Box and Fiddle Year 01 No 04
January 1978
Price 10p
8 pages
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
Editorial
My apologies to the Highland (Inverness) Club. The wrong address was given for their new Secretary. It should be Mrs Mary McKenzie, 52 Innes Street, Inverness Tel. 0463 37370.
Welcome to yet another new Club, Forres, their Secretary in Mr Ray McKenzie, 19 Anderson Street, Forres, Morayshire.
There is also the possibility of another new Club, this one may be at Banchory, see article. There are two Clubs worth a mention. Cumnock, for their efforts at Hogmanay, a good public relations exercise, and Galston, for their donations.
A note for Secretaries and Advertisers ; please, only black and white photographs and illustrations, they turn out much better in print.
I have heard on the grapevine that fine button box player, Billy McGuire, is back in circulation, solo or group. Telephone Johnstone 22440.
Please note that there is to be an Extraordinary Meeting in Perth on 19th February. This is to see if we can put the ‘Box and Fiddle’ on a more permanent footing. A large turnout of Club Executives is requested.
Some Clubs want to know what the circulation of the paper is. The first Edition was 1,500, it is now 2,300. It could be much more but a balance has to be struck financially.
My apologies to the Highland (Inverness) Club. The wrong address was given for their new Secretary. It should be Mrs Mary McKenzie, 52 Innes Street, Inverness Tel. 0463 37370.
Welcome to yet another new Club, Forres, their Secretary in Mr Ray McKenzie, 19 Anderson Street, Forres, Morayshire.
There is also the possibility of another new Club, this one may be at Banchory, see article. There are two Clubs worth a mention. Cumnock, for their efforts at Hogmanay, a good public relations exercise, and Galston, for their donations.
A note for Secretaries and Advertisers ; please, only black and white photographs and illustrations, they turn out much better in print.
I have heard on the grapevine that fine button box player, Billy McGuire, is back in circulation, solo or group. Telephone Johnstone 22440.
Please note that there is to be an Extraordinary Meeting in Perth on 19th February. This is to see if we can put the ‘Box and Fiddle’ on a more permanent footing. A large turnout of Club Executives is requested.
Some Clubs want to know what the circulation of the paper is. The first Edition was 1,500, it is now 2,300. It could be much more but a balance has to be struck financially.
New Club – Banchory
An Accordion and Fiddle Club may be formed in Banchory, Kincardineshire.
Supporters of the idea from Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society are to get together on Monday, 23rd, January, at the Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory, to hold a trial at which the guest artiste will be accordionist Jimmy Blue, Chairman of the N.A.A.F.C.
If the evening is a success, a Club will be formed and a Committee appointed.
H. McK
First Night at Forres
The new Club at Forres, Mpray, is having its first night on 25th January (Burns’ Night), which is a good night to kick off with.
The venue is the Brig Motel, Forres, and the first guest artiste is last years Scottish Accordion Champion, Graeme Mitchell.
This new Club has a Steering Committee of ten local artists and below are three who are on the telephone.
Chairman – Andy Ross, Kinvarra, Little Crook, Forres Tel Forres 2316
Ian Anderson, Dkkeside Cottage, Alves, by Forres Tel Alves 697
Ian M. Armour, Laneholm, Sanquhar Terrace, Forres Tel Forres 2561
Ian Anderson and his Band will start the evening off, which will be quite something. The Committee extends their welcome for any player who arrives on the night to get the Club off to a great start.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ also wish Forres Club much success and many happy hours of music and hope that the neighbouring Clubs will rally round.
Fiddlers Galore
About 100 fiddlers drawn from Aberdeen, Banchory and Elgin Strathspey and Reel Societies will be on stage at H.M. Theatre, Aberdeen for a week from 20th March for ‘The 1978 Fiddlers Spectacular’.
The organising has been done by Bill Smith, Secretary of the Banchory group. The massed fiddles will be conducted by Sandy Diack Jnr, Aberdeen, with Bill Brian, Elgin, leading the group and Mary Milne, Banchory, will be accompanist.
Guest singers will be Anne and Laura Brand and Evan Cattenach, Elgin. The dancers will be Brian Seivwright, Isobel James and Joyce Anderson, Aberdeen with Robbie Shepherd, Aberdeen providing the comedy.
The guest fiddlers will be Angus Cameron, Kirriemuir (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday) and Yla Steven, Edinburgh (Thursday, Friday & Saturday).
Beith Trios Competition
At the December meeting of Beith and District Accordion and Fiddle Club, 150 members and friends enjoyed the performance of guest artists Davy Stewart from Kirriemuir, who also brought pianist Bill Cormack from Blairgowrie.
This meeting was also the annual Trio Competition, and members were delighted to have seven entries from various surrounding Accordion Clubs.
The following trios competed :
Bobby Stewart (Galston)
Ronnie Easton (Galston)
John Loch (Straiton)
Kenny Thomson (Cumnock)
David Scott (Beith)
Jim Stewart (Beith) and
Alex Jamieson (Beith).
After a very difficult job of judging, the adjudicators who were Davy Stewart and Bill Cormack (our guest artists) determined the following results. Winner of the Willie Wilson Cup and Minatures – Ronnie Easton Trio. Runners up – Kenny Thomson Trio who received minature shields.
The other Trios’ marks followed very closely indeed, and to all who entered for the competition the Committee would like to thank them most sincerely. Their support is very much appreciated.
At the time of going to press the Club is looking forward to having as guest on 16th January, Arthur Spink, from Dundee. Arthur has appeared at Beith Club before and he is always very welcome and a very well received guest artist.
On 20th February, the guest artist is the Irish Accordion Champion Paddy Neary, who is doing a tour of some of Scotland’s Accordion Clubs.
Do give us a visit at Beith and District Accordion and Fiddle Club.
Willie Wilson
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Fiddle Frolic – Charlie Cowie – Lismor LILP 5091
Saturday Barn Dance – Jimmy Blue and Various Artists – Pye PKL5565
With Best Wishes from Jimmy Shand – Emi Note NTS142
Scotsman Every One – Andrew Rankine – Emerald Gem GES1176
Scottish Pub Party – Micky Ainsworth and Other Artistes – Emerald Gem GES1177
Take Your Partners It’s Jim MacLeod’s Dance Party – Decca MOR507
The Stuart Anderson Story
By Derek Hamilton
In the space of five short years Stuart Anderson from Bucksburn, Aberdeen, has come a long way. When he was just 11 years old he was bitten by the accordion bug while watching his father, John, cleaning up an 80 bass accordion he had acquired from a family friend in Gretna. Stuart just knew the box was the instrument for himand he persuaded his dad to buy a small accordion. Off he went, with his box, to Sandy Wood at Kincarth in Aberdeen where for about a year Stuart was taught the basic rudiments of accordion playing.
Stuart has one real idol – Arthur Spink – who has influenced and encouraged the young maestro so much during these formative years. It was Arthur, along with Dennis Clancy, who gave Stuart his big breaks. The Arthur Spink magic – those are Stuart’s own words – has something very special in it for him and it certainly shows in this bright young lads performance. He just oozes with enthusiasm, personality and professionalism, but he has never let his ability go to his head. He is a very modest young man who admits only to enjoying the things he does.
Despite the glamour of all the Canadian tours, the TV Shows and Summer Seasons, Stuart remains an unspoilt lad who just loves to play the box.
He never really liked school, but who can blame him for that. When you’ve got talent like Stuart has bottled up inside you, the classroom must be a very boring place to be! ‘The Scholar’, so to speak, was something to be mastered on the keyboard of his box, not to be attained by reading books!
Stuart has two LPs to his credit so far and both have done very well. His first, ‘Stuart Anderson’s Welcome’ was recorded when Stuart was only 14 years old. His most recent ‘On Top of the World’ is currently number one in the record company’s album charts. Bryce Laing is Stuart’s record producer and he is getting a studio session together in February, again at Craighall, to record Stuart’s next album. This will be another step on the path to fame that Stuart is treading. He is hoping to include some Country and Western material and will be using some of the top musicians in this category in his backing group.
Stuart will not be forsaking his first love in music though. He will be including some traditional music as well as some of his own compositions (of which he has some 14 or 15 to his credit so far). ‘Mr and Mrs John Anderson’ is a march which Stuart wrote in honour of his mum and dad. A strathspey (and a tricky one at that!) written for his aunt and titled ‘Mary Anderson’s Fancy’ is also to be included in this album.
Stuart is very strict about his composing. He can’t sit down and write a tune just for the sake of writing a tune, he’s got to have the right inspiration and once he’s worked on a tune and either set it on tape or down on paper he never changes it. He believes that’s the way it should be, it reflects his mood of the time – to change a tune later would spoil it, not improve it.
The inspiration comes from all sorts of situations. One particular tune was composed while travelling on a train journey. Stuart was bored with nowhere to play his box when he suddenly decided to take it along to the ‘loo’ for a tune! He composed in ‘Royal’ style! At the gig that night he played the tune and told the story of how it came to be composed in the train toilet. He was persuaded to title it ‘Fort William Railway Club’, as that was the venue to which he was travelling when the tune was written.
Stuart, of course, travels everywhere by train as he’s not old enough to drive yet. His mum and cabinet maker dad take him round when they can, especially at weekends and holidays.
He spent the summer away from his Buckhaven home this year doing a season at the famous Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. Topping the bill was Stuart’s old friend Johnny Beattie with whom he had already worked on Grampian Television’s Show ‘Come to the Ceilidh’ and of course last year’s Hogmanay Show from the same channel.
Although Stuart’s management is mainly handled these days by John Worth of Inverness, who incidentally, Stuart reckons is ‘worth’ his weight in gold, he retains a great degree of control over what he does himself. He enjoys TV work as well as touring and theatre shows but he’s obviously most at ease when he’s asked along as guest at an Accordion Club. He’ll do a couple of half-hour spots and have the audience on their feet shouting for more.
Stuart Anderson is one of Scotland’s brightest hopes for the future in the accordion world. At 16 he has captured the hearts of not only the music loving public at large, but his fellow musicians and performers as well. His high spots so far were when he worked with Sydney Devine – who Stuart admires not only as an entertainer but as a businessman as well – and of course that Hogmanay Show last year when he played alongside the legendary Jimmy Shand. In fact he still plays the set he learned with the Laird of Auchtermuchty whenever he goes to guest at a Club.
It is difficult to sum up this brilliant young accordionist, He’s bubbling with enthusiasm, he’s confident, yet extremely modest; he’s experienced yet innocent; he’s young and carefree, but he’s sensible.
Stuart has no aspirations of grandeur. Ask him what his ambitions are or what he wants out of life and he’ll tell you simply – “Ach ah dinna want tae make a lot o’ money. As long as I’ve got enough tae live on and I can mak folk happy – that’s a’ I want!”
Mind you, secretly he does have one burning ambition – to pass his driving test. March cannot come quickly enough – that’s when he gets his provisional license and he’s already got hopes of sitting his test in April or May. His travelling arrangements will be so much simpler after that ; not having to worry about busses or trains.
But however he travels there’s one thing for sure, he’s going in one direction and that’s to the top. Somebody, someday will have a lot more to write about Stuart Anderson – Ace Accordionist and a real nice laddie!
Fiddling Tip
By Angus Fitchet
Our local Secretary asked me if I’d car to do an article on my life as a fiddle player, but it needed no hesitation to say, “Gee whizz Jack, how can I possibly span 62 years in a short article?” There is so much to be written it would take me a long time and a great many pages to write my ‘story’. The boys I’ve met , the laughs we’ve had, the sad nits, and most of all, the rough life travelling about with the broken down cars. But in all these years I was only late once for a dance due to a breakdown.
Rather than write about me, I would like to give the up and coming fiddlers some tips on playing etc. First of all your violin, it should be treated with the greatest of respect, as this is your bread and butter. A violin is almost human and should be treated as such.
Before and after I play it, I dust it to get all the resin off, if resin gets into the pores of the wood it kills the vibration, so make sure you clean it, not forgetting the bow. When not in use the bow should always be clean and shining and screwed down, otherwise it will begin to warp and go out of shape.
Back to the violin. Invest in a good set of strings, such as ‘Thomastie’ or ‘Pirastro’ (don’t buy cheap ones). Next, a good bridge, and it must sit exactly between the two nicks in the centre of the sound hole. If you can’t fit it yourself I’m sure some friend will do it for you. There is a bridge on the market called De Jacques, it has self adjusting feet and fits flush to the belly of the fiddle instantly. If you can’t get one locally the address is J. Thibouville – Lamy and Co, 44 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5PS. Ask you dealer to get one from this address of write yourself.
Whether or not you have a good case or a bad one, make sure the fiddle fits in snugly. Where the scroll and neck rests I have a face sponge placed in it to make sure the neck is resting comfortably and I always cover my fiddle with a yellow duster to keep out the damp. If you fiddle does not fit at the sides of the case, break up another sponge and place the bitsin various places to ensure the fiddle does not rattle in any way. You will find you fiddle will be in better tune when you take it out to play as it is now cozy and kept warm.
Before you play it at any time make sure you wash you hands (like a doctor before an operation).Keep your nails short otherwise you will make holes in the fingerboard. Now we are all set.
I know some of you work very hard in daytime, so you don’t have the same time and your fingers are rough and sore, but don’t despair, I only practice an hour to and hour-and-a- half a day. To learn to produce a tone I find if I play long notes and learn to keep the bow going, not pressing too hard, one note with the bow and count 25 to 30 slowly from heel to tip. Through time and practice you will find it will come easier and the tone will be steady and clean.
Divide the bow first of all in half (I don’t mean saw it or cut it up) but place a mark with chalk or paper and then you will have an upper half and a lower half, later on we have to do the same again and then we have upper, lower, point and heel.
Practice easy tunes with different parts of the bow, I myself could play a whole jig with the heel of the bow and then repeat it with the point (through practice). I must emphasise in your daily practice you can’t play enough scales and exercises. There are plenty of books to choose from and can be had from any dealer. Don’t after you learn two or three tunes think you are a fiddle player, one must persevere and strive for greater things. I would rather play my fiddle any day than be watching the TV or drinking. There is a time for everything, by the way, I’m sorry but I’ll have to go and practice so Cheerio Friends.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 30th Jan 78 John Ellis and his Band
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 11th Jan 78 Archie Duncan 8th Feb 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 19th Feb 78 Paddy Neary, 19th March 78 Billy Anderson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) 23rd Jan 78 Jimmy Blue
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 20th Feb Paddy Neary
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Walter Perrie
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 21st Feb 78
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 5th Jan 78, 2nd Feb 78
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 7th Feb 78 Bill Douglas SDB, 7th March 78 Currie Brothers
Forres (Brig Motel) 25th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell, 8th Feb 78 Elgin S&R Society
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 9th Jan 78 Tom Alexander, 13th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 19th Jan 78 Angus Cameron Viking Ballroom, Seahouses, 26th Jan 78 Annual Dinner Dance – Music Eric Goodfellow and the Broadcasting Band
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 20th Feb 78 Tommy Walker and his Band
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 10th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell, 7th Feb 78
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 25th Jan 78 Calum Wilson SDB, 22nd Feb 78 Surprise G/A
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 16th Feb 78
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) 31st Jan 78 Dave Scott Trio
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 5th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo, 2nd Feb 78
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Tommy Pringle SDB, 14th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 15th Feb 78 Annual Buffet & Social with Roger Dobson SDB
Oban (Park Hotel) 1st Feb 78 Tommy Ford
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Committee Artistes, 21st Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (venue?)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 30th Jan 78 Currie Brothers, 25th Jan 78 Dinner Dance at the Belleisle Hotel, Ayr to the Andrew Rankine SDB (tickets £2)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel) 7th Feb 78 Jimmy Yeaman Trio
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo, 8th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Balloch
3. Biggar
4. Cumnock
5. Dumfries
6. Dunfermline & District
7. Galston
8. Glendale
9. Highland / Inverness
10. Keith
11. Kelso
12. Livingston
13. M.A.F.I.A.
14. Newton St Boswells
15. North Cumbria
16. Oban
17. Perth
18. Renfrew
19. Straiton
20. Stranraer
21. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT JANUARY 1978 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21. Kelso A&F Club
22. Langholm A&F Club
23. Livingston A&F Club
24. Lockerbie A&F Club
25. M.A.F.I.A.
26. Newcastleton Accordion Club
27. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club
ADVERT
West of Scotland Accordion Festival
In
McCandlish Hall, Straiton, Ayrshire
On
Saturday, 4th March 1978
At 11.30am
Open – March, Strathspey and Reel
Confined - March, Strathspey and Reel
Junior (Up to 15th Birthday) – 2 tunes Own choice
Duets – 2 tunes Own choice
Trios - 2 tunes Own choice
Bands – Waltz, March
Solos – Own Compositions, 2½ minutes
Adjudicator ; ANDREW RANKINE
Entries taken till time of play
Phone J. Loch, Crosshill 345
CONCERT AND DANCE TO FOLLOW
By courtesy of Straiton Accordion Club
An Accordion and Fiddle Club may be formed in Banchory, Kincardineshire.
Supporters of the idea from Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society are to get together on Monday, 23rd, January, at the Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory, to hold a trial at which the guest artiste will be accordionist Jimmy Blue, Chairman of the N.A.A.F.C.
If the evening is a success, a Club will be formed and a Committee appointed.
H. McK
First Night at Forres
The new Club at Forres, Mpray, is having its first night on 25th January (Burns’ Night), which is a good night to kick off with.
The venue is the Brig Motel, Forres, and the first guest artiste is last years Scottish Accordion Champion, Graeme Mitchell.
This new Club has a Steering Committee of ten local artists and below are three who are on the telephone.
Chairman – Andy Ross, Kinvarra, Little Crook, Forres Tel Forres 2316
Ian Anderson, Dkkeside Cottage, Alves, by Forres Tel Alves 697
Ian M. Armour, Laneholm, Sanquhar Terrace, Forres Tel Forres 2561
Ian Anderson and his Band will start the evening off, which will be quite something. The Committee extends their welcome for any player who arrives on the night to get the Club off to a great start.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ also wish Forres Club much success and many happy hours of music and hope that the neighbouring Clubs will rally round.
Fiddlers Galore
About 100 fiddlers drawn from Aberdeen, Banchory and Elgin Strathspey and Reel Societies will be on stage at H.M. Theatre, Aberdeen for a week from 20th March for ‘The 1978 Fiddlers Spectacular’.
The organising has been done by Bill Smith, Secretary of the Banchory group. The massed fiddles will be conducted by Sandy Diack Jnr, Aberdeen, with Bill Brian, Elgin, leading the group and Mary Milne, Banchory, will be accompanist.
Guest singers will be Anne and Laura Brand and Evan Cattenach, Elgin. The dancers will be Brian Seivwright, Isobel James and Joyce Anderson, Aberdeen with Robbie Shepherd, Aberdeen providing the comedy.
The guest fiddlers will be Angus Cameron, Kirriemuir (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday) and Yla Steven, Edinburgh (Thursday, Friday & Saturday).
Beith Trios Competition
At the December meeting of Beith and District Accordion and Fiddle Club, 150 members and friends enjoyed the performance of guest artists Davy Stewart from Kirriemuir, who also brought pianist Bill Cormack from Blairgowrie.
This meeting was also the annual Trio Competition, and members were delighted to have seven entries from various surrounding Accordion Clubs.
The following trios competed :
Bobby Stewart (Galston)
Ronnie Easton (Galston)
John Loch (Straiton)
Kenny Thomson (Cumnock)
David Scott (Beith)
Jim Stewart (Beith) and
Alex Jamieson (Beith).
After a very difficult job of judging, the adjudicators who were Davy Stewart and Bill Cormack (our guest artists) determined the following results. Winner of the Willie Wilson Cup and Minatures – Ronnie Easton Trio. Runners up – Kenny Thomson Trio who received minature shields.
The other Trios’ marks followed very closely indeed, and to all who entered for the competition the Committee would like to thank them most sincerely. Their support is very much appreciated.
At the time of going to press the Club is looking forward to having as guest on 16th January, Arthur Spink, from Dundee. Arthur has appeared at Beith Club before and he is always very welcome and a very well received guest artist.
On 20th February, the guest artist is the Irish Accordion Champion Paddy Neary, who is doing a tour of some of Scotland’s Accordion Clubs.
Do give us a visit at Beith and District Accordion and Fiddle Club.
Willie Wilson
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Fiddle Frolic – Charlie Cowie – Lismor LILP 5091
Saturday Barn Dance – Jimmy Blue and Various Artists – Pye PKL5565
With Best Wishes from Jimmy Shand – Emi Note NTS142
Scotsman Every One – Andrew Rankine – Emerald Gem GES1176
Scottish Pub Party – Micky Ainsworth and Other Artistes – Emerald Gem GES1177
Take Your Partners It’s Jim MacLeod’s Dance Party – Decca MOR507
The Stuart Anderson Story
By Derek Hamilton
In the space of five short years Stuart Anderson from Bucksburn, Aberdeen, has come a long way. When he was just 11 years old he was bitten by the accordion bug while watching his father, John, cleaning up an 80 bass accordion he had acquired from a family friend in Gretna. Stuart just knew the box was the instrument for himand he persuaded his dad to buy a small accordion. Off he went, with his box, to Sandy Wood at Kincarth in Aberdeen where for about a year Stuart was taught the basic rudiments of accordion playing.
Stuart has one real idol – Arthur Spink – who has influenced and encouraged the young maestro so much during these formative years. It was Arthur, along with Dennis Clancy, who gave Stuart his big breaks. The Arthur Spink magic – those are Stuart’s own words – has something very special in it for him and it certainly shows in this bright young lads performance. He just oozes with enthusiasm, personality and professionalism, but he has never let his ability go to his head. He is a very modest young man who admits only to enjoying the things he does.
Despite the glamour of all the Canadian tours, the TV Shows and Summer Seasons, Stuart remains an unspoilt lad who just loves to play the box.
He never really liked school, but who can blame him for that. When you’ve got talent like Stuart has bottled up inside you, the classroom must be a very boring place to be! ‘The Scholar’, so to speak, was something to be mastered on the keyboard of his box, not to be attained by reading books!
Stuart has two LPs to his credit so far and both have done very well. His first, ‘Stuart Anderson’s Welcome’ was recorded when Stuart was only 14 years old. His most recent ‘On Top of the World’ is currently number one in the record company’s album charts. Bryce Laing is Stuart’s record producer and he is getting a studio session together in February, again at Craighall, to record Stuart’s next album. This will be another step on the path to fame that Stuart is treading. He is hoping to include some Country and Western material and will be using some of the top musicians in this category in his backing group.
Stuart will not be forsaking his first love in music though. He will be including some traditional music as well as some of his own compositions (of which he has some 14 or 15 to his credit so far). ‘Mr and Mrs John Anderson’ is a march which Stuart wrote in honour of his mum and dad. A strathspey (and a tricky one at that!) written for his aunt and titled ‘Mary Anderson’s Fancy’ is also to be included in this album.
Stuart is very strict about his composing. He can’t sit down and write a tune just for the sake of writing a tune, he’s got to have the right inspiration and once he’s worked on a tune and either set it on tape or down on paper he never changes it. He believes that’s the way it should be, it reflects his mood of the time – to change a tune later would spoil it, not improve it.
The inspiration comes from all sorts of situations. One particular tune was composed while travelling on a train journey. Stuart was bored with nowhere to play his box when he suddenly decided to take it along to the ‘loo’ for a tune! He composed in ‘Royal’ style! At the gig that night he played the tune and told the story of how it came to be composed in the train toilet. He was persuaded to title it ‘Fort William Railway Club’, as that was the venue to which he was travelling when the tune was written.
Stuart, of course, travels everywhere by train as he’s not old enough to drive yet. His mum and cabinet maker dad take him round when they can, especially at weekends and holidays.
He spent the summer away from his Buckhaven home this year doing a season at the famous Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. Topping the bill was Stuart’s old friend Johnny Beattie with whom he had already worked on Grampian Television’s Show ‘Come to the Ceilidh’ and of course last year’s Hogmanay Show from the same channel.
Although Stuart’s management is mainly handled these days by John Worth of Inverness, who incidentally, Stuart reckons is ‘worth’ his weight in gold, he retains a great degree of control over what he does himself. He enjoys TV work as well as touring and theatre shows but he’s obviously most at ease when he’s asked along as guest at an Accordion Club. He’ll do a couple of half-hour spots and have the audience on their feet shouting for more.
Stuart Anderson is one of Scotland’s brightest hopes for the future in the accordion world. At 16 he has captured the hearts of not only the music loving public at large, but his fellow musicians and performers as well. His high spots so far were when he worked with Sydney Devine – who Stuart admires not only as an entertainer but as a businessman as well – and of course that Hogmanay Show last year when he played alongside the legendary Jimmy Shand. In fact he still plays the set he learned with the Laird of Auchtermuchty whenever he goes to guest at a Club.
It is difficult to sum up this brilliant young accordionist, He’s bubbling with enthusiasm, he’s confident, yet extremely modest; he’s experienced yet innocent; he’s young and carefree, but he’s sensible.
Stuart has no aspirations of grandeur. Ask him what his ambitions are or what he wants out of life and he’ll tell you simply – “Ach ah dinna want tae make a lot o’ money. As long as I’ve got enough tae live on and I can mak folk happy – that’s a’ I want!”
Mind you, secretly he does have one burning ambition – to pass his driving test. March cannot come quickly enough – that’s when he gets his provisional license and he’s already got hopes of sitting his test in April or May. His travelling arrangements will be so much simpler after that ; not having to worry about busses or trains.
But however he travels there’s one thing for sure, he’s going in one direction and that’s to the top. Somebody, someday will have a lot more to write about Stuart Anderson – Ace Accordionist and a real nice laddie!
Fiddling Tip
By Angus Fitchet
Our local Secretary asked me if I’d car to do an article on my life as a fiddle player, but it needed no hesitation to say, “Gee whizz Jack, how can I possibly span 62 years in a short article?” There is so much to be written it would take me a long time and a great many pages to write my ‘story’. The boys I’ve met , the laughs we’ve had, the sad nits, and most of all, the rough life travelling about with the broken down cars. But in all these years I was only late once for a dance due to a breakdown.
Rather than write about me, I would like to give the up and coming fiddlers some tips on playing etc. First of all your violin, it should be treated with the greatest of respect, as this is your bread and butter. A violin is almost human and should be treated as such.
Before and after I play it, I dust it to get all the resin off, if resin gets into the pores of the wood it kills the vibration, so make sure you clean it, not forgetting the bow. When not in use the bow should always be clean and shining and screwed down, otherwise it will begin to warp and go out of shape.
Back to the violin. Invest in a good set of strings, such as ‘Thomastie’ or ‘Pirastro’ (don’t buy cheap ones). Next, a good bridge, and it must sit exactly between the two nicks in the centre of the sound hole. If you can’t fit it yourself I’m sure some friend will do it for you. There is a bridge on the market called De Jacques, it has self adjusting feet and fits flush to the belly of the fiddle instantly. If you can’t get one locally the address is J. Thibouville – Lamy and Co, 44 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5PS. Ask you dealer to get one from this address of write yourself.
Whether or not you have a good case or a bad one, make sure the fiddle fits in snugly. Where the scroll and neck rests I have a face sponge placed in it to make sure the neck is resting comfortably and I always cover my fiddle with a yellow duster to keep out the damp. If you fiddle does not fit at the sides of the case, break up another sponge and place the bitsin various places to ensure the fiddle does not rattle in any way. You will find you fiddle will be in better tune when you take it out to play as it is now cozy and kept warm.
Before you play it at any time make sure you wash you hands (like a doctor before an operation).Keep your nails short otherwise you will make holes in the fingerboard. Now we are all set.
I know some of you work very hard in daytime, so you don’t have the same time and your fingers are rough and sore, but don’t despair, I only practice an hour to and hour-and-a- half a day. To learn to produce a tone I find if I play long notes and learn to keep the bow going, not pressing too hard, one note with the bow and count 25 to 30 slowly from heel to tip. Through time and practice you will find it will come easier and the tone will be steady and clean.
Divide the bow first of all in half (I don’t mean saw it or cut it up) but place a mark with chalk or paper and then you will have an upper half and a lower half, later on we have to do the same again and then we have upper, lower, point and heel.
Practice easy tunes with different parts of the bow, I myself could play a whole jig with the heel of the bow and then repeat it with the point (through practice). I must emphasise in your daily practice you can’t play enough scales and exercises. There are plenty of books to choose from and can be had from any dealer. Don’t after you learn two or three tunes think you are a fiddle player, one must persevere and strive for greater things. I would rather play my fiddle any day than be watching the TV or drinking. There is a time for everything, by the way, I’m sorry but I’ll have to go and practice so Cheerio Friends.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 30th Jan 78 John Ellis and his Band
Alnwick (Nag’s Head) 11th Jan 78 Archie Duncan 8th Feb 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 19th Feb 78 Paddy Neary, 19th March 78 Billy Anderson Trio
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) 23rd Jan 78 Jimmy Blue
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 20th Feb Paddy Neary
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 12th Dec 77 Walter Perrie
Cumnock (Royal Hotel) 21st Feb 78
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 5th Jan 78, 2nd Feb 78
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 7th Feb 78 Bill Douglas SDB, 7th March 78 Currie Brothers
Forres (Brig Motel) 25th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell, 8th Feb 78 Elgin S&R Society
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 9th Jan 78 Tom Alexander, 13th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 19th Jan 78 Angus Cameron Viking Ballroom, Seahouses, 26th Jan 78 Annual Dinner Dance – Music Eric Goodfellow and the Broadcasting Band
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 20th Feb 78 Tommy Walker and his Band
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel) 10th Jan 78 Graeme Mitchell, 7th Feb 78
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 25th Jan 78 Calum Wilson SDB, 22nd Feb 78 Surprise G/A
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club) 16th Feb 78
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) 31st Jan 78 Dave Scott Trio
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 5th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo, 2nd Feb 78
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Tommy Pringle SDB, 14th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 15th Feb 78 Annual Buffet & Social with Roger Dobson SDB
Oban (Park Hotel) 1st Feb 78 Tommy Ford
Perth (Salutation Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Committee Artistes, 21st Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (venue?)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel) 30th Jan 78 Currie Brothers, 25th Jan 78 Dinner Dance at the Belleisle Hotel, Ayr to the Andrew Rankine SDB (tickets £2)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 6th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel) 7th Feb 78 Jimmy Yeaman Trio
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 17th Jan 78 Gordon Pattullo, 8th Feb 78 Paddy Neary
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Balloch
3. Biggar
4. Cumnock
5. Dumfries
6. Dunfermline & District
7. Galston
8. Glendale
9. Highland / Inverness
10. Keith
11. Kelso
12. Livingston
13. M.A.F.I.A.
14. Newton St Boswells
15. North Cumbria
16. Oban
17. Perth
18. Renfrew
19. Straiton
20. Stranraer
21. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT JANUARY 1978 BECOMES :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banff & District A&F Club
5. Beith & District A&F Club
6. Biggar A&F Club
7. Bonchester Accordion Club
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Cumbria Accordion Club
10. Cumnock A&F Club
11. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
12. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club
13. Dunblane & District A&F Club
14. Dundee & District A&F Club
15. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
16. Fintry A&F Club
17. Galston A&F Club
18. Glendale Accordion Club
19. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
20. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
21. Kelso A&F Club
22. Langholm A&F Club
23. Livingston A&F Club
24. Lockerbie A&F Club
25. M.A.F.I.A.
26. Newcastleton Accordion Club
27. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
28. North East A&F Club
29. Oban A&F Club
30. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
31. Perth & District A&F Club
32. Renfrew A&F Club
33. Rothbury Accordion club
34. Straiton Accordion Club
35. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
36. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
37. Wick A&F Club
ADVERT
West of Scotland Accordion Festival
In
McCandlish Hall, Straiton, Ayrshire
On
Saturday, 4th March 1978
At 11.30am
Open – March, Strathspey and Reel
Confined - March, Strathspey and Reel
Junior (Up to 15th Birthday) – 2 tunes Own choice
Duets – 2 tunes Own choice
Trios - 2 tunes Own choice
Bands – Waltz, March
Solos – Own Compositions, 2½ minutes
Adjudicator ; ANDREW RANKINE
Entries taken till time of play
Phone J. Loch, Crosshill 345
CONCERT AND DANCE TO FOLLOW
By courtesy of Straiton Accordion Club