Box and Fiddle Archive
  • Home
  • Musician Biogs & Obits & Teacher Obits
    • A - B Articles >
      • Mickie Ainsworth
      • Tom Alexander MBE >
        • 1998 - 40 Years in Showbiz
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • Oct 2008 - 50th Anniversary
        • 2009 Guest of honour
        • 2009 Guest of Honour
        • Nov 2013 Jack's Obituary
      • Paul Anderson of Tarland
      • Dr Tom Anderson MBE
      • Willie Atkinson
      • Freeland Barbour
      • Dave Barclay
      • George Bell
      • Bill Black >
        • 2006
        • March 1983
      • Jimmy Blair >
        • The Blair Dynasty
      • Jimmy Blue >
        • Oct / Nov 1990
        • February 2000
      • Joan Blue (1987) >
        • Joan Blue (2016)
      • David Bowen
      • Robin Brock >
        • Oct 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 2014
      • Bill Brown (CD Reviewer)
      • Bobby Brown (Adam Rennie Quartet)
      • Bobby Brown (Canada) >
        • March 1982
        • April 1997
        • January 2007
        • May 2011
      • Felix Burns
    • A - B Obituaries >
      • Bobby Abbott (2016)
      • Mickie Ainsworth (2012)
      • Tom Alexander MBE (2020)
      • Ian Anderson (Forres) 2004
      • John Anderson (2005)
      • Will Atkinson (2003)
      • Dave Barclay (2010)
      • JIm Barrie (2016)
      • Bill Black (2016)
      • Jim Berry (2012)
      • Jimmy Blue (1999)
      • Bill Brian (2011)
      • Jim Brown (1998)
    • C - D Articles >
      • Stuart Cameron
      • John Carmichael
      • Rab Carruthers
      • Iain Cathcart
      • Bobby Coghill
      • Bobby Colgan
      • Jack Cooper
      • Charlie Cowie
      • Jim Crawford
      • John Crawford
      • Bobby Crowe
      • David Cunningham Snr
      • George Darling
      • Jack Delaney
      • Keith Dickson
      • Roger Dobson
      • Blair Douglas >
        • Run Rig Dance Band
      • John Douglas
    • C - D Obituaries >
      • Angus Cameron (1998)
      • Colin Campbell (2015)
      • Duncan Campbell (2011)
      • Tom Clark (2020)
      • Ronnie Coburn (2010)
      • Bobby Colgan (2020)
      • Terry Connor (2000)
      • Ronnie Cooper (1982)
      • Alan ' Barney' Coulson (2020)
      • Charlie Cowie (1995)
      • Ernie Cowie (2009)
      • Billy Craib (2019)
      • Jim Crawford (2007)
      • John Crawford (2020)
      • Ian Crichton (1934 - 99)
      • Bobby Cronie (1998)
      • Roger Crook (1942 - 2013)
      • Bobby Crowe (2014)
      • Tony Dalton (2014)
      • Adrian Dante (2005)
      • Margaret Davidson (2020)
      • Robin Davidson (2020)
      • Jim Devlin (1989)
      • Fred Donald (Forres) 2017
      • Ian Duncan (2011)
      • Maurice Duncan (2017)
    • E - G Articles >
      • Jimmy Edwards
      • John Ellis
      • Robin Ellis >
        • Robin Ellis
      • Jack Emblow
      • Bill Ewan
      • Colin Finlayson
      • Angus Fitchet
      • David Flockhart
      • Ewan Galloway
      • Graham Geddes
      • Ron Gonella >
        • Mar 1994
        • Oct 1982
      • Rob Gordon
      • Niel Gow
      • Billy Grant (drummer)
    • E - G Obituaries >
      • Tommy Edmondson (2001)
      • Bob Edward (1998)
      • Peem Edwards (1999)
      • John Ellis (2015)
      • John Fairbairn (2003)
      • Frank Farquharson (2002)
      • Colin Finlayson (1952-93)
      • Angus Fitchet (1998)
      • Tommy Ford (2017)
      • John Gibson (1961 - 1990)
      • Eric Goodfellow (2008)
      • Joe Gordon (2020)
      • Rob Gordon (24/04/94)
      • Hebbie Gray (2018)
      • Jack Gray (1929-2013)
      • Wilbert (Bill) Grund (2010)
    • H - J Articles >
      • Jim Halcrow >
        • Jim Halcrow
      • Derek Hamilton
      • Stan Hamilton
      • William Hannah
      • Matthew Hardie
      • Addie Harper
      • Isobel Harper
      • Bobby Harvey
      • Bill Hendry
      • Ian Holmes
      • Max Houliston >
        • Jan 1983
        • March 1992
      • Tom Hughes (1986)
      • Alastair Hunter
      • Graham Jamieson >
        • Dec 1983
      • Jim Johnstone >
        • March 1982
        • Sept 1992
    • H - J Obituaries >
      • Jim Halcrow (2015)
      • Tom Hall (2011)
      • Ian Hardie (2012)
      • William J. Hardie (1916 - 95)
      • Addie Harper (2002)
      • Alistair Henderson (2005)
      • Bill Hendry (1995) (of Falkirk)
      • Alasdair Heron (2010)
      • Bob Hobkirk (2002)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Ian Holmes (2017) >
        • Ian Holmes (2017)
      • John Huband (1942 - 2000)
      • Christine Hunter (1998)
      • Willie Hunter (1994)
      • Joe Hutton (1995)
      • Dave Ireland (1992)
      • Gordon Jamieson (2005)
      • Bryce Johnstone (2017)
    • K - L Articles >
      • Ron Kerr
      • Charlie Kirkpatrick
      • Andrew Knight
      • Sandy Legget
      • Judith Linton
    • K - L Obituaries >
      • Allan Kindness (2014)
      • John Laidlaw (1996)
      • Florence Lawie (2020)
      • Tommy Lees (2014)
      • Bruce Lindsay Snr (2020)
      • Jimmy Lindsay (2020)
      • Alex Little (2001)
      • Ben Lyons (2015)
    • Mac - Mc Articles >
      • Alex MacArthur
      • Alasdair MacCuish
      • Alistair McCulloch
      • Fergie MacDonald
      • Jim Mackay (Caithness)
      • Bobby MacLeod >
        • Memories of (2009)
      • Jim MacLeod
      • Rory MacLeod
      • Neil McMillan
      • Iain MacPhail >
        • May 2003
        • Sept 1982
      • Fraser McGlynn
      • Nicol McLaren
    • Mac - Mc Obituaries >
      • Duncan 'Dochie' MacCallum (2020)
      • Mark MacDougall (2015)
      • Iain MacFadyen (1983) (Producer)
      • Ally MacIntyre (2015)
      • John Mackie (1996)
      • Calum MacLean (2015)
      • Jim MacLeod (2004)
      • Jim MacRae (2001)
      • Rory MacLeod (2019)
      • Gervasio Marcosignori (2013)
      • John McDonald (2016)
      • Fraser McGlynn (2018)
      • Ewan McGowan (2015)
      • Blanche McInnes (1988)
      • Allan McIntosh (2012)
      • Iain McLachlan (1995)
      • Bob McMath (2016)
    • M Articles >
      • Dougie Maxwell
      • Gus Millar
      • Graeme Mitchell
      • Dennis Morrison
      • Ian Muir
      • Bert Murray
      • Ken Mutch
    • M Obituaries >
      • Hamish Menzies (2020)
      • Jim Muir (2001)
      • George Muir (1995)
      • Bert Murray MBE (2003)
    • N - P Articles >
      • Paddy Neary
      • Craig Paton
      • Gordon Pattullo >
        • Gordon Pattullo (40th Anniv)
      • Iain Peterson
      • Ian Powrie >
        • The People's Journal
        • Sept 1983
    • N - P Obituaries >
      • Andrew Nairn (2010)
      • Paddy Neary (2020)
      • Eann Nicolson (1990)
      • Dermot O'Brien (2007)
      • Stan Peacock (1994)
      • Davie Pollock (of Roslin) (2018)
      • Bill Powrie (1980)
      • Ian Powrie (2011)
      • Dave Pullar (2020)
    • R Articles >
      • Andrew Rankine
      • Frank Reid
      • Tony Reid
      • Adam Rennie
      • John Renton
      • Donal Ring
      • Jim Ritchie
      • Arthur Scott Robertson
      • Graham Ross
      • Lindsay Ross
    • R Obituaries >
      • Bert Rae (2015)
      • Ian Redford (1988)
      • Jimmy Ritchie (2001)
      • John Rooney (2015)
      • Graham Ross (2020)
      • Walter Rutherford (2018)
    • S Articles >
      • Stan Saunders
      • Sir Jimmy Shand >
        • April 1982
        • Feb 1998 (90 Years old)
        • Feb 1999 (Knighthood)
        • Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001 (Tributes)
        • Oct 2003 (Sculpture)
        • Sept 2016 (Auction of Memorabilia)
      • Neil Sinclair
      • James Scott Skinner >
        • April 1993
      • Robbie Shepherd >
        • October 1985
        • M.B.E. March 2001
        • 2006 Hamish Henderson Award
      • George 'Faunty' Smith
      • Gordon Smith
      • Hamish Smith
      • Will Starr
      • Andy Stewart MBE
      • Liam Stewart
      • George Stirrat
    • S Obituaries >
      • Stan Saunders (2011)
      • Davie Simpson of Invergowrie (1999)
      • Gordon Simpson (2016)
      • Bill Smith (1998) (Banchory)
      • Ian Smith (2005) First Editor)
      • Margaret Smith (2015)
      • Rosalind Snaith (2020)
      • Arthur Spink (2017)
      • Jack Stalker (2019)
      • Alex 'Toby' Stewart (2010)
      • Andy Stewart (1933-93)
      • Billy Stewart (2016)
      • Roy Stewart (2005)
      • Peter Straughan (1999)
    • T Articles >
      • Bill Thom
      • Kenny Thomson
      • Sandy Tulloch
      • Violet Tulloch
    • T Obituaries >
      • Kenny Thomson (2013)
      • Toralf Tollefsen (27/11/94)
      • Bobby Torrance (2011)
      • Dr Sandy Tulloch (2006)
    • U - Z Articles >
      • David Vernon
      • Robin & Deryn Waitt
      • Robert Whitehead
      • Bill Wilkie MBE
      • Pam Wilkie
      • Norrie Williams
      • Callum Wilson
      • Ena Wilson
      • Iain Wilson
      • Kenny Wilson
      • Peter and Daniel Wyper
      • Jimmy Yeaman
    • U - Z Obituaries >
      • Jimmy Urquhart (1993)
      • Roddy Urquhart (2000)
      • Charlie Walkins (2014)
      • Bill Wilkie (2017)
      • Ian Wilkie (1995)
      • Pam Wilkie (2016)
      • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Willie Wilson (1991) (Beith)
    • Accordion Teachers Obits >
      • Ian Anderson (2018)
      • Jean Brown (2009) >
        • Jean Brown (Cambusnethan, Wishaw)
      • Louis Cabrelli
      • Renaldo Capaldi (2008)
      • Charles Duncan
      • Peter Farnan
      • Ron Hodgson (1982)
      • Ron Hodgson (2014)
      • Charles 'Chick' Kelly (21/01/95)
      • Chrissie Leatham
      • Jimmy Martin (2008)
      • Owen Murray
      • Bill Spence (2007)
      • Tom Veldon (15/01/95)
      • Sylvia Wilson
      • Wilson Wood (2005)
      • Rosemary Wright
    • Jimmy Clinkscale Articles from 1981
    • Poems by Andy Stewart >
      • Jimmy Shand
      • Angus Fitchet
      • Bobby MacLeod
      • Ian Powrie
    • Poem by Jock Turpie
  • Roll of Honour
  • NAAFC Awards Archive
    • NAAFC Honours >
      • 1979
      • 1980s >
        • 1981 Angus Fitchet
        • 1982 Bobby MacLeod
        • 1983 Ian Powrie
        • 1984 Andy Stewart MBE
      • 1990s >
        • 1990 Jimmy Blue
        • 1992 Robbie Shepherd MBE
        • 1994 Alex MacArthur
        • 1994 Andrew Rankine
        • 1995 Max Houliston
        • 1996 Jim MacLeod MBE
        • 1997 Musicians of Shetland
        • 1998 Ian Holmes
        • 1999 Bill Black
      • 2000s >
        • 2000 Bobby Crowe
        • 2000 Alex Little
        • 2000 Jim Ritchie
        • 2000 Stan Saunders
        • 2000 Bill Thom
        • 2000 Pam Wilkie
        • 2001 Mickie Ainsworth
        • 2001 Addie Harper
        • 2001 Jim Johnstone
        • 2001 Bill Wilkie MBE
        • 2002 Dave Barclay
        • 2002 John Crawford
        • 2002 David Cunningham
        • 2002 Gus Millar
        • 2002 Jimmy Yeaman
        • 2003 Iain MacPhail
        • 2004 John Carmichael
        • 2004 Iain Peterson
        • 2005 Bobby Coghill
        • 2005 Ken Mutch
        • 2005 Robert Whitehead
        • 2006 Jack Cooper
        • 2006 Jack Delaney
        • 2006 David Flockhart
        • 2007 Jimmy Burgess
        • 2007 Bobby Colgan
        • 2008 Bobby Harvey
        • 2008 Neil MacMillan
        • 2008 Gordon Pattullo
        • 2009 Tom Alexander MBE
        • 2009 Andrew Knight
      • 2010s >
        • 2010 John Ellis
        • 2010 Fraser McGlynn
        • 2011 Bobby Brown (Canada)
        • 2011 Ian Muir
        • 2012 John Douglas
        • 2012 Jim Halcrow
        • 2012 Charlie Kirkpatrick
        • 2013 Derek Hamilton
        • 2014 Robin Brock
        • 2014 Calum MacLean
        • 2014 Hamish Smith
        • 2015 David Ross
        • 2015 Iain Wilson
        • 2015 Kenny Wilson
        • 2015 Gordon Young
        • 2016 Joan Blue
        • 2016 Bill Ewan
        • 2016 Isobel Harper
        • 2016 Neil Sinclair
        • 2017 George Darling
        • 2017 Alasdair MacLeod
        • 2017 Violet Tulloch
        • 2018 - Freeland Barbour
        • 2018 Bill Hendry
        • 2018 Graeme Mitchell
        • 2019 - Billy Craib
        • 2019 - Dochie McCallum
        • 2019 - Margaret Smith
        • 2019 - Davie Stewart
      • 2020s >
        • 2020 Covid 19 No Awards
        • 2021 Anda Campbell
        • 2021 Peter Bruce
        • 2021 Malcolm Ross
    • BAFFI Awards
    • Scholarship
    • SDB of the Year
  • Club Reports
    • Club Reports Summary >
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • All
    • Club Directory
    • Guest Artistes >
      • Summary
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
      • Newtongrange >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
      • Perth A&F Club >
        • 1970s
        • 1980s
        • 1990s
        • 2000s
        • 2010s
    • A >
      • Aberdeen A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Acharacle A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Alnwick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2002)
      • Annan A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
      • Arbroath A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Armadale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (1999)
      • Ayr A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
    • B >
      • Balloch A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Banchory
      • Banff and District
      • Beith & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Beith)
      • Biggar A&F Club >
        • 1970s >
          • 1977 - 78
          • 1978 - 79
          • 1979 - 80
        • 1980s >
          • 1980 - 81
          • 1981 - 88
          • 1988 - 89
          • 1989 - 90
        • 1990s >
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1990 - 91
          • 1991 - 92
          • 1992 - 93
          • 1993 - 94
          • 1994 - 95
          • 1995 - 96
          • 1996 - 97
          • 1997 - 98
          • 1998 - 99
          • 25th Anniversary (1999)
          • 1999-2000
        • 2000s >
          • 2000 - 01
          • 2001 - 02
          • 2002 - 03
          • 2003 - 04
          • 2004 - 05
          • 2005 - 06
          • 2006 - 07
          • 2007 - 08
          • 2008 - 09
          • 2009 - 10
        • 2010s >
          • 2010 - 11
          • 2011 - 12
          • 2012 - 13
          • 2013 - 14
          • 2014 - 15
          • 2015 - 16
          • 2016 - 17
          • 2017 - 18
          • 2018 - 19
          • 2019 - 20
        • 2020s >
          • 2020 - 21
          • 2021 - 22
      • Blairgowrie A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Brig Mill A&F Club >
        • 1989 - 90
      • Britannia (Kirkcudbright) A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
      • Bromley A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • Bromley (2014)
      • Buchan A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Button Key (Windygates) A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • C >
      • Callander A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Campbeltown A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Campsie A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • The Campsie Players
        • 20th Anniversary (2015)
      • Carlisle A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Castle Douglas A&F Club
      • Coalburn A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Coldingham A&F Club >
        • 2008 - 09
      • Coupar Angus A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Crathes A&F Club
      • Cults A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Cumnock & District A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
    • D >
      • Dalriada A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 21st Birthday (2002)
      • Denny & Dunipace A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
      • Dingwall A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
        • 21st Anniversary (2000)
        • 25th Anniversary (2004)
      • Dumfries Accordion Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1978 - 79
        • 1979 - 80
      • Dunblane A&F Club
      • Dundee & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunfermline & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
      • Duns A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
    • E to F >
      • East Kilbride A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Norrie Williams (2015)
      • Edinburgh / Chrissie Leatham A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Ellon A&F Club >
        • 1994 - 95
      • Ettrick & Yarrow >
        • 1990 - 91
      • Falkirk A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Fintry A&F Club
      • Forfar A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Forres A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Forres 21st Anniv (1999)
      • Fort William A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
    • G >
      • Galston A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniversary (1999)
        • Final Report (2006)
      • Glendale A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Glendale)
      • Glenfarg A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
        • 30th Anniv (Sept 2018)
      • Glenrothes A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Gorebridge A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
      • Gretna (see North Cumbria) A&F Club >
        • 50th Anniversary (2016)
    • H to K >
      • Haddington A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Highland A&F Club >
        • Club History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Highland 25th Birthday (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (Highland)
      • Inveraray A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
        • 25th Anniversary (2016)
      • Islay A&F Club >
        • 1993 - 94
      • Isle of Skye A&F Club >
        • 1988 - 89
      • Islesteps A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kelso A&F Club >
        • Introducing the Clubs No 8
        • 1977 - 78
        • 30th Anniv (2006)
        • 40th Anniversary (2016)
      • Kinlochsheil A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Kintore A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 2010 - 11
    • L >
      • Ladybank A&F Club >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Lanark A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
      • Langholm A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Lauder A&F Club >
        • 2009 - 10
      • Lesmahagow A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
        • Closure announced
        • 2005 Final Report
      • Lewis & Harris A&F Club >
        • 1996 - 97
        • 20th Anniversary
      • Livingston A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Murdo MacLeod
      • Lockerbie A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 40th Anniversary (Lockerbie)
    • M >
      • The M.A.F.I.A. >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
        • Closing Speech
      • Mauchline >
        • 30th Anniv (Mauchline)
      • Monklands A&F Club >
        • 1978 - 79
      • Montrose A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Morecambe A&F Club
      • Muirhead A&F Club >
        • 1995 - 96
    • N >
      • Newburgh A&F Club >
        • 2002 - 03
        • 40th Anniversary
        • Jim Berry
      • New Cumnock A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newmill-on-Teviot A&F Club >
        • 1999 - 2000
      • Newtongrange A&F Club >
        • 1979 - 80
      • Newton St Boswells >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North Cumbria (Gretna) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • North East (Keith) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • Ian Duncan
        • 40th Anniversary North East
      • Northern (Templepatrick, N.I.) A&F Club >
        • 2011 - 12
    • O to P >
      • Oban A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
      • Orkney A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
        • Orkney 40th Anniv 2017
      • Peebles A&F Club >
        • 1981 - 82
        • 1982 - 83
        • 1983 - 84
        • 1984 - 85
      • Perth & District A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 1992 Letter
        • 40th Anniv (2010)
      • Phoenix (Ardrishaig) A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Premier A&F Club
    • R to S >
      • Reading Scottish Fiddlers >
        • 1997 - 98
      • Renfrew A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Renfrew (Moorpark) A&F Club >
        • 1984 - 85
      • Rothbury (Coquetdale) A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Anniversary (1999)
      • Scottish Accordion Music (Crathes) >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Seghill Comrades A&F Club >
        • 2010 - 11
      • Selkirk A&F Club >
        • 1998 - 99
      • Shetland A&F Club >
        • Shetland 40th Anniv (2017)
      • Stirling A&F Club >
        • 1991 - 92
      • Stonehouse A&F Club >
        • 2004 - 05
      • Straiton A&F Club >
        • History
        • 1977 - 78
      • Stranraer A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Sutherland A&F Club >
        • 1987 - 88
        • 20th Anniv (2007)
    • T to Z >
      • Thornhill A&F Club >
        • 1983 - 84
      • Torthorwald A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • Turriff 30th Anniversary
      • Tynedale A&F Club >
        • 1980 - 81
        • Tynedale 30th Anniv (2010)
      • Uist & Benbecula A&F Club >
        • 2007 - 08
        • 21st Anniversary (2016)
      • Wellbank A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
      • West Barnes A&F Club >
        • 2001 - 02
      • Wick A&F Club >
        • 1977 - 78
        • 25th Birthday (2001)
        • 40th Anniversary (2015)
  • Pipe Music Articles
    • Composers A - L >
      • Willie Bryson
      • John D Burgess
      • Duncan Campbell
      • George Cockburn
      • William D Dumbreck
      • William Fergusson
      • Ron Fleming
      • Duncan Johnstone
      • Willie Lawrie
    • Composers Mac >
      • John MacColl
      • John MacDonald
      • Angus MacKay
      • Hugh MacKay
      • John M MacKenzie BEM
      • Donald MacLean of Lewis
      • Capt John A MacLellan MBE
      • Donald MacLeod
      • Peter R MacLeod Snr & Jnr
      • Archibald MacNeill
    • Composers M + Mc >
      • David Charles Mather
      • James Mauchline
      • Captain D R McLellan
      • John McLellan
      • George S McLennan
      • Donald McPhedran
    • Composers N - Z >
      • Donald Shaw Ramsay
      • James Ross Riddell
      • James "Robbie" Robertson
      • Willie Ross
      • John Wilson
  • B&F Issues (1977-2020)
    • Oct 1977 - Apr 1980 >
      • Oct 1977 - Apr 78
      • Oct 1978 - Apr 79 >
        • Oct 1978
        • Nov 1978
        • Dec 1978
        • Jan 1979
        • Feb 1979
        • Mar 1979
        • Apr 1979
      • Sept 1979 - Apr 80 >
        • Sept 1979
        • Oct 1979
        • Nov 1979
        • Dec 1979
        • Jan 1980
        • Feb 1980
        • Mar 1980
        • Apr 1980
    • Sept 1980 - Apr 1985 >
      • Sept 1980 - Apr 81 >
        • Sept 1980
        • Oct 1980
        • Nov 1980
        • Dec 1980
        • Jan 1981
        • Feb 1981
        • Mar 1981
        • Apr 1981
      • Sept 1981 - Apr 82 >
        • Sept 1981
        • Oct 1981
        • Nov 1981
        • Dec 1981
        • Jan 1982
        • Feb 1982
        • Mar 1982
        • Apr 1982
      • Sept 1982 - Apr 83 >
        • Sept 1982
        • Oct 1982
        • Nov 1982
        • Dec 1982
        • Jan 1983
        • Feb 1983
        • Mar 1983
        • Apr 1983
      • Sept 1983 - Apr 84 >
        • Sept 1983
        • Oct 1983
        • Nov 1983
        • Dec 1983
        • Jan 1984
        • Feb 1984
        • Mar 1984
        • Apr 1984
      • Sept 1984 - Apr 85 >
        • Sept 1984
        • Oct 1984
        • Nov 1984
        • Dec 1984
        • Jan 1985
        • Feb 1985
        • Mar 1985
        • Apr 1985
    • Sept 1985 - Apr 1990 >
      • Sept 1985 - Apr 86 >
        • Sept 1985
        • Oct 1985
        • Nov 1985
        • Dec 1985
        • Jan / Feb 1986
        • Mar 1986
        • Apr 1986
      • Sept 1986 - Apr 87 >
        • Sept 1986
        • Oct 1986
        • Nov 1986
        • Dec 1986
        • Jan 1987
        • Feb 1987
        • Mar 1987
        • Apr 1987
      • Sept 1987 - Apr 88 >
        • Sept 1987
        • Oct 1987
        • Nov 1987
        • Dec 1987
        • Jan 1988
        • Feb 1988
        • Mar 1988
        • Apr 1988
      • Sept 1988 - Apr 89 >
        • Sept 1988
        • Oct/Nov 1988
        • Dec 1988
        • Jan 1989
        • Feb 1989
        • Mar 1989
        • Apr 1989
      • Sept 1989 - Apr 90 >
        • Sept 1989
        • Oct 1989
        • Nov 1989
        • Dec 1989
        • Jan 1990
        • Feb 1990
        • Mar 1990
        • Apr 1990
    • Sept 1990 - Apr 1995 >
      • Sept 1990 - Apr 91 >
        • Sept 1990
        • Oct/Nov 1990
        • Dec 1990
        • Jan 1991
        • Feb 1991
        • Mar 1991
        • Apr 1991
      • Sept 1991 - Apr 92 >
        • Sept 1991
        • Oct 1991
        • Nov 1991
        • Dec 1991
        • Jan 1992
        • Feb 1992
        • Mar 1992
        • Apr 1992
      • Sept 1992 - Apr 93 >
        • Sept 1992
        • Oct 1992
        • Nov 1992
        • Dec 92 / Jan 93
        • Feb 1993
        • Mar 1993
        • Apr 1993
      • Sept 1993 - Apr 94 >
        • Sept 1993
        • Oct 1993
        • Nov 1993
        • Dec 93 / Jan 94
        • Feb 1994
        • Mar 1994
        • Apr 1994
      • Sept 1994 - Apr 95 >
        • Sept 1994
        • Oct 1994
        • Nov 1994
        • Dec 1994 / Jan 1995
        • Feb 1995
        • Mar 1995
        • April 1995
    • Sept 1995 - Apr 2000 >
      • Sept 1995 - Apr 96 >
        • Sept 1995
        • Oct 1995
        • Nov 1995
        • Dec 1995 / Jan 1996
        • Feb 1996
        • Mar 1996
        • Apr 1996
      • Sept 1996 - Apr 97 >
        • Sept 1996
        • Oct 1996
        • Nov 1996
        • Dec 1996 / Jan 1997
        • Feb 1997
        • Mar 1997
        • Apr 1997
      • Sept 1997 - Apr 98 >
        • Sept 1997
        • Oct 1997
        • Nov 1997
        • Dec 1997 / Jan 1998
        • Feb 1998
        • Mar 1998
        • Apr 1998
      • Sept 1998 - Apr 99 >
        • Sept 98
        • Oct 98
        • Nov 98
        • Dec 98 / Jan 99
        • Feb 99
        • Mar 99
        • Apr 99
      • Sept 1999 - Apr 2000 >
        • Sept 99
        • Oct 99
        • Nov 99
        • Dec 99 / Jan 2000
        • Feb 2000
        • March 2000
        • April 2000
    • Sept 2000 - Aug 2005 >
      • Sept 2000 - April 2001 >
        • Sept 2000
        • Oct 2000
        • Nov 2000
        • Dec 2000 / Jan 2001
        • Feb 2001
        • Mar 2001
        • April 2001
      • Sept 2001 - Aug 2002 >
        • Sept 2001
        • Oct 2001
        • Nov 2001
        • Dec 2001
        • Jan 2002
        • Feb 2002
        • Mar 2002
        • Apr 2002
        • May 2002
        • June 2002
        • July 2002
        • Aug 2002
      • Sept 2002 - Aug 2003 >
        • Sept 2002
        • Oct 2002
        • Nov 2002
        • Dec 2002
        • Jan 2003
        • Feb 2003
        • Mar 2003
        • Apr 2003
        • May 2003
        • June 2003
        • July 2003
        • August 2003
      • Sept 2003 - Aug 2004 >
        • Sept 2003
        • Oct 2003
        • Nov 2003
        • Dec 2003
        • Jan 2004
        • Feb 2004
        • Mar 2004
        • April 2004
        • May 2004
        • June 2004
        • July 2004
        • Aug 2004
      • Sept 2004 - Aug 2005 >
        • Sept 2004
        • Oct 2004
        • Nov 2004
        • Dec 2004
        • Jan 2005
        • Feb 2005
        • Mar 2005
        • Apr 2005
        • May 2005
        • June 2005
        • July 2005
        • Aug 2005
    • Sept 2005 - Aug 2010 >
      • Sept 2005 - Aug 2006 >
        • Sept 2005
        • Oct 2005
        • Nov 2005
        • Dec 2005
        • Jan 2006
        • Feb 2006
        • Mar 2006
        • Apr 2006
        • May 2006
        • June 2006
        • July 2006
        • Aug 2006
      • Sept 2006 - Aug 2007 >
        • Sept 2006
        • Oct 2006
        • Nov 2006
        • Dec 2006
        • Jan 2007
        • Feb 2007
        • Mar 2007
        • Apr 2007
        • May 2007
        • June 2007
        • July 2007
        • Aug 2007
      • Sept 2007 - Aug 2008 >
        • Sept 2007
        • Oct 2007
        • Nov 2007
        • Dec 2007
        • Jan 2008
        • Feb 2008
        • Mar 2008
        • April 2008
        • May 2008
        • June 2008
        • July 2008
        • Aug 2008
      • Sept 2008 - Aug 2009 >
        • Sept 2008
        • Oct 2008
        • Nov 2008
        • Dec 2008
        • Jan 2009
        • Feb 2009
        • Mar 2009
        • April 2009
        • May 2009
        • June 2009
        • July 2009
        • Aug 2009
      • Sept 2009 - Aug 2010 >
        • Sept 2009
        • Oct 2009
        • Nov 2009
        • Dec 2009
        • Jan 2010
        • Feb 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • Aug 2010
    • Sept 2010 - Aug 2015 >
      • Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 >
        • Sept 2010
        • Oct 2010
        • Nov 2010
        • Dec 2010
        • Jan 2011
        • Feb 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • Aug 2011
      • Sept 2011 - Aug 2012 >
        • Sept 2011
        • Oct 2011
        • Nov 2011
        • Dec 2011
        • Jan 2012
        • Feb 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • Aug 2012
      • Sept 2012 - Aug 2013 >
        • Sept 2012
        • Oct 2012
        • Nov 2012
        • Dec 2012
        • Jan 2013
        • Feb 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • Aug 2013
      • Sept 2013 - Aug 2014 >
        • Sept 2013
        • Oct 2013
        • Nov 2013
        • Dec 2013
        • Jan 2014
        • Feb 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • Sept 2014
        • Oct 2014
        • Nov 2014
        • Dec 2014
        • Jan 2015
        • Feb 2015
        • Mar 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
    • Sept 2015 - Aug 2020 >
      • Sept 2015 - Aug 2016 >
        • Sept 2015
        • Oct 2015
        • Nov 2015
        • Dec 2015
        • Jan 2016
        • Feb 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • Aug 2016
      • Sept 2016 - Aug 2017 >
        • Sept 2016
        • Oct 2016
        • Nov 2016
        • Dec 2016
        • Jan 2017
        • Feb 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • Aug 2017
      • Sept 2017 - Aug 2018 >
        • Sept 2017
        • Oct 2017
        • Nov 2017
        • Dec 2017
        • Jan 2018
        • Feb 2018
        • Mar 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • Aug 2018
      • Sept 2018 - Aug 2019 >
        • Sept 2018
        • Oct 2018
        • Nov 2018
        • Dec 2018
        • Jan 2019
        • Feb 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • Aug 2019
      • Sept 2019 - Aug 2020 >
        • Sept 2019
        • Oct 2019
        • Nov 2019
        • Dec 2019
        • Jan 2020
        • Feb 2020
        • March 2020
        • April 2020
        • May 2020
        • June 2020
        • July 2020
        • Aug 2020
    • Sept 2020 - Aug 2025 >
      • Sept 2020 - Aug 2021 >
        • Sept 2020
        • Oct 2020
        • Nov 2020
      • Sept 2021 - Aug 2022 >
        • Jan 2022
        • Feb 2022
        • March 2022
  • Photographs
    • Jimmy Shand Gallery
    • Shand Morino Day 2013 Gallery
    • Celtic Connections Box & Fiddle Night 2013
    • Celtic Connections Box and Fiddle Night 2012
    • Ruby Anniversary Concert Gallery
  • Books
    • Jimmy Shand by David Phillips >
      • Preface
      • Chapter 1
      • Chapter 2
      • Chapter 3
      • Chapter 4
      • Chapter 5
      • Chapter 6
      • Chapter 7
      • Chapter 8
      • Chapter 9
      • Chapter 10
      • Chapter 11
      • Chapter 12
      • Appendix 1 >
        • George McKelvey
        • Johnny Knight
        • Norrie Whitelaw
        • Owen McCabe
        • Sid Chalmers
      • Postscript
    • Pas-de-Bas by Bobby MacLeod
    • Rob Howard (An A to Z)
  • NAAFC Festival Archive
    • Previous Winners
    • 2015 Results
    • 2014 Results
    • NAAFC Festival 2014 Winners Gallery
    • NAAFC Festival 2013 Winners Gallery
  • Misc - Fiddle Articles
    • The Spirit of Competition
    • Fiddles - Jimmy Allan - Keep Faith
    • Fiddles - Maintaining Your Fiddle
    • Fiddles - The Beginnings
    • Fiddlers - Charlie Gore Articles >
      • Scottish Fiddle Music Index
      • John Glen
      • Robert Petrie
      • Malcolm MacDonald
      • 'Red Rob' Mackintosh
      • Edinburgh based
      • Eastern Highlands
      • South of Scotland
      • Some Edinburgh Worthies
      • Central Scotland Fiddlers
      • Conclusion & Summary
      • 20th Century
      • The End
    • Fiddles - Dr Kevin McCann on Irish / Scottish Fiddling >
      • Fiddling & Piping
      • Scottish Fiddle Playing and its Irish Connections
      • The Fiddle Soundpost
      • The Fiddlers of Cape Breton
      • The Sound of Music
      • Hints on Fiddle Practice
      • How to Choose a Violin
      • Some Notes on Bow Hair
      • Metal Fiddle Tradition in Donegal
      • The Fife Collections
      • The Fiddle in Strathspey
  • Misc - General Articles
    • 1st Shand Morino Gathering 1995
    • Blind Mattie (Dundee)
    • Coalburn Chronicles
    • Colin Campbell's Local Radio
    • Da Fustra at 25 Years
    • The Dean Tavern
    • Haydn - His Scottish Connection
    • The Hawthorne Band
    • History of the House of Hohner
    • History of Ranco Accordions
    • Lest We Forget
    • May 1953 (Perth Music Festival)
    • Musical Memories by Denis Shepherd
    • NAAFC Ruby Anniversary Concert Programme
    • R.S.C.D.S.
    • SDBs - Benchmarks
    • The Session
    • The Uniform Keyboard
    • What Should That Tune Be Called?
    • Who was Kate Dalrymple?
    • The World Accordion to Phil
  • Musselburgh / Inshyra / Grangemouth / Virtual Reports
    • 1975 - 1979 >
      • 1st Musselburgh 1975
      • 2nd Musselburgh 1976
      • 3rd Musselburgh 1977
      • 4th Musselburgh 1978
      • 5th Musselburgh 1979
    • 1980 - 89 >
      • 6th Musselburgh 1980
      • 7th Musselburgh 1981
      • 8th Musselburgh 1982
      • 9th Musselburgh 1983
      • 10th Musselburgh 1984
      • 11th Musselburgh 1985
      • 12th Musselburgh 1986
      • 13th Musselburgh 1987
      • 14th Musselburgh 1988
      • 15th Musselburgh 1989
    • 1990 - 99 >
      • 16th Musselburgh 1990
      • 17th Musselburgh 1991
      • 18th Musselburgh 1992
      • 19th Musselburgh 1993
      • 20th Musselburgh 1994
      • 21st Musselburgh 1995
      • 22nd Musselburgh 1996
      • 23rd Musselburgh 1997
      • 24th Musselburgh 1998
      • 25th Musselburgh 1999
    • 2000 - 09 >
      • 26th Musselburgh 2000
      • 27th Musselburgh 2001
      • 28th Musselburgh 2002
      • 29th Musselburgh 2003
      • 30th Musselburgh 2004
      • 31st Musselburgh 2005
      • 32nd Musselburgh 2006
      • 33rd Musselburgh 2007
      • 34th Dunblane Hydro 2008
      • 35th Inshyra 2009
    • 2010 - 19 >
      • 36th Inshyra 2010
      • 37th Inshyra 2011
      • 38th Inshyra 2012
      • 39th Inshyra 2013
      • 40th Inshyra 2014
      • 41st Inshyra 2015
      • 42nd Inshyra 2016
      • 43rd Inshyra 2017
      • 44th Inshyra 2018
      • 45th Grangemouth Town Hall 2019
      • 46th Grangemouth Town Hall 2020
      • 47th Virtual Festival
  • Perth Festival Reports
    • Perth Winners from 1950
    • 1990 - 99 >
      • 41st Perth 1990
      • 42nd Perth 1991
      • 43rd Perth 1992
      • 44th Perth 1993
      • 45th Perth 1994 NO REPORT
      • 46th Perth 1995
      • 47th Perth 1996
      • 48th Perth 1997 NO REPORT
      • 49th Perth 1998 NO REPORT
      • 50th Perth 1999
    • 2000 - 09 >
      • 51st Perth 2000
      • 52nd Perth 2001
      • 53rd Perth 2002
      • 54th Perth 2003
      • 55th Perth 2004
      • 56th Perth 2005
      • 57th Perth 2006
      • 58th Perth 2007
      • 59th Perth 2008
      • Perth Festival's 60th Anniv
      • 60th Perth 2009
    • 2010 - 19 >
      • 61st Announcement
      • 61st Perth 2010
      • 62nd Perth 2011
      • 63rd Perth 2012
      • 64th Perth 2013
      • 65th Perth 2014
      • 66th Perth 2015
      • 67th Perth 2016
      • 68th Perth 2017
      • 69th Perth 2018
      • 70th Perth 2019
    • 2020 - 29 >
      • 71st Perth 2020
      • 72nd Perth 2021
      • 73rd Perth 2022
  • Composers & Compositions
    • Composers >
      • Felix Burns
      • Nathaniel Gow
      • Niel Gow
      • James Hill by Dr Kevin McCann
      • Robert MacKintosh
      • Gideon Stove
      • Emile Vacher
    • Tune Titles >
      • Australian Ladies
      • Caddam Wood
      • Captain Craig Brown
      • Classic 2/4 Pipe Marches
      • Classic 6/8 Pipe Marches
      • Classic Polka Index
      • CTS Empress
      • The Dark Island
      • J. D. Michie
      • Mrs and Mrs Alec Ross
      • Reel of the 51st Division
  • St Andrews Night 2005
    • Bahrain
    • China
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • South Korea
    • Uganda
  • Drumming
    • Ross McDonald
  • Historical - Dance
    • Eddie Quinn
    • History of Carmichael Carpet Bowling Club
    • Lanarkshire Bands of Yesteryear
  • Whatever Happened To?
    • The Currie Brothers

Graeme Mitchell
By Karyn McCulloch

Picture
The name Graeme Mitchell is ‘weel-kent’ in the Scottish Music and Dance circuit, from ceilidhs and dances to Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. However, perhaps not many people know when and how his musical life began.

Graeme started playing the accordion when he was ten years old. His first teacher was Jean MacConnachie, the same lady who now stays in Dumfries and has her own successful band. Graeme’s sister Sandra also went to Jean foe lessons and he remembers her trying to persuade him to “go first” because she wanted to see ‘Top of the Pops’. Jean gave up her private pupils to teach music in the secondary school, Sandra gave up the box for ‘Top of the Pops’, so Graeme inherited the ‘big box’. He then had a variety of different tutors, namely Sam Thompson from Keith and Jimmy Martin came up to Elgin from Perth to provide lessons in the Bishopsmill Hall. Graeme’s father (who played the fiddle and gave him great encouragement) then read an article in a newspaper about pupils being taught by Peter Farnan from Bucksburn. He made enquiries and undertook to drive the young lad through to Bucksburn from Cairnie on a weekly basis to receive lessons from Peter – who was a very strict disciplinarian and settled for nothing less than total commitment. He had a unique teaching style and Graeme learnt a lot.

Bill Shearer, an uncle of Graeme’s father, was always keen to support what he was doing on the accordion and he took him to the North East Accordion and Fiddle Club, which was held in the Seafield Hotel, Keith. Graeme would have been about twelve or thirteen and he seems to remember it being a special members night. He didn’t play that night – Bill wanted him to see what was involved and hoped that he might consider joining – and play his 48 bass Sorrento accordion at the Club on a regular basis. The guest artiste for the evening was Jim Johnstone and his Band. Graeme remembers sitting with Bill in the front row and he can honestly say that he was enthralled with the sound created by two accordions, piano, bass and drums. Randal Webster, amateur archivist and recording enthusiast (and the same gentleman Graeme later composed the very successful Randal’s Reel for), has a recording of that evening. It displays very well the unmistakable Johnstone swing that Graeme later came to admire so much. He admits that Jim Johnstone is his favourite player, “the complete all-rounder – a very talented man indeed”.

After this, he started going to the A&F Club with his parents (Sandy and Aileen) and there were plenty of other young players doing their bit each month, people like Maureen Rutherford, Eric Bell and Stuart Anderson from Bucksburn, who used to attend the Club regularly (incidentally the Stuart Anderson mentioned here is, in fact, the first person I ever saw playing an accordion – and he just happens to be the reason I play the ‘box’ today!)

Graeme continued to attend lessons with Peter Farnan and he competed in competitions up and down the country, both as a soloist and also in trios with Maureen Rutherford and Billy Raeburn from Huntly on fiddle. He had “a fair degree of success”, which culminated in 1977 when he won the All Scotland Accordion Championship in Perth, at the age of seventeen. In fact, Graeme was the first person to play the two tunes that Peter composed – which have become standard competition pieces today – namely the strathspey, Rita Duncan and the reel, Jim Money.

Today the Accordion & Fiddle Club scene seems to be generally quite good, but Graeme would like to see more of the younger players back attending the Clubs regularly. There seems to be far too much emphasis placed on “who is better than who”. The players – and their parents – tend to live almost competitively ALL THE TIME. Parents should, of course, encourage their kids to do well, but these young kids should also be able to encourage each other. /there is a time and a place for being competitive – but it is not at an Accordion and Fiddle Club. A feeling that is probably echoed all over the country.

In more recent years, Graeme has been at the other side of the competition stage – adjudicating at various Festivals and Competitions, although he admits that he doesn’t particularly enjoy adjudicating. He prefers to hear people playing more “earthy” music – the competition pieces tend to be really technical. On a personal note, Graeme’s own preference is playing 6/8 marches on his Hohner Gola accordion, which is the same age as him (that’s a secret!).

At seventeen, Graeme started working as a Trainee Technician in Aberdeen. He had a driving licence and was given the opportunity to join a Showband, which he declined; however a short time later, he started to play with Bill Black. He remembers “running up and down the road” from Aberdeen to Perth at weekends, in an assortment of vehicles and with an assortment of different mechanical problems! He traveled all over the country with Bill – and the unofficial ceilidhs they had together were just as good as the more formal ones (although the Box and Fiddle magazine would need to become a lot more liberal a publication to tolerate the stories Graeme could tell about the next five years!)

In the middle of all this, he left his job in Aberdeen and decided to study full time at the Aberdeen College of Education, as it was known then. He was also given the opportunity by Freeland Barbour and Sandy Coghill to record Cairnie’s Canter. He knew Sandy from the competition circuit and used to attend the dances at the Lion Hotel, Auldearn where the Wallochmore Ceilidh Band, and indeed Bill Black, played regularly. He still played with Bill up to the last year of his teaching course. Graeme graduated in 1982 and was offered a job back home, teaching in the Gordon Schools, Huntly. He took the job and unfortunately had to leave the band.

Also, when he was about seventeen, Graeme met (through Ian Duncan from Keith) a gent he came to admire to much. His name was Ronnie Cooper from Shetland. Ronnie used to attend the Keith TMSA Festival and they used to have endless tunes together. He would drag Graeme to a piano and they would sit and play for hours. Graeme never considered himself a soloist but he found that what Ronnie did on piano, he really thrived on. It was melodic, rhythmical and above all very complimentary. Next thing he knew, he had been invited to Shetland for the first time to play at the Shetland A&F Club – and Ronnie played along with him. Graeme didn’t go to Shetland thinking that he would show then something new. He knew fine that there was an assortment of musicians there who had forgotten more than he ever knew. He enjoyed the “marathons” with Ronnie though. “What a man!!”

Again, through the competition circuit and the Lion Hotel, Graeme met Neil McMillan from Loch Lomond and spent “many a few days” at Neil and Fiona’s, when he had only been invited there to play for one night – such was the hospitality. Neil introduced him to people like Colin Finlayson, Rikki Franci, Gus Millar and Dochie McCallum. The Mull Festivals also started around this time and he was able to hear Bobby MacLeod playing the accordion. “Wonderful”.

In the early eighties in the North East of Scotland there wasn’t much work available for a Scottish Dance Band. There was work to be found for a Box Player in a Band, but it wasn’t what Graeme wanted to play. So this was when he decided to form his own band. Freeland Barbour was then producer of ‘Take the Floor’ and he suggested that the band should do a broadcast. However, Graeme decided to wait and see if he could formulate a sound rather than just pick a few musicians and sit down and play.

So Graeme – along with Brian Cruickshank (who had developed an interest in the bass fiddle), Gordon Duguid (second accordion) and Billy Brown (drums) practiced on a weekly basis for quite some time. Graeme wanted to use the experience he had gained while playing with Ronnie Cooper. He wanted the sound to be simple and he wanted it to be unobtrusive. These are qualities he still believes in. This wasn’t totally achieved in the early stages but the broadcast went ahead anyway. The band enlisted the help of the vastly more experienced David Bowen on piano and an amazingly talented young fiddler by the name of Judi Davidson from Banchory. There was a positive response from the broadcast and so they recorded the LP Fine Fettle. The band ‘gigged’ around but were never really busy. Various circumstances made Graeme feel like giving up the idea of having a band and perhaps moving to an area where he could get more opportunity to play. He had to remember that this strange hobby wasn’t his living and perhaps he was placing too much emphasis on it.

The resurgence of ‘old time dancing’ certainly changed the overall attitude to dancing in the North East. Graeme believes that somehow, culturally, it is now quite acceptable for youngsters to be involved in ceilidh dancing. In the North East now it is very popular to have, as part of your wedding, a ceilidh band providing the music. The company perhaps require to be talked through the dances but, as long as they are willing to participate, he is happy with that. Graeme feels that things have changed drastically – for the better.

Graeme and his band have done some foreign trips but because he is a teacher (and yes, he’s heard all the jokes about the amount of holidays teachers get!!) he can’t get away at St Andrew’s time to play abroad. He did, however, manage a trip to Poland in 1998. More recently, the band went to Switzerland {in the summer of 2001) and got stranded in Amsterdam with no luggage – dressed only in shorts and T-shirts. Graeme says he’s saving the story of that “saga tour” for a rainy day!! Graeme often gets asked about his composing. Generally, he says, he can’t sit down and compose a tune “like somebody would bake a cake” Although he has managed to pen somewhere between forty and fifty tunes – which is not bad going – he has only ever “written on request” once and he was probably motivated by the fact that he really wanted to do it for the person. That person was Robbie Shepherd M.B.E. and the BBC asked him to do it. Robbie had a huge influence on Graeme when he was in Aberdeen. He totally respects his advice at all times. On numerous occasions he was on the receiving end of Mr Shepherd and his wife Esma’s immense hospitality.

The rest of the tunes in the book published of Graeme’s original compositions are for a variety of characters and places that mean something to him personally. His own favourite is ‘Donnie the Post’. This tune was written for the late Donnie MacDonald from Spean Bridge, who made Graeme laugh so much when he “had a dram”. “He looked like Penfold from ‘Dangermouse’ and he drank Haig whisky and ate soup – AT THE SAME TIME!! Life needs characters like that”. In Graeme’s opinion “the ultimate test for any composition is how many people play the tune”.

Personnel within the band had not changed since the first five or six years and they continued to broadcast and play quite consistently – and they certainly weren’t short of requests by enthusiasts to do a CD. Graeme and his band hadn’t made a commercially available recording for quite some time, as he never seemed to be able to get round to it. Stuart Forbes of Shielburn Associates was very keen to do something with the band and so they recorded the Lasting Impression CD. Long before this, Duncan Christie had joined Messrs Cruickshank and Duguid as the boys Graeme could rely on to do all the gig work. For broadcasts, Neil McMillan was brought in to take the piano role, mainly because Neil knows Graeme and the band really well and he knows the sound Graeme likes. The same, of course, can be said for Brian, Gordon and Duncan. People often ask Graeme how he gets the tight sound. His response is simple – he is working with the same personnel all the time. They know what he likes and it is a mark of their professionalism that they strive for that same “buzz” when it’s all clicking along good-style. Susan MacIntosh, on fiddle, has an immense slot to fill within the band – and she does that admirably. Susan is also a tremendous solo player and the quality of music created with fiancé Scott Gordon on piano is up there amongst the very best.

As well as being a Technical Teacher in his ‘day job’, Graeme also teaches accordion one day a month in Inverness, as well as having his own private pupils in Huntly and surrounding areas. His advice to youngsters learning to play the accordion is to listen to ‘the greats’ – and try not to think about rock music while playing traditional music!

Due to his geographic location, it is virtually impossible for Graeme and his Band to visit some of the Accordion and Fiddle Clubs. Because of this he didn’t expect an award in this year’s BAFFI’s. It was a great surprise to Graeme – and shock – when he won the award for Guest Artiste of the Year.

Graeme’s work with his band takes up a huge amount of his time, although he enjoys it “most of the time” and the craic with the lads is grand. However, he feels that the way that he likes to play and how he likes his band to sound seems “a bit dated” compared to some other bands of today. Given that it was the traditional music loving public who voted in the BAFFI’s, it would seem that they do not agree with that thought!

So, here we are twenty-one years on and as stated on the sleeve notes of the new CD, In Full Swing, it has been the band’s intention, for some time now, to record an evening’s dancing. They invited some of the people who had consistently given them work over the years to come and celebrate. The rest of the company was made up of experienced dancers and young members of the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society, whom again the band has had a long association with. Jennifer Forrest and Doug Maskew managed to produce a recording that represents very much the type of night Graeme Mitchell and his Scottish Dance Band really enjoy playing for. It is a new venture for Brian, Gordon, Duncan and Graeme himself, and they hope people will enjoy listening to it.

So, after twenty-one years of playing to thousands and thousands of people, both at home and abroad – does Graeme still get nervous before gigs? His answer – Yes, Yes and a thousand more Yes’s!!!!”

There is, however, one musical ambition that remains unfulfilled for Graeme. He tells me he would love to learn to play the pipes and be able to play a set of jigs for a Strip the Willow – with piano, bass, drums and second accordion backing him. This would be ‘Epic’.

In conclusion, may I take this opportunity in offering my own congratulations to Graeme – and the rest of the band – in winning the first ever BAFFI Award for Best Guest Artiste.

Also, I must thank Graeme for his huge input to this article, both with the writing and the supply of photographs – this was a massive help to me, since it was a wee bit of a “rushed job”. All the best Graeme. Here’s to the next twenty-one years!

Box and Fiddle
September 2003


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.