Deoch ‘n’ Dorus
by Susan MacFadyen
B&F April 2013
Deoch
‘n’ Dorus maning ‘One for the Road’ was formed in 2001 by three young students
studying at the RSAMD. Since then the Band has gone from strength to strength
with the ultimate accolade being awarded Scottish Dance Band of the Year at the
MG Alba Scots Trsditional Music Awards back in December 2012. The Band comprises Stuart Cameron on
accordion, Simon Moran on fiddle and Andrew MacPherson on drums.
Stuart hails from Fort William and plays accordion and piano. He initially learned to play the accordion from his father, John, who is also an accomplished musician. At the age of 14 he travelled from Fort William to Perth every two weeks to receive tuition from Peter Bruce. Stuart decided that he would like to pursue a career in music and was accepted to study on the Traditional Muisic Degree at the RSAMD where he was also the recipient of the NAAFC Sir Jimmy Shand Scholarship. After graduating with an Honours Degree, he worked as a self-employed musician performing and teaching privately. A couple of years later he completed a post graduate teaching degree at Edinburgh University and now works as a Music Teacher in a secondary school in Glasgow.
Simon hails from the Isle of Jura and was originally taught fiddle by Ropan Shaw of Islay. His interest was born under the influence of Archie McAllister and The Jura Ceilidh Band who played on Jura regularly when he was young. Simon later went on to join the Band, performing regularly with them around Scotland. He still plays with the Band’s Jura accordionist, David MacDonald. Simon moved to Glasgow to study Scottish music at the RSAMD where he met Stuart and Andrew. His fiddle teachers there were Iain Fraser and Pete Clarke. During his time there, he performed with many musicians including Stuart Cassells, Canterach, Lorne MacDonald, Gary Innes and Dougie MacLean. Since graduating in 2005 with an Honours Degree, he has been busy performing with the Band and teaching fiddle in Glasgow and beyond.
Andrew comes from a musical family based in Portree. Andrew began playing drums with the Skye Pipe Band at the age of nine. He too went on to study for a degree in traditional music at the RSAMD in Glasgow. Well-schooled in the various genres of traditional music, he also plays bagpipes and whistles. He credits his influences as John Ellis and his Highland Country Band and legendary piper Donald MacLeod. Outwith Deoch ‘n’ Dorus, Andrew is kept busy playing in The Angus Nicolson Trio, and is in demand as a session musician and percussion and whistle teacher.
Stuart and Simon regularly played tunes together during their time at the RSAMD at the informal sessions in Glasgow. They were asked if they could organize a student ceilidh in the RSAMD but they were missing a drummer. They knew that Andrew, who was in the year above Stuart and Simon, played the drums, so they asked if he was interested in taking part. They formed the Band for this ceilidh and enjoyed playing together so much that they decided to try and find some work in the Glasgow area. They got work in the, now closed, Riverside Club where they played for over 4 years. With their Highlands and Islands connections, it wasn’t long before they were playing in the famous Park Bar and Islay Inn, where they can still be heard to this day. Nowadays, the Band play at a variety of different functions throughout the country such as Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, birthday parties, weddings and music festivals. They recently started a new business venture organizing and promoting monthly ceilidhs in Glasgow. There have been some lively nights to date and more information can be found at www.glasgowceilidhs.com
Looking back over the past 10 years, the Deoch ‘n’ Dorus sound, arrangements and musicianship have been influenced by various bands such as The Pentlands Ceilidh Band, The Black Rose Ceilidh Band, The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band and John Ellis and his Highland Country Band, to name but a few.
The Band to date has recorded four BBC Radio Scotland ‘TTF’ broadcasts, with plans in place for an outside broadcast later this year. They also have two studio albums released: ‘Deoch ‘n’ Dorus (Self-Titled)’ and ‘The Curer’ with plans for a third album being drawn up. The Band will be appearing at the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival this coming October.
Stuart, Simon and Andrew were both surprised and delighted to receive the Scottish Dance Band of the Year Award, fighting off stiff competition from the other nominees, The Monach Isles Ceilidh Band, Graeme Mitchell SDB and Charlie Kirkpatrick SDB.
Just a wee deoch ‘n’ dorus afore ye gang awa!!!
Stuart hails from Fort William and plays accordion and piano. He initially learned to play the accordion from his father, John, who is also an accomplished musician. At the age of 14 he travelled from Fort William to Perth every two weeks to receive tuition from Peter Bruce. Stuart decided that he would like to pursue a career in music and was accepted to study on the Traditional Muisic Degree at the RSAMD where he was also the recipient of the NAAFC Sir Jimmy Shand Scholarship. After graduating with an Honours Degree, he worked as a self-employed musician performing and teaching privately. A couple of years later he completed a post graduate teaching degree at Edinburgh University and now works as a Music Teacher in a secondary school in Glasgow.
Simon hails from the Isle of Jura and was originally taught fiddle by Ropan Shaw of Islay. His interest was born under the influence of Archie McAllister and The Jura Ceilidh Band who played on Jura regularly when he was young. Simon later went on to join the Band, performing regularly with them around Scotland. He still plays with the Band’s Jura accordionist, David MacDonald. Simon moved to Glasgow to study Scottish music at the RSAMD where he met Stuart and Andrew. His fiddle teachers there were Iain Fraser and Pete Clarke. During his time there, he performed with many musicians including Stuart Cassells, Canterach, Lorne MacDonald, Gary Innes and Dougie MacLean. Since graduating in 2005 with an Honours Degree, he has been busy performing with the Band and teaching fiddle in Glasgow and beyond.
Andrew comes from a musical family based in Portree. Andrew began playing drums with the Skye Pipe Band at the age of nine. He too went on to study for a degree in traditional music at the RSAMD in Glasgow. Well-schooled in the various genres of traditional music, he also plays bagpipes and whistles. He credits his influences as John Ellis and his Highland Country Band and legendary piper Donald MacLeod. Outwith Deoch ‘n’ Dorus, Andrew is kept busy playing in The Angus Nicolson Trio, and is in demand as a session musician and percussion and whistle teacher.
Stuart and Simon regularly played tunes together during their time at the RSAMD at the informal sessions in Glasgow. They were asked if they could organize a student ceilidh in the RSAMD but they were missing a drummer. They knew that Andrew, who was in the year above Stuart and Simon, played the drums, so they asked if he was interested in taking part. They formed the Band for this ceilidh and enjoyed playing together so much that they decided to try and find some work in the Glasgow area. They got work in the, now closed, Riverside Club where they played for over 4 years. With their Highlands and Islands connections, it wasn’t long before they were playing in the famous Park Bar and Islay Inn, where they can still be heard to this day. Nowadays, the Band play at a variety of different functions throughout the country such as Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, birthday parties, weddings and music festivals. They recently started a new business venture organizing and promoting monthly ceilidhs in Glasgow. There have been some lively nights to date and more information can be found at www.glasgowceilidhs.com
Looking back over the past 10 years, the Deoch ‘n’ Dorus sound, arrangements and musicianship have been influenced by various bands such as The Pentlands Ceilidh Band, The Black Rose Ceilidh Band, The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band and John Ellis and his Highland Country Band, to name but a few.
The Band to date has recorded four BBC Radio Scotland ‘TTF’ broadcasts, with plans in place for an outside broadcast later this year. They also have two studio albums released: ‘Deoch ‘n’ Dorus (Self-Titled)’ and ‘The Curer’ with plans for a third album being drawn up. The Band will be appearing at the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival this coming October.
Stuart, Simon and Andrew were both surprised and delighted to receive the Scottish Dance Band of the Year Award, fighting off stiff competition from the other nominees, The Monach Isles Ceilidh Band, Graeme Mitchell SDB and Charlie Kirkpatrick SDB.
Just a wee deoch ‘n’ dorus afore ye gang awa!!!