Box and Fiddle
Year 35 No 09
May 2012
Price £2.60
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £28.60 + p&p £11 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
As we are going to Press we heard of the sudden and untimely death of Jim Berry. It was the wishes of Graham and Netta that we carry the article and report that Jim wrote about Newburgh Club as planned. Our sympathies go out to Jim’s family.
Charlie has started to work his way through the earliest B&F Newspapers recording the ‘highlights’ from each issue. At the moment 77/78 and 78/79 can be found on the Website under Box and Fiddle Magazine / Old Newspapers. He’s unable to include all the text from individual Club Reports (other than the very first issue) but if someone from each Club wanted to re-type their own and submit them to Keith that would be most welcome. Charlie has started on Biggar as an example.
We had so many tributes to Lex Keith that we decided to run the article over two issues and this issue carries a piece written by Hector McLeod.
Karin Ingram
NAAFC Ruby Anniversary Gala Concert
This spectacular show took place on Saturday 24th March 2012 at Perth Concert Hall
by Nicol McLaren
“That has to be the best night’s entertainment we’ve had in years!”, “Brilliant show”, “Absolutely fantastic!” Those were the first words I heard as I emerged from backstage shortly after the curtains closed in Perth Concert Hall at the end of the NAAFC’s Ruby Anniversary Concert on the 24th March 2012 – and how gratifying were those words?
Two years ago, when we first started to think how best we could celebrate 40 years of the NAAFC, the idea of a grand ‘Gala Concert’ was raised. But where to hold it? The venue had to be central and accessible, the cast list would reflect the 40 years of the Association, and showcase the talent and diversity of the Accordion and Fiddle club scene. The task of pulling all of this together was passed to the, then, “new boy” on the Committee, Iain Cathcart, who was to research all possibilities.
So, after much research (and some of the best qualitative and quantitative analysis reports I’ve seen presented to the Executive committee), Perth Concert Hall was booked, which immediately caused Treasurer Charlie Todd to panic – “Will we ever fill that number of seats?” The next quandary was to decide who should perform. We decided to focus on those whom the NAAFC has honoured over its 40 year existence, with the headline act being the longstanding masters of Scottish Variety, The Alexander Brothers (Tom having been our Guest of Honour in 2009), and the house band, the irrepressible John Carmichael Ceilidh Band (GoH 2004). Thereafter, the concert party would be filled with the greats of past, present and future. To this end we decided to secure the services of Iain MacPhail (2003) and Brian Griffin, Bill Black (1999), and Gordon Pattullo (2008) and Angela MacEachern, Fraser McGlynn (2010), Tribute to Jim Johnstone (2001), and Ian Muir (2011), and with a view to the future, KODA. And this all hosted y compere, the one and only Robbie Shepherd MBE (1992).
Inevitably, regardless of how much preparation is done, there are always a few glitches close to the event, and it was with great sadness that, due to illness, some last changes had to be made. Robert Black, the three time Senior Scottish Accordion Champion, stood in for his father Bill. Shand Morino aficionado Charlie Kirkpatrick, Guest of Honour, this year, stood in for Fraser McGlynn and, at the final hour, Gemma Donald stood in for the injured Angela MacEachern.
Ticket sales boomed as soon as they went on sale in early September 2011. 30% of the seats were taken by mid-October, and 80% by the end of January. We knew we were going to have a good night and a full house, so now to put all the logistics in place!
Throughout the project, Iain Cathcart’s eye for, and attention to, detail continued, planning for logistics, finance, risk, publicity, liaising with Horsecross (Perth Concert Hall), planning the running order, drafting in Keith Dickson to design the Concert Programme (a magnificent document!), and organizing the rest of the Committee with their tasks for the day. Everyone was eager to do their part to assist Iain to make the day run as smoothly as possible – from making sure artistes were ready on time, to selling programmes or pulling the stage curtains! My particular charge was to ‘map’ the stage for each act, making sure that after each sound check we knew exactly where every microphone was and which channel they were plugged into, where the seats and music stands were placed so that their position could be precisely replicated for the evening performance, and that the artistes were comfortable with their setup. Sound checks started at 12 noon with KODA who, with 12 members, had the most complicated map. Thereafter, once we had John Carmichael Band set, all others came on in half hour slots (keep remembering mics 1 and 7 are different and can only be used in specific channels!!) and we were finally set for a full house and curtain up!
By 7.30, everyone’s nerves were brewing and we couldn’t wait for the opening – and what an opening it was. As the curtain went up, a slide show of all our Honours Recipients commenced with their photographs overlaid with snippets of the music. Again a great idea of Iain’s, ably assisted by David Cunningham. It was a very nostalgic and poignant opening that left hardly a dry eye in the house. Presented by Robbie Shepherd, the concert got off to a rousing start with John Carmichael’s Band (Marie Fielding, Scott Gordon, Alan Kitchen, John Sinton and John Carmichael) who were to be busy for the entire night backing all of the other artistes. Thereafter followed a veritable feats of music from the traditional West Coast swing of Charlie Kirkpatrick through a phenomenal jazz set from Robert Black, to a spell-binding performance from the youngsters of KODA. Robbie did a sterling job linking the acts, not knowing how long he would have to speak until the next stage had been mapped back and checked, and until I could press the button to give him the Green Light (literally!) Thanks Robbie! Although we finished 50 minutes later than planned, it seemed no time at all until, the show was over. The Alexander Brothers had played their last set and Robbie had called the entire cast on stage for one final bow, to rapturous applause and fantastic comments.
The evening, from my perspective, had disappeared very quickly – but that is always true of a great night! The reaction of both the audience and the artistes made all the worry and the organisation worthwhile and had more than a few saying “roll on the 50th”.
My thanks go out to everyone who came to celebrate 40 years of the NAAFC – without you we wouldn’t have had any of the atmosphere; to all of the NAAFC Executive Committee who did their bit to make it the success it was (how many tickets did you sell Jacqui?); to Horsecross for their help and advice; a special thanks to David Cunningham for his assistance with the sound setup; to Keith Dickson for the design of the Concert Programme (there are still a few available which we are making available for sale. You don’t have to have been at the concert to appreciate how timeless a document this masterpiece is!) and especially to the man who really made it all happen, Iain Cathcart. Iain, you are a STAR!
Dumfries and District Music Festival 2012
by
The Accordion and Fiddle Section…………..
Tribute to Lex Keith (20.08.35 – 08.02.12)
by Various
Hector McLeod
In 1981, Lex, Bob Christie (fiddle) and Gavin McIntyre (fiddle) decided to form a group in which the melody would be played by the fiddle and the accordion would be an accompanying instrument. They very much admired the sound of Bobby Brown and the Cape Breton Symphony. Lex, Bob and Gavin thought the sound they envisaged could be achieved by three fiddles, accordion and piano and so they invited myself to be the third fiddler and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) to be the pianist – Fiddlers 3 + 2 was born.
Their first public performance was in 1981 at Balloch Accordion & Fiddle Club, which was being held at the time in the Griffin Hotel in Alexandria. The Club kindly allowed the group to play 5 sets – that’s all they could play as a band anyway! The sound must have been okay because they were soon invited to be Guest Artistes (I can’t remember where) which meant getting about 20 sets ready. This meant a tremendous amount of work for Lex who selected all the tunes, chorded them, put them in sets, did all the arrangements and physically wrote it all out. The rest of the group had input about the selection of the tunes – what lies well for the accordion does not necessarily lie so well for the fiddle – so sometimes a tune was rejected by the fiddlers, but not very often. A rejected tune might very well appear in another set a wee while later!
As well as being ‘Musical Director’, Lex did 90% of the ‘secretarial business’, arranging the venues and dates and dealing with phone calls and correspondence from Clubs and Associations. From that modest performance at the Balloch Club, F3 + 2 played at many of the A&F Clubs throughout the country and over the Border during the next 25 years. Some of the venues were : Lewis, Rogart, Banchory, Peebles, Selkirk, Dumfries, Rothbury. Many Clubs were visited more than once. The last appearance at an A&F Club was at Wooler in 2006.
F3 + 2’s other main activity was playing for Scottish Country Dancing. Again there were too many Dance societies and venues to list them all but some highlights were :
‘The Day of Dance’ for Central Region Primary Schools at which the band played for 3 or 4 years. It was encouraging to see the 10 and 11 year olds keeping the dances, and therefore the music, alive.
The Annual Country Dance for Merchiston School at which the group played on 3 or 4 occasions. Those dances were for senior pupils. The boys in the kilt without exception and the girls, from several other Edinburgh schools, in long dresses.
The R.S.C.D.S. dances held at the end of the Summer School in St. Andrews. Brian Innes, who stayed in St Andrews, deputised me the first year the band played there and he was invited to play on 2 or 3 occasions – Fiddlers 4 + 2!
The very last gig F3 + 2 played was for the R.S.C.D.S. at Blair Castle on 28th February 2008.
From 1983 F3 + 2 played on many ‘Take the Floor’s’. Lex, Bob and Bill were so well respected and had played on so many albums and broadcasts, that the band did not have to audition. Freeland Barbour produced the first few Fiddlers’ broadcasts and Ken Mutch produced the others. Robbie Shepherd just loved talking about ‘3 + 2 + 1’!
The band did not use any different material for the broadcasts but they felt they had to play particularly well, because anyone in the audience could tape a broadcast and listen to it again and hear any possible fluff or wrong note they would probably miss at a Club or dance. (This was also the case with their albums of course). No matter how experienced a player and how many broadcasts he may have done, once the light goes on in the studio, a definite tension arises and any nervousness can be transmitted and spread like wildfire - and sometimes did. The broadcasts were both scary and enjoyable at the same time but were definitely beneficial to the sound of the group because the players practiced more individually, and so played better as an ensemble. The last ‘Take the Floor’ was in the Spring of 2005.
In 1984 F3 + 2 + Stan had the pleasure of playing on a few radio programmes for the Gaelic Service, featuring Mary Sandeman and produced by the other John Carmichael. The group accompanied Mary in Gaelic and Scottish songs and played some of their own sets. Mary, whom some of you may remember as Aneka, had a worldwide No 1 with ‘Japanese Boy’ in 1981.
F3 + 2 made two albums for Klub Records. Lex was on holiday when the first one came out and, when he came home, rushed to Biggars to get a copy. He asked the shop assistant if they had the album. She said they had and went to the shelf to get a copy. She came back empty handed and said “It’s sold out”. Lex thought for all of two seconds ‘World cruise here I come’. He then asked the girl how many copies they had got in…………she said “Three”!
In 1991 F3 + 2 recorded Books 14 and 15 for the R.S.C.D.S. – this was produced on two cassettes. This whole enterprise entailed a great deal of work for Lex. As well as the normal arranging, chording etc he had to make sure that none of the tunes he selected was an original for another country dance. The second cassette had two 8 x 48 bar Strathspeys which were a great challenge to the band as a whole, but to the fiddles in particular. The very nature of the Strathspey, with its dotted quaver/ semi quaver rhythm and its reverse (the Scotch Snap) was difficult for the three to synchronise and play as ‘one’. The great length of those two dances also added to the pressure. There was a great feeling of relief and accomplishment when they were ‘in the can’! One Strathspey had 12 mins 10 secs playing time whilst the other had 12 mins 25 secs. Not bad time-keeping!
A lot of F3 + 2 material was determined by the Scottish Country Dances, so obviously Jigs, Strathspeys and Reels featured very prominently in the repertoire.
As the group played more and more Country Dances, Lex built up a library of sets for Jigs, Strathspeys and Reels, so that when a new dance was required (new to the group that is), the original could be added to a set of three other tunes. This way, the same sets could be played for 2 or 3 different Country Dances i.e. only the originals changing. When the group played at A&F Clubs they would fill out the programme with waltzes, slow airs, matches, medleys and march, strathspey and reel sets. Generally the fiddles played in unison but, for some of the slow airs played in 3 part harmony.
Many wonderful players deputised/guested over the years. Special mention must be made of Graeme Burns (fiddle) who made his first appearance in 1987 and then played many, many times in the place of one or other of the fiddlers until Gavin retired and Graeme took his place. He just fitted into the group perfectly. Other fiddle deputies were Bill Cook and Kenny McLean.
When Bill Hendry passed away at the end of 1995, Alan Kitchen took over. Ian Clark played many Country Dances in the last few years and indeed played at the very last gig at Blair Castle in 2008. The band was very grateful to Bill Ewan for playing piano at the A&F Clubs in Lewis and Rogart.
As well as the broadcasts, Stan Saunders played bass on the band’s three albums. Alasdair MacLeod and John Sinton each played bass on one ‘Take the Floor’.
Lex never missed a gig in the 27 or so years of the band’s existence. No other accordion player was ever needed. A remarkable achievement!
Lex did not start composing until the year 2000 when he wrote his first tune, but from then on it was ‘full steam ahead’, if you’ll pardon the ‘Lex like’ play on words. In 2002 or 2003 he published his book of 28 tunes entitled ‘The Steam Train to Mallaig’. In the collection are tunes Lex wrote for family and friends including ‘Robert Christie of Stirling’ and ‘Hecky McLeod’, a tune dedicated to this writer (of which he is very proud). The jigs for his boys, ‘Alastair Iain’s Jig’ and ‘Robbie Alan’ are particularly good and F3 + 2 played them in a set fairly regularly. ‘Alastair Iain’s Jig’ has a change of key from D major to Bb major for the second 16 bars which is unusual for a tune in this genre but very effective. Other compositions in the Collection won 1st prize at Kirriemuir in 2001 and 1st prize at Banchory in 2002.
Lex’s new grandson (named after Lex) is now 4 months old. Lex was so delighted that he wrote a tune for the baby the day he was born. This tune ‘Alexander Hutton Keith’ won 1st prize at Kirriemuir a few days later.
I last saw Lex on 26th January when he played at a Burns’ Night for the Glasgow Sutherland Association. He was clearly not in the best of health. Typical of Lex, he would not let anyone down even for this relatively unimportant function.
He played a lovely set of Gaelic waltzes in his own inimitable way, accompanied 3 singers, accompanied his partner Jean-Ann Callender on fiddle, and played for community singing. A typical night showcasing Lex’s undoubted talents. I am proud I was one of the singers making music with Lex that night and proud that I did so over the last 30 years.
Jack Delaney
I first remember Lex in the mid fifties when I played with Andrew Rankine’s band. He would come along to the Glasgow studio when we were recording a dance music programme and very often Andrew would borrow his Morino to do the broadcast as it sounded much better than the Cordovox which Andrew played at that time. He was a great enthusiast of Scottish music and had a wide knowledge of Gaelic airs and pipe tunes. He had a first class ear for harmony and this showed both when using his talents to accompany singers and when playing second box with many of the Scottish dance bands. I was honoured when he asked me to play second box with him on his record in 1980.
He used to join us at times when Dochie McCallum couldn’t take time off work. He had a great sense of humour and a wealth of stories from his experiences in the west coast and was great company in the band wagon (when he was awake). He had this ability to drop off into a deep sleep at a moment’s notice which was a great asset when travelling all over the country. On one occasion Hamish picked up two young Nigerian ladies on the A9 who were trying to hitch hike to Crianlarich and they clambered in the back of the Bedford beside Lex who was fast asleep. They disembarked at Lix Toll and we carried on back to Callander where Lex spent the night with the Menzies’ family. The next morning at breakfast Lex told us about this strange dream he had about sitting in the back of the band wagon with two young coloured ladies!
On another occasion, after having been up north playing with us, we dropped him off at around 1a.m at his car which was parked at the Post Office in Callander to make his way back to Glasgow. At 7 a.m. Hamish arrived at work at the post office and found Lex still in the car sound asleep not even having left for home.
Some time ago Lex asked me to play second box with him at the opening of a new filling station and associated shops at Grangemouth but when we had set up and were about to start, he discovered that the organisers had made a mistake in the booking and expected a “ceilidh band” to include pipers and drummers all dressed up in kilts etc. as in “pipe band” but not accordions, fiddle etc. We all had a good laugh about it and just carried on to enjoy playing a good two hours of Scottish dance music.
Lex was a good musician, a great enthusiast and a really fine person and will be sadly missed by all his friends in the dance music business.
David Solley
I had known and performed with Lex Keith for 30 years. I had a Show in the early eighties in the Highland Hotel, Fort William where Lex and I met when he took over from the previous band and we had worked together at Ceilidhs, Concerts & Cabaret since then. We auditioned in 1988 for the Council for Music in Hospitals based in Edinburgh and have entertained in hospitals & homes all over Scotland for the past 24 years.
During this time Lex and I became very good friends and I think we both had something special musically. Lex's sudden death on the 8th February 2012 was a shock to myself, his family, friends & colleagues in the music world.
He will be sadly missed by all.
Alan Kitchen
I first met Lex in 1981 when he worked for Glasgow City Halls & Theatres Department. At that time he booked me to play in a show in the Kings Theatre – “The Norman Maclean Show” – along with special guest Mary Sandeman as Aneka.
Prior to this, I had heard his playing on record and particularly admired his command of harmony within the context of a Scottish Dance Band.
Through the 1980s I played from time to time with Lex at dances and functions around the Greater Glasgow area. I also recall an enjoyable weekend at the Mull Music Festival, where Lex took charge of the proceedings in The MacDonald Arms Hotel, playing for much of the weekend, and ensuring that every player who came in had “a tune”.
In 1993, he asked that I join Fiddlers 3+2 as the piano player, replacing Bill Hendry of Falkirk, who had announced his retiral. I had heard this outfit many times, and again, it was Lex’s solid harmonic arrangements and chord progressions which I had enjoyed. Whether for an accordion club or a Take the Floor broadcast, Lex’s preparation of the written music was always impeccable, something which always makes it easier and quicker to achieve a better end result.
One of Lex’s musical strengths was as an accompanist. During the 1990s the duo of Lex on accordion with singer/comedian Hugh Ferris was one of Glasgow’s weekly musical highlights, as they entertained every Sunday night in a well known South Side hostelry. Indeed their double act reached the “big screen” when it was featured in “Orphans”, a 1997 film, set in Glasgow.
John Carmichael
I first met Lex in the late '50s when he had the Cairngorm SDB, he played every Saturday night in the old Highlanders Institute in Elmbank Street in Glasgow. The band was very popular especially with the younger people.
His great pal was Iain ‘Cordovox’ MacDonald. His Band was the Claymore Dance Band and they used to team up to tour the Highlands calling themselves the Claygorm Dance Band.
As well as running his own band Lex played, recorded and broadcast with quite a few bands over the years...Alasdair Downie, Bobby MacLeod, Hamish Menzies, Ian Holmes, Neil Barron etc.
He spent a lot of time playing on the islands and had a great knowledge of Gaelic music.
Lex and I also toured up north in the 60's/70's
I recorded Fiddlers 3+2’s 'demo' down in West Sound Radio and let Klub records hear it ...Gus MacDonald signed them up.
Grant Crawford
When Lex started Fiddlers 3+2 I asked him if he was not afraid of being compared to the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddles who were all the rage at the time. He said no and actually justified his answer by saying 3 fiddles made more sense than 4 as you would by the laws of physics have a tighter sound. He explained that with three you would have one fiddle as a mid reference for tuning and the other two would by laws of averages be tuned with one slightly higher and another lower so you always got an even sound. (The original line up was Bob Christie, Gavin McIntyre & Hector McLeod on fiddles and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) on piano with Lex on accordion. They were supplemented by Stan Saunders on bass for broadcasts and their two recordings.)
As far as 2nd box goes Lex had an amazing technique, copied by many of today’s players, where he would 'swell' the volume of the chord mid phrase using bellows control to add emphasis to the passage. This is heard to great effect on the Hamish Menzies' LP and on several Bert Shorthouse albums.
Lex had a very good ear for harmony and on one occasion even wrote out arrangements for 2nd box, piano & bass for a full broadcast, on which he was playing piano, in the studio 30 min before recording was due to start!
Neil Barron
Lex played in my band from 1981 until (around) 1988, and travelled to play with us for the St Andrew's Society Balls in the Far East (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta) on several occasions. He loved the mosquitoes in Kuala Lumpur (or more correctly, they loved him)!
Lex played piano on my first broadcast, then moved to second accordion and Pam took the piano seat.
We recorded a TTF on Sunday 12 February just after Lex died. We changed one of the intended sets and recorded his superb arrangement of Gaelic Waltzes instead.
From Norrie William’s 1991 article on Bobby MacLeod
For a considerable period, Bobby’s full time band was based in the old Highlander’s Institute (now the Volunteer’s Centre) in Glasgow’s Elmbank Street, as suitable living quarters and other facilities were available on the premises. They played there for dancing on a regular basis on Monday evenings to capacity crowds of enthusiastic followers, both musicians and dancers.
Another group which did the regular Saturday night “hops” at the Institute was the Cairngorm Band, led by Lex Keith on accordion.
Lex had always been an ardent Bobby MacLeod fan and he was one of the musicians who religiously attended the Monday sessions just to listen, but he soon got to know Bobby by virtue of his “Cairngorm” involvement and was invited to sit in with him on second accordion from time to time.
If for any reason the MacLeod band was not available, the “Cairngorm” would stand in and when the full time band wound up around 1958 Lex took over the Monday slot
Webwatch
by Bill Young
www.
Newburgh Club – End of an Era – Thursday 29th March 2012
by Nicol McLaren & Jim Berry
“A tremendous evening of music, entertainment and nostalgia,” that would be my summing up of the 40th Anniversary celebration of Newburgh Accordion & Fiddle Club in The Tayside Institute, Newburgh on 29th March 2012. A superb venue, loads of players and listeners, which facilitated a great atmosphere all evening
The guest artiste was Graeme Mitchell with his full six piece band providing great, swinging music to entertain the sizeable crowd and provide a fitting ‘send-off’ for Club chairman of all 40 years, Jim Berry, and Treasurer, his wife, Netta Berry, who have now retired from the Club’s hierarchy. It is also testimony to Jim that the Club was delighted to welcome back Bill black, the Club’s very first guest artiste who, with his wife Anne, agreed to cut the Birthday Cake! (And, thankfully, was persuaded to give us a tune!) It is sad to see a Club under the threat of closure, as Newburgh is, because of loss of venue and declining numbers, but neither could have been further from everyone’s thoughts on Thursday. Jim, as usual, compered the evening in his usual, couthy manner, and interspersed his introductions with memories of, and tributes to, many people who have been involved over the years, none more so than son Graham who has been resident pianist for more than 30 years.
A super evening – but not the end of Newburgh Club! Catriona Reid has agreed to take on the baton of responsibility and ‘New Newburgh’ will commence on 26th April at Adbie Hall (a’ body’s welcome!!) Please give her your support and go along. Only with support will the Club be able to carry on. Meanwhile a big vote of thanks to Jim Berry for such passion and commitment maintained over an amazing 40 years, Jim, Clubs NEED enthusiasm such as yours!
Nicol McLaren
Owing to the regular venue of The Ship Hotel being closed, our 40th Birthday Party was held in The Tayside Institute Comminity Centre. We were hoping for a large turnout and we weren’t disappointed. We started off the evening with Chic Boath on button accordion. He was followed by Jim McLaren and Chris Smith, on piano accordions. The remaining players in the first half were Mark Crawford (button accordion), David Ford (fiddle), Bill Black (button accordion), John White (piano accordion), Lesley Thomson (fiddle), Kyle Innes and Steven Stark (piano accordions).
It was then time for the guest artistes, who were Graeme Mitchell and his Band. Graeme himself was on piano accordion, Gordon Duguid on second box, Susan Gordon on fiddle, Tom Orr on keyboard, Brian Cruickshank on bass and Duncan Christie on drums. The Band gave their usual excellent performance, much appreciated by all.
A cake had been made especially for the evening and was cut by invited guest Bill Black and his wife Anne. Bill was our very first guest artiste in 1972 and we thought it appropriate that he should have the honour of cutting the cake. Many thanks to Mary Stark of Newburgh for baking and donating the cake.
After an excellent supper we than made a start to the second half. The players on in the second half were Jim McLAren (piano accordion), Jim Aitken (fiddle), Catriona Reid (penny whistle), Kay Scougall, Michael Philip and David Cunningham all on piano accordions.
Accompanists for the even were Graham Berry and Mabel Gray on keyboard, and Ian Adamson, Jim Lawrie and Rab Stark on drums. The evening was then completed by the second appearance of Graeme Mitchell and his Band. It was with some nostalgia that I said my final ‘thank-yous’ and brought the evening to a close. Having been a founder member of the Club I have decided to retire (gracefully, I hope) and let someone else take over the reins. I have had 40 great years and made many friends. I would like to thank all the Committee members who have helped over the years. I would also like to give special thanks to my son Graham who has played the piano at the Club for over 25 years. However, I will still be supporting the Club under the new Committee.
Jim Berry
Sadly Jim died suddenly on Friday, 13th April. This article was included by kind permission of Netta and Graham.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Hairst Blinks – The Cullivoe Band – CB01
The Birkhamstead Diamond Collection – Sandy Nixon SDB – Berk001
Fiddlers’ Rally 2010 – Elgin S&R Society - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
5th May 12 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
12th May 12 – David Anderson sDB
19th May 12 – Nicky McMichan SDB
26th May 12 – OB from Larbert with Gordon Shand SDB & Emily Smith
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 29th May 12 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 9th May 12 – Neil Hardie SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th May 12 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th May 12 – Ian Thomson SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th May 12 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd May 12 – The Occasionals
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 21st May 12 – Club Night
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th May 12 – Gold Brothers Trio
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th May 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st May 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 4th May 12 – Dance to Iain Cathcart SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 7th May 12 – Leonard Brown Duo
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 3rd May 12 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd May 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th May 12 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 21st May 12 – AGM & Club Night
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd May 12 – Graeme Mitchell Trio
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th May 12 – Jim Gold Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th May 12 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 2nd May 12 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st May 12 – Gavin Piper
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 3rd May 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band 24th – 26th May 12 - Festival
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 30th May 12 – David Kennedy SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 17th May 12 – Adin Graham SDB
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 13th May 12 – West Telferton C.B.
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th May 12 – David Oswald SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Maine Valley (Ballymena) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 13th May 12 – Scott Band SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st May 12 – Sandy Lindsay Trio
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 2nd May 12 – Gavin Piper
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 30th May 12 – Foundry Bar Band, Kristan Harvey
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th May 12 – Gary Donaldson SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 3rd May 12 – Alastair Wood SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 9th May 12 – South of the Border
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 7th May 12 - Logan MacGregor SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd May 12 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th May 12 – Bob Liddle
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 10th May 12 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th May 12 – Lindsay Weir Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button-key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Forfar
17. Forres
18. Glendale
19. Gretna
20. Haddington
21. Highland
22. Inveraray
23. Isle of Skye
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Ladybank
27. Lanark
28. Langholm
29. Lewis & Harris
30. Livingston
31. Lockerbie
32. Mauchline
33. Montrose
34. North East
35. Northern
36. Oban
37. Peebles
38. Perth
39. Rothbury
40. Seghill
41. Shetland
42. Sutherland
43. Thornhill
44. Thurso
45. West Barnes
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
58 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
61. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69. Selkirk A&F Club (
70. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
82. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
83. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
84. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
85. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
86. Buchan A&F Club
87 Callander A&F Club (
88 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
89 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
90 Club Accord
91 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
92. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
93. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
94. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
95. Derwentside A&F Club
96. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
97. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
98. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
99. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
100. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
101. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
102. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
103. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
104. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
105. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
106. Kintore A&F Club (
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
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. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
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
As we are going to Press we heard of the sudden and untimely death of Jim Berry. It was the wishes of Graham and Netta that we carry the article and report that Jim wrote about Newburgh Club as planned. Our sympathies go out to Jim’s family.
Charlie has started to work his way through the earliest B&F Newspapers recording the ‘highlights’ from each issue. At the moment 77/78 and 78/79 can be found on the Website under Box and Fiddle Magazine / Old Newspapers. He’s unable to include all the text from individual Club Reports (other than the very first issue) but if someone from each Club wanted to re-type their own and submit them to Keith that would be most welcome. Charlie has started on Biggar as an example.
We had so many tributes to Lex Keith that we decided to run the article over two issues and this issue carries a piece written by Hector McLeod.
Karin Ingram
NAAFC Ruby Anniversary Gala Concert
This spectacular show took place on Saturday 24th March 2012 at Perth Concert Hall
by Nicol McLaren
“That has to be the best night’s entertainment we’ve had in years!”, “Brilliant show”, “Absolutely fantastic!” Those were the first words I heard as I emerged from backstage shortly after the curtains closed in Perth Concert Hall at the end of the NAAFC’s Ruby Anniversary Concert on the 24th March 2012 – and how gratifying were those words?
Two years ago, when we first started to think how best we could celebrate 40 years of the NAAFC, the idea of a grand ‘Gala Concert’ was raised. But where to hold it? The venue had to be central and accessible, the cast list would reflect the 40 years of the Association, and showcase the talent and diversity of the Accordion and Fiddle club scene. The task of pulling all of this together was passed to the, then, “new boy” on the Committee, Iain Cathcart, who was to research all possibilities.
So, after much research (and some of the best qualitative and quantitative analysis reports I’ve seen presented to the Executive committee), Perth Concert Hall was booked, which immediately caused Treasurer Charlie Todd to panic – “Will we ever fill that number of seats?” The next quandary was to decide who should perform. We decided to focus on those whom the NAAFC has honoured over its 40 year existence, with the headline act being the longstanding masters of Scottish Variety, The Alexander Brothers (Tom having been our Guest of Honour in 2009), and the house band, the irrepressible John Carmichael Ceilidh Band (GoH 2004). Thereafter, the concert party would be filled with the greats of past, present and future. To this end we decided to secure the services of Iain MacPhail (2003) and Brian Griffin, Bill Black (1999), and Gordon Pattullo (2008) and Angela MacEachern, Fraser McGlynn (2010), Tribute to Jim Johnstone (2001), and Ian Muir (2011), and with a view to the future, KODA. And this all hosted y compere, the one and only Robbie Shepherd MBE (1992).
Inevitably, regardless of how much preparation is done, there are always a few glitches close to the event, and it was with great sadness that, due to illness, some last changes had to be made. Robert Black, the three time Senior Scottish Accordion Champion, stood in for his father Bill. Shand Morino aficionado Charlie Kirkpatrick, Guest of Honour, this year, stood in for Fraser McGlynn and, at the final hour, Gemma Donald stood in for the injured Angela MacEachern.
Ticket sales boomed as soon as they went on sale in early September 2011. 30% of the seats were taken by mid-October, and 80% by the end of January. We knew we were going to have a good night and a full house, so now to put all the logistics in place!
Throughout the project, Iain Cathcart’s eye for, and attention to, detail continued, planning for logistics, finance, risk, publicity, liaising with Horsecross (Perth Concert Hall), planning the running order, drafting in Keith Dickson to design the Concert Programme (a magnificent document!), and organizing the rest of the Committee with their tasks for the day. Everyone was eager to do their part to assist Iain to make the day run as smoothly as possible – from making sure artistes were ready on time, to selling programmes or pulling the stage curtains! My particular charge was to ‘map’ the stage for each act, making sure that after each sound check we knew exactly where every microphone was and which channel they were plugged into, where the seats and music stands were placed so that their position could be precisely replicated for the evening performance, and that the artistes were comfortable with their setup. Sound checks started at 12 noon with KODA who, with 12 members, had the most complicated map. Thereafter, once we had John Carmichael Band set, all others came on in half hour slots (keep remembering mics 1 and 7 are different and can only be used in specific channels!!) and we were finally set for a full house and curtain up!
By 7.30, everyone’s nerves were brewing and we couldn’t wait for the opening – and what an opening it was. As the curtain went up, a slide show of all our Honours Recipients commenced with their photographs overlaid with snippets of the music. Again a great idea of Iain’s, ably assisted by David Cunningham. It was a very nostalgic and poignant opening that left hardly a dry eye in the house. Presented by Robbie Shepherd, the concert got off to a rousing start with John Carmichael’s Band (Marie Fielding, Scott Gordon, Alan Kitchen, John Sinton and John Carmichael) who were to be busy for the entire night backing all of the other artistes. Thereafter followed a veritable feats of music from the traditional West Coast swing of Charlie Kirkpatrick through a phenomenal jazz set from Robert Black, to a spell-binding performance from the youngsters of KODA. Robbie did a sterling job linking the acts, not knowing how long he would have to speak until the next stage had been mapped back and checked, and until I could press the button to give him the Green Light (literally!) Thanks Robbie! Although we finished 50 minutes later than planned, it seemed no time at all until, the show was over. The Alexander Brothers had played their last set and Robbie had called the entire cast on stage for one final bow, to rapturous applause and fantastic comments.
The evening, from my perspective, had disappeared very quickly – but that is always true of a great night! The reaction of both the audience and the artistes made all the worry and the organisation worthwhile and had more than a few saying “roll on the 50th”.
My thanks go out to everyone who came to celebrate 40 years of the NAAFC – without you we wouldn’t have had any of the atmosphere; to all of the NAAFC Executive Committee who did their bit to make it the success it was (how many tickets did you sell Jacqui?); to Horsecross for their help and advice; a special thanks to David Cunningham for his assistance with the sound setup; to Keith Dickson for the design of the Concert Programme (there are still a few available which we are making available for sale. You don’t have to have been at the concert to appreciate how timeless a document this masterpiece is!) and especially to the man who really made it all happen, Iain Cathcart. Iain, you are a STAR!
Dumfries and District Music Festival 2012
by
The Accordion and Fiddle Section…………..
Tribute to Lex Keith (20.08.35 – 08.02.12)
by Various
Hector McLeod
In 1981, Lex, Bob Christie (fiddle) and Gavin McIntyre (fiddle) decided to form a group in which the melody would be played by the fiddle and the accordion would be an accompanying instrument. They very much admired the sound of Bobby Brown and the Cape Breton Symphony. Lex, Bob and Gavin thought the sound they envisaged could be achieved by three fiddles, accordion and piano and so they invited myself to be the third fiddler and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) to be the pianist – Fiddlers 3 + 2 was born.
Their first public performance was in 1981 at Balloch Accordion & Fiddle Club, which was being held at the time in the Griffin Hotel in Alexandria. The Club kindly allowed the group to play 5 sets – that’s all they could play as a band anyway! The sound must have been okay because they were soon invited to be Guest Artistes (I can’t remember where) which meant getting about 20 sets ready. This meant a tremendous amount of work for Lex who selected all the tunes, chorded them, put them in sets, did all the arrangements and physically wrote it all out. The rest of the group had input about the selection of the tunes – what lies well for the accordion does not necessarily lie so well for the fiddle – so sometimes a tune was rejected by the fiddlers, but not very often. A rejected tune might very well appear in another set a wee while later!
As well as being ‘Musical Director’, Lex did 90% of the ‘secretarial business’, arranging the venues and dates and dealing with phone calls and correspondence from Clubs and Associations. From that modest performance at the Balloch Club, F3 + 2 played at many of the A&F Clubs throughout the country and over the Border during the next 25 years. Some of the venues were : Lewis, Rogart, Banchory, Peebles, Selkirk, Dumfries, Rothbury. Many Clubs were visited more than once. The last appearance at an A&F Club was at Wooler in 2006.
F3 + 2’s other main activity was playing for Scottish Country Dancing. Again there were too many Dance societies and venues to list them all but some highlights were :
‘The Day of Dance’ for Central Region Primary Schools at which the band played for 3 or 4 years. It was encouraging to see the 10 and 11 year olds keeping the dances, and therefore the music, alive.
The Annual Country Dance for Merchiston School at which the group played on 3 or 4 occasions. Those dances were for senior pupils. The boys in the kilt without exception and the girls, from several other Edinburgh schools, in long dresses.
The R.S.C.D.S. dances held at the end of the Summer School in St. Andrews. Brian Innes, who stayed in St Andrews, deputised me the first year the band played there and he was invited to play on 2 or 3 occasions – Fiddlers 4 + 2!
The very last gig F3 + 2 played was for the R.S.C.D.S. at Blair Castle on 28th February 2008.
From 1983 F3 + 2 played on many ‘Take the Floor’s’. Lex, Bob and Bill were so well respected and had played on so many albums and broadcasts, that the band did not have to audition. Freeland Barbour produced the first few Fiddlers’ broadcasts and Ken Mutch produced the others. Robbie Shepherd just loved talking about ‘3 + 2 + 1’!
The band did not use any different material for the broadcasts but they felt they had to play particularly well, because anyone in the audience could tape a broadcast and listen to it again and hear any possible fluff or wrong note they would probably miss at a Club or dance. (This was also the case with their albums of course). No matter how experienced a player and how many broadcasts he may have done, once the light goes on in the studio, a definite tension arises and any nervousness can be transmitted and spread like wildfire - and sometimes did. The broadcasts were both scary and enjoyable at the same time but were definitely beneficial to the sound of the group because the players practiced more individually, and so played better as an ensemble. The last ‘Take the Floor’ was in the Spring of 2005.
In 1984 F3 + 2 + Stan had the pleasure of playing on a few radio programmes for the Gaelic Service, featuring Mary Sandeman and produced by the other John Carmichael. The group accompanied Mary in Gaelic and Scottish songs and played some of their own sets. Mary, whom some of you may remember as Aneka, had a worldwide No 1 with ‘Japanese Boy’ in 1981.
F3 + 2 made two albums for Klub Records. Lex was on holiday when the first one came out and, when he came home, rushed to Biggars to get a copy. He asked the shop assistant if they had the album. She said they had and went to the shelf to get a copy. She came back empty handed and said “It’s sold out”. Lex thought for all of two seconds ‘World cruise here I come’. He then asked the girl how many copies they had got in…………she said “Three”!
In 1991 F3 + 2 recorded Books 14 and 15 for the R.S.C.D.S. – this was produced on two cassettes. This whole enterprise entailed a great deal of work for Lex. As well as the normal arranging, chording etc he had to make sure that none of the tunes he selected was an original for another country dance. The second cassette had two 8 x 48 bar Strathspeys which were a great challenge to the band as a whole, but to the fiddles in particular. The very nature of the Strathspey, with its dotted quaver/ semi quaver rhythm and its reverse (the Scotch Snap) was difficult for the three to synchronise and play as ‘one’. The great length of those two dances also added to the pressure. There was a great feeling of relief and accomplishment when they were ‘in the can’! One Strathspey had 12 mins 10 secs playing time whilst the other had 12 mins 25 secs. Not bad time-keeping!
A lot of F3 + 2 material was determined by the Scottish Country Dances, so obviously Jigs, Strathspeys and Reels featured very prominently in the repertoire.
As the group played more and more Country Dances, Lex built up a library of sets for Jigs, Strathspeys and Reels, so that when a new dance was required (new to the group that is), the original could be added to a set of three other tunes. This way, the same sets could be played for 2 or 3 different Country Dances i.e. only the originals changing. When the group played at A&F Clubs they would fill out the programme with waltzes, slow airs, matches, medleys and march, strathspey and reel sets. Generally the fiddles played in unison but, for some of the slow airs played in 3 part harmony.
Many wonderful players deputised/guested over the years. Special mention must be made of Graeme Burns (fiddle) who made his first appearance in 1987 and then played many, many times in the place of one or other of the fiddlers until Gavin retired and Graeme took his place. He just fitted into the group perfectly. Other fiddle deputies were Bill Cook and Kenny McLean.
When Bill Hendry passed away at the end of 1995, Alan Kitchen took over. Ian Clark played many Country Dances in the last few years and indeed played at the very last gig at Blair Castle in 2008. The band was very grateful to Bill Ewan for playing piano at the A&F Clubs in Lewis and Rogart.
As well as the broadcasts, Stan Saunders played bass on the band’s three albums. Alasdair MacLeod and John Sinton each played bass on one ‘Take the Floor’.
Lex never missed a gig in the 27 or so years of the band’s existence. No other accordion player was ever needed. A remarkable achievement!
Lex did not start composing until the year 2000 when he wrote his first tune, but from then on it was ‘full steam ahead’, if you’ll pardon the ‘Lex like’ play on words. In 2002 or 2003 he published his book of 28 tunes entitled ‘The Steam Train to Mallaig’. In the collection are tunes Lex wrote for family and friends including ‘Robert Christie of Stirling’ and ‘Hecky McLeod’, a tune dedicated to this writer (of which he is very proud). The jigs for his boys, ‘Alastair Iain’s Jig’ and ‘Robbie Alan’ are particularly good and F3 + 2 played them in a set fairly regularly. ‘Alastair Iain’s Jig’ has a change of key from D major to Bb major for the second 16 bars which is unusual for a tune in this genre but very effective. Other compositions in the Collection won 1st prize at Kirriemuir in 2001 and 1st prize at Banchory in 2002.
Lex’s new grandson (named after Lex) is now 4 months old. Lex was so delighted that he wrote a tune for the baby the day he was born. This tune ‘Alexander Hutton Keith’ won 1st prize at Kirriemuir a few days later.
I last saw Lex on 26th January when he played at a Burns’ Night for the Glasgow Sutherland Association. He was clearly not in the best of health. Typical of Lex, he would not let anyone down even for this relatively unimportant function.
He played a lovely set of Gaelic waltzes in his own inimitable way, accompanied 3 singers, accompanied his partner Jean-Ann Callender on fiddle, and played for community singing. A typical night showcasing Lex’s undoubted talents. I am proud I was one of the singers making music with Lex that night and proud that I did so over the last 30 years.
Jack Delaney
I first remember Lex in the mid fifties when I played with Andrew Rankine’s band. He would come along to the Glasgow studio when we were recording a dance music programme and very often Andrew would borrow his Morino to do the broadcast as it sounded much better than the Cordovox which Andrew played at that time. He was a great enthusiast of Scottish music and had a wide knowledge of Gaelic airs and pipe tunes. He had a first class ear for harmony and this showed both when using his talents to accompany singers and when playing second box with many of the Scottish dance bands. I was honoured when he asked me to play second box with him on his record in 1980.
He used to join us at times when Dochie McCallum couldn’t take time off work. He had a great sense of humour and a wealth of stories from his experiences in the west coast and was great company in the band wagon (when he was awake). He had this ability to drop off into a deep sleep at a moment’s notice which was a great asset when travelling all over the country. On one occasion Hamish picked up two young Nigerian ladies on the A9 who were trying to hitch hike to Crianlarich and they clambered in the back of the Bedford beside Lex who was fast asleep. They disembarked at Lix Toll and we carried on back to Callander where Lex spent the night with the Menzies’ family. The next morning at breakfast Lex told us about this strange dream he had about sitting in the back of the band wagon with two young coloured ladies!
On another occasion, after having been up north playing with us, we dropped him off at around 1a.m at his car which was parked at the Post Office in Callander to make his way back to Glasgow. At 7 a.m. Hamish arrived at work at the post office and found Lex still in the car sound asleep not even having left for home.
Some time ago Lex asked me to play second box with him at the opening of a new filling station and associated shops at Grangemouth but when we had set up and were about to start, he discovered that the organisers had made a mistake in the booking and expected a “ceilidh band” to include pipers and drummers all dressed up in kilts etc. as in “pipe band” but not accordions, fiddle etc. We all had a good laugh about it and just carried on to enjoy playing a good two hours of Scottish dance music.
Lex was a good musician, a great enthusiast and a really fine person and will be sadly missed by all his friends in the dance music business.
David Solley
I had known and performed with Lex Keith for 30 years. I had a Show in the early eighties in the Highland Hotel, Fort William where Lex and I met when he took over from the previous band and we had worked together at Ceilidhs, Concerts & Cabaret since then. We auditioned in 1988 for the Council for Music in Hospitals based in Edinburgh and have entertained in hospitals & homes all over Scotland for the past 24 years.
During this time Lex and I became very good friends and I think we both had something special musically. Lex's sudden death on the 8th February 2012 was a shock to myself, his family, friends & colleagues in the music world.
He will be sadly missed by all.
Alan Kitchen
I first met Lex in 1981 when he worked for Glasgow City Halls & Theatres Department. At that time he booked me to play in a show in the Kings Theatre – “The Norman Maclean Show” – along with special guest Mary Sandeman as Aneka.
Prior to this, I had heard his playing on record and particularly admired his command of harmony within the context of a Scottish Dance Band.
Through the 1980s I played from time to time with Lex at dances and functions around the Greater Glasgow area. I also recall an enjoyable weekend at the Mull Music Festival, where Lex took charge of the proceedings in The MacDonald Arms Hotel, playing for much of the weekend, and ensuring that every player who came in had “a tune”.
In 1993, he asked that I join Fiddlers 3+2 as the piano player, replacing Bill Hendry of Falkirk, who had announced his retiral. I had heard this outfit many times, and again, it was Lex’s solid harmonic arrangements and chord progressions which I had enjoyed. Whether for an accordion club or a Take the Floor broadcast, Lex’s preparation of the written music was always impeccable, something which always makes it easier and quicker to achieve a better end result.
One of Lex’s musical strengths was as an accompanist. During the 1990s the duo of Lex on accordion with singer/comedian Hugh Ferris was one of Glasgow’s weekly musical highlights, as they entertained every Sunday night in a well known South Side hostelry. Indeed their double act reached the “big screen” when it was featured in “Orphans”, a 1997 film, set in Glasgow.
John Carmichael
I first met Lex in the late '50s when he had the Cairngorm SDB, he played every Saturday night in the old Highlanders Institute in Elmbank Street in Glasgow. The band was very popular especially with the younger people.
His great pal was Iain ‘Cordovox’ MacDonald. His Band was the Claymore Dance Band and they used to team up to tour the Highlands calling themselves the Claygorm Dance Band.
As well as running his own band Lex played, recorded and broadcast with quite a few bands over the years...Alasdair Downie, Bobby MacLeod, Hamish Menzies, Ian Holmes, Neil Barron etc.
He spent a lot of time playing on the islands and had a great knowledge of Gaelic music.
Lex and I also toured up north in the 60's/70's
I recorded Fiddlers 3+2’s 'demo' down in West Sound Radio and let Klub records hear it ...Gus MacDonald signed them up.
Grant Crawford
When Lex started Fiddlers 3+2 I asked him if he was not afraid of being compared to the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddles who were all the rage at the time. He said no and actually justified his answer by saying 3 fiddles made more sense than 4 as you would by the laws of physics have a tighter sound. He explained that with three you would have one fiddle as a mid reference for tuning and the other two would by laws of averages be tuned with one slightly higher and another lower so you always got an even sound. (The original line up was Bob Christie, Gavin McIntyre & Hector McLeod on fiddles and Bill Hendry (Falkirk) on piano with Lex on accordion. They were supplemented by Stan Saunders on bass for broadcasts and their two recordings.)
As far as 2nd box goes Lex had an amazing technique, copied by many of today’s players, where he would 'swell' the volume of the chord mid phrase using bellows control to add emphasis to the passage. This is heard to great effect on the Hamish Menzies' LP and on several Bert Shorthouse albums.
Lex had a very good ear for harmony and on one occasion even wrote out arrangements for 2nd box, piano & bass for a full broadcast, on which he was playing piano, in the studio 30 min before recording was due to start!
Neil Barron
Lex played in my band from 1981 until (around) 1988, and travelled to play with us for the St Andrew's Society Balls in the Far East (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta) on several occasions. He loved the mosquitoes in Kuala Lumpur (or more correctly, they loved him)!
Lex played piano on my first broadcast, then moved to second accordion and Pam took the piano seat.
We recorded a TTF on Sunday 12 February just after Lex died. We changed one of the intended sets and recorded his superb arrangement of Gaelic Waltzes instead.
From Norrie William’s 1991 article on Bobby MacLeod
For a considerable period, Bobby’s full time band was based in the old Highlander’s Institute (now the Volunteer’s Centre) in Glasgow’s Elmbank Street, as suitable living quarters and other facilities were available on the premises. They played there for dancing on a regular basis on Monday evenings to capacity crowds of enthusiastic followers, both musicians and dancers.
Another group which did the regular Saturday night “hops” at the Institute was the Cairngorm Band, led by Lex Keith on accordion.
Lex had always been an ardent Bobby MacLeod fan and he was one of the musicians who religiously attended the Monday sessions just to listen, but he soon got to know Bobby by virtue of his “Cairngorm” involvement and was invited to sit in with him on second accordion from time to time.
If for any reason the MacLeod band was not available, the “Cairngorm” would stand in and when the full time band wound up around 1958 Lex took over the Monday slot
Webwatch
by Bill Young
www.
Newburgh Club – End of an Era – Thursday 29th March 2012
by Nicol McLaren & Jim Berry
“A tremendous evening of music, entertainment and nostalgia,” that would be my summing up of the 40th Anniversary celebration of Newburgh Accordion & Fiddle Club in The Tayside Institute, Newburgh on 29th March 2012. A superb venue, loads of players and listeners, which facilitated a great atmosphere all evening
The guest artiste was Graeme Mitchell with his full six piece band providing great, swinging music to entertain the sizeable crowd and provide a fitting ‘send-off’ for Club chairman of all 40 years, Jim Berry, and Treasurer, his wife, Netta Berry, who have now retired from the Club’s hierarchy. It is also testimony to Jim that the Club was delighted to welcome back Bill black, the Club’s very first guest artiste who, with his wife Anne, agreed to cut the Birthday Cake! (And, thankfully, was persuaded to give us a tune!) It is sad to see a Club under the threat of closure, as Newburgh is, because of loss of venue and declining numbers, but neither could have been further from everyone’s thoughts on Thursday. Jim, as usual, compered the evening in his usual, couthy manner, and interspersed his introductions with memories of, and tributes to, many people who have been involved over the years, none more so than son Graham who has been resident pianist for more than 30 years.
A super evening – but not the end of Newburgh Club! Catriona Reid has agreed to take on the baton of responsibility and ‘New Newburgh’ will commence on 26th April at Adbie Hall (a’ body’s welcome!!) Please give her your support and go along. Only with support will the Club be able to carry on. Meanwhile a big vote of thanks to Jim Berry for such passion and commitment maintained over an amazing 40 years, Jim, Clubs NEED enthusiasm such as yours!
Nicol McLaren
Owing to the regular venue of The Ship Hotel being closed, our 40th Birthday Party was held in The Tayside Institute Comminity Centre. We were hoping for a large turnout and we weren’t disappointed. We started off the evening with Chic Boath on button accordion. He was followed by Jim McLaren and Chris Smith, on piano accordions. The remaining players in the first half were Mark Crawford (button accordion), David Ford (fiddle), Bill Black (button accordion), John White (piano accordion), Lesley Thomson (fiddle), Kyle Innes and Steven Stark (piano accordions).
It was then time for the guest artistes, who were Graeme Mitchell and his Band. Graeme himself was on piano accordion, Gordon Duguid on second box, Susan Gordon on fiddle, Tom Orr on keyboard, Brian Cruickshank on bass and Duncan Christie on drums. The Band gave their usual excellent performance, much appreciated by all.
A cake had been made especially for the evening and was cut by invited guest Bill Black and his wife Anne. Bill was our very first guest artiste in 1972 and we thought it appropriate that he should have the honour of cutting the cake. Many thanks to Mary Stark of Newburgh for baking and donating the cake.
After an excellent supper we than made a start to the second half. The players on in the second half were Jim McLAren (piano accordion), Jim Aitken (fiddle), Catriona Reid (penny whistle), Kay Scougall, Michael Philip and David Cunningham all on piano accordions.
Accompanists for the even were Graham Berry and Mabel Gray on keyboard, and Ian Adamson, Jim Lawrie and Rab Stark on drums. The evening was then completed by the second appearance of Graeme Mitchell and his Band. It was with some nostalgia that I said my final ‘thank-yous’ and brought the evening to a close. Having been a founder member of the Club I have decided to retire (gracefully, I hope) and let someone else take over the reins. I have had 40 great years and made many friends. I would like to thank all the Committee members who have helped over the years. I would also like to give special thanks to my son Graham who has played the piano at the Club for over 25 years. However, I will still be supporting the Club under the new Committee.
Jim Berry
Sadly Jim died suddenly on Friday, 13th April. This article was included by kind permission of Netta and Graham.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Hairst Blinks – The Cullivoe Band – CB01
The Birkhamstead Diamond Collection – Sandy Nixon SDB – Berk001
Fiddlers’ Rally 2010 – Elgin S&R Society - Independent
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
5th May 12 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
12th May 12 – David Anderson sDB
19th May 12 – Nicky McMichan SDB
26th May 12 – OB from Larbert with Gordon Shand SDB & Emily Smith
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 29th May 12 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 9th May 12 – Neil Hardie SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 20th May 12 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 6th May 12 – Ian Thomson SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 28th May 12 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 23rd May 12 – The Occasionals
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 21st May 12 – Club Night
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 8th May 12 – Gold Brothers Trio
Britannia (Arden House Hotel) -
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 10th May 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 1st May 12 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 4th May 12 – Dance to Iain Cathcart SDB
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Coldingham (Village Hall) - 7th May 12 – Leonard Brown Duo
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 3rd May 12 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club)
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) -
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 2nd May 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 16th May 12 – Sandy Nixon SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Royal British Legion Club, Langtongate) 21st May 12 – AGM & Club Night
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 22nd May 12 – Graeme Mitchell Trio
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 27th May 12 – Jim Gold Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 9th May 12 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Fort William (Railway Club, Inverlochy) -
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) -
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 2nd May 12 – Marie Fielding & Duncan Black
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) -
Gretna (Athlitic & Social Club) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 21st May 12 – Gavin Piper
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 3rd May 12 – Pentlands Ceilidh Band 24th – 26th May 12 - Festival
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 30th May 12 – David Kennedy SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Arms Hotel) –
Ladybank (Ladybank Tavern) - 17th May 12 – Adin Graham SDB
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) -
Langholm (Eskdale Hotel) –
Lauder (Black Bull Hotel) - 13th May 12 – West Telferton C.B.
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) -
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 15th May 12 – David Oswald SDB
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Maine Valley (Ballymena) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 13th May 12 – Scott Band SDB
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot / Teviotdale (Thorterdykes Roadhouse)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 1st May 12 – Sandy Lindsay Trio
Northern (Lylehill Suite, Templepatrick, N.I.) - 2nd May 12 – Gavin Piper
Oban (The Argyllshire Gathering) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) – 30th May 12 – Foundry Bar Band, Kristan Harvey
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 15th May 12 – Gary Donaldson SDB
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Reading Scottish Fiddlers (Willowbank Infant School, Woodley) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 3rd May 12 – Alastair Wood SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) -
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 9th May 12 – South of the Border
Selkirk (Angus O’Malley’s) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Violet Football Social Club) -
Sutherland (Rogart Hall) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 7th May 12 - Logan MacGregor SDB
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 3rd May 12 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 17th May 12 – Bob Liddle
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) -
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 10th May 12 – Iain Cathcart Trio
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 15th May 12 – Lindsay Weir Trio
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Biggar
7. Blairgowrie
8. Button-key
9. Campsie
10. Castle Douglas
11. Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Forfar
17. Forres
18. Glendale
19. Gretna
20. Haddington
21. Highland
22. Inveraray
23. Isle of Skye
24. Islesteps
25. Kelso
26. Ladybank
27. Lanark
28. Langholm
29. Lewis & Harris
30. Livingston
31. Lockerbie
32. Mauchline
33. Montrose
34. North East
35. Northern
36. Oban
37. Peebles
38. Perth
39. Rothbury
40. Seghill
41. Shetland
42. Sutherland
43. Thornhill
44. Thurso
45. West Barnes
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2011
(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. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
10. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
11. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
12. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
13. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
14. Button Key A&F Club (
15. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
16. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
17. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
18. Coalburn A&F Club (
19. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 -
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Fort William A&F Club (2009 -
35. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
36. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
37. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
38. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
39. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
40. 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)
41. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
42. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
43. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
44. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
45. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
46. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54 Maine Valley A&F Club (
55 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
56 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
57 Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
58 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
61. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
62. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
63. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
64. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
65. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
66. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
67. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
68. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
69. Selkirk A&F Club (
70. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
71 Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
72 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
73 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
74 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
75 Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
76 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
77 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
78 West Barnes ( - present)
79 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?)
80. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
81. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
82. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
83. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
84. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
85. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
86. Buchan A&F Club
87 Callander A&F Club (
88 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
89 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
90 Club Accord
91 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
92. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
93. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
94. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
95. Derwentside A&F Club
96. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
97. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
98. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
99. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
100. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
101. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
102. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
103. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
104. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
105. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
106. Kintore A&F Club (
107. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
108. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
109. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
110. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
111. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
112. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
113. Mull A&F Club
114. Newcastleton Accordion Club
115. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
116. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
117. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
118. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
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. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
122. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
123. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
124. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
125. Tranent A&F Club
126. Vancouver
127. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
128. Wellbank A&F Club
129. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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