Box and Fiddle
Year 45 No 01
January 2022
Price £3.00
56 Page Magazine
12 month UK subscription £49.45
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Scott Band
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
It is so great to be back, and assembling this issue of the Box & Fiddle has been interesting. I have heard so many stories of musicians having to think how to load the car, what to bring, etc. and it was a bit like that with the magazine : Where does this go? and how did I do this before?
The NAAFC committee still met during these very trying timesalbeit on Zoom. The Festival had to go virtual and many years of 'this is the way it is done' had to be rejigged to fit. It is great though that the Festival Committee is planning to have the next Festival as a live event (which didn't happen). The same with the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon. They also managed to develop further the idea of individual membership, and you can read more about this on Page 50.
In this issue you will also find information about a CD which Kevin Clark and the Craigowl Band kindly donated to the NAAFC to boost funds for both the NAAFc and the clubs. What a wonderful gesture this was, and I hope that the Clubs will take up the offer of selling them and that readers will buy them in great numbers. It is a cracking CD.
I’m writing this in December when news of possible restrictions and new variants may be expected, so I suspect that, when we start again in 2022, we will still see plans changed, meetings postponed etc. Do still check before you travel, especially with the price of petrol being what it is.
It has been a long, hard road for us all. I don’t think any of us can say that we haven’t lost someone be it family, friends, neighbours ; and, of course, Clubs will sadly notice that some kent faces are no longer there. Our thoughts are with you all. Let us hope that 2022 will be a better year for us all.
Do take care out there and stay safe. All the best for 2022.
Pia
An On The Ball Report with a Twist
by Colin Chalmers
I was looking through my old reports from the 90s…………
Music is the Ultimate International Language
by Michael Mulford
Tunes and words migrate across the world. They change names……….
Anders Lassen VC, MC by Mike Langley
The Blair Dynasty
by Pia Walker & Gary Blair
The Blair family is a very well-known, Glasgow born and bred family. Who in the business hasn’t heard about The Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra which has produced many talented players over the years? I decided to ask Gary if he could tell me a little about his musical family and what he was up to at present. Holding face-to-face interviews is not easy at present owing to the current situation and Gary took time out to send me the following.
Over the years people have asked me how I got into playing the accordion. This is an easy one to answer since both my mother Loretta (1930-86) and father Jimmy (1920-81) were both accordion teachers and my grandfather James, aunt Alena and uncle Archie Duncan played accordion too! I have three brothers ; Malky and Colin, who are both older than me, and a younger brother, Jamie.
My dad’s accordion history started at the age of eleven when he took his father’s small melodeon down from its pride of place on a shelf and attempted to squeeze out a few bars of a tune. Unfortunately, his father found out and was none too pleased! For some time, a battle of wits ensued as he left his instrument in such a position that my dad could not always replace it after use without his father knowing. However, he was successful on most occasions, and by the time he was presented with his own instrument he had a sound knowledge of melodeon technique.
Dad was called up two days before World War II broke out. Needless to say, his instrument went with him. Rigorous infantry training followed with almost no time for practice until 1940. When posted to the Merchant Navy as a machine gunner he was able to do some really intensive practice (on the accordion, not the machine gun!) Jimmy soon found that the melodeon had its limitations and bought a 5-row chromatic accordion which he liked better and soon he was playing at army concerts and for dances, and even guesting at the ENSA shows.
In March 1942, when on patrol, he found an abandoned piano accordion. Although he did not have much experience with this type of accordion, he played at a Company HQ party that night and continued to do so many times since that night, including for Regimental Dances in all sorts of strange places. Every spare minute he had was now spent mastering the keyboard. Luckily, he also had an ear for languages and although self-taught could speak five European languages. Therefore the two tutor books he used at the time (one Dutch and one German) were not a problem to understand. Jimmy received the Croix de Guerre from the French authorities, and always insisted that it was not for his accordion playing!
By 1947 he had polished up his technique and study of harmony, counterpoint etc enough to feel at ease on the piano accordion, and, having waded through Charles Magnante’s Accordion Method Books 1 and 2, he decided to become a teacher upon returning to his native Glasgow. He soon had as many pupils as he could handle and formed the Scotia Accordion Club the same year.
Around the same time, he became interested in the Uniform Keyboard (invented by John Ruther) and, when they became available in the UK, he realised that this was the keyboard that be had been looking for. It was a perfect combination of the chromatic-button and piano-keyed keyboards.
Dad started his own Scottish Dance Band c1956/57 with four fiddlers from the Scottish Symphony Orchestra and one of his own pupils (Billy Buchan) on 2nd accordion. They soon became famous throughout the UK, and were booked solid to play for the RSCDS and at weddings, ceilidhs, etc. He also appeared as a regular bandleader for a number of years on Scottish Television’s Jigtime. Although very busy performing, he still loved to teach youngsters. He was teaching four nights a week and also during the day on Saturdays. He built up a wonderful Accordion School aided by my mother who was also an accordionist. Many of his pupils started to win competitions, going on to represent the school at national level. Many of his pupils were crowned British champions (including me) and many of them are still playing as professional / semi-professional accordionists to this day. Sunday was not a rest day either as it was spent conducting his Accordion Orchestras! The Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra was originally formed as part of his wider music school in the early 1970s. It was split into several smaller orchestras, and om several occasions they became UK Champions. Although he was active on the Scottish dance scene, my dad’s love was for accordion music in general, be it Scottish, Classical or Continental, and he made many friends in the wide accordion world.
The band also played concerts at home and abroad ; there were foreign trips to France, Belgium and Canada. With the untimely death of Jimmy Blair, the band was taken over by his wife Lola. My mother had initially started lessons with teacher Tony Verrechia in Glasgow. She became assistant teacher to my father and after his death in 1981 started the Lola Blair Accordion School. She became conductor of three Accordion Orchestras, Preparatory, Elementary and Intermediate. She loved teaching, and preferred this to gigging.
In 2009, I brought together new, talented accordionists to form the Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra. JBAO has been going from strength to strength since then.
Gary Blair
Gary Blair’s own story is a whole different ball game. He started learning when he was 8 years old and attending the Jimmy Blair Accordion School which was then located in Berkeley Street, Glasgow. He joined the Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra and soon started to compete around the UK. When he was around 15 or 16, his father started taking him to some of his gigs so he could learn he to play for dancing. This taught him such a lot and helps him to this day.
Gary clearly is very proud of all his family. He is not married, but has two adult children, Gary Jnr (30) who is a former UK Champion and was once placed 4th in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Section at the C.I.A. Coupe Mondial. He is now a Cruise Director with Carnival Cruises where he occasionally plays accordion to the guests.
Gary’s daughter, Kelly Ann (34), never took up the accordion or any other instrument other than playing tenor drum in a pipe band for a while. She is mother to Gary’s two grandchildren, Blossom and Koan.
Gary’s first bona fide gig was as a 13-year-old when he and his accordion duet partner, Iain Duff, were asked to join his older brothers Malcolm (drums) and Colin (bass guitar) in a band called The Blair Boys’ Band to play for the Saturday morning talent show at the Odeon Cinema in Eglinton Toll. Each week they would back local singers who performed Long Haired Lover from Liverpool and other such classic ditties. Their fee was ice cream, drinks and getting to watch the Saturday matinee.
Gary loved all styles of music, and admits he has not got a particular favourite genre. In fact, accordion seems to be his life. He is heavily into accordion history and told me that his only other hobby was collecting accordions and that his favourite tune was Flick Flack. Although he occasionally appears at Accordion & Fiddle clubs, he is a very busy man travelling the world to entertain. Canada, USA, Siberia, China, Korea, India, UAE, Russia, Kuwait and Italy are just a few of the places he has visited to provide entertainment, and your editor first met him at The Shetland A&F Festival.
As it did for all musicians, Lockdown stopped all his gigs and physical trips abroad. Instead he did a couple of virtual trips abroad. One was to the Faroe Islands and one to Catalonia : both were Accordion Festivals and both were according to him, “Brilliant.” He can’t wait to get going again, but other than going to Donegal, Ireland for his regular Burns Supper gig, he has no plans to go overseas yet. He is also a very busy teacher and at present teaches via Skype, which has kept him busy. He admits it doesn’t suit all, but right now it is a way of still being able to learn.
It was great catching up with Gary and like him I hope we will soon be able to get giggin’ again.
A Few Lockdown Stories
Lockdown presented a great many hurdles to overcome far many of us, and suddenly we have to deal with video recording, ZOOM meetings or Teams……whatever many of these interactive digital thingies were called. And it happened so quickly. Many rose to the occasion and a few Clubs contacted their local Radio statins and some took to ZOOMing with great gusto.
Drum Roll for Liam by Peter & Vivienne McIntosh
One young musician……………..
Biggar Accordion & Fiddle Club
One of the more prolific clubs during Lockdown…………
The 47th Annual NAAFC Championship – A Virtual Festival
Nominated for Event of the Year at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021
by Richard Ross, Festival Chairman
I was very proud to represent the NAAFC Festival family at the MG Alba Trad Awards in December 2021, as the Festival was nominated for the Virtual Event of the Year.
I thought that this was a good time to reflect and look back at how we achieved this. We were fortunate that our live Festival went ahead in March 2020. It was the last event to take place in Grangemouth Town Hall before Lockdown. As the year went on, it was a major blow to realise that after 46 years of running a live event, a live 2021 event could not take place.
After much deliberation and worry about whether or not we could run a virtual event we set up a Virtual Festival Committee and our first of many Zoom meetings took place in November 2020. There were so many new aspects of running an event that had to be considered and I have captured some of this below to give you a flavour of the activities that were undertaken :-
1) Document a plan detailing all activities.
2) Set up a new Committee where each member contributed different strengths to bring it all together.
3) Set up a new webpage, linked Paypal Account and YouTube video links – a huge amount of work condensed into one sentence.
4) Modify competitions and rules as required to suit a Virtual Festival.
5) Devise different approaches to encourage entries and create posters to advertise the event.
6) Provide new guidelines and marking sheets to support adjudicators.
7) Record various videos to promote the Festival, and upload adjudicators’ videos to the website.
8) Work with the BBC to supply recording for TTF and provide results on the same day for announcing on TTF.
9) Produce a Virtual Programme of Competitions.
10) Test and clip all video recordings.
11) Create new certificates.
12) Deal with lots of queries – this was new for everyone.
13) Ensure that competitors send us videos of their performances in the correct format.
This is not an exhaustive list and I would personally like to thank our Virtual Festival committee for an unbelievable effort in putting this all together. Margaret Knight, Iain Cathcart and Scott Band – thank you, what a team! Further thanks are due to Stuart Cameron and Marie Martin for providing additional invaluable support.
It was great to see that the number of entries for our virtual Festival competitions amounted to 241 (146 last year). We are very proud that our competitors’ ages ranged from 7 years to well over 60 years. It was a fantastic effort from everyone which was greatly appreciated and a huge relief to the Committee. Thanks go to all the competitors, parents, teachers, and supporters. We believe that we now have a competition that is suitable for many more of our players that attend Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and beyond.
Why not give it a try at our Festival on 5th March 2022 at Grangemouth Town Hall. Look out for our competition schedule via the NAAFC Festival website (www.naafcfestival.co.uk)
The Trad Awards nomination was a result of everyone’s collective effort and determination to make our first ever Virtual Festival such a success. Thank you, one and all.
We very much look forward to seeing you all in person in March.
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Ryan Johns0on
3) Emily Gold
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Ryan Johnson
3) Kyle Leslie
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Clelland Shand
2) Inver Shand
3) Blyth Shand
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – James Paterson Memorial Trophy
Most Promising Player
Victoria Byrne-McCombie
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Inver Shand
2) Clelland Shand
3) Victoria Byrne-McCombie
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Rosie Laundon & Tyler Martin
2) Magnus A. & Evie C. Williamson
3)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Clelland Shand
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Bruce Peebles
2) Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul
3) Iain Cathcart
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Liam Stewart
2) John Burns
3=) Colin Brown / Ian Smith
Accordion Solo (Traditional Music) 40 and Over – Provost’s Cup
1) Iain Cathcart
2) Charlie Kirkpatrick
3=) Alan Shute / Jim McLaren
Accordion Solo (Own Choice) 60 and Over Incl with 40 and Over – Alan Shute Trophy
1) Charlie Kirkpatrick
2) Alan Shute
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Overall Senior Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Bruce Peebles
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – John Allan Trophy & The Windygates Trophy
1) Scott Band
2) Charlie Kirkpatrick
3)
Open Gaelic Waltz Solo – Dorothy Patterson Memorial Trophy
1) Craig Paton
2) Gary Sutherland
3) John Carmichael
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy & Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
1) Duncan Black Trio
2) Rhiann Matthew Trio
3) Fin Hope Trio
Trio Runners-Up – Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
Rhiann Matthew Trio
Trios – Best Piano Player – David Flockhart Shield
Craig Paton – Duncan Black Trio
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) John Burns Band
2) Fin Hope Band
3) The Committeed
Runners Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
Fin Hope Band
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
John Burns Band
Junior Band – Duncan Campbell of Oban Memorial Trophy
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Duncan Black
2) Rhiann Matthew
3) Claire Gullan
Accordion & Fiddle club Representative Open – Banchory A&FC Trophy
1) Biggar A&F Club
2) Clydesdale A&F Club
3) Carlisle A&F Club
RSCDS Open Dance – RSCDS Trophy
1)
2)
Under 12 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Emily Gold
3) Ryan Johnson
Under 14 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Inver Shand
2) Jake Johnstone
3)
Under 16 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Clelland Shand
2) Kirsty Grant
3) Blythe Shand
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Senior Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul
2) Archie MacKechnie
3) Brendan Dougal-Kittel
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1)
2)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Charlotte Hamlet & Daisy Arnold
2)
3)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 12 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1)
2)
3)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open 6/8 Pipe March – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Lynn McIver
2) John Carmichael
3=) Iain Cathcart / Claire Gullan / Tom Orr
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Kristie Williamson
2) Ellie Nicolson
3) Andrew Farquharson
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup & Kirsty’s Ceilidh Shield
1) Magnus A. Williamson
2) Ashley Hay
3) Amber Thomson
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Memorial Cup
1) Ashley Hay
2) Rose Byers
3) Amber Thomson
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Shona MacFadyen
2) Anne Mitchell
3) Rhiann Matthew
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Emma Leask
2) Anne Mitchell
3) Rhiann Matthew
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open Fiddle Solo Hornpipe and Jig – John Ellis Trophy
1) Emma Leask
2) Barbara Coutts
3) Rhiann Matthew
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Anne Mitchell
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Ashley Hay
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) Deeside Loons & quines
2) Forget-Me-Notes
3) The Last Gaspers
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Zara Crossan
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Alistair Adamson
Reflections on the 2021 All-Scotland Accordion & fiddle Festival
by Peter Bruce
About four decades ago a report such as this could have begun with, “Early on the morning of 30th October hundreds of parents across Scotland scraped the ice from their car windscreens so as to get their children to Perth to compete in the Festival”. This was not the case in 2021, owing partly to climate change but mostly to the ubiquitous coronavirus.
Three people stand out and deserve the gratitude of all of us ; without their herculean efforts the Festival could not have taken place. They are Morgan Brown, who did all the administrative work and helped the adjudicators with great skill ; Simon Howie, without whose drive and initiative the modern Festivals could not have taken place ; and Tom Orr, who is an absolute wizard with the electronic aspects of the Festival. He set up the audio and video performances you will have seen on-line. Great thanks indeed to these three individuals.
The comment from the adjudicators was that the standard of play was very high, with some outstanding efforts. This is surely a good thing, but a slight negative is that the presence of virtuoso players has possibly frightened away the kind of players with moderate ability who regularly competed several decades ago.
Another comment was that the competitors had taken a lot of care with their audio and video : they had done this very diligently to get the best possible sound and vision in their performances.
Perhaps pride of place should go to Duncan Black (Senior Scottish Winner). This was a unanimous decision by all three adjudicators. In James Coutt’s opinion it was one of the best-ever performances in this event (and he heard about half of the 72 finals!) James also pointed out that Duncan is possibly the oldest winner! (Winning the Festival has traditionally been a game for young men and women).
In the fiddle sections the ones that caught my (unqualified) ear were Shona MacFadyen in the seniors, and in the juniors, both from Shetland, Yelena Anderson and Maisie Henderson.
Another great effort was the performances of the Shand family from Dunfermline : they gave top-rate performances across different genres, playing with technical brilliance and great style. My own favourite from a very distinguished set of performances was Inver in the Junior Musette Class. Adjudicators were also impressed by the playing of Ryan Johnson from Shetland, in the 10 and Under and Under 12 Scottish Solo events.
In the Composition Class I enjoyed the waltz written by John Burns : it had a pleasant melody and clever harmonies. John is another stalwart of the Festival. Having won it about 30 years ago he returns each year and competes in different sections. Many thanks for his support over the years.
I’m sorry if your efforts are not mentioned in this brief article, but, believe me, we do appreciate your efforts and musicianship. We thank all the players, parents and teachers for the efforts they have made, both on the music side and on the electronic side.
What happens next year? We hope to get back to ‘The Sally’, but time alone will tell. The general feeling is that a Virtual Festival is not as good as a live one, but it is surely far better than cancellation.
Thanks to all for your continued support.
Peter Bruce and the Committee.
10 & Under Traditional Accordion Solo - Peter Bruce Trophy
1. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. James Shand, Aberdeen
4. Emily Gold, Carnwath
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo - Black Isle Shield
1. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. Emily Gold, Carnwath
4. Elizabeth Cathcart, Lanark
Under 12 Musette Accordion Solo
1. Alistair Adamson, Forth
Under 12 World Music Accordion Solo
1. Emily Gold, Carnwath
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. Elizabeth Cathcart, Lanark
All Scotland Junior Traditional Accordion Solo Championship - Angus Accordion College Challenge Shield & Jimmy Stephen Salver (Junior Girls)
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
3. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Girls
1. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
2. Abbie Christie, Banchory
3. Daisy Arnold, Thornhill
Junior Pipe Music Accordion Solo - The Charlie Cowie Memorial Cup
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
3. Emily Gifford, Shetland
Junior Musette Accordion Solo - The Vic Wallace Memorial Shield
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Blythe Shane, Dunfermline
3. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Junior World Music Accordion Solo - Accordion World Challenge Cup
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo - Jimmy Shand Challenge Shield & Margaret Hendry Salver (Senior Lady)
1. Duncan Black, Edinburgh
2. Liam Stewart, Galston
3. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
Ladies
1. NO ENTRIES
2.
3.
Senior Pipe Music Accordion Solo - Bill Black Challenge Cup
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
2. Susan MacFadyen, Polmont
3. Bruce Peebles, Shetland
Senior Musette Accordion Solo
1. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
2. Philip Gillie, Duns
Senior World Music Accordion Solo - Accordion World Challenge Cup
1. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
2. Jamie Stewart McGinley, Falkirk
3. Sarah Alexander, Glasgow
Veteran Traditional Accordion Solo - The Andrew Rankine Memorial Quaich
1. Paul Capaldi, Galashiels
2. Iain Cathcart, Lanark
Button Key Traditional Accordion Solo - Duncan Campbell Memorial Trophy
1. NO ENTRIES
Under 12 Fiddle Solo - Jim Ritchie Challenge Cup
1. Kristie Williamson, Shetland
2. Andrew Farquharson, Fern
3. Bethyn Wood, Buckie
All Scotland Junior Fiddle Solo Championship - Albie Tedham Challenge Cup
1. Yelena Anderson, Shetland
2. Maisie Henderson, Shetland
3. Tyler Martin, Portlethen
Junior Slow Air Fiddle Solo - Shelagh Rankine Memorial Trophy
1. Maisie Henderson, Shetland
2. Holly Stephen, Shetland
3. Emma Cameron, Kintore
All Scotland Senior Fiddle Solo Championship - Ian Powrie Challenge Cup & Mickie Ainsworth Memorial Trophy & Award
1. Shona MacFadyen, Ardrossan
2. Gillian Ramsay, Alyth
3. Rhiann Matthew, Tarland
Senior Slow Air Fiddle Solo - Pibroch MacKenzie Memorial Quaich
1. Shona MacFadyen, Ardrossan
2. Rhiann Matthew, Tarland
3. Emma Leask, Shetland
All Scotland Junior Scottish Trio Championship- Alex McArthur Quaich
1. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
2. Murray Small, Forfar
Own Composition - Jimmy Blue Challenge Cup
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
2. Ewan Galloway, Dalkeith
3. Jennifer Cruickshank, Lumphanan
All Scotland Scottish Senior Trio Championship - Perth Accordion Club Challenge Cup
1. Fin Hope, Biggar
All Scotland Scottish Dance Band Championship - Ronnie Cooper Memorial Trophy (Band) & John Gibson Memorial Trophy (Rhythm Section)
1. Fin Hope, Biggar
2. John Burns, Kilsyth
Rhythm Section
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
Gaelic Waltz (Accordion or Fiddle) - Iain MacPhail Trophy
1. Craig McFadyen, Oban
2. Ewan Galloway, Dalkeith
3. Susan MacFadyen, Polmont
The Dance Music Competition
1. Bruce Peebles, Shetland
2. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
3. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
Fiddle Group
1. NO ENTRIES
Bill Wilkie Memorial Trophy – Most Promising Under 16 Accordionist
Winner: Ryan Johnson, Shetland
Centre Stage
Fergie MacDonald
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
I was having a leisurely look through some of my old B&F copies during our enforced Lockdown and was re-reading with great interest about the 70 years of the Perth A&F festival in the January 2020 issue. It reminded me of all the many happy visits I have made to the Festival, initially on my own and later with my wife.
I thought your readers might like………….
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
The Tay Ceilidh Band – The Hills o’ Perth - Independent
Book Review
The Cardenden Collection – Michael Phillips – Vol 4 Review by Ewan Galloway
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
CLUB DIARY – NB few if any Club's actually met due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) -
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 9th Jan 2022 – Scott Band
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Jan 2022 - tbc
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 9th Jan 2022 – No meeting
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 11th Jan 2022 – John Morgan
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 13th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Crossmichael Hall) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Jan 2022 – No meeting (renovations)
Crieff & District (British Legion) -
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Jan 2022 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 11th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) - Jan 2022 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 30th Jan 2022 - AGM
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) - 27th Jan 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) -
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - Jan 2022 – Gavin Piper
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 2nd Jan 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) - 30th Jan 2022 – Clappy Doo CB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Jan 2022 – Ali K. MacPherson Band
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 13th Jan 2022 - tbc
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 26th Jan 2022 – Paul Capaldi Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 23rd Jan 2022 – Gold Brothers
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Jan 2022 – Judith Linton Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Jan 2022 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st Jan 2022 – Club Night
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Jan 2022 - tbc
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th & 27th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - Jan 2022 - Session
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Arbroath
3. Biggar
4. Blairgowrie
5. Campsie
6. Castle Douglas
7. Forfar
8. Glenfarg
9. Glenrothes
10. Highland
11. Kelso
12. Lewis & Harris
13. Macmerry
14. Mauchline & District
15. Montrose
16. Orkney
17. Perth & District
18. Shetland
19. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2022
(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. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
22. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
23. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Fort William A&F Club ( )
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. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
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. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
43. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
44. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
45. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
46. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
47. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
48. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
49. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
50. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
51 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
52 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
53 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
54 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
55 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?)
56. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
57. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
58. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
59. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
60. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
61. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
62. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
63. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
64. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
65. Buchan A&F Club
66. Callander A&F Club (
67. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
68. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
69. Club Accord
70. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
71 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
72. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
73. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
74. Cults A & F Club (
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Derwentside A&F Club
78. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
79. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
80. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
81. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
82. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
83. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
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. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
92. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
96. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
97. Kintore A&F Club (
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
100. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
101. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
102. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
103. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
104. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
105. Maine Valley A&F Club (
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
112. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
113. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
116. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
117. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
118. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Selkirk A&F Club (
122. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
123. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
124. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
125. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
126 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
127 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
128. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
129. Tranent A&F Club
130. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
131. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
132. Wellbank A&F Club
133. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
134. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £320
Full Page (colour) - £256
Full Page (b&w) - £160
Half Page (colour) - £128
Half Page (b&w) - £80
Quarter Page (colour) - £64
Quarter Page (b&w) - £40
Eighth Page - £30
Small Boxed £20
B&F Treasurer – Scott Band
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
It is so great to be back, and assembling this issue of the Box & Fiddle has been interesting. I have heard so many stories of musicians having to think how to load the car, what to bring, etc. and it was a bit like that with the magazine : Where does this go? and how did I do this before?
The NAAFC committee still met during these very trying timesalbeit on Zoom. The Festival had to go virtual and many years of 'this is the way it is done' had to be rejigged to fit. It is great though that the Festival Committee is planning to have the next Festival as a live event (which didn't happen). The same with the AGM and Celebrity Luncheon. They also managed to develop further the idea of individual membership, and you can read more about this on Page 50.
In this issue you will also find information about a CD which Kevin Clark and the Craigowl Band kindly donated to the NAAFC to boost funds for both the NAAFc and the clubs. What a wonderful gesture this was, and I hope that the Clubs will take up the offer of selling them and that readers will buy them in great numbers. It is a cracking CD.
I’m writing this in December when news of possible restrictions and new variants may be expected, so I suspect that, when we start again in 2022, we will still see plans changed, meetings postponed etc. Do still check before you travel, especially with the price of petrol being what it is.
It has been a long, hard road for us all. I don’t think any of us can say that we haven’t lost someone be it family, friends, neighbours ; and, of course, Clubs will sadly notice that some kent faces are no longer there. Our thoughts are with you all. Let us hope that 2022 will be a better year for us all.
Do take care out there and stay safe. All the best for 2022.
Pia
An On The Ball Report with a Twist
by Colin Chalmers
I was looking through my old reports from the 90s…………
Music is the Ultimate International Language
by Michael Mulford
Tunes and words migrate across the world. They change names……….
Anders Lassen VC, MC by Mike Langley
The Blair Dynasty
by Pia Walker & Gary Blair
The Blair family is a very well-known, Glasgow born and bred family. Who in the business hasn’t heard about The Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra which has produced many talented players over the years? I decided to ask Gary if he could tell me a little about his musical family and what he was up to at present. Holding face-to-face interviews is not easy at present owing to the current situation and Gary took time out to send me the following.
Over the years people have asked me how I got into playing the accordion. This is an easy one to answer since both my mother Loretta (1930-86) and father Jimmy (1920-81) were both accordion teachers and my grandfather James, aunt Alena and uncle Archie Duncan played accordion too! I have three brothers ; Malky and Colin, who are both older than me, and a younger brother, Jamie.
My dad’s accordion history started at the age of eleven when he took his father’s small melodeon down from its pride of place on a shelf and attempted to squeeze out a few bars of a tune. Unfortunately, his father found out and was none too pleased! For some time, a battle of wits ensued as he left his instrument in such a position that my dad could not always replace it after use without his father knowing. However, he was successful on most occasions, and by the time he was presented with his own instrument he had a sound knowledge of melodeon technique.
Dad was called up two days before World War II broke out. Needless to say, his instrument went with him. Rigorous infantry training followed with almost no time for practice until 1940. When posted to the Merchant Navy as a machine gunner he was able to do some really intensive practice (on the accordion, not the machine gun!) Jimmy soon found that the melodeon had its limitations and bought a 5-row chromatic accordion which he liked better and soon he was playing at army concerts and for dances, and even guesting at the ENSA shows.
In March 1942, when on patrol, he found an abandoned piano accordion. Although he did not have much experience with this type of accordion, he played at a Company HQ party that night and continued to do so many times since that night, including for Regimental Dances in all sorts of strange places. Every spare minute he had was now spent mastering the keyboard. Luckily, he also had an ear for languages and although self-taught could speak five European languages. Therefore the two tutor books he used at the time (one Dutch and one German) were not a problem to understand. Jimmy received the Croix de Guerre from the French authorities, and always insisted that it was not for his accordion playing!
By 1947 he had polished up his technique and study of harmony, counterpoint etc enough to feel at ease on the piano accordion, and, having waded through Charles Magnante’s Accordion Method Books 1 and 2, he decided to become a teacher upon returning to his native Glasgow. He soon had as many pupils as he could handle and formed the Scotia Accordion Club the same year.
Around the same time, he became interested in the Uniform Keyboard (invented by John Ruther) and, when they became available in the UK, he realised that this was the keyboard that be had been looking for. It was a perfect combination of the chromatic-button and piano-keyed keyboards.
Dad started his own Scottish Dance Band c1956/57 with four fiddlers from the Scottish Symphony Orchestra and one of his own pupils (Billy Buchan) on 2nd accordion. They soon became famous throughout the UK, and were booked solid to play for the RSCDS and at weddings, ceilidhs, etc. He also appeared as a regular bandleader for a number of years on Scottish Television’s Jigtime. Although very busy performing, he still loved to teach youngsters. He was teaching four nights a week and also during the day on Saturdays. He built up a wonderful Accordion School aided by my mother who was also an accordionist. Many of his pupils started to win competitions, going on to represent the school at national level. Many of his pupils were crowned British champions (including me) and many of them are still playing as professional / semi-professional accordionists to this day. Sunday was not a rest day either as it was spent conducting his Accordion Orchestras! The Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra was originally formed as part of his wider music school in the early 1970s. It was split into several smaller orchestras, and om several occasions they became UK Champions. Although he was active on the Scottish dance scene, my dad’s love was for accordion music in general, be it Scottish, Classical or Continental, and he made many friends in the wide accordion world.
The band also played concerts at home and abroad ; there were foreign trips to France, Belgium and Canada. With the untimely death of Jimmy Blair, the band was taken over by his wife Lola. My mother had initially started lessons with teacher Tony Verrechia in Glasgow. She became assistant teacher to my father and after his death in 1981 started the Lola Blair Accordion School. She became conductor of three Accordion Orchestras, Preparatory, Elementary and Intermediate. She loved teaching, and preferred this to gigging.
In 2009, I brought together new, talented accordionists to form the Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra. JBAO has been going from strength to strength since then.
Gary Blair
Gary Blair’s own story is a whole different ball game. He started learning when he was 8 years old and attending the Jimmy Blair Accordion School which was then located in Berkeley Street, Glasgow. He joined the Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra and soon started to compete around the UK. When he was around 15 or 16, his father started taking him to some of his gigs so he could learn he to play for dancing. This taught him such a lot and helps him to this day.
Gary clearly is very proud of all his family. He is not married, but has two adult children, Gary Jnr (30) who is a former UK Champion and was once placed 4th in the Junior Virtuoso Entertainment Section at the C.I.A. Coupe Mondial. He is now a Cruise Director with Carnival Cruises where he occasionally plays accordion to the guests.
Gary’s daughter, Kelly Ann (34), never took up the accordion or any other instrument other than playing tenor drum in a pipe band for a while. She is mother to Gary’s two grandchildren, Blossom and Koan.
Gary’s first bona fide gig was as a 13-year-old when he and his accordion duet partner, Iain Duff, were asked to join his older brothers Malcolm (drums) and Colin (bass guitar) in a band called The Blair Boys’ Band to play for the Saturday morning talent show at the Odeon Cinema in Eglinton Toll. Each week they would back local singers who performed Long Haired Lover from Liverpool and other such classic ditties. Their fee was ice cream, drinks and getting to watch the Saturday matinee.
Gary loved all styles of music, and admits he has not got a particular favourite genre. In fact, accordion seems to be his life. He is heavily into accordion history and told me that his only other hobby was collecting accordions and that his favourite tune was Flick Flack. Although he occasionally appears at Accordion & Fiddle clubs, he is a very busy man travelling the world to entertain. Canada, USA, Siberia, China, Korea, India, UAE, Russia, Kuwait and Italy are just a few of the places he has visited to provide entertainment, and your editor first met him at The Shetland A&F Festival.
As it did for all musicians, Lockdown stopped all his gigs and physical trips abroad. Instead he did a couple of virtual trips abroad. One was to the Faroe Islands and one to Catalonia : both were Accordion Festivals and both were according to him, “Brilliant.” He can’t wait to get going again, but other than going to Donegal, Ireland for his regular Burns Supper gig, he has no plans to go overseas yet. He is also a very busy teacher and at present teaches via Skype, which has kept him busy. He admits it doesn’t suit all, but right now it is a way of still being able to learn.
It was great catching up with Gary and like him I hope we will soon be able to get giggin’ again.
A Few Lockdown Stories
Lockdown presented a great many hurdles to overcome far many of us, and suddenly we have to deal with video recording, ZOOM meetings or Teams……whatever many of these interactive digital thingies were called. And it happened so quickly. Many rose to the occasion and a few Clubs contacted their local Radio statins and some took to ZOOMing with great gusto.
Drum Roll for Liam by Peter & Vivienne McIntosh
One young musician……………..
Biggar Accordion & Fiddle Club
One of the more prolific clubs during Lockdown…………
The 47th Annual NAAFC Championship – A Virtual Festival
Nominated for Event of the Year at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021
by Richard Ross, Festival Chairman
I was very proud to represent the NAAFC Festival family at the MG Alba Trad Awards in December 2021, as the Festival was nominated for the Virtual Event of the Year.
I thought that this was a good time to reflect and look back at how we achieved this. We were fortunate that our live Festival went ahead in March 2020. It was the last event to take place in Grangemouth Town Hall before Lockdown. As the year went on, it was a major blow to realise that after 46 years of running a live event, a live 2021 event could not take place.
After much deliberation and worry about whether or not we could run a virtual event we set up a Virtual Festival Committee and our first of many Zoom meetings took place in November 2020. There were so many new aspects of running an event that had to be considered and I have captured some of this below to give you a flavour of the activities that were undertaken :-
1) Document a plan detailing all activities.
2) Set up a new Committee where each member contributed different strengths to bring it all together.
3) Set up a new webpage, linked Paypal Account and YouTube video links – a huge amount of work condensed into one sentence.
4) Modify competitions and rules as required to suit a Virtual Festival.
5) Devise different approaches to encourage entries and create posters to advertise the event.
6) Provide new guidelines and marking sheets to support adjudicators.
7) Record various videos to promote the Festival, and upload adjudicators’ videos to the website.
8) Work with the BBC to supply recording for TTF and provide results on the same day for announcing on TTF.
9) Produce a Virtual Programme of Competitions.
10) Test and clip all video recordings.
11) Create new certificates.
12) Deal with lots of queries – this was new for everyone.
13) Ensure that competitors send us videos of their performances in the correct format.
This is not an exhaustive list and I would personally like to thank our Virtual Festival committee for an unbelievable effort in putting this all together. Margaret Knight, Iain Cathcart and Scott Band – thank you, what a team! Further thanks are due to Stuart Cameron and Marie Martin for providing additional invaluable support.
It was great to see that the number of entries for our virtual Festival competitions amounted to 241 (146 last year). We are very proud that our competitors’ ages ranged from 7 years to well over 60 years. It was a fantastic effort from everyone which was greatly appreciated and a huge relief to the Committee. Thanks go to all the competitors, parents, teachers, and supporters. We believe that we now have a competition that is suitable for many more of our players that attend Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and beyond.
Why not give it a try at our Festival on 5th March 2022 at Grangemouth Town Hall. Look out for our competition schedule via the NAAFC Festival website (www.naafcfestival.co.uk)
The Trad Awards nomination was a result of everyone’s collective effort and determination to make our first ever Virtual Festival such a success. Thank you, one and all.
We very much look forward to seeing you all in person in March.
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Ryan Johns0on
3) Emily Gold
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Ryan Johnson
3) Kyle Leslie
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Clelland Shand
2) Inver Shand
3) Blyth Shand
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – James Paterson Memorial Trophy
Most Promising Player
Victoria Byrne-McCombie
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Inver Shand
2) Clelland Shand
3) Victoria Byrne-McCombie
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Rosie Laundon & Tyler Martin
2) Magnus A. & Evie C. Williamson
3)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Clelland Shand
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Bruce Peebles
2) Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul
3) Iain Cathcart
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Liam Stewart
2) John Burns
3=) Colin Brown / Ian Smith
Accordion Solo (Traditional Music) 40 and Over – Provost’s Cup
1) Iain Cathcart
2) Charlie Kirkpatrick
3=) Alan Shute / Jim McLaren
Accordion Solo (Own Choice) 60 and Over Incl with 40 and Over – Alan Shute Trophy
1) Charlie Kirkpatrick
2) Alan Shute
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Overall Senior Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Bruce Peebles
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – John Allan Trophy & The Windygates Trophy
1) Scott Band
2) Charlie Kirkpatrick
3)
Open Gaelic Waltz Solo – Dorothy Patterson Memorial Trophy
1) Craig Paton
2) Gary Sutherland
3) John Carmichael
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy & Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
1) Duncan Black Trio
2) Rhiann Matthew Trio
3) Fin Hope Trio
Trio Runners-Up – Eric Goodfellow Memorial Shield
Rhiann Matthew Trio
Trios – Best Piano Player – David Flockhart Shield
Craig Paton – Duncan Black Trio
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) John Burns Band
2) Fin Hope Band
3) The Committeed
Runners Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
Fin Hope Band
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
John Burns Band
Junior Band – Duncan Campbell of Oban Memorial Trophy
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Duncan Black
2) Rhiann Matthew
3) Claire Gullan
Accordion & Fiddle club Representative Open – Banchory A&FC Trophy
1) Biggar A&F Club
2) Clydesdale A&F Club
3) Carlisle A&F Club
RSCDS Open Dance – RSCDS Trophy
1)
2)
Under 12 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Alistair Adamson
2) Emily Gold
3) Ryan Johnson
Under 14 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Inver Shand
2) Jake Johnstone
3)
Under 16 Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Clelland Shand
2) Kirsty Grant
3) Blythe Shand
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Senior Classical / Variety Accordion Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul
2) Archie MacKechnie
3) Brendan Dougal-Kittel
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1)
2)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Charlotte Hamlet & Daisy Arnold
2)
3)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 12 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1)
2)
3)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open 6/8 Pipe March – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) Lynn McIver
2) John Carmichael
3=) Iain Cathcart / Claire Gullan / Tom Orr
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Kristie Williamson
2) Ellie Nicolson
3) Andrew Farquharson
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup & Kirsty’s Ceilidh Shield
1) Magnus A. Williamson
2) Ashley Hay
3) Amber Thomson
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Memorial Cup
1) Ashley Hay
2) Rose Byers
3) Amber Thomson
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Shona MacFadyen
2) Anne Mitchell
3) Rhiann Matthew
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Emma Leask
2) Anne Mitchell
3) Rhiann Matthew
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open Fiddle Solo Hornpipe and Jig – John Ellis Trophy
1) Emma Leask
2) Barbara Coutts
3) Rhiann Matthew
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Anne Mitchell
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Ashley Hay
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) Deeside Loons & quines
2) Forget-Me-Notes
3) The Last Gaspers
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Zara Crossan
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Alistair Adamson
Reflections on the 2021 All-Scotland Accordion & fiddle Festival
by Peter Bruce
About four decades ago a report such as this could have begun with, “Early on the morning of 30th October hundreds of parents across Scotland scraped the ice from their car windscreens so as to get their children to Perth to compete in the Festival”. This was not the case in 2021, owing partly to climate change but mostly to the ubiquitous coronavirus.
Three people stand out and deserve the gratitude of all of us ; without their herculean efforts the Festival could not have taken place. They are Morgan Brown, who did all the administrative work and helped the adjudicators with great skill ; Simon Howie, without whose drive and initiative the modern Festivals could not have taken place ; and Tom Orr, who is an absolute wizard with the electronic aspects of the Festival. He set up the audio and video performances you will have seen on-line. Great thanks indeed to these three individuals.
The comment from the adjudicators was that the standard of play was very high, with some outstanding efforts. This is surely a good thing, but a slight negative is that the presence of virtuoso players has possibly frightened away the kind of players with moderate ability who regularly competed several decades ago.
Another comment was that the competitors had taken a lot of care with their audio and video : they had done this very diligently to get the best possible sound and vision in their performances.
Perhaps pride of place should go to Duncan Black (Senior Scottish Winner). This was a unanimous decision by all three adjudicators. In James Coutt’s opinion it was one of the best-ever performances in this event (and he heard about half of the 72 finals!) James also pointed out that Duncan is possibly the oldest winner! (Winning the Festival has traditionally been a game for young men and women).
In the fiddle sections the ones that caught my (unqualified) ear were Shona MacFadyen in the seniors, and in the juniors, both from Shetland, Yelena Anderson and Maisie Henderson.
Another great effort was the performances of the Shand family from Dunfermline : they gave top-rate performances across different genres, playing with technical brilliance and great style. My own favourite from a very distinguished set of performances was Inver in the Junior Musette Class. Adjudicators were also impressed by the playing of Ryan Johnson from Shetland, in the 10 and Under and Under 12 Scottish Solo events.
In the Composition Class I enjoyed the waltz written by John Burns : it had a pleasant melody and clever harmonies. John is another stalwart of the Festival. Having won it about 30 years ago he returns each year and competes in different sections. Many thanks for his support over the years.
I’m sorry if your efforts are not mentioned in this brief article, but, believe me, we do appreciate your efforts and musicianship. We thank all the players, parents and teachers for the efforts they have made, both on the music side and on the electronic side.
What happens next year? We hope to get back to ‘The Sally’, but time alone will tell. The general feeling is that a Virtual Festival is not as good as a live one, but it is surely far better than cancellation.
Thanks to all for your continued support.
Peter Bruce and the Committee.
10 & Under Traditional Accordion Solo - Peter Bruce Trophy
1. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. James Shand, Aberdeen
4. Emily Gold, Carnwath
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo - Black Isle Shield
1. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. Emily Gold, Carnwath
4. Elizabeth Cathcart, Lanark
Under 12 Musette Accordion Solo
1. Alistair Adamson, Forth
Under 12 World Music Accordion Solo
1. Emily Gold, Carnwath
2. Alistair Adamson, Forth
3. Elizabeth Cathcart, Lanark
All Scotland Junior Traditional Accordion Solo Championship - Angus Accordion College Challenge Shield & Jimmy Stephen Salver (Junior Girls)
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
3. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Girls
1. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
2. Abbie Christie, Banchory
3. Daisy Arnold, Thornhill
Junior Pipe Music Accordion Solo - The Charlie Cowie Memorial Cup
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
3. Emily Gifford, Shetland
Junior Musette Accordion Solo - The Vic Wallace Memorial Shield
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Blythe Shane, Dunfermline
3. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Junior World Music Accordion Solo - Accordion World Challenge Cup
1. Inver Shand, Dunfermline
2. Victoria Byrne-McCombie, Shetland
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo - Jimmy Shand Challenge Shield & Margaret Hendry Salver (Senior Lady)
1. Duncan Black, Edinburgh
2. Liam Stewart, Galston
3. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
Ladies
1. NO ENTRIES
2.
3.
Senior Pipe Music Accordion Solo - Bill Black Challenge Cup
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
2. Susan MacFadyen, Polmont
3. Bruce Peebles, Shetland
Senior Musette Accordion Solo
1. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
2. Philip Gillie, Duns
Senior World Music Accordion Solo - Accordion World Challenge Cup
1. Clelland Shand, Dunfermline
2. Jamie Stewart McGinley, Falkirk
3. Sarah Alexander, Glasgow
Veteran Traditional Accordion Solo - The Andrew Rankine Memorial Quaich
1. Paul Capaldi, Galashiels
2. Iain Cathcart, Lanark
Button Key Traditional Accordion Solo - Duncan Campbell Memorial Trophy
1. NO ENTRIES
Under 12 Fiddle Solo - Jim Ritchie Challenge Cup
1. Kristie Williamson, Shetland
2. Andrew Farquharson, Fern
3. Bethyn Wood, Buckie
All Scotland Junior Fiddle Solo Championship - Albie Tedham Challenge Cup
1. Yelena Anderson, Shetland
2. Maisie Henderson, Shetland
3. Tyler Martin, Portlethen
Junior Slow Air Fiddle Solo - Shelagh Rankine Memorial Trophy
1. Maisie Henderson, Shetland
2. Holly Stephen, Shetland
3. Emma Cameron, Kintore
All Scotland Senior Fiddle Solo Championship - Ian Powrie Challenge Cup & Mickie Ainsworth Memorial Trophy & Award
1. Shona MacFadyen, Ardrossan
2. Gillian Ramsay, Alyth
3. Rhiann Matthew, Tarland
Senior Slow Air Fiddle Solo - Pibroch MacKenzie Memorial Quaich
1. Shona MacFadyen, Ardrossan
2. Rhiann Matthew, Tarland
3. Emma Leask, Shetland
All Scotland Junior Scottish Trio Championship- Alex McArthur Quaich
1. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
2. Murray Small, Forfar
Own Composition - Jimmy Blue Challenge Cup
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
2. Ewan Galloway, Dalkeith
3. Jennifer Cruickshank, Lumphanan
All Scotland Scottish Senior Trio Championship - Perth Accordion Club Challenge Cup
1. Fin Hope, Biggar
All Scotland Scottish Dance Band Championship - Ronnie Cooper Memorial Trophy (Band) & John Gibson Memorial Trophy (Rhythm Section)
1. Fin Hope, Biggar
2. John Burns, Kilsyth
Rhythm Section
1. John Burns, Kilsyth
Gaelic Waltz (Accordion or Fiddle) - Iain MacPhail Trophy
1. Craig McFadyen, Oban
2. Ewan Galloway, Dalkeith
3. Susan MacFadyen, Polmont
The Dance Music Competition
1. Bruce Peebles, Shetland
2. Ryan Johnson, Shetland
3. Jake Johnstone, Biggar
Fiddle Group
1. NO ENTRIES
Bill Wilkie Memorial Trophy – Most Promising Under 16 Accordionist
Winner: Ryan Johnson, Shetland
Centre Stage
Fergie MacDonald
Letters to the Editor
Dear Pia
I was having a leisurely look through some of my old B&F copies during our enforced Lockdown and was re-reading with great interest about the 70 years of the Perth A&F festival in the January 2020 issue. It reminded me of all the many happy visits I have made to the Festival, initially on my own and later with my wife.
I thought your readers might like………….
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
The Tay Ceilidh Band – The Hills o’ Perth - Independent
Book Review
The Cardenden Collection – Michael Phillips – Vol 4 Review by Ewan Galloway
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Gary Innes
CLUB DIARY – NB few if any Club's actually met due to the Covid19 pandemic
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) -
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) -
Arbroath (Arbroath Artisan Golf Club) - 9th Jan 2022 – Scott Band
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) –
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 26th Jan 2022 - tbc
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) –
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – 9th Jan 2022 – No meeting
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 11th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) –
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 11th Jan 2022 – John Morgan
Canderside (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 13th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Crossmichael Hall) –
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark) -
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 20th Jan 2022 – No meeting (renovations)
Crieff & District (British Legion) -
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 19th Jan 2022 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 11th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Dumfries (Crichton Royal Golf Club) - Jan 2022 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 30th Jan 2022 - AGM
Forres (Victoria Hotel) –
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Gala YM RFC) -
Glendale (The Glendale Hall, Wooler) - 27th Jan 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) -
Glenrothes (Queen Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - Jan 2022 – Gavin Piper
Gretna (The Richard Greenhow Centre) - 2nd Jan 2022 – Marian Anderson Trio
Hidden Toun (Haddington Bowling Club) - 30th Jan 2022 – Clappy Doo CB
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 17th Jan 2022 – Ali K. MacPherson Band
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 13th Jan 2022 - tbc
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 26th Jan 2022 – Paul Capaldi Trio
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) –
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) -
Lockerbie (Mid Annandale Comrades Club) -
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 23rd Jan 2022 – Gold Brothers
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 18th Jan 2022 – Judith Linton Trio
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 5th Jan 2022 – Wayne Robertson Duo
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 31st Jan 2022 – Club Night
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) –
Oban (The Royal Hotel) –
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Jan 2022 - tbc
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 4th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 13th & 27th Jan 2022 – Club Night
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
TMSA (Aberdeen) – Sportmans Club - Jan 2022 - Session
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) –
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) –
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Alnwick
2. Arbroath
3. Biggar
4. Blairgowrie
5. Campsie
6. Castle Douglas
7. Forfar
8. Glenfarg
9. Glenrothes
10. Highland
11. Kelso
12. Lewis & Harris
13. Macmerry
14. Mauchline & District
15. Montrose
16. Orkney
17. Perth & District
18. Shetland
19. Turriff & District
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2022
(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. Dumfries A&F Club (1965 renamed Islesteps Jan 1981 – 2021 then back to Dumfries)
22. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
23. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Fort William A&F Club ( )
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. Hidden Toun A&F (Haddington) (Jan 2022 – present)
32. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
33. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
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. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
39. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
40. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
41. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
42. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
43. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
44. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
45. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
46. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
47. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
48. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
49. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
50. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
51 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
52 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
53 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
54 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
55 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?)
56. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
57. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
58. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
59. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
60. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
61. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
62. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
63. Britannia B&F Club (joined 07-08 but much older
64. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
65. Buchan A&F Club
66. Callander A&F Club (
67. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980 – 1997?)
68. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
69. Club Accord
70. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
71 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
72. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
73. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
74. Cults A & F Club (
75. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
76. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
77. Derwentside A&F Club
78. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
79. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
80. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
81. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
82. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
83. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – April 2020 – Covid19)
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. Ellon A&F Club (1984 – April 2020 Covid19)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 – March 2018)
92. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
93. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
94. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
95. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
96. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
97. Kintore A&F Club (
98. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
99. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
100. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
101. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
102. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
103. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – March 2020 - Covid)
104. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
105. Maine Valley A&F Club (
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
112. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
113. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
114. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
115. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
116. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
117. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
118. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
119. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
120. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
121. Selkirk A&F Club (
122. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
123. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
124. Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
125. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
126 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
127 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
128. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
129. Tranent A&F Club
130. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
131. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
132. Wellbank A&F Club
133. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
134. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
Advertising rates
Back Page (colour) - £320
Full Page (colour) - £256
Full Page (b&w) - £160
Half Page (colour) - £128
Half Page (b&w) - £80
Quarter Page (colour) - £64
Quarter Page (b&w) - £40
Eighth Page - £30
Small Boxed £20