Max Houliston
A recent visit to Dumfries and a visit to the “Hole in the Wa’” reminded me that this was where the whole Accordion and Fiddle scene began. The man who started it all is still very much involved with the accordion and the mere mention of the name conjures up memories of music coming over the airwaves on a Saturday night that set his band apart from his contemporaries and gave it a distinctiveness which is sometimes said to be lacking in present-day bands. Pieces such as “Cavatina”, “Miss Melanie”, “Washington Post” and “Doctor Finlay’s Casebook theme” in the capable hands of Max Houliston and his Band, gave listeners an insight into the broader musical spectrum of the accordion.
I arranged to meet Max at what is for me a quiet time, Sunday afternoon, but soon realised that for a busy publican there is no such luxury. Max guided me into the comparative peace of his office and gave me an insight into how he had blended business with pleasure to produce a new social activity which has since spread the length and breadth of the country.
First things first however, and Max gave me a brief outline of his own musical career. His parents were keen listeners, although not players and encouraged Max when he started accordion lessons at the age of 10 with local music teacher Alex Carter. Alex was a good all-round teacher giving piano lessons and organ also. This lasted for about 5 years leading up to regular spots with local concert parties.
At eighteen Max was called up to do his National Service in the Royal Signals and was soon co-opted into their dance band at Catterick. This proved invaluable experience playing for modern ballroom dancing in the Officers Mess and gave him the opportunity to meet and learn from many professional musicians doing their stint.
Back in civvy street in 1956, Max decided that too many bad habits had crept into his playing technique and to remedy this he resumed tuition, but this time with Ronnie Hodgson in Carlisle. Under Ronnie’s guidance Max found his playing steadily improving and he was able to develop his repertoire of Continental, modern and Scottish music.
By the early ‘60’s Max had teamed up with a number to talented local musicians. On piano was Ian Austin, newly returned from the R.A.F. and also a former pupil of Alex Carter (and now an L.R.A.M. himself teaching piano in Dumfries) and a musician for who Max has the highest regard.
Bas was in the capable hands of Gordon Young, also from Dumfries. It was Gordon who arranged many of the modern dance selections which the band played. He now lives in Galashiels, but unfortunately has retired from the playing world altogether. For a drummer Max still has to look no further than Dumfries and Steve Redpath and it was only the band’s fiddler, gamekeeper Kenny Wilson from Elvanfoot, who had to travel any distance. The five piece band successfully passed their audition and did their first (live) broadcast in1963.
Although all first rate musicians, every note had to be scored since Ian and Gordon had no “ear” for busking. During all their years playing together, they were only caught out once. Max recalled that embarrassing event with a smile. “It was at Bill Wilkie’s Evening Concert for the Perth Festival. We had just finished our band spot at the end of the Concert when Bill came on stage to give the vote of thanks. Having done that he turned to me and said “Haste Ye Back in F”. That probably wouldn’t have presented a problem to any other band but since it was totally unexpected and wasn’t scored it was with a feeling of impending doom that Max relayed the instruction to the rest of the band as the Bill Wilkie Singers filed in from the wings. “I may as well have told Ian and Gordon the football results” joked Max. The band sound I understand left something to be desired. (Ironically John Douglas tells me that Max himself is renowned for this ability to back singers in the pub, following them unerringly through any number of unintentional key changes).
Box & Fiddle
March 1992
I arranged to meet Max at what is for me a quiet time, Sunday afternoon, but soon realised that for a busy publican there is no such luxury. Max guided me into the comparative peace of his office and gave me an insight into how he had blended business with pleasure to produce a new social activity which has since spread the length and breadth of the country.
First things first however, and Max gave me a brief outline of his own musical career. His parents were keen listeners, although not players and encouraged Max when he started accordion lessons at the age of 10 with local music teacher Alex Carter. Alex was a good all-round teacher giving piano lessons and organ also. This lasted for about 5 years leading up to regular spots with local concert parties.
At eighteen Max was called up to do his National Service in the Royal Signals and was soon co-opted into their dance band at Catterick. This proved invaluable experience playing for modern ballroom dancing in the Officers Mess and gave him the opportunity to meet and learn from many professional musicians doing their stint.
Back in civvy street in 1956, Max decided that too many bad habits had crept into his playing technique and to remedy this he resumed tuition, but this time with Ronnie Hodgson in Carlisle. Under Ronnie’s guidance Max found his playing steadily improving and he was able to develop his repertoire of Continental, modern and Scottish music.
By the early ‘60’s Max had teamed up with a number to talented local musicians. On piano was Ian Austin, newly returned from the R.A.F. and also a former pupil of Alex Carter (and now an L.R.A.M. himself teaching piano in Dumfries) and a musician for who Max has the highest regard.
Bas was in the capable hands of Gordon Young, also from Dumfries. It was Gordon who arranged many of the modern dance selections which the band played. He now lives in Galashiels, but unfortunately has retired from the playing world altogether. For a drummer Max still has to look no further than Dumfries and Steve Redpath and it was only the band’s fiddler, gamekeeper Kenny Wilson from Elvanfoot, who had to travel any distance. The five piece band successfully passed their audition and did their first (live) broadcast in1963.
Although all first rate musicians, every note had to be scored since Ian and Gordon had no “ear” for busking. During all their years playing together, they were only caught out once. Max recalled that embarrassing event with a smile. “It was at Bill Wilkie’s Evening Concert for the Perth Festival. We had just finished our band spot at the end of the Concert when Bill came on stage to give the vote of thanks. Having done that he turned to me and said “Haste Ye Back in F”. That probably wouldn’t have presented a problem to any other band but since it was totally unexpected and wasn’t scored it was with a feeling of impending doom that Max relayed the instruction to the rest of the band as the Bill Wilkie Singers filed in from the wings. “I may as well have told Ian and Gordon the football results” joked Max. The band sound I understand left something to be desired. (Ironically John Douglas tells me that Max himself is renowned for this ability to back singers in the pub, following them unerringly through any number of unintentional key changes).
Box & Fiddle
March 1992