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

As The New Millennium Dawns
Scottish Dance Bands – The benchmarks

Picture
 The media seems to be awash at the moment with tales of the significant changes or innovations which have shaped great periods of our life – How life evolved from dinosaurs because of flood/ ice/ drought; how wars have changed as weaponry has developed; How transport has changed with the wheel/ the internal combustion engine/the jet engine. So why not Scottish Dance Bands?

Jimmy Helm's recent book " Who's on the dance music tonight" is an excellent chronicle of the Scottish Dance Band scene of the past and present, but which sounds shaped the way that bands developed?  Everyone will have their own opinion, I have no doubt, but here is mine.

1. Jimmy Shand. Surely the first instantly recognisable Scottish Dance Band sound. - The rock-solid sound of 6 piece band with the unmistakable "Shand Dunt" giving a real emphasis to the dancing beat. Rock steady tempi for country dancing, and yet some of the older 78's are "nippin' on" a bit for the listeners benefit.  Shand possibly had the advantage of being around at the inception of television, developing the music within a scene which made it more accessible to many more people, and thus became known throughout the world. This, then, I believe is the benchmark by which all subsequent dance bands based their sound - a gauge of this being that anyone with any interest in our music today, some fifty years on, will instantly recognise the sound of Jimmy Shand! 

2. My second benchmark is the Ian Powrie Band.  Ian brought a dynamic fiddle-led sound to the band scene.  This, together with Pam Brough's expressive style of piano playing (more of an accompanist's style), was a great change from the "Shand Dunt"; not forgetting Mickie Ainsworth's style of playing the second accordion which is still the aspiration of many second box players today!

So not only was the Powrie sound innovative in itself, but the individual musicians within the band, were to become role models for musicians of that time and beyond. Improvements in recording techniques may have had a contribution to the Powrie sound as this gave more scope the individual talent, but the individuals involved moulded tremendously well to produce the tight, band sound that was unmistakably “Powrie”. Here, again, television played an important role in promoting the band far and wide, being regulars on the “White Heather Club” and the “Kilt is my Delight”.

3. My third era of the modern Scottish dance band is with Jim Johnstone's band of the early 1970s.  This really stems from one album - " A Measure of Scotch" in 1971.  This is surely the benchmark in Scottish dance band recordings and the set of reels with Mrs McLeod, De'il Stick da Minister, The Bonnie Isle of Whalsay, and Jim Moore’s Fancy is still the most requested track on any of the BBC's Scottish dance music programmes.  Not only that, but Jim’s arrangement of "Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky" is instantly recognisable as the theme tune to the “Reel Blend”. I believe that this album inspired another generation of bandleaders and even today, any young accordionist with an enthusiasm for dance music regards this album as having the “Wow factor”!

Again, the individual musical talents within the the band (John Carmichael on second box, Ron Kerr on fiddle, and particularly Bill Thom on the drums) were brought together to form another definitive style -- dynamic, versatile, innovative, and, for perhaps the first time, lots of new material written by Jim himself.

4. "Innovation" would certainly be the terminology to describe my choice as the fourth benchmark - Iain MacPhail and his Scottish dance band.  Ian was almost a "love it or loathe it" sound - the younger generation loving the innovative, free and easy, yet disciplined style (if that makes sense), whilst the older, traditionalists tended to label the band as a "Scottish jazz band". 

Once again some tremendous individual talent was brought together -- Brian Griffin providing a completely different dimension to the second accordion and Graham Jamieson following very much in the footsteps of Bill Thom creating the sound of a true Scottish Showband.  Even today, you can still hear the influence of the wider tuning of Iain's Morino on many accordionists.

It was, however, the genius of MacPhail's arrangements which set the band apart from all others - arrangements which were, and still are, truly exciting and innovative - the "De'il's Conundrum" still being very much in demand (Who has the lead part now??). No one else had experimented with chord structures like MacPhail, and if he couldn't find a chord structure to fit the tune, he wrote a tune to fit the chord structure! (Furthermore they were tunes which not only provided a great rhythm for the dancer, but also captured the imagination of the musician).

Iain MacPhail was to the Scottish Dance Band scene, what Robert Mathieson was to become to the traditional bagpipes!

There are, however, common threads, which unite all of these bands.

Each produced a truly innovative sound at the time, to which others latched on, moving our music forward, particularly by the younger, developing, generation of players at the time.  In every walk of life, young people have always looked to be different from their elders. Scottish dance music is just the same!

The timing of each of my "benchmark" sounds is not, I believe, coincidental either.  Each was approximately 10 years after the previous sound, roughly spanning the Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties.  Perhaps it was because the younger generation of players was looking for something that was different from the norm of the time.  This, I think was demonstrated very clearly when "Take the Floor" ran the "Personal Choice" feature.  Without knowing the person choosing the tracks, listeners could tell the age of Robbie’s “victim” by the first piece of music chosen - invariably one of the four bands mentioned.

All of the bandleaders were approximately the same age at their "benchmark" time - all were experienced bandleaders, admired, and "in touch" with the scene.  Each of the four bandleaders has also provided our music scene with many compositions, which have quickly become standards. I don't believe that there has been a "Take the Floor" broadcast at any time in my memory when there hasn’t been a tune from the pen of at least one of these bandleaders played!

However, the over-riding factor that every one of these bands has is that they all produced a great, distinctive sound.

So where will the next benchmark be?  And indeed, will it be from within the true Scottish Dance Band scene?  I say this, because the youngest of the interviewees on "Personal Choice" are tending to choose bands like Capercaillie or Wolfstone.  Is this where the future of our music lies?  Is the folk scene, or the “Ceilidh” scene, the innovation that young people will latch on to today?

If the next benchmark is to be in the Scottish Dance Band scene then perhaps I could make some suggestions.  Possibly Alasdair MacCuish, or the Occasionals who undoubtedly appeal to the younger generation of player; perhaps Graeme Mitchell who would surely be the choice of today's old tyme dancers.  Graeme also as the distinction of being a prolific composer of superb new tunes; perhaps James Lindsay who provides a truly innovative interpretation of our music (or indeed “traditionalisation” of non-Scottish material)

As fresh approaches are taken and different styles adopted, other benchmarks will surely emerge. Perhaps they are already here!!

Nicol McLaren
December 1999 / January 2000

Powered by
✕