3. Biggar
4. Blairgowrie
5. Buttonkey
6 Canderside
7 Castle Douglas
8 Coalburn
9 Dingwall
10. Dunfermline
11. Duns
12. Ellon
13. Forfar
14. Forres
15. Glendale
16. Glenfarg
17. Highland
18. Inveraray
19. Isle of Skye
20. Kelso
21. Langholm
22. Mauchline
23. Montrose
24. North East
25. Orkney
26. Perth
27. Renfrew
28. Seghill
29. Shetland
30. TMSA Aberdeen
31. Turriff
32. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2018
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Canderside A&F Club (Stonehouse) (Feb 2019 – present)
14. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
15. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
16. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
17. Coalburn A&F Club (
18. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
19. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
20. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
21. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
22. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
23. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
24. Ellon A&F Club (
25. Forfar A&F Club (
26. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
27. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
53 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
54 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
55 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
56 Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
57. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
58. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
59. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
60. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
61. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
62. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
63. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
64. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
65. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
66. Buchan A&F Club
67. Callander A&F Club (
68. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
69. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
70. Club Accord
71. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
72 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
73. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
74. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
75. Cults A & F Club (
76. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
77. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
78. Derwentside A&F Club
79. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
80. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
81. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
82. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
83. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
84. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
85. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
86. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
87. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
88. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
89. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
90. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
125 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
126. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
127. Tranent A&F Club
128. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
129. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
130. Wellbank A&F Club
131. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
132. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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